Day Two: Culture

In the morning of day two we aware all greeted with the most beautiful sunrise ever seen. The water acted as if it was a elegant layer of liquid mirror reflecting the sky’s abundance in color and glory. We were all awestricken, we couldn’t help but take as many pictures as possible, we all so badly wanted to capture its striking vividness but at the time could not understand that it was impossible. This sunrise wasn’t only beautiful because of the unrealistic, and astonishing array of color but also because of the way we all felt about it. How each and every student stood there stunned and hypnotized, how this one beautiful scene made us all feel like we have seen something so special, so wonderful that it will forever live in our deepest of dreams. That feeling came from not only the sappy teenage girls like myself, but also from the rambunctious boys and the, I’ve seen everything teachers.

            

After the sunrise we all went on a scenic duck tour, which was fun but mostly due to the large duck whistles we were all handed. Our duck tour dropped us off at Tewhakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao, or Whaka, if that’s too hard to read. This was the Moari’s thermal village. The native culture utilized the thermal activity and warmth for everyday living. The thermo mud and extraordinary therapeutic powers and are used for staying young and healthy, although the steam smelled it created some of the most delectable food and left your skin soft. It was a fascinating town and I was slightly disappointed that we didn’t stay any longer.

           

We then headed towards the Agrodome, a sheep sheering show, I was initially not to excited about this activity but it proved to be a lot of fun. Our last activity of the night was the traditional Hangi. It started with the Maoris and "Chief" Steven to do their traditional introduction. We watched as they preformed there traditional greeting to us and offered the food that was cooked in the geothermal steam. When we finished eating the Maori's performed traditional song and dance in their native tongues. They called the girls on stage to do the pois, I was embarrassing one of then.  Keeping in rhythm and catching the pois was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I could slowly feel my face begin to turn red the more I was on the stage, thank god Lexa was with me laughing the entire time, making me feel so much better about the performance. At home I would have never of done something like that, me being a initially shy person, but I’m really glad I did, it turned out to be a great experience. Last they called the boys on stage to learn part of the Haka, a war dance done by the Maori people. I almost died of laughter watching some of our teacher’s faces, funniest part of today. Before I knew it dinner was done but me Shelby and Amanda stayed up for hours talking and joking about the days events, even trying the Haka ourselves.

            The shared culture of the Maori people and the New Zealanders really reminds me little of Americas inclusion of Native American culture, strangely I believe that this respect and admirations towards the native people is more similar when comparing them to how America views the Hawaiian culture. We as citizens adore the beautiful dances and elegant beauty the natives have shown us through the years despite all the hardship, which is something I believe is beneficial to any country willing to accept and grow.

Day One: New Zealand

Pardon me if I rant on about the airport, I understand that you the reader of this blog know all about air travel, but this was my first time on a plane and even this silly little side adventure meant something to me. So I apologize for this repetitive intrusion but I’m still going to elaborate on it. We began at O’Hare airport standing in line for what seemed like forever. Apparently the system kept crashing when the students were brought up as a group rather than individuals. I felt bad for poor Lexa who stood at there for at least twenty minutes while the workers where trying to sort though technical difficulties.  The luggage check was a lot easer than I had initially expected; in fact I was completely terrified of it after hearing all those wonderful stories about harsh security. Our first flight was from Chicago to LA, three seat rows in a narrow plane that I think has to hold the record for the worst flight we took the entire trip, looking back I’m surprised I wasn’t looking up at the luggage racks expecting snakes to slither out. I was practically hyperventilating out of excitement for the takeoff. I was determined to watch out the window during the flight but the people who sat next to me decided it would be a fun little game to slowly close it on me, which it wasn’t! (Lie). The flight was incredible; the feeling and the view hypnotized me. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

            The second plane was so much bigger then the first. It was packed with electronic toys and comfort accommodations that were actually quite intrusive at the start. I was originally assigned the window but the sweet woman next to me was having trouble getting comfortable so we switched seats.  The flight was long and boring, my only distraction was Riley and her lost shoe.

            When we flew over New Zealand I almost died, it was beautiful, a sea of clouds, with green land seeming to brake through the sky. When we landed I instantly noticed the air: clean, fresh, and absolutely lovely.  The soft dew painted the airport, which was decorated with glass leave windows. It was casual and empty, and in comparison to Americas airports, absolutely wonderful. A dog came and inspected our bags sniffing for food, something we all lied about having, a few got caught and their beef jerky was cruelly eaten in front of them by the excited beagle.

