Leading up to my flight, I was super nervous and did not know what to expect. I have never traveled alone before and was about to fly 20 hours away from home. The reason I signed up for this trip was to do something to get me out of my comfort zone and teach me adaptability, as well as prepare me for a career in accounting. Australia and New Zealand have always been bucket list places for me to visit, so this was the perfect opportunity for me to scratch them off the list. This first week I was in Auckland, New Zealand. Right off the bat, I saw how beautiful this country was. We visited Waitangi Treaty Grounds and saw how much New Zealand honors the native people of its land, as it’s embedded in their culture and seen in architecture/ statues in major cities. Although we do acknowledge the native people of America, we lack the same reverence and expression that New Zealanders have for them. We have also learned that the Māori people receive reparations for what has happened in the past, which is something the US has not implemented. Tipping culture is also not a thing here, as most restaurants are “order at the counter” and do not ask for tip. One day we visited a retirement village and met with the property manager and learned about how important the retirement industry is to New Zealand’s economy. One thing I found interesting was that every worker gets the same pension amount provided by the government. Even if someone accumulates more wealth, they still receive the same as someone who makes less or has not been working as long. Plastic things are not used here to keep the environment clean. We also visited Hobbiton, Haruru Falls, and a sheep park.
