Hello everyone
(or the small sample of people who actually reads this blog)! I know it’s been
a while, aided by the fact that internet around these parts is short-lived and
infrequent. I can’t believe that I’ve already been here for over a month! But
when I think about it, so much has happened that it’s hard to believe it’s only been a month.
I’ll start with this past week, because
it is the most fresh in my mind. As some of you know, I’ve grown up with a
strong love of…dolphins! And though I used to cry because I didn’t get to touch the dolphins in Sea World or Marine World or
whatever dolphin-related book I was reading, this week I cried for a very
different reason. While we were boating out to the Poor Knights Islands (said
to be one of the best places to snorkel in the world), I was lying down feeling
seasick out of my mind (not quite out
of my stomach), when I heard the cry, “Dolphins!” and immediately fell over
myself sprinting onto the front deck. What started as a tiny puff from a blowhole in the distance
turned into a pod of dolphins leaping all around our boat, almost close enough
to touch. I was so overcome with emotion that yes, I cried, because I’ve been
wishing to see a sight like that since I was about five years old. (PICTURES -->)
Since I feel like it would be impossible
to fit everything, I’ll give a few highlights…
Kayaking. When we first had our kayak training, we
had to practice flipping over and getting back in. I was pretty afraid to flip my
kayak over, because (probably like most people) I have an intrinsic fear of
drowning and I was afraid I’d get stuck under the kayak and feel like I was
drowning (not actually drown, but I was afraid of that feeling itself, ya know?) But
I’ve noticed that since I’ve been here, I’ve already become better at
acknowledging, and then stepping away from fear, and expanding the elastic
limits of my comfort zone. Who knows what crazy things I’ll be doing in week
15.
Zorbing.
Nuff said.
Bioluminescent
phytoplankton! Apparently
bioluminescent algae is a thing on the east coast (of the U.S., and maybe on
the west coast for all I know), but to me it was the first time I’d seen
anything like it. We spent almost a week at a place called Opoutere, kayaking
through mangroves, and getting our hands dirty doing a survey of shellfish in the
estuary. On the last night, we all walked down to the beach together, and as I
got closer to the water, I let out a tiny gasp as a speck of glowing green
flickered and then disappeared. The more I watched, the more tiny, glowing
phytoplankton I saw wash in and out, a fleeting bright green spark that was
like the ocean’s magical little attempt at a shooting star.
La Rosa Park. It was refreshing to visit La Rosa Park,
just a park outside of Auckland, and see someone who leads community-driven
projects/engagement. Gabriella, a cheerful Aucklander we met, was the leader of
daylighting, or un-piping, a stream in a park, and adding community gardens
and art to it, and it was heartwarming to see how well it had gone. I think
that community-driven or grassroots activism can be a murky topic in that there
aren’t specific guidelines on how it’s done, but it was great to see that it
can, in fact, be done (and done well).
Tongariro Crossing. Known as the best day hike in New
Zealand, and one of the best in the world, I have to say that this was by far
the coolest hike I have ever done in my life. The 15-mile hike included a side
trip climbing Ngauruhoe, or as some people know it as, Mount Doom. Every turn
and summit held a new landscape, from the impressive Mars-like Mount Doom, to
bright blue and green lakes, to dramatic red volcanic cliffs, to thick
rainforest. If you’re ever in New Zealand, DO THIS.
Food
Matters Conference. Not
part of the program, a group of about eight of us went to a conference called
“Food Matters” in Auckland. A scientist, a chef, and Dr. Vandana Shiva, an
incredibly inspiring environmental activist, spoke about the hidden and
devastating effects that the use of genetically modified foods have on the
environment. Going in, I had little qualms with GMOs, but I learned so much
from the conference. There is a profound amount of pesticides used on them
(since they are engineered to be pesticide-resistant), and the side-effects of
using sprays such as Roundup can be incredibly damaging. Also, the superpower
chemical companies like Monsanto are stripping the rights of seed saving, and
the biodiversity of crops, away from farmers all over the world. Knowing that
GM foods are not grown here in New Zealand is a comfort, but it seems their use
may be impending (GM foods are already
imported).
Hobbiton. Okay, I fully embraced the American
tourist experience for a day, and took a tour of the Hobbiton movie set, a huge
sheep farm-turned-very-realistic Shire. Not only was it amazing how life-like
it all felt, and exciting to dress in provided hobbit clothes, but it was
mind-blowing the amount of detail that went into the set. There was even an
intricate process for creating fake moss on the fences, and during filming,
someone was required to walk back and forth across lawns to create
natural-looking footpaths.
TLDR: EVERYTHING
IS MAGICAL AND I’M SO GLAD I’M HERE WITH MARINE LIFE AND MOUNTAINS AND MORDOR
(yes, I will continue the alliteration theme)
~Peace~
P.s. Pictures
finally here
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