Month: September 2024

Pre-Departure Ramble

Published on by chrisbryantaveryLeave a comment

Tomorrow, September 13th, I’ll be heading to Prague, Czech Republic, for three months. Just a few days ago I received my passport back in the mail graced with my first-ever visa—a shiny confirmation of the exciting adventures to come and a blunt reminder of what is likely to be the most daunting task I’ll have faced since last term’s final exams: learning elementary Czech. My belongings have been crammed into a duffle bag and a backpack with my skateboard attached and I’m currently hoping I don’t encounter a situation where I miss the extra socks I sacrificed to fit my hammock (I love a good day of hammocking at the skate park and relaxing between sessions). I’m an hour out from check-in for my flight and the digital fight for an aisle seat, so I figured this would be a great time to tackle my first post.

I’ve traveled solo in the past, but much of that experience comes from backpacking/hitchhiking—all of which has been in the United States. Though the idea of venturing into the woods alone with a backpack carries an intimidating uncertainty, I’m feeling a good bit more nervous about this opportunity than I ever have about my hiking trips. The length of this trip is nothing new, and I know I’ll enjoy many of the same day-to-day conveniences that I do here; yet silly little worries, such as roommate compatibility, classroom teaching styles, and the distance from old friends are swelling slightly beyond proportion. I have to remind myself that these are the same concerns I had before freshman year and that college has been nothing but the best. I don’t expect to part ways with these feelings upon departure but do anticipate the excitement of arrival to either distract me from or dilute my nerves the same way it seemed to when I said goodbye to my mom my first day at DU. It’s funny how similar nervousness and excitement feel.

Beyond these immediate worries, there is so much I’m thrilled for. I recently discovered that a skateboarder I know from around Denver has moved to Prague for the fall. We bought tickets for a techno concert together and he’s been sharing photos of skate parks and street spots around the city. I’ve also planned trips to see my DU roommate in Austria, have my parents visit in November, and get together with some other DU students in Prague for an Australian punk band we caught last fall in Denver. Skateboarding and concerts will certainly be a theme for this trip and having plans before departure helps to remind me that I won’t miss my buddies entirely, only the ones back in Colorado. I’m also keeping in mind the countless opportunities I’ll have to meet new people and connect with characters from all around this big funky planet. I’ll be starting courses in business alongside my elementary Czech class and look forward to learning some foundations of the trade. The coursework will be different from the usual reading and writing I do in my literature courses but my hope is to collect credits that I can use at DU to chip away at a marketing degree.

Additionally, I’ve been reflecting on the opportunity to write and share this blog throughout my trip. This format is very new to me, requiring writing that bridges the matter-of-fact straightforwardness of a news article and the intimate/vulnerable riskiness of a diary, all publicly shared through a somewhat casual voice. This challenge motivates me to be more critical of my upcoming experiences and push myself to seek out uncommon people, places, and opportunities.

My final days home in Chicago have consisted of trying to land some final skate tricks at my new local park, seeing my favorite band, Goose, play at the old Morton Salt Shed, and a Swiss pasta sendoff dinner with the family—fitting for my upcoming layover in Zurich.

I’m excited to write an update after my first days in Prague!

Best wishes,

Avery

Two Months In New Zealand

Published on by MolayMediaLeave a comment

studying abroad • 6 July 2024 – 6 september 2024

It has been two months since I arrived in New Zealand! What a great time it has been. I have struggled to begin writing this blog because I am uncertain how to properly convey the degree of deep significance this experience now holds for me. I have been fortunate enough to have filled every weekend here with a different and unique adventure that has led me to meet incredible people from far and wide. Each experience has given me the ability to grow in ways I did not foresee as an option before landing in New Zealand. To prevent this blog from dragging on I will begin sharing some of my favorite things about my time here as well as ways in which my perspectives have shifted.

Dunedin!

The University of Otago is the most southern campus in the world, and the weather has not failed to prove this! I arrived here in the Winter and it is fortunately now transitioning to Spring. The days have gotten 120 minutes longer over the past two months and the temperatures have increased marginally. I am looking forward to the coming months for less cold, windy, rainy days and more sun! The ocean waters are pretty cold but have made for some great polar plunges.

