Ive traveled to a lot of diffent places and too a lot of places all over the world, but every where ive gone ive been with someone to guide me through it. weither it was my parents or the school guideing me all my travels have been easy because i never had to act for myself and suvive by myself.Ive always had someone with me to guide me tell me where to go and what to do. So i Have to wounder what it would be like to travel on my own without anyones help. I have always had confidence when i have travled never afraid to try new things, eat new thing, and step outside my comfort zone. It is possible however that im so fearless because ive always had someone to fall back on someone to help me if anything bad would happen a cousion to profect me. Maybe if that comfort of having someone to fall back on wasnt their i wouldnt be the same person i am when traveling i wouldnt be as confident and fearless on my travels.
Id like to beleive that if i were to be on my own traveling that i would be perfectly fine, but one can never be sure. Just when my mom leaves for a week on a business travel i cant help but feel a sense of being lost, wanting to call her all the time to ask about what time i have to be at pratice or what i should make for dinner and how to make it. So i can only imagine how i would be by myself in a forign place. Hell i dont even know if i could make it all the way to the airport from my house safly all by myself. Im sure if it were forced upon me i would be able to manage but that not exactly what im tring to say. Im saying if i were to travel on my own able to return to my nice safe home at any time or risk everything in a new country or envirment i dont know if i would stay outside that comfort zone.
In the end i truly dont know i would do on my own. Most likly get in a lot of trouble at first. I would think, "awesome i can do anything i have noone to tell me otherwise", but than i would quickly relize why their our so many rules in the first place. And once all the fun is gone and im on my own having to defend for myself, i just dont know how well everything would turn out. Right now, with my teachers and all the other students getting my back and surporting me, i feel like i could take on anything. i could climb the highest mountain, eat the stangest foods, and take on any challage. Thats with everyone behide me however maybe if you toke all that away from me just maybe i would be able to say that just as confindently or maybe i wouldnt be able to say that at all.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Day 6 Pool and Food Challage
Today was one of those days that you just never forget and even 10 years from now go back and say remember this and that. Today we didnt even do all that much but thats maybe what made it so awesome so rememable. The fact that we didnt have to do so much today that we were able to just chill and have a great time made it so much fun. We started the day a little later than normal letting everyone recover from all the adventures we have had. Then to start off the day we went to a local pool time place which sounded pretty fun at first but turns out it was colder than exspected. We all jumped in and tried to go swimming but after only a couple minutes was right out of the water, but that wasnt to bad or anything. Instead of swimming our little group just got on tans on and talked. The guys all juggled a soccer ball or messed with the rugby and honestly it was all just good fun no worries just summer in Australia. it was that perfect peace of a day i miss so much from back when you were a little kid. We got a couple hours just to explore and do whatever we wanted and it was the best. We all got icecream and Paige walked just to the otherside of the street and hers feel to the ground. If you know Paige this was the worst thing that could have happed, but even that didnt stop her from just buying another and having a blast.
The easy going of today went on as for the end of the day we got free time again to eat diner and just explore. It was so much fun. For dinner we wanted stake so we decided on a nice looking resturant with an easy going feeling. It was the nice sit down dinner ive been wanting this entire trip and the food was awesome but thats not what made the night so special. What made tonight the best was the fact that the resturant had a little food challage and after some consideration Arnud decided to try the challage. He had to eat 2 kg of food otherwise known as 4 and half pounds of food it was interest. Me and Zoey decided to spilt the meal that Arnud had to beat and between the two of us we only ate about half the huge amount of food. Arnud however destroyed the challage and managed to eat the entire meal! No joke 4 and a half pounds of food and Arnud manage to eat it all and he isnt even a very big guy. It was awesome and a lot of fun. I told him all this tips on how to make sure he ate everything and i think it actually helped it was awesome. He got his meal for half off and got a free t shirt it was cool. Everything time was all just good worry free fun and thats how i wish everyday could be.
The easy going of today went on as for the end of the day we got free time again to eat diner and just explore. It was so much fun. For dinner we wanted stake so we decided on a nice looking resturant with an easy going feeling. It was the nice sit down dinner ive been wanting this entire trip and the food was awesome but thats not what made the night so special. What made tonight the best was the fact that the resturant had a little food challage and after some consideration Arnud decided to try the challage. He had to eat 2 kg of food otherwise known as 4 and half pounds of food it was interest. Me and Zoey decided to spilt the meal that Arnud had to beat and between the two of us we only ate about half the huge amount of food. Arnud however destroyed the challage and managed to eat the entire meal! No joke 4 and a half pounds of food and Arnud manage to eat it all and he isnt even a very big guy. It was awesome and a lot of fun. I told him all this tips on how to make sure he ate everything and i think it actually helped it was awesome. He got his meal for half off and got a free t shirt it was cool. Everything time was all just good worry free fun and thats how i wish everyday could be.
Day 5 caught in a trance
This trip is everything for me right now, i love this city and this trip and i dont want it to end. I think when we travel its a way to test on limits and go outside our comfort zones. In a way everyday can be described as a "travel", because as long as you step outside your comfort zone a person is traveling to a new place or tring something new they have never experienced. A lot of what we did however wasnt true traveling, i feel any way. Today everyone was like in a trance just walking through the seeing the sights but not being a part of the actions. We all walked though today with no purpose just seeing the sights to say we saw them. It midway through the trip and everyone is feeling a bit home sick so its understandable i just hope tomarrow everyone shakes today off and we have a blast.
Today at the zoo i went with a new group of people in order to see the animals. I went with Alex and Paiges group and it was a bit quiet at first but turned into a pretty good time. The animals they have here are a lot different than things ive ever seen in any other zoo. Cros the size of cars, kangeroos hoping around, and all kinds of groos bugs and poisonous snakes it was pretty cool. I got to pet a Koala too it was awesome! To end todays adventure we all ate dinner and i sat with the new group of friends it was nice. I dont know about everyone else but i love animals so today was definatly fun and i wont forget it.
Today at the zoo i went with a new group of people in order to see the animals. I went with Alex and Paiges group and it was a bit quiet at first but turned into a pretty good time. The animals they have here are a lot different than things ive ever seen in any other zoo. Cros the size of cars, kangeroos hoping around, and all kinds of groos bugs and poisonous snakes it was pretty cool. I got to pet a Koala too it was awesome! To end todays adventure we all ate dinner and i sat with the new group of friends it was nice. I dont know about everyone else but i love animals so today was definatly fun and i wont forget it.
Day 4 Sydney
Today started off pretty slow but got more and more fun as it went on. Today we didn't do anything major but it was the first day in Sydney and the city is astounding. The people here are all well spirited and it all reminds me a lot of New Zealand besides the fact that here is a giant city. Compared to Chicago the two cities fell a like in some ways but have a lot more differences than similarities. Both cities have that whole not stop action feel,everything moving everyone with places to go things to do. The one difference i feel between the cities is how less packed everything here in Sydney is. The buildings dont all stand right next to one another their space and the city itself goes on for miles as far as you can see. Sydney over all feels open and although it is a city it doesnt quiet feel like it, i mean to say its one with nature at the same time as being this big industrial place. In Sydney you feel one with the nature and the feeling only get stronger as you get closer to the water and Sydneys harbor. The opera house and the bridge are just as awesome as all the photos ive seen of them and the harbor itself is a bit breath taking.
We went to this giant tower today in the middle of Sydney where at the top you could see all of Syndey for miles, it was an awesome view. Buildings of all kinds, a faris wheel, and stadiums the view honestly couldnt be compared to anything and no camera could possible capture the view. Next we went to the mall, but i wasnt feeling it. The local mall by us had more varity and shops than the one we went to and everything in the mall was over priced not that i was interested in buying anything. The last thing we did today was go out ot eat in groups and the teachers picked where to eat. My group went to the crappest place in town called Istabul it was not very good and the wait toke forever. I was hopeing for a nice sit down place but that didnt happen instead we settled for werid local fast food which wasnt to bad, but not to good either.
We went to this giant tower today in the middle of Sydney where at the top you could see all of Syndey for miles, it was an awesome view. Buildings of all kinds, a faris wheel, and stadiums the view honestly couldnt be compared to anything and no camera could possible capture the view. Next we went to the mall, but i wasnt feeling it. The local mall by us had more varity and shops than the one we went to and everything in the mall was over priced not that i was interested in buying anything. The last thing we did today was go out ot eat in groups and the teachers picked where to eat. My group went to the crappest place in town called Istabul it was not very good and the wait toke forever. I was hopeing for a nice sit down place but that didnt happen instead we settled for werid local fast food which wasnt to bad, but not to good either.
Day3 Collage Vistit
Today was pretty aweosme but not as good as yeasterday,but still awesome.We started pretty early today because everyone had to check in thier suitcases because we had to get ready to leave New Zealand and go to Australia.Soon after checking in the suitcases we had to check into a bus in the pouring rain to drive for a while, it wasnt the funnest safe to say. We went to the redwood forrest and it was pouring, no joke cats and dogs as the trim goes. We had to run all over town just to find the right bus to take us to the forrest so before the adventure even began i was feeling a bit misable. After i got use to the rain however i had some fun climbing trees and jumping into some puddles. It was all fun and games until i started to get cold and we had to wait for 45 mins for the bus to pick us up and i had to stand in my wet cloths. To make things worst the buses which only came every 30 mins couldnt fit all of us so i had to wait in the second group for the second bus to come. Everything i was wearing today got soaked and is hanging up now as me joey and arnud take turns using the hairdyer on everything.
Next thing we did today was visit the high school, which was awesome.Everyone their was really nice and some of the student welcomed us with a powerful Haka.Than we ate a BBQ inside because it was still raining like crazy, but it didnt put any stain on the party. After the BBQ we got to talk with the highschoolers and ask questions it was awesome. We ended the night with a walk around the campass which was definatly pretty impressive. Their stadium was inground and when you walked down into it, the feeling was unreal, like one of the professal fields the crowd roaring. At the stadium we met a couple of girls who we played rugby with for a little before going back inside it was pretty fun. It was an awesome way to end an awesome day.
Next thing we did today was visit the high school, which was awesome.Everyone their was really nice and some of the student welcomed us with a powerful Haka.Than we ate a BBQ inside because it was still raining like crazy, but it didnt put any stain on the party. After the BBQ we got to talk with the highschoolers and ask questions it was awesome. We ended the night with a walk around the campass which was definatly pretty impressive. Their stadium was inground and when you walked down into it, the feeling was unreal, like one of the professal fields the crowd roaring. At the stadium we met a couple of girls who we played rugby with for a little before going back inside it was pretty fun. It was an awesome way to end an awesome day.
Day2 local village visit
Today... was pretty awesome! We woke up to a beautiful sunrise, a snapped a couple of amazing photos . The steam from the local thermol activity wrapped around everything in the landscape, it was the most incredible sunrise ive ever seen. I have to say this trip by far is a lot better than the one last year to china. Sure China was awesome and i learned a lot about their culture and everything, but not once last year in China could i stop and just say wow to everythig around me in complete peace.China was all about culture shock but here in New Zealand its less about being in a different country and culture, this year it seems to be more about fun, enjoying a different world. I mean the people here as ive said are just so nice, the atmostphere so peaceful, who couldnt just love it here.
Today we saw the local native village, whos culture is surround on the local hotspring activity.Their culture is so strong and influencal that even in todays world, were the past is often forgotten, it plays an everyday part in the everyones lives here in the village. The local people all highly depend on the hotsprings here, cook by it, wash in it, worship it. Its all very special, and i wish back home we wouldnt have forgotten so much of are native people's culture.The funnest thing we did today however was the O-Going. Basically you got into this gaint rubber ball and you roll down a hill,it may not sound like much but it honestly was crazy! The first time i went with Joey and Sean down and i dont know how many times i got knock around and punched by one of them, but i dont remember ever stop laughing.
Tomarrow i cant wait to see the other high schoolers at the local highschool here in New Zealand.Also i here that they are going to perform the haka for us which should be a pretty cool site to see.The Haka is a tribal war dance the locals still perfrom ment to intimidate the enemy.Tomarrow we are going to have even more fun for sure and i cant wait.If i could i would make this trip last forever, ill never forget the things ive done on this trip.
Today we saw the local native village, whos culture is surround on the local hotspring activity.Their culture is so strong and influencal that even in todays world, were the past is often forgotten, it plays an everyday part in the everyones lives here in the village. The local people all highly depend on the hotsprings here, cook by it, wash in it, worship it. Its all very special, and i wish back home we wouldnt have forgotten so much of are native people's culture.The funnest thing we did today however was the O-Going. Basically you got into this gaint rubber ball and you roll down a hill,it may not sound like much but it honestly was crazy! The first time i went with Joey and Sean down and i dont know how many times i got knock around and punched by one of them, but i dont remember ever stop laughing.
Tomarrow i cant wait to see the other high schoolers at the local highschool here in New Zealand.Also i here that they are going to perform the haka for us which should be a pretty cool site to see.The Haka is a tribal war dance the locals still perfrom ment to intimidate the enemy.Tomarrow we are going to have even more fun for sure and i cant wait.If i could i would make this trip last forever, ill never forget the things ive done on this trip.
Day1 first day in New Zealand
Today was the first day we landed in New Zealand. Im crazy tired right now because the flight here went over some many time zones that when we finally got here although it felt like not it was acutally the next day, meaning we went forward a whole day in time with next to no sleep! When we got here it was midday so we had no time to recove but that was alright because today was pretty awesome. Just walking outside the airport today my heart was pounding to the new beat of New Zealand. New Zealand is the most beautiful place ive ever been too, the trees and wildlife clung to ever hillside, the land green as far as the eye could see. The trees themsevles held a present unlike anything ive see before, taller than any buildings around the trees twisted and bent around each corner and yard. The sight of New Zealand is unbelieveable but if im dreaming dont wake me up just yet.