           

Before we knew it we were on our way through the country. I still can’t believe how stunning it is, everything was lush and open. The horizon never seemed so big and the air never seemed so crisp and refreshing. There was also this somewhat frightening amount of cows and sheep, we were told there was a 17:1 ratio between livestock and man, I found that a bit more disturbing than others, but then again I also became strangely paranoid that a sheep from every pasture was staring us down. After riding on the bus for while we stopped in a small village that was largely influenced by lord of the rings, seeing that near that area is where the epic movie was filmed. People from the town couldn’t help but stare; we are loud, matching Americans after all. I ate this strange pineapple sandwich for lunch, which wasn’t my favorite thing in the world, but I was so hungry I inhaled it.

            After we came back to the bus we went straight to lunging, the best thing ever! We got into our Joey group and went up the mountain on a lift. I was surprised how well we all got along seeing as we hardly knew each other. We talked and laughed about the broken plastic dinosaurs that were laid to waste far below us. Our first lunging was unfortunately on the easiest leave, its understandable and all, seeing as we had no idea what we were doing anyway, but we quickly jumped at the chance to ride down at the most advanced level. The lunge is this strange scooter like go-cart thing, which was incredibly fun to drive down the steep turning hills.

           

When our time lunging was over we left to the jade factory, a small store filled with brilliantly crafted jewelry, but way too expensive! We left and finally reached Rotorua, which because of the immense amount of geothermic activity and abundance of sulfur, smelled like rotten eggs. We ate this enormous burger for dinner. Shelby and I spent a good five minutes staring at the meal wondering how in the world it was going to fit in our mouth. We are finally in the hotel and I feel like I’ve had the longest day of my life. Thank god I can sleep, I have never needed it this badly before!

            I’m really looking forward to meeting the other students and seeing more of this beautiful country. My first impression is astonishment: I love it here, the people are kind and have these fascinating accents that are occasionally hard to understand and the landscape is something I’ve only ever seen as screen savers. All in all this was a great first day.

Rabbit Proof Fence

The aboriginal people were never given any respect or rights.  They were treated as though they were invaders in their own lands, animals that can be dismissed and forgotten without regret or consideration. The aboriginal people faced unimaginable trials and painful struggles. In the chapter “the decline of aboriginal society” there are explicated statements of their dehumanization when the colonel white man came into Australia, “the Nyungar people, and indeed the entire Aboriginal population, grew to realize what the arrival of the European settlers meant for them: it was the destruction of their traditional society and the dispossession of their lands,” this of course violates what it means to be a moral equal human being. The treatment of the people is unexcitable but the mindset of the white man towards these people is that they were in fact no more than a simple and inadequate form or man, and nothing more. This destruction of home and all humanity was beyond violation of human rights standards today; man is granted full “right to own property.” When children were being taken from their home or families being forced to relocate because of the arrival of settlers these rights where never granted. Part Aboriginal children were brutally taken from their families and homes, “patrol officers travelled far and wide removing part aboriginal children from their families and transported them hundreds of kilometers down south.” How is this in any way humane? Especially when dealing with children, any fool should be able to recognize how fragile adolescents are, the effect on those victimized still brings fire to their eyes. This of course is in direct violation of both the “freedom from interference with privacy, family, home and correspondence” law and the “right to life, liberty, and personal, security” law contracted by the United Nations.

            The United States own history is very similar to that of Australia because our natives faced nearly the same discrimination and torment, even our honored napoleon was a vicious antagonizer to this sort of cruelty. People believed they where “distend” to spread there culture across America and bring light to less civilized cultures, this belief was latter to be known as manifest destiny. The lesser beings that the European settlers often referred to where native Americans, who were feared and seen as savages, when in actuality they were just trying to protect there home from the white invaders. This is very similar to the “civilizing” of aboriginal people in Australia because they two thought of this culture as a lesser entity and being, they believed the only way to truly bring forth peace is to change the children of that culture and integrate them into the other more European lifestyle.

            

The source of this violence was fear, nothing more, nothing less. The relocation of the children was brought on by the fear of the differentiating cultures and lifestyles. The fear that these people who were  less civilized; if not taken and changed in someway there would never be peace. There is no moral justification for fear because it is one of the most horrid traits and emotions of mankind. It leads to violence, especially in this instance. It leads to rash decisions of good people, and it leads to blindness of right and wrong.

