In 2009, I spent six months studying abroad in New Zealand. It was without a doubt one of the best times of my life. Everyone I met was welcoming, and the classes I took challenged me to think through things from different perspectives. Being on the other side of the world from all my family and friends also forced me to become more independent and experience new adventures.
Almost every weekend my new friends and I were out hiking or exploring new cities. I bungee jumped, dug and slept in a snow cave, and immersed myself in Maori culture. Spring break came around and we had two weeks off. Some girls that we knew had planned a trip to Australia and asked if we wanted to go. The plan was to fly into Cairns, spend a few days exploring the Great Barrier Reef, then rent vans and drive down the coast to Sydney, where we would spend two days. They had already planned everything; all we needed to do was book our flights. My friends and I jumped at the chance, especially since we were busy organizing other trips and with schoolwork, but we should have read the fine print.
Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef were amazing; we snorkeled, fed koalas and kangaroos, and enjoyed the beaches. It was everything you could hope for when visiting Australia. Then we rented the vans, which were minivans with the back seats removed so it converted into a mini camper. There was a little mattress that folded out and even a kitchenette. Our first mistake was not questioning how long it takes to drive down the east coast of Australia, some 1500+ miles. We had budgeted three days, with stops along the way to explore the Gold Coast and Byron Bay. A quick Google search would have showed that the suggested timeline for the road trip is 10 days, to give yourself ample time at each stop. We, however, spent our time rushing from destination to destination, getting lost (this was a time before everyone had smartphones) and spending a half day waiting on a raining beach for a locksmith because someone lost the van’s keys in the ocean. When we finally reached Sydney a day later than planned, tensions were high; and while Sydney was beautiful we could not wait to get back to New Zealand.
Our trip to Australia was not what we expected. It was stressful and every one of us dealt with the stress in different ways, but it also bonded us together. Looking back, I learned several valuable lessons from my week down under:
1. Ask questions. Especially if it’s someone else’s plan.
2. Be prepared. Research.
3. Timelines are important, but they also need to be realistic.
4. People deal with stress in different ways, and that’s okay as long as it’s constructive.
5. And always secure your car keys when you’re near the ocean.
Great story!