This trip has already started out with great learning and leading examples. We started out the trip with landing in Auckland to travel down and around New Zealand's north island. Today is our 11th day on this adventure, but it already feels like it has been going on much longer due to our action packed days. I have always believed that the best way to learn is to try something and if you succeed then great, but if not that leaves room for improvement and at least you tried, as it is all about the process. A few days ago we did the human knot as a group, which truly showed that in life it is about the process. Translating to this trip it is about the process of trying new things and learning new things. If you look at the process as a whole, you can never fail.
On one of our first days in New Zealand, when we were in Waitomo, we were supposed to go caving, but due to scheduling issues and overbooking, we had to create a new plan. It was a great example, that we should always have a back up plan. This whole situation was upsetting at first, but luckily we were able to book with a different company and things turned out even better. With our new booking, we were picked up from our hut, where we were staying at 6am to go caving, which meant we would have the whole afternoon open. Due to a group agreement, we decided to use the afternoon to go rock climbing at Froggatt's Edge. This whole day ended up being a great lesson on being flexible, because sometimes plans change.
The rock climbing experience is another situation in itself, where you have to really recognize the process of the sport. For instance that day, I wanted to get one more last climb in for the day, but my muscles had grown sore and tired. When attempting this last route and not being able to get past the starting point (the hardest part), I was about to give up. However, due to my peers and my instructor supporting me, it gave me more motivation to keep trying an push through. At the end of the climb I was satisfied, even though I had to start it a little bit of a different way, because it was all about the process.
This trip has already taught me to be more independent and think more as a leader too. There is so much of the outdoor adventure industry that there is to learn about. When you are just a customer on a trip you do not see all the backbone and planning of the trip. Watching our instructor Adam Elson, has taught me certain things, such as all the logistics that go into this trip or any planned trip. One thing that we do on an every few days basis is going shopping for meals. This may not sound like that big of a deal, but when your trying to shop for a dinner option to serve 12 people, with many different diets, and to be within a certain budget, it makes things a bit more difficult. I know that with practical experience this will become easier. I have already gained a bit of confidence and independence within myself, as I know this would be a skill that I will have to do if I am leading groups in the future. Another thing that is very important as the leader is to keep within a certain budget, if this is not done then it could mess up the way the trip was set up. Learning how to plan and budget a trip like this can be a huge task, but when broken down to simplify, we can learn that the process is not all that bad. Other things that I have learned about are the other simple tasks that must get done if we want the trip to go smoothly, such as cleaning out the van after a lot of driving, washing group dishes, and loading the trailer. It seems like something so simple, to load a trailer with all our gear when leaving one location, but if you do not have a head person leading the group in packing the trailer than it can become a mess. Therefore, it is good to put someone in charge, even if it seems like such a simple task.
On our various tours that we have went on for whitewater rafting, caving, hiking, and more, I have already experienced different points of being a leader. For instance, every leader has responsibilities, but they also have their own style and way of going about things. On our first white water rafting adventure on the Rangitaiki river, we had two different guides. One was a bit more wild and crazy going down the river, having a great time hitting all the rocks and rapids, while the other had more conservative lines. For me I learned that there is not just one right way of leading the trip, rather as a leader you should make it fit the way you like doing things, instead of trying to be someone else. Also, if you be yourself, when leading a group, you are more likely to enjoy your time with that group, and they see that you are being real with them. This also related to me with comparing different white water guide techniques, as I now have had the opportunity of being on the guide stick twice during this trip. Every guide/leader has their own way of doing things, as my guide commands are different than others. Although I had the guide still in the boat with me, I had to apply the skills that I knew prior from guiding experience, as I had to learn how to read those two new rivers, while guiding. However, this does not just apply to whitewater guiding, as I also have seen it when we went rock climbing. There are several different ways to belay someone and there is not one that is more correct than the other, as long as your doing your way correct and safely.
This study abroad has also been very educational in not just only learning about outdoor adventure leadership. When you are in a foreign country, there is so much to explore, such as all the culture and history behind the country. On one of our first days here, we went to the Kiwi Culture Farm Show, where we learned about New Zealand's past of farming, logging, it's animals, and more. In addition, in each place that we have went we have had time to explore the places where we stay, so we can absorb even more. The past week and a half we were surrounded by green hills, with sheep and cattle grazing, and while on the river we have seen so many beautiful waterfalls. Today for instance since we are in Wellington, the windy city, we had a chance to explore Te Papa, which is the national New Zealand museum and it is filled with so much to learn and explore. I learned about earthquakes, tsunamis, dinosaurs, marine life, animals, farms, logging, culture, and so much more. It is amazing how much there is so see and explore in a foreign country. I think it is important that when people study abroad they should really pay attention to these types of things. I feel like with only being here 11 days, I have already been blown away with this trip. I can't wait to see what else I will discover about myself in learning and about leadership. I am interested to continue to try new things and excited to see what the rest of this trip brings.
-Rochelle Borror
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