Invasive species

IInvasive spices

The cane toad is a physically large; in fact it’s the largest species in its family. Adult toads weigh an average of four pounds. The cane toad’s thick skin can secrete a milky like position that’s harmful and can induces harsh burning and irritation. Te cane toad is originally native to central America and Hawaii, but it was introduced to Australia in 1935, a species brought across sea to help stop the insects that were threatening sugar cane farms.

            The cane toad’s poisonous skin has caused major intrudes in the ecosystems and has killed several species of snake, goannas, and quolls. This unnatural threat to these spices has really hurt Australia’s ecosystems. Several things have been done to try to prevent the Cane Toad from doing any further harm. A method being researched is the introduction of alarm chemicals being placed into cane toad inhabited ponds. This would inhibit the toads from avoiding predators because the alarm pheromone is only released when a cane toad tadpole is attacked to other tadpoles of that spices can flee, if substance is introduced in a large scale than this pheromone, and protection is essentially useless making them more vulnerable.  The government is currently encouraging the public capture of cane toads so they can be frozen or gassed to death so they can be turned in to fertilizer. Some Australians have taken to using the toads as sports; this includes using them as balls, or racing them.

  

                       Buckthorn was first brought to America’s northwestern hemisphere from Europe in the mid-1800s as hedging plants. It was found to be extremely invasive in natural areas harming many other plants around it. It’s no longer being sold and wildlife conservationists are fighting its ever-increasing spread. Buckthorn is very harmful to the surrounding plants because it deprives them of light and nutrients. Threatens forests, wetlands, prairies, and other natural habitats because it serves as a host to other pest, and aids in erosion due to its thick shading of other plants and its impenetrable layer of vegetation. It also lacks natural susceptibility from insects and diseases that would usually curb the growth of natural spices. Ways of prevention include herbicide and simply cutting buckthorn out of natural preserves like Rollins Savannah.

  

   Invasive spices are dangerous they threaten our ecosystems that have already spent thousands of years developing to become balanced. Weather it’s the Cane toad or Buckthorn when an introductory animal is brought into an ecosystem it threatens the life of many spices perhaps causing them to become endangered. This should be a huge problem for all Americans because we must love and take care of this earth for her to ever do the same for us.

                                    

                                    http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/ferals/cane-toads/index.html

                                     

                                    http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/buckthorn/index.html

The Stolen and Venerable

Dear Prime Minister,           

            

            The first aboriginal people came to Australia about 70,000 years ago. The aboriginal people settled and developed into a great culture separated into family groups or clans. They sued land and all of its resources wisely, trading and building. These people were completely isolated until 1788 when the English settlers arrived. The English made the aboriginal people move away from their land, they cut down their forest, introduced harsh diseases like smallpox, and brought foreign animals like sheep. The aboriginal people and the settlers were at war for rights of land and valuable resources. In 1900 traditional clans were still existent in central and northern Australia. There were laws in place to protect the aboriginal people in 1900s, but these laws also brought forth many restrictions to the aboriginal people like whom they could marry, and where and how much land could be owned. Not until 1967 was full rights of citizenship was bestowed on the aboriginal people.

            

            The stolen generation is estimated to be composed of about 100,000 Indigenous children that were taken from their families and raised in homes by white families. This was done to ‘breed out’ the aboriginal part of these children. This was an official government policy that was taken out by churches, and even welfare officials, from 1906 to 1969. This forceful cruelty harshly affected those children who were believed by many to be living better lives. Latter reports found that many institutions and families that the kidnapped children where placed into were cruel and highly abusive. Many were treated like animals that were used and worked as practical slaves. This was highly traumatic to the children because it “broke cultural, spiritual and family ties”. Being taken from there home as a child, highly susceptible and most venerable has an irreversible effect, one that could never be forgotten and ones whose scar will always sting bringing forth new nightmare. But, Prime Minister you already know their history, but do you understand the enormous impact?

            Citizens of the Stolen Generations are more prone to go through depression, poor health and a shorter life than others of their people. Many Aboriginal people that were taken did not find out about their background until later in their life. Disengagement from land and language meant loss of culture, for many there was concern for who they are and to what they belonged to. Many Australians now realize what cruelty these people were placed under and cry for justice, can you not hear them?

