Day Ten 6/17/11

Today was our final travel day. We woke up extra early and said goodbye to Mrs. T. We went to the airport when I worked on my inquiry question. the flights weren't too bad, except I didn't sleep much. From Sydney to LAX we flew through a storm and there was terrible turbulence. I enjoy plane rides, but after being on one for 15 hours, I'm glad I don't have to do that all the time. Although I do miss New Zealand and Australia, it is nice to be back home. The whole trip was absolutely fantastic.

For lack of a more creative idea, and the fact that the original plan was thrown out the window when we weren't in nature enough, my inquiry question is do more women or men go to the bathroom at airports?
Hypothesis: I believe that more women than men go to the bathroom at airports.
Procedure: When resting, or whenever possible, watch both bathrooms. Count the amount of people that go into each within a matter of two minutes. Record information. Repeat this process at a different set of bathrooms.
Data: Within two minutes, an average of 17 girls went into the airport bathrooms, while only and average of 6 boys went into the bathroom.
Conclusion: My hypothesis was correct. More girls go to the bathroom rather than the boys at airports.
New Questions: Do more women or men spend more time in the airport bathroom?


The floor at the Aboriginal show!

So my room mates and I find ways to pass the time.

Biggest spider I've ever seen in the wild!

Australia, you're so beautiful. I'll miss you.

Alvaro can't take pictures...but the sunrise from the plane was beautiful.

Day Nine 6/16/11

Today was our last day in Australia. We went up a rainforest on a mountain in an old Western styled train. It was such a pleasant and bright day. When we got up to the top of the hill/mountain there was a tiny, little town that had lots of cute restaurants and cafes, places to shops, and a street market. I had probably the best sandwich and muffin ever! Then we went to a little hippie store withs lots of cute clothes. Then we went and looked around the market for a while and I ended up getting a ninja voodoo doll. Then we took a 20 minute tour through the rainforest and learned some history of the plants. Then we went to an Aboriginal show before learning how to throw boomerangs, spears, and watch two shows; one about the creation story, and one explaining and demonstrating the didgeridoo. When we got back to the hotel we were able to go out again for dinner and dessert, but came back early to get packing.

1) The Great Barrier Reef was absolutely beautiful. It was a really great and fun experience. I'd love to go back again!
2) Asians markets in Aussi ever crossed my mind, but after seeing the adorable influences, I fell in love. I love seeing where Australia received a lot of it's modern culture. And I love Asians in general.
3) I need to go back to Rangitoto College! I absolutely fell in love with the kids! I even cried when we left. I wanted to go back so badly.
4) Rotorua was my absolute favorite place ever! Even though it smelled like rotten eggs, it was so culturally inspiring and an overall fantastic place. It was so cute and uninhabited.
5) The Opera House was so cute as well as beautiful and showed me that there was something truly magical out there in the world. I would have loved to go see a show there,
6) Whaka was a beautiful little town. The way the Maori people live, their food, their culture, their music and dance, their family, their beliefs, their values were all inspiring. The trip to this tiny village just made me so happy.
7) The Rocks' market was so freaking cute! There were a lot of homemade things there which told us a little about the people, their art, style, and inspiration. I love the variety of shops there and the adorable things being sold.
8) Cairns was seriously one of my favorite places that we went. The city was so small and beautiful, and full of nice people. I felt like I belonged there.
9) Kuranda and the rainforest was very nice. It was so offbeat and out of the business of the rest of Australia. It was like it's own little world. I felt like the town itself preserved a lot of history and culture.
10) Sydney was a party city! It was fun and full of (night) life. I really did enjoy this city, and find it much more exciting and friendlier than Chicago.


I really liked this train.

This is our family weed. <3

Australia really is such a gorgeous country.

I officially love this place.

I am SO JEALOUS!

