Submitted by Taylor Lynch on the 2023 summer program in New Zealand and Australia…
As the second week of my study abroad trip comes to a finish, I am in awe of how many activities we have done and the amazing experiences I have had so far. The first ten days in New Zealand were really amazing to be able to see the beautiful landscapes and immerse myself into a new culture. We stayed in Hamilton, New Zealand during our time there, so on our last day we took a few hours to tour the city of Auckland. It was a stark contrast from Hamilton since Auckland is a built-up big city with many shops and busy streets filled with people; while Hamilton is a more calm and suburban area. It was nice to be able to experience both ways of living in New Zealand and see what the different areas were like.
While in Auckland, we were able to go into the Sky Tower which is a famous landmark in Auckland and is 1,076 feet tall. The views from the top were so pretty and you were able to get a perfect overview of the whole city. The city seemed so calm from above, and the difference from when we were up in the Sky Tower and walking in the city was crazy. After a few short hours, we were off to the airport to travel to Sydney, Australia.
Once in Sydney, I was intrigued to see what differences would be present from Hamilton where we were staying previously. Sydney is more of a city where everything is very walkable and there are a lot of things to do and see. On our first full day there we were able to explore the city more, and it was interesting to see the similarities and differences from Hamilton. Staying in Hamilton was a little boring at times because there wasn’t much to do, and the weather was very cold most days. Being in Sydney now, there is a lot to do with many activities that are a walkable distance away. The weather here is also a lot warmer which is a good change coming from the cold.
Overall, it has been amazing to experience these two different places both with their own aspects that make them special. It is cool to be able to get the chance to go to these countries and be able to fully immerse myself in new cultures. Having never traveled outside of the country before, it is eye-opening to be able to see the way of living in these countries and how they compare to what I would be used to in the US. It is important, while visiting new countries, to be mindful of how you explore and learn about the culture set in that place. You want to go into new situations with curiosity and an open mind instead of having a prior bias that may skew how you view a new place. It is important to be a “mindful tourist” when going to new countries, which is something that I have come to realize over these two weeks. It is best to not be intrusive into their culture but to want to learn and educate yourself in a thoughtful way.