Category: New Zealand

Leaving for Dunedin in July

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June has come to an end and I am going to be in a new country in less than a week. I’ve done this before, but for some odd reason, it hasn’t set in yet. It’s been quite the short summer. I’ll start with that. I have only been home for three weeks. Like bruh… seriously?!

It’s always nice to come home and see my family for the summer time. My mom has had me go and visit all the family members I could possibly visit. They always tell me about how much I’ve grown which is also crazy to me because I am NOW a junior in college?!?!

Everything feels unbelievable. In preparation for New Zealand, I have done ZERO research. All I know is that the country is currently experiencing their winter season. That makes life so much easier considering I know how to prepare for the winter as a result of attending our school. I wonder if it will be more cold than Denver because of how I’ll be near the coast of the South Pacific Ocean. Anyways, so many things to wonder about!

I leave the day after 4th of July which is kind of a bummer. Again, it’s been a super short summer so I have only been stealing time. Knowing my mom, I am sure she’s going to try to make use of all the time we have together before I disappear for another 4 months.

I feel like these kinds of transitions aren’t talked about enough. The effect of traveling abroad on your family and those around you. The first time I went abroad, I was too excited to notice how those around me felt about my absence. This time around, I am realizing the anxiety and uneasiness that creeps up in them whenever I mention that I shall be in a new country (technically by myself) for four months. Again, it hasn’t really set in that I’m going to abroad for the second half of the year, but it’s setting in for those around me like my parents and siblings. I guess that’s a part of the transition into adulthood.

Anyways, I shall keep you all updated as I begin to prepare for my trip to the Southern hemisphere. I am NOT excited to enter the cold, but I am excited to see the Aurora Australis. That’s probably the only thing I know about New Zealand hahaha.

See you soon!!!

The Bushball 2024

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Otago University Tramping Club Trip • 27 July 2024 – 28 July 2024

What a great weekend! The Otago University Tramping Club (OUTC) took 100+ members to spend the night at Aspiring Hut within Mount Aspiring National Park. The trip was catered towards those of all skill levels consisting of a two hour walk to the hut (6 miles) with minimal elevation gain. Densely vegetated natural regions of land within New Zealand are primarily referred to as the bush, (a term new to me but not just unique to New Zealand). Once we arrived at the hut the party (ball) began, hence the “Bush-ball!”

The theme for the weekend was “treasure island” which was dominated with pirate-esque costumes, but there were a few members were took different approaches to their outfit. I happened to be one of those, deciding to sport a kiwi-bird costume, something I felt met the New Zealand treasure island theme. Locals of New Zealand are referred to as “Kiwis” being named after the kiwi-bird. This became commonplace during World War I as New Zealand soldiers fought alongside the Australian and British (they were automatically entered into the war due to being under British control) to defeat the Ottoman Army, but more broadly to fight against the central powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Being a Kiwi holds significant weight and is a symbol of national identity.

The trip began at 07:00 as we departed on our five-hour bus ride. The first glimmer that set the tone for the weekend was a stunning sunrise that was accompanied by a double rainbow. This sight was something that I have never experienced before, thus I truly cherished the moment. It was beautiful to experience an anomaly like that with the many new-found friends on the same journey. To fill the remainder of the busride we attempted to play cards, but mainly enjoyed the cliche road trip games. We had several vans traveling with us that had to take us to the trailhead given the bus could not traverse the roads any further.

The tramp begins!

It was quite the sight to see so many people all traveling on the same path. So many different backgrounds all converging in the same spot for the weekend was rather unique. After our walk into the hut (slight rain the entire weekend) we set up our tents and prepared for dinner. The officers kicked off the evening with expectations and excitement for the night ahead. The hut was slathered with “treasure island” decorations and a Bushball banner. The festivities began and it was such a great time! A local band from Dunedin came with us to the hut and gave us a superb live performance and made for some great dancing. There were goons floating around the crowd (bags with liquid confidence) and that only added to the adventure. Some costumes consisted of pirates, a squid, eye patches, tramping gear, and everything in between. I remember standing amongst the crowd and feeling so grateful for the moment I was in- being with so many amazing friends and having fun with people I have never seen before and for some will never see again, (I took it upon myself to become the paparazzi for the party which resulted in 239 total photos).

We woke up the next day with the valley engulfed in fog which created a very beautiful scene. The tropical feel and rainforest vibe was serene. I felt as if I was living within the pictures and videos I have seen of New Zealand the many months prior to this. The power of being within nature and the peace it brings is something I will never take for granted. Another aspect of that is not having the urge to reach for your phone. Disconnecting from reality provides a calmness that is so much better when you are doing it with so many other people. Bushball ’24 was truly magnificent and I feel so lucky to have been a part of a years-long OUTC tradition.

Reference my Instagram below for pictures associated with most of the things I wrote about!