Day Eight 6/15/11

Today we went to the Great barrier Reef. It was really sunny this morning, but a little cold and windy. We got on to the boat and it took us about two hours to actually get to where we were would be swimming in the reef. By the time we got our snorkeling gear on the wind had died down and it was much warmer. I expecting the water to be a little chilly, but it was actually super warm, like bath water. Honestly, the water was warmer than the air. And the reef was gorgeous! Then, I went on a glass-bottomed boat to see the reef without getting wet, and we saw a sea turtle! When we got back to Cairns we were given the chance to go hang around town again for dinner. We went to a cute little Thai restaurant and got ice cream for dessert!

the Great Barrier Reef was absolutely amazing! I loved everything about it; the coral, the fish, the water, the sand. I fell in love the moment I stepped on the boat in the morning. The view of the ocean and city were beautiful, and the sun was up and shining. We had a nice, bouncy boat ride to the reef (I love waves!) and awesome lifeguards! I was so excited when we got to the reef, and the weather was lovely! The water was a lot warmer than I thought it would be. And it was so clear that I could see the colorful fish before even going it. When I put my head in the water it was like entering a different world. One of the best feelings ever, I think, is being able to "breathe" under water. Being able to stay down there forever. It's breathtaking. And seeing the amazing coral and fish was wonderful. This was a once in a lifetime experience that I was given a chance to do. The reef itself was so nice and there were places I saw over where the coral was literally only three inches below me. And I got to touch and feed the fish! The water was just absolutely gorgeous and crystal clear. After I got out of the water I got to relax in the sun, eating rice with chopsticks and drinking warm tea. There were a lot of nice people of the boat too! There was even a touch tank where I held a sea cucumber! It was gross and squishy and slimy! I thought  it was going to eat my hand or something. Then I got to hold a cute little clingy starfish! It was adorable. Next, I went on a tour boat to experience the reef without getting wet. We learned about the reef and sea life, and we even saw a wild sea turtle! I really enjoyed learning so much about the reef, plus it's beautiful to look at! At points while I was swimming I would take off my life jacket to swim to the bottom of the reef for a better look at everything. The coral was so close at times that I got cute once. But I know it didn't mean it. The reef and I still love each other. Then I went to see the lifeguard, Yuki, for some fish food. The fish completely swarmed my legs as I fed them! Then we took pictures by the sunset on the boat ride back. All in all, it was an amazing, beautiful, once in a life time experience.


Fishes! So many fishes...

Swimming in the Great Barrier Reef? Yeah, we did that.

The perfect end, to the perfect day.

♫ Neeaarrr, far....whereeeEEEEVVVEERRR YOU ARE! ♫

I like the moon. I think it's beautiful.

Day Seven 6/14/11

Another travel day! Whoo-hoo! The flight wasn't bad at all. I loved Cairns the instant we arrived. It was warm, sunny, small, and peaceful. We went to go swim in the salty pools, since there was no natural beach. Then we got Asian noodles for lunch! Yum! For the evening, a small group and I got to walk around the small city of Cairns to find a place to eat, and go around stores to shop and explore the town. Today was just a very laid-back, easy-going day filled with fun in the sun! There wasn't too much that was a very important event, but it was a very nice day overall. And we got really good ice cream!


I loved Cairns, so much. It was so simple.

"So, we're going to live here after we graduate high school, okay?" - Amanda Platt

Yes, I like kissing Steven's half-eaten shrimp for dinner.

How could I forget the awesome Asian noodles for lunch? Nom nom nom! :3

Day Six 6/13/11

Today was our free day in Sydney. We were planning to go whale watching, but that canceled at the last second (they probably should have told us before we too Dramamine...talk about sleepy all day!). We went into town for lunch, where there was a small market going on. Then we went to take the Bridge Walk tour. This tour was absolutely amazing! It was so much fun, and you learn a lot from your guide while standing hundreds of feet from the highway below! The distance is only about a 30 minute walk, but with the stopping for picture taking and the dragging of our safety equipment, it took nearly three hours! It was also cold and windy. it was still enjoyable though! Then, during the dark evening we went to the Sydney light show, where they displayed moving lights across the buildings of the city. It was so beautiful. Then...we walked through the city...where there are a LOT of strip clubs..

