E Noho Ra Aotearoa
Goodbye to New Zealand
The Most Fantastic Trip Ever
Wow! Where to even begin! I can't believe that my time in New Zealand is over! I fly out tomorrow morning for Australia! In less then two weeks I will be back walking the streets in Brigham City. I have a lot of mixed emotions. As excited as I am for somethings, I'm really going to miss somethings over here. This truly has been (like the sign says) the most fantastic vacation ever. It's crazy to think that the chain I made for Ashlyn before I left is down to about 13 days! Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday I was making this chair for her. I can't believe my time in New Zealand is gone.
The first thing I want to talk about is how grateful I am for the people who were chosen to travel with me. First this trip would not have been so incredible if it wasn't for Jim and Linda. I was fortunate enough to have an incredible professor come over with us. Jim was here to help me in anyway I ever need. If I called him with a problem he was there. Linda was like a mother to us over here. She sympathized with us, and comforted us when things got hard, and made sure that we were going to be okay. Jim and Linda made sure that we had the most incredible experience and that we were able to make the most of our time in New Zealand. I am so grateful for all they have done for me, and also for allowing me to have this opportunity. Not only that, but I'm also grateful I had Jim as a professor to observe me in the schools. Jim was more worried about us actually teaching then he was about us trying to complete the exact assignments the University wanted us to do. I am so grateful that he wanted us to teach and be normal teachers rather than trying to make a fake situation in the classroom. This allowed me to grow as a teacher and prepared me better to be an intern next fall. My teaching experience wouldn't have been the same without him.
The next thing that has made this trip is James Ahmu. James is the brains of this entire trip. He willingly gives his service to us for these three and a half months. Without James we wouldn't have had any of the fun activities that we did. Several of the things we did like driving on the beach at 90 mile beach, going on the glow worm walk at hot water beach, otara markets, all of the drives we went on, sand dune surfing, the place we stayed in Rotorua and Queenstown, and so much more are contributions of James. Not only that, but driving us around and letting us use his van makes it so the entire group can go together. Whenever we go anywhere he leads the way, and the other van follows-without James we would be lost! Not only that, but James is one of the most giving people I know. When I thought I was going to have to leave a bag here then pick it up after Samoa we called him and he was quick to say he'd help us in anyway he could. I am grateful for the friendship that I gained over here.
Along with these people I am so grateful for the girls that were selected to come over here. This was something I was really scared for. Sixteen girls is a lot of girls to get along with. I also was scared because I didn't know any of them. I had no idea that when I left here I would leave with fifteen new best friends. I have grown so close these girls! It's strange to think how a few months ago I didn't even know these girls, and now I know them better than people who have known them for years! I am grateful for the friendships that I made over here! I also am grateful for these girls and the way we all got a long. One thing that was unique about our group was that everyone in the group wanted to do things together. Very rarely did we want to split up or do things by ourselves. Usually if we wanted to do something, we all wanted to do it, and we all did it together. Because of this it brought a unity and a sincerity about our group that even James said has never happened before. Jim and Linda said we are the most incredible group that they have ever taken on a study abroad, and it's because of the unity that we developed within the group. Several of our teacher said the same thing. I am so grateful that all of the girls worked so hard to create this unity! It truly allowed us to make very strong friendships. These girls have become like a family for me these last few months.
(This was our goodbye picture. That's why we are all crying.)
The next thing I am so grateful for is for Henderson South. One of the reasons I love this community so much is because of the school I was in. All of the teacher and staff accepted me as part of the community and made ma kiwi. I wasn't an outsider traveling in, I was part of the staff. The ideas and the things I had concerns about were real and were brought up to the principal. They wanted me there and allowed me to teach and be a teacher. This is something else that has prepared me better to be an inter next year. I know without this experience I wouldn't feel as ready to be an intern next year. I am grateful for the associate teacher I was placed with. Trude allowed me teach and teach the way I wanted and felt comfortable. She was so good to say, "I know you are just learning, I just want to let you teach and if you want some feed back I'll give it, but right now you just need to try teaching without being judged." This was so good for me. It allowed me to see what things work and what things I didn't like as much. I am so grateful for Trude and the staff at Henderson South! I know even the girls over here didn't get the same community feel as the girls that were at Henderson South. I am so grateful for everything the school did for me. I will always have a place in my heart to for Henderson South and Room 3.
