On paper, my summer didn’t look too busy: three weeks in New Zealand and 10 days at home followed by another three weeks in Italy. But in practice? I rocked back and forth between losing my mind to boredom and desperately trying to get enough sleep to feel rested. Jet-lag as a result of my return journey from New Zealand (a whopping 16 hours) prevented me from getting enough sleep each night, and by the time I was finally adjusted, I was only days out from flying to Italy. The one silver lining in my awful sleep schedule was that the hours of my jet lag keeping me awake gave me quiet time to reflect on New Zealand while letting the anticipation for Italy build. In my dark and silent room, my thoughts were loud.
New Zealand was not my first time travelling internationally. Because most of my family lives in South Korea, I would travel there often to visit them. Something about my New Zealand trip felt different somehow, and it was not just because of the study abroad aspect. Korea is a country I am very familiar with – their language, customs, and even fashion are things I know all about and comfortable handling. Everything about New Zealand, however, was completely new to me, and that made every day feel like a discovery. Here was a culture I knew nothing about, and I was excited to learn more. I got to meet with middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students during my stay, and not only did I get to learn about kiwi culture from native kiwis, I also got to know the students as individuals – how Andrew wanted to be a pilot when he grew up, Alicia’s favorite bird was the fantail, and Emma was losing faith in her government.
My interactions with locals wasn’t the only thing that made New Zealand so memorable. Through a number of hikes, I got to marvel at New Zealand’s natural beauty as well. Seeing orcas at sunrise, dolphins at Milford Sound, the Southern Pacific sprawled out before me, the Milky Way with the naked eye were all moments where my breath was taken away. During the all-too-quiet nights back home, I often wished to be back in New Zealand. I missed it all: the friends I made, the food, the nature. My adventures were unparalleled, and it was definitely one of the best decisions I’d ever made. But the biggest lesson New Zealand taught me is that beauty is truly all around us. I may not be seeing orcas at sunrise, but I do see a family of deer grazing on the grass in my backyard. Maybe the stars I see above aren’t as impressive or visible as they were in Lake Tekapo, but I get to trace out the Big Dipper and the rest of Ursa Major, which are only visible from the Northern Hemisphere. The beauty, while different, still exists, and it is thanks to New Zealand I am able to appreciate beauty in all its forms.
Of course, reflecting endlessly on the past doesn’t do me any good, especially when I have a new adventure on the horizon. It is tempting to run comparisons: how will the two countries measure up against each other? Which one will I end up liking more? But I am taking care to stop these thoughts once I catch them. It will be my first time in Italy, and I want to ensure I make the most of my trip. To do this, I should go in with eager eyes and an open mind, free of judgement. I am both grateful I got to explore New Zealand and excited to step foot in Italy. Where one chapter ends, another begins, and I cannot wait to see what this next chapter will bring me.
Haere ra, Aotearoa, and ciao Firenze!