Traveling independently, I think I'd do alright. I would have a lot more money, since I always let people borrow some, or I pay for my friends when they can't. I am also very good with directions and finding my way around. I have a good memory and don't usually get lost. So, I'd be okay at finding my way around. I'm also very organized, and it's super easy for me to keep track of my things. I'm the typer of person who likes to take things easy and chill, which would kill me on this trip, but then again, I would book so many things into one day anyways. I'd spread things out for a longer stay. I also think it'd be easier to travel alone rather than a big group of people. People are either slowing me down or rushing me through things. It would however be a struggle if I was alone. I like people too much. I would have to take care of myself and make sure I'm safe. I may also be unfamiliar with the area (which is not a problem since we have Alec). I probably wouldn't be able to plan as many things out, like the bridge walk. Oh, and my biggest fears would most likely get the best of me. First, the dark. To me, compete darkness is the scariest thing in the world. And who knows when I'll have to encounter the dark (alone, no less!). And secondly, talking to people on the phone. I don't know why, but I hate it. That's where the real trouble would come in. But chances are, I'd probably just suck it up, face my fears for a while, and travel anyways.


Some awesome crazy bird man.

Opera house; up close and personal.

We did that! Heck yes! It was really windy, but I wasn't scared at all.

Jellies! <3 Giant jellies!...Giant fake jellies...

This light show was so awesome and just stunning.

Day Five 6/12/11

This morning we went to a cute little cove with a great view of the Opera House and Bridge. We took pictures there, then went to a rocky trail where we could see the opening of the harbor. We took a relaxing ride around the city for a couple hours seeing main sites and visiting places with a great view of the city. We stopped at a small, beautiful beach that was almost completely empty except for a few joggers and a surfer. We wrote in the sand and took picture by the water before stopping at a cute little cafe across the street for tea and a muffin. Then we took a lovely little boat tour around the Sydney Harbor and arrived at the Sydney Wildlife Center. I loved going in and seeing all the native animals! Then we had a nice meal at the center before going back to our hotel.

So far, this trip has been absolutely amazing! I'v loved every second of this adventure, even the super long plane rides. I feel like I've been trying a lot of new things and I've taken a lot of new experiences with me as I go along. I've been going off on my own more often, taking more risks, and trying to step out of my comfort zone much more than normal. I've found it much easier to let things go and settle with what I have. I've also been really good at not relying on technology, other people, or things I would usually depend on. In New Zealand I think that I did s good job on spending my money and balancing my time. i also tried really hard to make new friends and overcome my problems alone without the need for help. Honestly though, I think I'm having trouble in finding the beauty in absolutely everything I see. I am usually very good at finding an attractive side to everything. But especially in the city of Sydney I feel as thought I've been getting distracted or I'll see something and find it not very interesting. I'm going to try very hard to work on focusing more on the beauty and importance of things rather than just the thing itself.


I still love the Opera House more than anything else in Sydney.

“We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.” - John Hope Franklin

I so wanted to go surfing!

He was getting ready to attack us! Thank goodness for glass walls.

What is this? Lazy kangaroo day?

I loved the butterflies!

Day Four 6/11/11

Today was a travel day. Fun. We pretty much just woke up, flew to Sydeny, Australia, and bumbed around town all day. We walked pretty far, going from our hotel to Rocks. We got some nice views of the Opera House and Bridge. It was rainy and cold pretty much the whole day, but it was nice to get a free day to walk around and see the city. We even got the chance to go up to the Tower in Sydney to get a great view of the city! Then we went to an outdoor mall for lunch, and I had a yummy dish called veggie bibimbap! Then we got walk around a street market (in the pouring rain) for a while. Then we got lost (well, prehaps we weren't lost, but we took a wrong turn at least) on the way back to the hotel, in the cold, dark rain. Despite the pretty chill day, we were all so tired afterwards. We didn't do much, but it was still all new and fun.

