January 17th: In Review... |
Journal Entry:
In Review...
The plane ride home is long and arduous and adventures tend to be tiring, but reflecting on the past month I’ve spent in this beautiful part of the world, has made that ride a joyous occasion. I wrote this on the plane, and edited it for my journal, and edited twice more for the website, and in all revisions I have found myself lost for words. Just like a diamond with too many perfect cuts, I find myself looking back and getting lost in the array of beautiful images that just make it all a blur. At this point, editing it for the website I finally feel ready to say my dedications and I do know now that the experiences this trip has brought me, and the person I am after going, are better than I was when I first left America.
New Zealand despite all of its problems in environmentalism, ethnic diversity, class, and political silence is still, to me, a jewel to the world. Its land is the best of the world’s landmarks, and its people are the greatest of the world’s people. I leave considering it a home now, and one where friends have been left behind. Wellington especially holds a place for me as a home away from home: The cramped and damp city buildings along Wellington's Cuba Street, and the beautiful hill mountain homes of Johnsonville I had the privilege to stay in. These memories will make it easy to move there at some point in the near future. The people's smiles as they went about their days, and the wonderful conversations in the coffee shops, the bars, and the burger-shops, still ring loud and clear in my ear, and they have changed me.
Australia Has been an experience a world away as well and just 4 hours separated from New Zealand Melbourne’s rich, diverse, and mixed culture makes me think fondly of the times I had in art class with all of my friends. A special energy and fervor filled the air in Melbourne from the painted and tagged alley ways, to the Victoria art gallery, to the center for moving image. "The people were open and nice and helpful. They were insightful and strong, and engaged in their world and their environment. They wore emotions on their sleeves and they made sure you yourself felt welcomed and at home as well. Sydney, despite its New York street feel and its high class tastes, also drowned me in creative flow as I stood in the shadow of one of the greatest architectural achievements of the past 500 years; the Sydney Opera House who’s given me a place to aspire too on a bucket list a mile long.
To my study abroad class, I want to thank you for the experiences that you have given me. Good and bad, tense and relaxed, happy and sad, they have defined for me a better understanding of myself and our world at Colorado State, and in New Zealand, and Australia. You have given me the power to explore my creative side once again, you gave me permission to feel, and you helped me become more of a person then I ever could have been without your influence.
And to Pete. You have nurtured me as a student, helped me as a friend, spoke to me as a person, and lifted me up as a professional. This is more than one could ever ask for a teacher and the experience was thanks to your allowing me to come on this trip and encouraging me to stay involved. I really do feel proud to say you were my professor, and I sincerely hope to study under or with you again.
In Conclusion this trip has been a once in a lifetime ethnographic experience. It has been the greatest of adventures, and it has been one of the biggest achievements of my life. I learned so much about other's cultures and ethnic challenges - from the Maori and Pacific Islanders to the Aboriginals and American Imperialism. I have learned so much about my own culture. I am truly blessed to have gone on this trip conscious of the cultural background I have and come back with a new point of view on my own.
The plane ride home is long and arduous and adventures tend to be tiring, but reflecting on the past month I’ve spent in this beautiful part of the world, has made that ride a joyous occasion. I wrote this on the plane, and edited it for my journal, and edited twice more for the website, and in all revisions I have found myself lost for words. Just like a diamond with too many perfect cuts, I find myself looking back and getting lost in the array of beautiful images that just make it all a blur. At this point, editing it for the website I finally feel ready to say my dedications and I do know now that the experiences this trip has brought me, and the person I am after going, are better than I was when I first left America.
New Zealand despite all of its problems in environmentalism, ethnic diversity, class, and political silence is still, to me, a jewel to the world. Its land is the best of the world’s landmarks, and its people are the greatest of the world’s people. I leave considering it a home now, and one where friends have been left behind. Wellington especially holds a place for me as a home away from home: The cramped and damp city buildings along Wellington's Cuba Street, and the beautiful hill mountain homes of Johnsonville I had the privilege to stay in. These memories will make it easy to move there at some point in the near future. The people's smiles as they went about their days, and the wonderful conversations in the coffee shops, the bars, and the burger-shops, still ring loud and clear in my ear, and they have changed me.
Australia Has been an experience a world away as well and just 4 hours separated from New Zealand Melbourne’s rich, diverse, and mixed culture makes me think fondly of the times I had in art class with all of my friends. A special energy and fervor filled the air in Melbourne from the painted and tagged alley ways, to the Victoria art gallery, to the center for moving image. "The people were open and nice and helpful. They were insightful and strong, and engaged in their world and their environment. They wore emotions on their sleeves and they made sure you yourself felt welcomed and at home as well. Sydney, despite its New York street feel and its high class tastes, also drowned me in creative flow as I stood in the shadow of one of the greatest architectural achievements of the past 500 years; the Sydney Opera House who’s given me a place to aspire too on a bucket list a mile long.
To my study abroad class, I want to thank you for the experiences that you have given me. Good and bad, tense and relaxed, happy and sad, they have defined for me a better understanding of myself and our world at Colorado State, and in New Zealand, and Australia. You have given me the power to explore my creative side once again, you gave me permission to feel, and you helped me become more of a person then I ever could have been without your influence.
And to Pete. You have nurtured me as a student, helped me as a friend, spoke to me as a person, and lifted me up as a professional. This is more than one could ever ask for a teacher and the experience was thanks to your allowing me to come on this trip and encouraging me to stay involved. I really do feel proud to say you were my professor, and I sincerely hope to study under or with you again.
In Conclusion this trip has been a once in a lifetime ethnographic experience. It has been the greatest of adventures, and it has been one of the biggest achievements of my life. I learned so much about other's cultures and ethnic challenges - from the Maori and Pacific Islanders to the Aboriginals and American Imperialism. I have learned so much about my own culture. I am truly blessed to have gone on this trip conscious of the cultural background I have and come back with a new point of view on my own.