When I was 14 years old, I went on a two week study abroad to New Zealand and Australia. I took the trip through Edventures Down Under. There were two options: travel with the group for fun, or do added school work and get credit. The added school work was different for each student because it depended on what our school accepted and allowed. At first I wanted to get school credit, but when I learned that Provo High would only give me .5 of an elective credit, I decided to just enjoy myself.
On that trip I tried lamb, Nutella, coffee, and meat pies for the first time. It was also my first time outside of the the American continent. (I had been to Canada before, but does Niagra falls actually count as travelling outside of the country?) It was also my first time travelling without any family members to take care of me - I still had an adult who was over me.
One other student from Utah went on the trip. His name was Ryan, and he was three years older than me. We were the only Mormons on the trip. No romance happened between us. Our teacher couldn't go at the last minute, so we were placed with the California students. My best friend from the trip was a girl named Zuri who was from New York, and she is the only one I'm still in contact with.
I had lamb stuffed ravioli for my dinner on the plane, it was delicious! (For airplane food.) We flew to New Zealand first. We landed at 5:00 in the morning. We spent the day touring. We visited the Blue Mountains, and went to a Maori village where we got to learn about their culture and watch some performances.
The next day we were taken to our "farm stays" where we would spend two nights with New Zealand farmers. Me and three other girls went to stay with a family who were dairy farmers. They had three kids and their son's friend was also living with them. Our guide had told us that it was customary to serve wine to guests at dinner. I remember freaking out on the inside. How do I tell them I can't drink wine without offending them?! Luckily I didn't have to worry, the parents drank wine at dinner, but all the kids drank soda. They served us lamb with vegetables. It was really good. I have to admit that I don't think I could have ever eaten lamb willingly. I mean, they are such cute and sweet animals. But I'm glad I tried it. I haven't had it since because it's expensive in the restaurants. The family really piled their plates with food, and they asked me and the other girls if we were anorexic. We assured them that the amount of food on our plates was normal.
That morning at breakfast I tried Nutella on my toast. I know that Nutella exists here, but I had never tried it until then. Now I'm a Nutella addict! I always put it on my crepes, and have found different bread and muffin recipes.
They took us around their farm. We had to wear these socks and boots that went up past our knees. They had us help move the cows from one field to another. They didn't mention that when you open the gate that the cows start running! I almost got run over, and one of my boots came off (they were the son's boots so they were huge), so I had to go look for it when the cows were done running. Oh my gosh, that was an experience. They also showed us their sheep and their horse.
That night after the parents went to bed, the kids brought out beer. It was my first time being around alcohol and watching people drink. I was really grateful when the other American girls refused the beers offered to them. All their kids drank, even the 12 year old! I was really uncomfortable and scared the whole night.
We were reunited with our group the next day and had a relaxing day in Auckland. During some down time, I got permission to get picked up by my friend Lindsey and spend a few hours with her and her family. Lindsey's family took me out to dinner and they had me pick. I said, "I think a taco sounds good." They started laughing and said, "Mexican food doesn't exist here. There are a few restaurants, but they are expensive." That was definitely new for me since Mexican restaurants are abundant here.
We went to Australia after that, where we spent the next week and a half first in Sydney then the
Three aboriginal men taught us about their culture and performed. There were no women to be seen, supposedly because aboriginal women don't cover their chests. At the wildlife preserve we saw crocodiles, koalas, dingos, and kangaroos. We could actually go into the kangaroo habitat and pet and feed them. We had lunch there and that's where I tried coffee and a meat pie. I though both were disgusting. Lol.
Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef was amazing! It wasn't my first time in the ocean, but it was my first time being on a boat and swimming in an area where I couldn't see any land, just water surrounded me. There was a ladder and platform that went about one or two feet into the water so that you didn't have to jump off the boat. On the platform I stuck my head in the water, and a school of blue fish swam right past my face! I jumped out and screamed, "I am not going in there!" My friend Zuri said, "Oh yes your are!" and she pushed me into the water! It was so beautiful. The guide said that there had been a recent storm, so the reef was kind of broken and brown. It would heal and get it's color back. I would love to visit again one day and see all the brilliant color that I had missed.
Swimming at the beach was fun and relaxing. The water was warm, which was great, because I have only been in the Ocean in California, and those beaches are cold. At the amusement park I conquered my fear of "scary" rides, and I took a picture with a Koala bear.
This was an experience that I am so grateful that I got to do. It took me four years to save for it, and even though I came home and basically had to start my savings over from scratch, I don't regret it. I saved money from both countries, and I have pictures and memories that will last a lifetime.
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