the south island

On April 17 i left Auckland for the south island of new zealand for a 10 day tour with about 50 other exchange students from around the north island. Starting out, i didn't really know anyone. there were a few familiar faces, but that was it. however, as the trip started, and quickly got under way, i got to meet all these different people from around the world, and by the end of the 10 days (it flew by) i felt like i knew all these kids really well, and vice versa.
The trip as a whole had to many highlights to recount. honestly, it was one of the greatest things i've ever done in my life, and by the time we were all packing up our bags, i didn't want to go back to Auckland. But just to name a few highlights:
-seeing Dunedin and checking out the college (and the worlds steepest street)
-being on a boat in the milford sound - it was amazing, totally like lord of the rings
-queenstown, possibly the coolest, most action-packed city on earth
-bungee jumping the biggest bungee jump in australasia (143m) give or take 400 feet
- renting a four person bike with friends and taking it to a skate park, it was awesome

but the coolest thing by far was just meeting all the people on the trip itself. Our tour guide Stefan was also a really cool dude who just seemed to embody everything that was NZ. And i guess overall, the south island trip taught me that all people, regardless of background or origin, are really similar. Everyone i was with had the same feelings of homesickness i have had, everyone felt pretty similar on NZ, and everyone just seemed on the same page about a lot of things. I don't know, but it just seems like people are pretty similar in a lot of senses.
Overall, south island was amazing, it was some of the most fun i've ever had and the experiences throughout the trip were insane.
I thought i would have a lot more to write, but i guess not.