This past week, we travelled around the South Island, landing in Christchurch, and then eventually making our way to Queenstown.
Throughout the trip, we have had the opportunity to interact with students and professors from other universities. We went to the University of Canterbury and learned about the differences in community in New Zealand, more specifically the higher need for volunteering, inclusive of sports coaches, firefighters, EMTs, lifeguards, coast guards, and parental involvement in schools. A couple days later we had the opportunity to talk with university students involved in the Student Volunteer Army (SVA), a student organization of volunteers started after an earthquake hit Christchurch in 2010 where students decided to act make a difference in their community. This reminded me of Culverhouse LIFT and its initiatives around Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Selma.
Throughout the trip, we have gone on many hikes. The most brutal one so far was in Lyttlelton, a town south of Christchurch. It was around five hours and around six miles. The first part was the most brutal, the Bridle Path, that was incredibly steep. However, past the Path, we walked through the hills and eventually made our way down through a forested area and back into town from the opposite direction, where a farmers’ market we attended was earlier in the day. Even though the hike was challenging in many ways, the views and feeling of completing such a hurdle made it so worth it.
After Christchurch, we made our way to Queenstown, stopping in Lake Tekapo for the night, where we could see the Milky Way Galaxy and the Southern Cross, which is only viewable in the Southern Hemisphere. The next day we went to Mt. Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand.
Finally, a large group of us went to Milford’s Sound, about four hours away from Queenstown. Words can’t describe how incredible it is. The views, the waterfalls, the dolphins, EVERYTHING was so beautiful and most definitely a highlight of this trip. It was worth the eight hours in a bus to see some of New Zealand’s breathtaking beauty.
We head back to the North Island to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, for the final stint of this trip!
