Before arriving in New Zealand, I was all sorts of nervous and excited. I wondered how I would react to new aspects of culture and people from that culture. In a sense this was just like going to college for the first time, a “fresh start.” As this was my first time spending so much time in another country, I think as much as I learned about New Zealand culture, and others’ identities, I learned just as much about an ‘American’ identity. It’s interesting how, oftentimes you’d never notice things about yourself or where you come from until you’re completely outside of that place, now looking at it from an outsiders perspective. I would say my identity definitely has more influence on my experience of the world, and those with identities differing from mine of course experience the world differently. One of my roommates grew up in South Africa, I absolutely loved hearing about her childhood, and it was honestly fascinating to realize just how different lives people live depending on where they are from. I have met and made friends from all over the world, I think one of the nicest things I have noticed and experienced is mine and others’ desire to simply learn about each others’ cultures. Countless conversations revolved around question after question, people just eager to learn about all kinds of things- whether it was silly things like the way we talk, dress, or what we eat, to more serious topics like worldview, education, or law, it was visible no one wanted to insult each other or anything of that sort. We just wanted to know more about it, and talk about it. This entire journey was a learning experience, just as all of life is. Learning about myself and growing as a person, learning about New Zealand & the other side of the world, and learn from new friends. With one week left in New Zealand, I’m just left with lots of curiosity about what returning back to the states will be like, and excitement about where the future will take me next!