New Zealand for the most part is everything you expect it to be, quiet, beauiful, and a pleasent little counrty. A fairly small population of only about 4 million for the entire country most of the land is vast farms clustered with cows and sheep.Everyone here in the counrty is very nice and seems to be reasonably layed back, its all very peaceful here.To think that the popultion is a small as it is, is a strange. Its nice nearly all year, the land is beautiful, friendly neirbors, Id love to live here so i just assume it would have a lot more people who would want to live here too.
The funnest part of today was the lugeing we did. Its like racing down a path track down a hill similar to go karting but no motors.Sean nearly sent me flying off the side of a hill a couple times today as we raced down the hill, it was intense.Tomarrow i hope it is just as fun as it was today. We are going O-Going where you get into a gaint ball and get pushed down a hill that should be pretty aweosme.Also we are meeting the natives of this country and i think have a meal over their which will be really cool to see.
New Zealand for the most part is everything you expect it to be, quiet, beauiful, and a pleasent little counrty. A fairly small population of only about 4 million for the entire country most of the land is vast farms clustered with cows and sheep.Everyone here in the counrty is very nice and seems to be reasonably layed back, its all very peaceful here.To think that the popultion is a small as it is, is a strange. Its nice nearly all year, the land is beautiful, friendly neirbors, Id love to live here so i just assume it would have a lot more people who would want to live here too.
The funnest part of today was the lugeing we did. Its like racing down a path track down a hill similar to go karting but no motors.Sean nearly sent me flying off the side of a hill a couple times today as we raced down the hill, it was intense.Tomarrow i hope it is just as fun as it was today. We are going O-Going where you get into a gaint ball and get pushed down a hill that should be pretty aweosme.Also we are meeting the natives of this country and i think have a meal over their which will be really cool to see.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Sorry Letter
Dear Aboriginals,
We the government of Australia wish to apologize for the wrongs our past leaders have done to your people. We have taken your land from you, stolen the very means of your exsistence. Stolen your land and forced you to move from it, and because of that we the people of Australia and its leaders wish to say sorry. Sorry we have taking away your house, means of food, and property. We are sorry we have taken your children from their homes and forced them into our school. We have stolen everything from you both physicaly and mentally. You came to us with an open mind and we shut ours to your strange world. We called you savage and inhuman because we did not understand your unquie world. For all this and much more we the people of Australia and the government wish to apologize and say sorry.
Not amount of words can every fix the wrongs done to you, we known, but its a step in the right direction. The government of Australia wants to find peace and blance between the two of us. Dear Aboriginals, natives to this great land that is now home to all kinds of man and women, please find it in your hearts to forgive all the horrible things the government has done to you. Live not in the past but rather try and look toward the furtune with us, try and understand the sorrow we fell for our past action, try and understand the feeelings we are now tring to express. If we could we would rewrite history but such a task is impossible, so are least now with this letter and a brave face forward perhaps we the government and you the people would build a new furtune.
We the government of Australia wish to apologize for the wrongs our past leaders have done to your people. We have taken your land from you, stolen the very means of your exsistence. Stolen your land and forced you to move from it, and because of that we the people of Australia and its leaders wish to say sorry. Sorry we have taking away your house, means of food, and property. We are sorry we have taken your children from their homes and forced them into our school. We have stolen everything from you both physicaly and mentally. You came to us with an open mind and we shut ours to your strange world. We called you savage and inhuman because we did not understand your unquie world. For all this and much more we the people of Australia and the government wish to apologize and say sorry.
Not amount of words can every fix the wrongs done to you, we known, but its a step in the right direction. The government of Australia wants to find peace and blance between the two of us. Dear Aboriginals, natives to this great land that is now home to all kinds of man and women, please find it in your hearts to forgive all the horrible things the government has done to you. Live not in the past but rather try and look toward the furtune with us, try and understand the sorrow we fell for our past action, try and understand the feeelings we are now tring to express. If we could we would rewrite history but such a task is impossible, so are least now with this letter and a brave face forward perhaps we the government and you the people would build a new furtune.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Living in the moment
Live for the moment not to remember it, this is what i live by. Sure it is all good to take the picture of the amazing things around you but whats the point if your not taking part in the wounder of the world. In Elliott's story "savor the trip don't tweet it" he posses a very reasonable concern for technologies negative effect on the travelers experience. Elliott fear that the traveler has lost the point and meaning behind his travels. Elliott in his story tell how people focus to much on posting and publishing their travels that they forget to actually travel. The trip because about face book and the tweet rather than experiencing something new.
I personally travel for the fun of it, because for me the more i travel the more i learn about about myself. But if someone got to much entangled with their 'tweet" their personality would not be challenge they wouldn't learn but rather their face book would. When traveling i find it best not to evening think about the camera the cell phone and the status update. I simply go about my travels and take in with my own mind and not technologies and experience the trip my way.