The next thing I am so grateful for is for everything that I got to do over here. There are so many things in my life that I probably never would have done if I wouldn't have come over here. I probably never would have got to go zorbing, I never would have gone sky diving, I never would have gone bunjy jumping, I never would have gone sailing around the harbor, I never would got to see Cape Reinga, I never would have dug a hole and reached hot water, I never would have caught 3 fish with my bare hands, I never would have become a Blues fan, I never would have seen glow worms, I never would have tried some of the fruits and food I have had over here, and so much more! This allowed me to try some adventure things that I never would have done in my life. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to do these things.
One thing that happened over here that I had no idea would happen that I am so grateful for was the way of life it taught me. People over here live a much simpler life than people in the states do. As much as I love the life style in the states, I am constantly going, and always have something else to do. I book myself so full that I don't take the time to slow down and enjoy the beauty of all of God's creations. This is something I am so grateful for. I have learned that it's okay to slow down, breath, and enjoy every moment of my life. Although it's great to look forward to the future, if I always am looking forward to the future, I am missing out on so much that is happening right now. I am so grateful I learned how to slow down and enjoy a slower, more relaxed, simpler life. This taught me the things that are most important in life. Although I already knew what was most important, it reiterated it in my life. I know that spending time with my family and the ones I love is the most important thing in the world. I learned that it's not always about what you are doing, but the relationships you build, and the friendships that are made from the tiny insignificant events. I am forever grateful for this.
The next thing that has made this trip incredible was the help and strength I received from my Mom and Dad, Carol and Chuck, Natasha and Natalie, and Ashlyn and Bryson. My family has been so incredible to help me out and support me. None of this would have been possible without their love and support. It was great to have a niece who missed me so much that she would give up her play time minutes just to talk to me and say goodnight to me. It was always so nice to hear the voice of my family members. Not only that but even all of the e-mails I got. It was so nice to get e-mails and feel the support and the connection to home that it gave me. Knowing that I had several people to call back home if something went wrong made it okay and reassured me that I could do this and would be okay. I don't know where I would be without all of you guys, and I am so grateful for everything you have done for me. I love you all so much! Thank you for everything. You all mean so much to me.
The next thing I am grateful for is my roommate Hannah! Although with our home stay we had some interesting situations, I am grateful that Hannah was there to go through those with me. We had our fun staying up late at night photo shopping pictures, talking, playing the Friday song, Jamming out to music, cooking, doing jump jams in our room, Samoan Zumba, and all of the fun little things we did just messing around out our house! We had a lot of fun times, and I am so grateful for that.
I also am especially grateful for the friendships I made with Neeley, Emily, and Nicole. Although all of us got along extremely well and had a unity within the group, I am grateful for the closeness that developed especially with these three girls. I will always remember the fun times we had rooming on our holiday's together. Playing the uke together and getting uke lessons, staying up late and chit-chatting, adventures on the beach late at night, Nicole and her bug radar, Waking up to "STEM ROLLER", freaking out with Neeley because we thought our bed had bugs in them, Emily teaching me how to surf, laughing at absolutely nothing, making "the face" at Emily and Nicole, dancing in the van with Neeley, asking people "Hey what you going to do today?", seeing Purth, Tiger, and Wishbone, sayings like "hands underground," posting Air New Zealand commercials to their facebook pages, and all the little inside stories we have developed on this trip! I am so grateful for the friendships I have made with these girls! These little things are the things I will always remember, and I am so grateful for the friendships I have made, this trip would not have been the same without these girls.
I also am very grate in whole to my Heavenly Father and for the blessings he has given me. I know that all of these opportunities were given to me for my benefit and to help me grow and become the person He needs me to be. I am so grateful I have had these opportunities and have had so many tender mercies of the Lord placed upon my head. I feel so truly blessed to have been given all of these amazing incredible experiences. This truly has been the trip of a life time. I will forever be a kiwi, and have a special place in my heart for New Zealand and the people of this land. I love New Zealand, it has become my second home. I am so grateful for all I have been given, the love and support I have had and everyone that has made this trip possible and made it the best experience of my life.I truly am so blessed.
Things I am Going to Miss | Things I am Looking Forward To |
|
|
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment