South Island Week 1

   OAL 409 and 443

            The past seven days have continued to be filled with fun, excitement, and more learning.  Since the last blog update we went from the North island of New Zealand to the South Island.  We traveled by ferry, which was my first time being on a boat that big.  After driving a bit we got into Nelson where we spent a few days.  In Nelson we had some free time to explore the small city where we had the options of doing our own adventurous expeditions.  On our second day we also went on a beautiful short hike that was lead by Laura (one of the group members).  It was a good time in Nelson to learn about being independent and going with the flow while traveling.

            After being in Nelson for a few days we went onto Marahau, where we would begin another new experience that I had not done before…sea kayaking.  We spent a day sea kayaking into Abel Tasmen National Park.  Sea kayaking was a good experience in pushing myself.  I knew that it would be physical, but I though it would be more relaxing.  Instead my partner Taylor and I were pushing through the white caps and going against the wind trying to stay at the groups pace.  It was a good lesson in being patient with myself in some ways.  I felt like such a small spec out in the sea, and as if all odds were against me.  Once we got to our destination, I was thoroughly happy, as I was tired from the day.  We also learned about being flexible, as some of our stuff got wet in the sea kayaks, so we had to dry it out, as we set up camp.

            Since being on the South island we started what is called, leaders of the day.  Basically we are paired up with another group member to facilitate the group’s activities for that day.  These things include checking us in at the hostel, calling reservations, leading group meetings, or whatever else needs to be done for that day.  With this process we learn even more about facilitation and experience it hands on.

            As we were leaving Abel Tasmen National Park, where we hiked out, it was my turn to be a leader of the day with Rose.  It started out with us waking up to wake the others up, so we could get the day going, pack up, and hike out to get to our next destination.  We were able to leave a little after the group had planned to leave, once again being flexible.  On our way out Rose lead the hike, while I stayed in the back.  I thought that being the leader it would be a good idea to make sure that the end of the group was moving along well and I wanted to try to keep the group together.  It was a good lesson in communication too, with leading with someone else too, as you want to make sure you are on the same page, especially when it comes to planning things out for the group and then relaying the information to all of the group.  After making it back to Marahau, we had to drive for a bit to get to Payne’s Ford, were we would o rock climbing, and stay a couple of nights there.

            Once in Payne’s Ford and figuring out food plans, we had sometime for rock climbing and it was a rock climbing two class time.  Although I have already taken rock climbing two, about two years ago, I still went to this class session, as I wanted to reengage myself on the topics and relearn what I had forgotten.  The following day we went out and climbed and then I ended up pushing myself to go further, as others did too, to learn how to lead climb.  Lead climbing is a process where you have to set the route; therefore, you are climbing up the rock and at times you are not very protected at all.  There were some definite times where I was scared of falling and at the top it was scary to rely on just one piece of webbing to support you.  At the end of the lead climbing though I felt so good about myself, as if I had concurred so much.  It definitely was a fear of mine and still is somewhat, but it felt so good to have completed a lead climb.

 In this trip I have continued to learn more about myself and about traveling.  For instance now I want to travel the world even more, as I have been wanting to, but would love to now with family, my boyfriend John, and other friends.  I also have learned how to repack a lot.  Each place that we go, I have to repack my two bags depending on what we are doing in the next few days.  I also have learned to always have my swim suit hand while traveling, so I can go from pants, to no pants, and to swim suit bottoms, with just a towel wrapped around me.  On this trip you have to be flexible with what you are doing, how you are doing it, and where you are doing it.  So many things are hands on, that you just have to experience to truly learn how to be ready for anything.  I also have recently decided on what I will do my capstone project on and it will be self-efficacy.  While being on a trip such as this one and studying abroad, I can already say that my self-efficacy has improved and I think others have already had their self efficacy improved as well.  Self-efficacy can be improved in soft skills and hard skills.  I look forward to the rest of this trip, as it is flying by and seeing what self-efficacy continues to unravel before me.

-Rochelle