Technology is a conveinlent sorce which is avable to help remember a trip, but thats all it should be. Technology should not determine the trip and its meaning rather should just be a failsafe. As Elliott said in his aricle "used in moderation, technology can make your trip go more smoothly," but it should not be the dominate influence on any trip. Though it is fun to go and play video games when im bred at home, while away in the great barrier reef i think ill take swimming and experiencing the great open waters over super mario bros any day.
Thus when we travel, no matter the location boundariers on technology should be made. A limit should be placed on some items and others should be banned completly. Things like cell phones and cameras are souces which are useful but should be restricted some what. While things like gamboys labtops, tec should be banned completly while anyone one travels. The only exspection is the safty of the hotel room, but even then should not be the main focus of the mind.
I personally travel for the fun of it, because for me the more i travel the more i learn about about myself. But if someone got to much entangled with their 'tweet" their personality would not be challenge they wouldn't learn but rather their face book would. When traveling i find it best not to evening think about the camera the cell phone and the status update. I simply go about my travels and take in with my own mind and not technologies and experience the trip my way.
Technology is a conveinlent sorce which is avable to help remember a trip, but thats all it should be. Technology should not determine the trip and its meaning rather should just be a failsafe. As Elliott said in his aricle "used in moderation, technology can make your trip go more smoothly," but it should not be the dominate influence on any trip. Though it is fun to go and play video games when im bred at home, while away in the great barrier reef i think ill take swimming and experiencing the great open waters over super mario bros any day.
Thus when we travel, no matter the location boundariers on technology should be made. A limit should be placed on some items and others should be banned completly. Things like cell phones and cameras are souces which are useful but should be restricted some what. While things like gamboys labtops, tec should be banned completly while anyone one travels. The only exspection is the safty of the hotel room, but even then should not be the main focus of the mind.
Creation Story
Nearly every human culture has its myths and legends, those stories tell of how man became to be, why the world acts as it does, and why humanity is here. Why is it that man is so concerned about his creation? Well that is simple, man is a being of knowledge and curiosity, naturally as humans we such the unknown, thus what's more unknown to us then are own existence. In order to explain the phmoninoms of the natural world humans theorize ideas and make their gods and myths which create and manipulate this world. Every today in modern society people live under the belief of a god and dictate life according to the gods rules. I'm not trying to say that god is a myth but rather just i am just giving a example of how modern beliefs of our creation are so similar to that of the creation stories made by cultures round the world since the start of mankind.
Take the Maori and Australian Aboriginals creation stories for example, just like todays bible the stories focus on the family, struggles within life, and how from nothingness came the world. The Maori stories are mostly about the family and the role each part of the family plays in the creation of the world, like how the mother is god of the night, this shows off how concerned the Maori people must have been about the family and what each person in a family could represent and how each should act.The Australian aborigine stories too foucos on the family, but this time the mother was the god of the sun. Too different stories but both have one main focus and that is family and how the family reacts with itself. Because of this stricking similarity one can conculd that both societies focus on family values and in some ways were very a like in life style. Just like in todays creation stories the family to the aborigines is the most important and main focus of base value.
Now dont get me wrong their are plenty of differences between the two aborigines and todays life but to see the base similarites gives some view into the human mind set. All stroies may focus on the family at some point but this does not mean every story is the same. The Maori people of New Zealand for instants explains how voilence seprated nearly the entire god family, while the Australian aborigine story tells the story of the children of the gods coming together to spilt apart their parents. Both tell the story of the family and even how disagreement can spilt a family but the austalian story has the gods children untied together for a cause as aposed to the New Zealand story has voilence only something that separtes people.Clearly the two cultures share the same values but through this example one can see how one culture thinks differently about the actions of violence as opposed to the other.
Just because the old stories of past cultures may seem compltly ingorant to the new world we now know does not mean they should simply dismissed. As stated before the stories of old are very similar to what some believe now. Just as the two cultures stories say the eternal problems of man is his relationship with his family and his volient nature. Though science can tell us the sky is blue, science can not tell us why the sky exsistence and why humans wish so bad to float in its vastness. A myth however can tell us why we exsistnece why we pretend to have wings. This is the importance of the pass, it gives humans insight on their minds, the old stories can address problems that are impossible to even ask and that is the magic behind the old myths and the new stories of today.
Human life exisit that is simply the truth. No matter which story you choice to believe weither you enbrace science, religion, or both the fact is, we are. I myself do not believe in any one story rather chose to make my own story but just like very other stories of old or new i think of we humanity is here and what vaules are the best. For me as an idvivual to worry about the next life or the life before is simply a waste of time, the past is already done and the furtune is what one makes of it. Thus I live my life by my own creation story and take from every stroy i read to from my own and learn from every experience.