Sydney is a surprisingly small city. I expected it to be much bigger than it actually is. It is very beautiful though. It's not too busy or packed, and there are lots of Asians (and of course other interesting people)! It's not to windy (like Chicago) and there are a lot of cute little stores and open areas, as well as a street market and an outdoor mall (both of which we saw today)! Sydney is very different from our city of Chicago. They both are on a water front (Sydney has the ocean, Chicago has the lake), but Chicago seems much bigger, more packed, windier, and more...bland. Sydney is just a prettier city to see [despite all the strip clubs (I've actually never seen a strip club in Chicago)]. It seems much warmer and a much nicer city compared to others in the U.S. Sydney is a very lovely and beautiful city in Australia, but it is nothing like what I expected it to be. There are a lot of cute shops, places to visit, and things to see. Sydney is a city that has many world famous icons that anyone can easily recognize. Chicago has some famous icons, but our icons are not nearly as popular and seem much more...frankly, boring. In general, Sydney is a very fun, beautiful city that is much more happy and appealing, but not nearly as busy or windy, as our (kind of) boring city of Chicago!

I love the plants here, seriously.

Poor Shelby thought this was a real turtle. Um, no.

This is obviously a sign for me to stay in Aussi.

I seriously love Korean food.

Creeping on Asian street performers is healthy every once in a while.

I was so excited to see the Opera House. It's not as white as it seems in on google...

I love this sign, but it doesn't change the fact that it took us an hour to get home tonight.

Day Three 6/10/11

This morning we woke up in the bright and early hours of the day to go on a morning hike though the Redwood forest. It was damn and chilly and I felt like we walked forever just getting to the bus stop! There were too many kids for one bus, so a few other students and I waited for the second one. When we got to the forest we didn't have long to walk around, but it was fun! We walked through the trees, took pictures, and sang Disney songs! Going back to the hotel, we also had to wait for the second bus. For our last day in New Zealand we drove up back up to Auckland. There, we went and visited Rangitoto College. It was so much fun! First off, I love the school; it was beautiful. The kids were so amazing and kind! And their food was so good! Everything about those three hours were great! I was so sad when we left. New Zealand really was an amazing place.

Today was seriously one of the greatest days in New Zealand. What we did today made me fall in love with this country. It was rainy and cold this morning, but we decided to go for a hike in the Redwood forest. After not being able to make it on the first fully packed bus we finally made it to the hiking trails. We had just less than an hour but we speed-walked the trails while singing Disney songs! Then we waited forever after being denied access on another packed bus for the second time that day. But besides the transportation, I loved going into the fresh, beautiful forest surrounded by nature. Tonight we went to the Rangitoto College for three hours. We got to meet our wonderful pen pals and exchange gifts! They were all so fun and nice and cute! I think everyone got along really well with each other. Then we got to see heir school's Haka - which was really amazing, but terrifying. Then we got to learn and preform the Haka which was so much fun! After walking around their school and spending the evening with everyone, I feel like I, along with many other people, made a connections with the Kiwi kids. I was really sad when we had to leave, and I feel like, now, a piece of me is missing - some part of me stayed back with the Kiwi kids. I can now see how absolutely breathtaking New Zealand is because of today.


"Smell that fresh clean air!" *takes a big sniff, the chokes on a bug*

How much paper do you think you could make with this BEAST?!

I don't know, Kiwis are weird and like...llamas? alpacas?

The most awesome people ever! I miss Rangitoto College.

She was like my twin. <3

Day Two 6/9/11

Today we woke up to a beautiful sunrise! We all went outside to take pictures, because it was just so darn pretty. Then we took the "duck tour" taking and old duck boat across town and around the lakes! It was so fun and nice, but a little chilly. Next, we went to a geothermal village to learn about the Maori culture and the way people live. It was so inspiring and beautiful and taught me a lot about the Maori past. I would seriously love to take a bath in the geothermal springs! They were so nice and warm, and are really good for you too! We also went to see a sheep shearing show which was...very interesting. We also went zorbing, which was so unbelievably fun! To end our day, we had a tradition Hangi dinner and dessert! It was so good and fresh! There was also a show where the Maori people preformed the Haka, twirled poi, and sang and danced to their native Maori songs. It was very beautiful and interesting.

