Category: Oceania

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!

the LITTLE things

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11 July 2024 – 21 July 2024 • Two Weeks in New Zealand

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This week’s blog will look into the LITTLE things. I will discuss valuing my day-to-day choices, appreciating the things so easily taken for granted, and the why behind the emphasis on “LITTLE.”

Day-to-day choices

My intention is to share my perspective, not to present it as absolute truth. Determining how to allocate your energy each day can be assigned to two main categories. The first is that of your everyday needs. For example, eating, drinking, hygiene, ensuring personal safety, and a form of income to provide for those items. The second, and one that I hope to dissect further, is the remaining usage of your habitual energy and the significance in putting it towards the LITTLE things.

A thought that I have had for quite some time that has cemented itself over the past two weeks is the beauty in the LITTLE things. The majority of my everyday actions appear to be inconsequential. How could something so small, (i.e. holding the door for someone, the extra 20 minutes of sleep, asking more questions, expressing unprovoked gratitude, etc…) matter so much? The fact of the matter is that making the conscious decision to consistently make the more favorable LITTLE decision will have the biggest impact. These frequent “inconsequential” decisions are those that truly define us and establish our character.

Living alone and navigating entirely new routines, relationships, education, and basic well-being has better allowed me to see the cause-and-effect of the LITTLE things. The physical act of environment change has given me the opportunity to isolate every single choice I make and see the energy reciprocate itself. As basic as drinking water instead of sugary drinks, or as cliche as starting each day thinking about how I can get better. Even crazier is the earth shattering task of talking to somebody new! No matter the decision, it seems reasonable to conclude that there is usually one that is more favorable in some way, whether it be physical benefit, social fulfillment, or simply keeping your mental health in line. Not that living life should be treated as a game, but I have started to see the benefits of subconsciously calculating every decision with the intent of it yielding the more positive result.

The past two weeks I have come to learn the power of how energy operates in my life. It has shown me that everything matters. Committing yourself to doing the LITTLE things right is what will guide the way I am perceived and more importantly the way I perceive myself for the rest of my life.

Final Note

Another form of LITTLE energy that exists in everyday life does not come from the choices we make, but the content of each day that is so easily taken for granted. Taking the time to truly cherish the present has begun to shape where I receive larger areas of fulfillment. It’s the sunrises and sunsets. It’s the extra conversation you never expected to have. It’s the phone calls with loved ones. It’s the miracle that is life that comes with everyday, and it is those areas that, if stripped away from us in an instant, we would beg for their return. We wouldn’t beg for another two hours scrolling on our phones, but perhaps the ability to go on that hike. We wouldn’t beg to hide in our room and watch the television instead of chatting with your family. We wouldn’t choose to be sitting at home instead of in a random house in New Zealand.

How incredible is it to be existing in a space every day where I am surrounded by so many different cultures, perspectives, humors, such lust for life, and most importantly by people who seek to embrace this journey with me. It’s the LITTLE things.