Take the Maori and Australian Aboriginals creation stories for example, just like todays bible the stories focus on the family, struggles within life, and how from nothingness came the world. The Maori stories are mostly about the family and the role each part of the family plays in the creation of the world, like how the mother is god of the night, this shows off how concerned the Maori people must have been about the family and what each person in a family could represent and how each should act.The Australian aborigine stories too foucos on the family, but this time the mother was the god of the sun. Too different stories but both have one main focus and that is family and how the family reacts with itself. Because of this stricking similarity one can conculd that both societies focus on family values and in some ways were very a like in life style. Just like in todays creation stories the family to the aborigines is the most important and main focus of base value.
Now dont get me wrong their are plenty of differences between the two aborigines and todays life but to see the base similarites gives some view into the human mind set. All stroies may focus on the family at some point but this does not mean every story is the same. The Maori people of New Zealand for instants explains how voilence seprated nearly the entire god family, while the Australian aborigine story tells the story of the children of the gods coming together to spilt apart their parents. Both tell the story of the family and even how disagreement can spilt a family but the austalian story has the gods children untied together for a cause as aposed to the New Zealand story has voilence only something that separtes people.Clearly the two cultures share the same values but through this example one can see how one culture thinks differently about the actions of violence as opposed to the other.
Just because the old stories of past cultures may seem compltly ingorant to the new world we now know does not mean they should simply dismissed. As stated before the stories of old are very similar to what some believe now. Just as the two cultures stories say the eternal problems of man is his relationship with his family and his volient nature. Though science can tell us the sky is blue, science can not tell us why the sky exsistence and why humans wish so bad to float in its vastness. A myth however can tell us why we exsistnece why we pretend to have wings. This is the importance of the pass, it gives humans insight on their minds, the old stories can address problems that are impossible to even ask and that is the magic behind the old myths and the new stories of today.
Human life exisit that is simply the truth. No matter which story you choice to believe weither you enbrace science, religion, or both the fact is, we are. I myself do not believe in any one story rather chose to make my own story but just like very other stories of old or new i think of we humanity is here and what vaules are the best. For me as an idvivual to worry about the next life or the life before is simply a waste of time, the past is already done and the furtune is what one makes of it. Thus I live my life by my own creation story and take from every stroy i read to from my own and learn from every experience.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Australia, New Zealand, and America
When a person first thinks of Australia, New Zealand, and America one first begins to count all the ways in which the three countries are different. Truth be told however there are several similarities between the three countries which are often overlooked. For instance all three countries gained their independent from Britain, and all three countries wished to have a republic type government. Now although the way the three countries went about gaining independence was different fact is all three countries have very similar backgrounds. Australia, New Zealand, and America foug
ht for their Independence, all in different ways, and their cultures may be vastly different but they two have many similarities.
ht for their Independence, all in different ways, and their cultures may be vastly different but they two have many similarities.Its was on January 18th 1788 when a traveler from Britain first claim the island of Australia for his country and deemed it suitable for a penal colony. But his authorities thought otherwise as the bay was to dangerous the supplier of fresh water was to low. Thus the colony instead became a slave and soon a prison colony were Britain sent its outcasts.(culture.gov.au) Seeming to be doomed by its early history Australia, first was an outcasts island were no man wished to travel and only convicts were welcome. In fact when Australia did eventually rise and become its own power outside convict imprisonment, it stilled did not want a new life for itself. Britain had to nearly force Independence onto the people of Australia. For Australia throughout the years had gotten used to depending on Britain and now that Britain was willing to let go Australia was not.(thecheers.org)
An odd way indeed to gains one's Independence, not nearly as radical as America's way to break away from Britain. Just like Australia the U.S. was first established by Britain and it was only by gaining our Independence that we became our own country. Unlike Australia however we were not a slave or convict colony, but rather a normal colony made of free people. So when the U.S. tried to declare their freedom form Britain Britain would hear nothing of it. We were an investment Britain was not willing to loss, thus we went to war with Britain to gain our Independence.
Again this was not the case for New Zealand Independence. Just like both the U.S. and Australia New Zealand started out as a British colony. Only New Zealand way of becoming independent was neither an act of war or force upon them. Rather New Zealand slowly gained independence through its evolving continual status, where slowly it acted more and more apart from Britain until it finally simply was not a part of Britain. (wikipedia) Now that doesn't go to say that New Zealand is without British influence from time to time, but it is its own country now. If fact even in times of complete chaos such as the tragic earthquakes that hit New Zealand recently killing 113, Britain shows little interest.(time magazine)
This is how Australia, New Zealand, and America share the same history. By being connected with Britain in the way that they are the three very different countries find common ground. It really all is quite interesting to think of how ones life would be different if Britain had chosen the U.S. as their convict colony or if Britain never found us at all.
why we travel
Why do i chose to travel? Well there are several reasons why i chose to travel. One being the fact that traveling is so much fun. No matter where i go i always seen to be able to find some enjoyment out of it. Swimming in a new place,tasting a new food,finding a new treasure, these are all fun things to do as we travel. In fact if traveling wasn't fun i don't think i would do it at all, but that is just the thing traveling is always fun, or at least for me. Lyer being a great traveler himself may disagree with my thoughts,Lyer seems to think traveling is only just for fun. Lyer says the traveler travels to get away from himself and to find himself. Confusing? Yes, but i get what he is saying we travel to test our character and test what type of person we our. And in that respect i guess i agree i too love to travel to test my limits, i simply just have a great time while testing myself.