Today we experienced a lot of cultural influences of New Zealand and the Maori people. During the morning time we went to the geothermal village, Whaka. A lot of culture is preserved in that town. The children of important Maori ancestors live in that village today, and they keep their culture alive by practicing their native dance, song, language, food, style, and culture in general. They consider family and kindness to be very important. The fact that they  brought us through their village and let us experience their home really shows that they are trying very hard to not only keep their culture alive, but they wish to spread their life and ideas to all who wish to learn from them. The dinner last night was also very inspiring. There were some native Maoris who showed us their culture's song and dance, and they even prepared their native food for us. The dinner was so yummy, and the songs were so much fun and inspired me to learn of their culture. We got to see  their homes, churches, baths, food, dances, an the Haka up close and personal. Some people also got to go up and try the native dance; girls with poi, and boys dong the Haka. Overall, I think today's experiences were very culture enriched and eye opening.

The more beautiful sunrise I've ever seen.

Annoyance Level: Teenagers < Teenagers with "duck quackers"

I still have no idea how to pronounce this.

Not gonna lie, those sheep were kind of  creepy...

The best thing I've ever spent $35 on. :D

Day One 6/8/11

Today we arrived in Auckland, New Zealand. It was completely beautiful. For the whole three hour bus ride down to Rotorua I was captivated by the land. I knew instantly that I would love this place. We stopped for lunch in "Hobbiton" (Matamata). Is it just me, or is the Lord of the Ring trilogy, like the best thing ever? I was just excited to be in the country where the movies were filmed, let alone a little town dedicated to them! Before we got to our hotel, we went luging, where you're basically racing down a twisting-turning hill in a tiny, old cart, wearing only a helmet. Despite the lack of complete safety, it was very fun! It gets your blood pumping, flying down the hill thinking that your going to crash the whole time, but effortlessly managing to keep a smile on your face. That is, until you get stuck and even an old lady comes up and passes you... When we got to Rotorua, yes it smelled like rotten eggs, but that was normal after a while. It was beautiful and had so much history to it, such as the beautiful bath house, that is now an art and history museum. And who could forget the wonderful Pak n' Save! Overall, New Zealand made a very good first impression on me.

My first impression was almost non-existant. I didn't believe I was actually in New Zealand. I still don't really. My first "Oh my gosh!" moment was when I saw the beautiful  hills and green grass. All I could think of was how amazing the land was. There's lots of Asians here, which is really nice too. One of the main culture shocks I had was the sheep! There are so many sheep and cows and livestock and vegetation! There is so much more natural life here in New Zealand compared to America. Also they way that they drive here. They drive on the opposite side of the road, and are a lot more generous to let pedestrians pass on the streets. Oh, and not to mention their accents! The people in general are very different from the average American. The last main culture shock was the food and drinks. I expected them to carry different brands of nutrition, but I was expecting them to carry different foods completely. I  also would have never thought to put pineapple on a meat sandwich. Even their fruit is much sweeter than the fruit in the United States. A lot of their food is grown naturally and chosen when ripe for best flavor. Here in New Zealand they also have different types of fruity soda and instant hot beverages.
I am really excited for what's coming next! I can't wait to go zorbing! Yay! I'm also excited to have a traditional Hangi dinner and learn the native Maori Haka! I'm pretty much just super happy to be here and can't wait for the rest of the trip! I really want to learn more about the native New Zealand/Australian life/culture/food!

I loved out group for this trip, I really did.

Gotta love 20 hours on a plane.

When Amanda and I first looked out our window in Rotorua we were speechless.

Lord of the Rings = Pure Awesome

I loved this bathhouse so much. It reminds me of Spirited Away.