1. WWW – New Zealand
This Week Without Walls trip to New Zealand was very significant for me; into
helping me understand the Maori culture and their values. Before leaving for this trip, I
had little clues on how different cultures had different values. The different things that
this trip has brought to me are countless; as it will be for everyone else. Before going on
the trip, many people had complained on how this trip was too expensive for its actual
value; so some people decided not to take part. However, the people who did decide to
stick with this journey learned much more in the value of money. Of course, money did
pay for our flight, food, daily home; but it also brought us joy, understanding, and
perhaps future. Firstly, it bought us joy for how the travel guides prepared daily activities;
which some of them were not even available in Thailand. Secondly, it bought us
understanding for the culture and values our friends learned during the Marae Stay.
Finally, it bought us future; because we could use all the understanding and experience
found in the trip, to help us interact with foreign people.
As soon as we arrived, the country presented us with its weather and its glorious
sights of mountains and the ocean. Later on that day, we experienced our first traditional
Maori welcoming. All of the students were introduced to the steps of the greeting and
was also warned about how serious the Maori take this welcoming ceremony; so nobody
was trying to laugh at what we have never done before. Unlike the Thai culture of the
‘wai’, in this particular welcoming, the Maori had us do a ‘hongi’- in which is done by
pressing one’s nose to another person at an encounter. The meaning was significant
because it meant sharing the breath of life. The next two days, I was enjoying my first
time kayaking. The first few times was relaxing and exciting but as our team started to
drift off further away; I had no control over my body, but it was a very cool experience.
Another unforgettable event in the trip was our white water rafting. This was another new
thing for most of the people, including me; we enjoyed interacting with each other and
also viewing the scenery. All of these events help us see the real New Zealand; and most
importantly, everyone met each other. Before the trip, everybody was just hanging
around with the people they knew at school. However, after the trip I noticed that we
were talking to each other, and getting to know each other better.
I am so thankful for the teachers/school/travel guides/ and New Zealand for
helping me understand new things, increasing my experience, and helping me meet new
people. I hope that this WWW trip continues throughout the years; so that all the students
had the chance to experience what I have.