Submitted by Olivia Chamberlin on the 2025 Winter program in New Zealand…
After spending some time in NZ and getting used to the adjustment, it was really nice to pay attention to the details about what makes NZ unique. One of the experiences that stuck out to me the most was staying at the Marae, a sacred and communal place for the Māori people. Having the privilege to learn such a beautiful culture in such a personal way really opened my eyes and my perspective on things. It allowed me to learn their values and appreciate a culture that does things very differently than others. It was a once and a lifetime experience that I will cherish forever. The rest of the trip so far has been amazing as well. All of the hikes and excursions we have done were incredible and I feel extremely lucky to be able to do all this. (Submitted February 1, 2025)