You see every time i travel i want to experience new things, i want to go on a new adventure, that is what traveling means to me. As Lyer put it i like to see the world through "new eyes". Every time people travel they have a tendency to compare and contrast everything. "This place is nice but that one is better," type deal. Well i hate when people do that, because i believe it is a foolish idea to ever compare and contrast. The two things are not the same thus trying to compare them is nothing more then a waste of time. People when traveling need to get out of their comfort zones and take what they experience as a unique substance all its own. When we travel we should take everything for what it is, see everything with "new eyes". That is what i think Lyer was tyring to say, and i agree with him.
We as traveler need to step outside our own personal bubbles. The world can not fit into our bubble, no we must step outside in order to see the world for what it truly is. Lyer says "what gives value to travel is fear," this by all means is truth. If a traveler near steps out of his comfort zone to experience the world he or she will never truly traveler the world. It is that slight fear of tasting a new food and not knowing what its flavors are that make a new treat so deilious. It is the fear of failing at something new that make mastering it so rewarding. This is how fear makes ones travels have value.
It is not fear alone which brings value and worth to traveling however. Several means bring a true adventure to an end. Another thing the traveler consistently forgets is he or she is not traveling only for themselves but for the the place they travel to also. What i mean by this is the traveler must be as Lyer put it, "a carrier pigeon", something that both carriers with it something from where it came and back from whence it traveled. A traveler can not expect to take as much as they want from a place unless they to are willing to give. A traveler a mean to say must learn as much as he can from the new world he visits and in exchange let the new world know about him.
As Lyer put it, "even those who don't move around the world find the world moving around them", for the travelers of the world can it as they go through it. This quote tells the tell of a city block becoming a neighborhood in America, of a tower gone famous in France, this quote shows how the traveler has change the world. If the traveler had only taken from the places he had visited then those places would no longer be beautiful, but because the traveler gave and traded his experiences he has forever enhanced the beauty of the world. This is why people travel, why i travel. I want to not only test myself and have fun but also learn and share my knowledge with the world.
You see every time i travel i want to experience new things, i want to go on a new adventure, that is what traveling means to me. As Lyer put it i like to see the world through "new eyes". Every time people travel they have a tendency to compare and contrast everything. "This place is nice but that one is better," type deal. Well i hate when people do that, because i believe it is a foolish idea to ever compare and contrast. The two things are not the same thus trying to compare them is nothing more then a waste of time. People when traveling need to get out of their comfort zones and take what they experience as a unique substance all its own. When we travel we should take everything for what it is, see everything with "new eyes". That is what i think Lyer was tyring to say, and i agree with him.
We as traveler need to step outside our own personal bubbles. The world can not fit into our bubble, no we must step outside in order to see the world for what it truly is. Lyer says "what gives value to travel is fear," this by all means is truth. If a traveler near steps out of his comfort zone to experience the world he or she will never truly traveler the world. It is that slight fear of tasting a new food and not knowing what its flavors are that make a new treat so deilious. It is the fear of failing at something new that make mastering it so rewarding. This is how fear makes ones travels have value.
It is not fear alone which brings value and worth to traveling however. Several means bring a true adventure to an end. Another thing the traveler consistently forgets is he or she is not traveling only for themselves but for the the place they travel to also. What i mean by this is the traveler must be as Lyer put it, "a carrier pigeon", something that both carriers with it something from where it came and back from whence it traveled. A traveler can not expect to take as much as they want from a place unless they to are willing to give. A traveler a mean to say must learn as much as he can from the new world he visits and in exchange let the new world know about him.
As Lyer put it, "even those who don't move around the world find the world moving around them", for the travelers of the world can it as they go through it. This quote tells the tell of a city block becoming a neighborhood in America, of a tower gone famous in France, this quote shows how the traveler has change the world. If the traveler had only taken from the places he had visited then those places would no longer be beautiful, but because the traveler gave and traded his experiences he has forever enhanced the beauty of the world. This is why people travel, why i travel. I want to not only test myself and have fun but also learn and share my knowledge with the world.