             An official apology needs to be made because without any acknowledgment and true regret for the past there can be no progression for the future. Its common curtsy and a sign of true respect to say out loud without regret “I’m sorry.” If you truly recognize the aboriginal people as your equal then please express it with the utmost of heart and moral reverence and apologize for the cruelty these people had to endure.

Thank you for your time,

Yours sincerely, Jane Doe

Fish Are Friends Not Food ;)

Blog 1, Factorial

1.     The Great Barrier Reef is considered the “largest living structure on earth”.

2.     Coral extracts Calcium Carbonate from the ocean to make solid tentacles.

3.     How does red algae impact the structure of a coral? It acts like glue or cement, incrust coral together to form an integrate connection within the reef.

4.     In 1975 the Great Barrier Reef become a national park.

5.     About 33 percent is fully protected from fishing.

6.     Scientists believe the current reef is 20,000 years old. But the ancient reef is believed to be half a million years old.

Blog 2, Marine protection

           

          Coral Bleaching

1.     What is a polyp? What does a polyp need to be considered “coral”?  a polyp is an organism that when provided with the right materials to grow, lands on the ocean floor then multiplies and becomes coral. To grow polyps requires zooxanthellae.

2.     What types of things are coral sensitive to in the ocean?  Its very sensitive to change of temperature of the water.

3.     When does coral bleaching occur? When the water stays warm for to long the zooxanthellae become uncomfortable and leave, causing the polyp to lose its color and ability to grow.

4.     Why do scientists think that coral bleaching is occurring more now than ever?  Pollution and everyday activity that endanger the environment are big factors in the rapid spread of coral bleaching.

5.     List three ways people can reduce their impact to climate change? Turn off the lights in you house and conserve energy, avoid unnecessary car journeys, and of course recycling.

                                               
Climate Change

1.     How many species of: fish, hard coral, soft coral, sea birds, shore birds. The coral reef is home to 15,000 species of fish, 360 species of hard coral, 1/3 of the worlds soft corals, 22 spices of sea birds and 32 spices of shore birds.

2.     Climate change responsible for warming our oceans.

3.     This increased flooding affects the reefs, fish and birds that live there because storms and cyclones break up coral reefs.

4.     List three additional ways (not listed above) that people can reduce climate change:  Reduce the use of polluting materials, buy environmentally safe ideas, and open window instead of turning on air conditioning.

                                                Educating children

1.     List two benefits and two drawbacks to using this kind of media to teach this information. This kind of media educates children about wildlife preservation, and starts them form a young age caring about the environment. Although this kind of demonstration could paint the entire problem as somewhat of a joke. Also misinterpretations of information is really easy and common among young children so this could get in the way of the educational side of these videos.

2.     After watching these videos, use YouTube to find and POST LINKS to videos that you feel would be more beneficial to teach the following types of people and WHY!

Adults- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTE_hQVccps

            It talks about more than just one wonder of Australia, promoting bationalism.

Foreigners- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCQ2IwFuwxE

            It educates people properly about the reef, but also inspires people to look for more information about the reef.

Tourist- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQp19u_MH-Q

            Because this video inspires travelers to go and see the reef and al its glory.

During our present time, expression of oneself is done mainly through social networking. Face book, MySpace, twitter, even blogs are used as showcasing of an individuals personality rather than what they where originally intended for, simply communication. When did our world change so much that a profile seems to be more relevant to that individual than his or her actions?

            The article Savor the Trip, Don’t Tweet it is a narration based on the concept of travel now being experience through the screens of technology rather than traveling through the adventure ourselves. When updates on tweeter and face book constantly steam through cyberspace the traveler is missing the adventure, and is simply living his travel as a stories to tell his friends back home, “instead of having the experience you observe yourself having the experience”(Elliott). In this particular case Christopher Elliott is completely right. But in my opinion the reason people stick so closely to technology is because the are grasping to who they believe they are based on that silly little profile. It’s a home away from home; it’s a reminder of what is at home waiting. But that reminder, that safety net is only hurting the individual in the long run. To travel in the fullest extent is to be willing to change, open your mind, and find something out about the world or perhaps even yourself that you never knew about. To truly travel you have to leave your safely net and light a candle in the darkest of rooms and find out what’s there. In my personal opinion I think technology use on our trip should be limited to avoid this epidemic. Phone usage should probably be scheduled and honestly face book can wait.

P.S

             GPS are lame, I’d rather be lost and  feel the great satisfaction when I finally know where I am, just saying.