Campus life is vibrant and has provided a strong sense of energy flow no matter where you are in the university. There are many small food shops around the campus that have become some of my favorites. To name a few: Poke restaurant on King Street offers the most frequent purchase of the best $6 rice balls! Veggie Boys has the cheapest avocados and eggs and other necessities. The Good Earth Cafe has fantastic hot chocolate and coffee and makes for a wonderful study spot. Lastly, Rob Roy ice cream gives two scoops for $4 ($2.50 US!) and has become a staple in my friend and I’s daily itineraries.

The Botanical Gardens are adjacent to my flat and have allowed for some very peaceful morning walks. As the weather transitions more towards Spring they are beginning to explode with color and good smells. Signal Hill is also next to my flat which makes for hard yet fulfilling trail running and scenery. Mount Cargill, the Pineapple track, and walks along the Peninsula are a short drive away from campus and give you a good mix of beach strolling and hill walking.

The architecture here has a diverse blend of historical sights and buildings with a more modern feel. There are beautiful churches and the train station is stunning. The station is also home to the Saturday farmer’s market that I love. Dunedin is also recognized for having the world’s steepest road!

Some of my favorite moments

It is very strange looking back on the first half of this journey to see the things I have done, almost all of which I did not anticipate to have under my belt at this point. I have dove deep into the outdoor culture that New Zealand has to offer. Whether it be short hikes around Dunedin, or tramps deep into the backcountry of the Southern Alps. I’ve been able to ski at the Remarkables Ski Resort in Queenstown which was brilliant. Skiing down the moment with nothing else on my mind but the current moment in time was surreal. Aside from the stunning views, being able to ski at one of New Zealand’s most well known resorts was one for the books. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting random people on trips, and I now cherish the hour-long conversations I’ve had with them, as it turned out that those conversations were often the first and last. There are too many captivating people in this world! Whether it be late nights with friends playing board games or arbitrary conversations, these are some of the more valuable times. The little experiences don’t compete as far as pictures and videos go with the big trips, but they definitely hold the most weight. Aside from the multitude of weekend trips and incredible adventures, some other favorite moments have come from spending time amongst myself. Being able to write these blogs, journal, navigate my life in the kitchen for the first time, running/gym, shopping, reading and so much more have begun to propel me one step closer into the real world and I so heavily appreciate these things as they happen in real time.

insights

Energy and the way that it operates in my life has become much more prevalent since arriving. I strongly believe in the role that energy plays which can generally be described as what you put out must come back. Karma has become my best and worst friend. It has been so rewarding being around people that share endless energy in the form of desire to get out there and tackle the world. This experience has taught me the power in wielding my energy in such a precise way that yields benefit for myself and for those around me. For example, planning a trip is something that requires energy not only for myself but equally for those around me. The importance of balancing this energy becomes a little more like second nature as each day has passed.

Environment change and uncomfortability have been the second and likely most eye opening part of my time here. I’ve stated in prior blogs that cliches exist for a reason, and this is another one of those times. The simple act of physically changing my scenery has given me such a boost of desire, ambition, and aspiration in the many different facets of my life. Upon day one of arriving I felt such an influx of energy to put towards the areas of my life that I knew needed change, or the areas that had been lacking the proper attention for the many months prior. Forcing myself into the uncomfortable state of flipping my environment on top of itself has pushed me to limits I wouldn’t have recognized otherwise. Witnessing my daily habits adapt into something that was now grounded on reaching my fullest potential each and every day is something that I’ve come to learn is only possible by facing the difficulties and beauties of simply changing my environment.

Travel and its underlying impacts will be something that sticks with me for the rest of my life. I have found so much power that is held from breaking free of a stagnant lifestyle and redirect that energy towards the experiences that come from travel. I have felt as if I am living a constant vacation with a part-time job during the week (both of which I am ironically paying for). My mind has felt so free through the various different aspects of travel. Living life without worrying about the stresses and focusing on the memories is something I hope to never take for granted.

My goal for the remaining several months is paradoxical, but it is to have no goals. To continue letting life take me wherever it it meant to go, that’s it!

Hope you’ve enjoyed, photos and videos below!