Me and my travels
This is not my first trip out of the country, or even the first time taking a class which involves visiting and learning about a different country. Hi my name is Ty Malone and this is my blog about my adventure to Australia and New Zealand. I'm a sophomore this year and just like last year I'm participating in the travelers class my school has to offer.
Last year's trip to china was awesome, and because i had such a good time last year i wanted to go somewhere again this year. Ive always loved traveling and visiting new places, even when i was a little kid the dark Forrest around the neighborhood were not scary, but rather a chance at adventure. Thus I'm not really the type to get nervous about visiting a new country. In fact ever since i was about four years old Ive always asked my mom if i could go with her on her trips. You see my mom travels all the time for work and i always love to hear her stories when she gets back. It use to make me so jealous to hear about all the different places she has been, but now thanks to this trip i get to go somewhere even my mom hasn't been. Australia and New Zealand get ready because here i come.
I can not wait till we leave for Australia, honestly I'm excited even just thinking about it now. Every time we have class and learn about Australia's history or what it is like over there i get more and more excited to go. I want to learn everything about Australia and New Zealand i can before the trip. Whats it like there? Do the people there live normal lives like in the U.S.? Or do they live a more excited lifestyle? Whats the average Joe do for fun? All these questions and much more fill my mind whenever i think about going to Australia and New Zealand. While I'm traveling i don't want to just another tourist their to see the sights, i want to be a part of the experience while there.
Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying things like the great barrier reef aren't incredibly fascinating to me. Its just I'm not going to Australia and New Zealand just to see sights and claim to the world Ive been their. Anyone can look up pictures of all kinds of sights, but the true part of traveling is not seeing sights but be a part of them. While in Australia i want to be able to swim with the fishes not beside them, i want to jump with the kangaroo next watch him jump. You know what i mean? What I'm tyring to say is, while traveling abroad i hope to be a part of Australia and New Zealand live the experience.
And in order to do that live the experience, one first must understand what that experience is. That is why i love this class. This class is perfect in the way it prepares everyone for the trip ahead. By learning about China for instance last year i was able to enjoy it so much more. Take something like the giant wall of china for instances, at first the only thought that occurs to ones mind is the simple amazement the wall brings, but learn your history and the great wall becomes so much more. The great wall of china was not built to show off China's power, no it was built to protect china and its people, the sad thing about it however was thousands died in construction of the wall. The very wall which was so post to protect the people toke the very same people's lives. Knowing this small fact alone changed the experience of seeing the great wall of china. This is how learning before experiencing changes and enhances the trip.
Last year's trip to china was awesome, and because i had such a good time last year i wanted to go somewhere again this year. Ive always loved traveling and visiting new places, even when i was a little kid the dark Forrest around the neighborhood were not scary, but rather a chance at adventure. Thus I'm not really the type to get nervous about visiting a new country. In fact ever since i was about four years old Ive always asked my mom if i could go with her on her trips. You see my mom travels all the time for work and i always love to hear her stories when she gets back. It use to make me so jealous to hear about all the different places she has been, but now thanks to this trip i get to go somewhere even my mom hasn't been. Australia and New Zealand get ready because here i come.
I can not wait till we leave for Australia, honestly I'm excited even just thinking about it now. Every time we have class and learn about Australia's history or what it is like over there i get more and more excited to go. I want to learn everything about Australia and New Zealand i can before the trip. Whats it like there? Do the people there live normal lives like in the U.S.? Or do they live a more excited lifestyle? Whats the average Joe do for fun? All these questions and much more fill my mind whenever i think about going to Australia and New Zealand. While I'm traveling i don't want to just another tourist their to see the sights, i want to be a part of the experience while there.
Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying things like the great barrier reef aren't incredibly fascinating to me. Its just I'm not going to Australia and New Zealand just to see sights and claim to the world Ive been their. Anyone can look up pictures of all kinds of sights, but the true part of traveling is not seeing sights but be a part of them. While in Australia i want to be able to swim with the fishes not beside them, i want to jump with the kangaroo next watch him jump. You know what i mean? What I'm tyring to say is, while traveling abroad i hope to be a part of Australia and New Zealand live the experience.
And in order to do that live the experience, one first must understand what that experience is. That is why i love this class. This class is perfect in the way it prepares everyone for the trip ahead. By learning about China for instance last year i was able to enjoy it so much more. Take something like the giant wall of china for instances, at first the only thought that occurs to ones mind is the simple amazement the wall brings, but learn your history and the great wall becomes so much more. The great wall of china was not built to show off China's power, no it was built to protect china and its people, the sad thing about it however was thousands died in construction of the wall. The very wall which was so post to protect the people toke the very same people's lives. Knowing this small fact alone changed the experience of seeing the great wall of china. This is how learning before experiencing changes and enhances the trip.
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