Hi all and thank you for taking some time to allow me to share my young knowledge and experience surrounding New Zealand. I plan to write blogs every other day for the next few weeks as I journey throughout the country and invite all to read as I will cover numerous topics related to my travels.
When I initially heard of this trip offered by Miami University, the first thing that crossed my mind was rugby. I had been introduced to the sport while in high school, when our first rugby team was formed my sophomore year. The foremost reason rugby grabbed my interest was due to the fact that it was stealing athletes away from our lacrosse team, and secondly because some team called the All Blacks did this thing before games that everyone was talking about and imitating. About a year later, I saw the haka performed by the New Zealand Basketball team in the 2014 Olympics where they faced the United States. Watching team U.S.A. stare in awe and confusion was wild, as I shared in those same emotions. However, I was intrigued and sort of smacked in the face by my lack of cultural competence. Even though I have begun to study New Zealand and its cultures, I am still nervous for my attempt to embrace a new country and its people. Moreover, I am concerned for how we will all be welcomed, or maybe at points not so much. On the other hand, I am exploding with excitement to engage in many new adventures, with many individuals who are nearly as foreign to me as the country we will be roaming. I cannot wait to see what New Zealand brings me and the lessons it has to offer, but for now I am preoccupied with figuring out how I am going to get some sleep on this flight
Blog Entry 1-Pre Departure
Foreign Adventures-New Zealand 