How We've Changed by Ben

The Fellowship of the University

This one was a tough one to write. You don’t experience change until it has already happened. Sometimes it’s something you never fully grasp. Well, let’s see if I can capture how this motley crew of 36 has changed.

Our world view definitely has changed. Even before we “laid down and looked up”, there was already a change in our perspectives. We experienced comradery and friendliness like never before within the New Zealand airports. The culture shock led us to compare and say “Well in America…” lauding our home. I know we will experience a new culture shock when we return and will laude New Zealand’s culture. There is a newfound respect for this archipelago nation and their way of life will permeate back in the states. The friendliness and culture of New Zealand has definitely made us all more laid back and friendly with each other.


I want to highlight us being more friendly with each other. I think we have changed and became more welcoming to others as the program went on. The scavenger hunt really helped. Being linked to six or seven other people really makes you try and become more friendly with them. It could have also been us having new bus seat partners every excursion too. Of course we all have our own small cliques, but that doesn’t mean we don’t expand out every so often. It is wicked funny hearing everyone’s stories at the end of the day. We love to mock and mimic, but isn’t imitation the sincerest form of flattery? 


Oh! How could I forget? Mental change isn’t the only thing that changed. Some of us got tans (or burns). Every day we hear or see a new person with red somewhere on their body. And the person who’s burnt will hear it many times. Others were more lucky however and have gotten those tans we were hoping for. The sun is no joke during a New Zealand summer. Lastly, a major physical change are all the tattoos people have gotten. Why get one there and not wait till you’re in the states? Well, to quote many people’s excuses and credible reasoning: “But it’s in New Zealand”. 

    One of the many tattoos people have gotten

This is only the tip of the iceberg. Our change is something so much more than this. Everyone has experienced their own personal change that it’d take a while to write all about it. 

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