Field Studies Day 1: Waking up at five in the morning isn’t
bad when you’re excited for the day to come even if it means more flights and
more traveling.
I love traveling as you know, but this is different. I was
incredibly excited to meet my studying group. I got to the Brisbane airport
just a little early for my flight at 9:10 in the morning. I was at the gate by
6:15, nearly three hours before my flight and that was after I went through
customs and checked in my luggage and everything. Too early for me. I walked
around the airport waiting for my group to arrive. While waiting I ate my
breakfast, which consisted of my first trip to an American restaurant the
entire trip.
I may have been excited to meet my group, but when it came
time to actually meet them, I was entranced in my music. Lil’ Wayne this time.
Quite a contrast to what I have been listening to for most of this trip, but it
has been awhile since I listened to good old Weezy. After who knows how long I
was approached by one of the group members, Shaina, and she told me they were
three rows ahead of me in the waiting area in the gate. When I looked over the
group of about 14 other students were looking at me and apparently commenting
on my mustache. I guess it makes me pretty noticeable! Good thing too, or I
wouldn’t have found them until after the flight.
After quite a bumpy flight, the bumpiest I’ve had in years,
we landed in Auckland, New Zealand. In just the two weeks that I wasn’t on a
flight with my favorite entertainment screens, new movies appeared! This time I
watched Man on a Ledge,
unsurprisingly simple, but very entertaining nonetheless. Anyways, we loaded
our luggage (well most of us did, some members of our group had their luggage
get lost). And I got to introduce myself to everyone and get to know some of
them on our 45-minute van ride to our site.
Without seeing it in the daylight it’s hard to determine
just how cool it is, but so far it’s very cool. Living in cabins in New
Zealand. I love it! And the people have been extremely friendly, which I wasn’t
entirely expecting because they have all been traveling for about 36 hours. And
us guys have it easy. In two cabins that could fit six guys each there are
three in each, while the girls are four to a room. We had a delicious meal and
hung out in the dining room area for the night playing Bananagrams and just
relaxing after traveling.
Not only are the people fun so far, but I learned that one
of the members of the group thinks Bucky Badger is terrifying. I was appalled
at the first thought of this, but then realized that I actually really like
that thought. The fact that our mascot can scare fans from other schools and
other bands (he goes to Boston University) is fantastic! I could do nothing but
laugh at him for that. Not only did I learn that, but there’s a surprising
amount of Big Ten schools here, Illinois, Purdue, Ohio State, and of course
Wisconsin. At least those are the schools I learned for now. Otherwise there
are members from all over the country. That’s all from the first day. Slowly,
but surely, the Bananagrams players are dropping out and going to bed and I may
have to join them shortly.
