A Chance to See Beyond Oneself

The Story

After Tauranga I went on to travel the geothermal region of Rotorua with a California guy I met in Tauranga. We had a brilliant time discussing postmodernism, films, travel, and how it is pleasant to meet someone from the homeland when traveling. In Rotorua I met a girl from England that I planned to see in Taupo, by the largest lake in NZ.

From Taupo, I joined with Karin (Dutch), Sarah (English), and Lukas (German). We had an incredible time camping out at a hidden hot spring; it was the perfect experience for enjoying the wonders of the night sky sitting in a hot stream, drinking a beer, and talking about the meaning of life. The next day we took a beautiful hike and relaxed in the tall grass near the base of the mountain/hill. I wish I could share the pictures, so many of the locations are absolutely pristine. We have travelled several days (5 days?) together through the Tongariro national park (some of my favorite terrain so far) down to Ohakune where we spent a day relaxing while it was raining out. We then went on to Wanganui where we travelled down the main river by canoe.

Our english friend had to start heading north but the rest of us continue south. We had a quite pleasant unexpected experience today. I am writing this email from the home of a family that lives out in the countryside of Plymoth. We happened to drive back on this country road looking for a place to camp and happened to meet Andy, who is letting us camp on part of his property. We took a hike to overlook the ocean, surrounding mountains, and see the south island of new zealand - a stunning sun set that won't be forgot.

The group that has formed has been the most meaningful experience though. We have come so close, we are like family - traveling together each day, sleeping in the same room, driving in the same car. We have so many good laughs, often precursered by stereotypes of our respective nations, as well as good dicussions about vocation, poetry, and human relations. We will take a long drive around the southern region of the north island tomorrow and come back to spend the night again with this great family we met - everyon in NZ has been incredibly friendly and helpful whenever needed.

The Reflection

The pace of travel has shifted my mode of life operations. So much of my life is often spent in reflection, attempting to make chaos out of order in the intellectual realm as well my physical environment. It is enjoyable for me to attempt to organize my experiences, relationships, and thoughts thruoghout my daily life. But while traveling, everything has changed. I rarely read, I don't have time to write, and I haven't spent much time reflecting - everything has been experience and my attempt to be present to each one.

I never know where I am going from one day to the next, life is so unpredictable and disorganized - yet I feel completely comfortable with it. I have the privilege of having so little responsibility and so little need to fullfill specific expectations that I am able to experience each moment with a curious hope, learning from new people and being changed by the landscapes I transcend to.

I am attempting to be patient with the times I feel discontent, which have been rare. I wish to trust in that which is good and beautiful, the inaccessible ultimate truths of reality that we are provided glimpses of with each new person we meet, each new place we see, and each new reflection I cultivate. I struggle though to know how to approach my experiences. Do I take more time to reflect and relive my experiences in my mind, turning over perspectives and value systems? Or do I simply encounter each experience, being present to the joy, sadness, loneliness, companionship, etc that is revealed to me by the great mystery that is? Do we learn most by reflecting or is that an abstraction from the true reality?

I have been intrigued by my companions perspectives on life and the ways that so many people from so many different cultural experiences can believe so many of the same things I do. I have been so pleasantly surprised to get into conversations that confirm my thoughts of personal growth as well as mental maturity. So much of this trip thus far has confirmed my recent thoughts of this past school year and summer time. I feel as though there has been a large change in my perspective, specifically over my last semester at Westmont and my summer working in Santa Barbara. It was most likely a culmination of all the learning that took place during my liberal arts education.

The trip feels as though it has been so long already but I am only into my travels 16 days. I have no clue of how I should get the most out of my travels. So far, I have learned the lesson that the less planning, the better the adventures. Attempting to make order of our lives is distracting from the good that is waiting to be given to us. I think so much of it correlates back to listening to our inner voice/connection to the infinite. When we attempt to rely on our rationale for organizing our life experiences, we limit our ability to openly listen to the best opportunities. The combination of silence and patience and accepting the experiences brought to us often lead to a fullfilling life. So many of the people I have met seem to believe that everything is meant for a reason in life, I have been intrigued by this perspective. There are so many implications to this belief, yet it seems most people have not developed all the possibilities of thought on the subject. At the same time, these people are able to achieve wisdom from focusing on their experiences.

To give a more concrete example, Lukas, the german I am traveling with right now (and probably will travel with throughout most of my time in NZ) has been traveling for the past two years. He provides maturity of thought with a love for life (and seems to be the driving force behind our wild nights). It is interesting to see how there are ways in which he reminds me of other germans and austrians I have encountered over the years yet at the same time denies any attempt at generalizing him. It seems that those that travel are able to extend their cultural mindset beyond that of their home land - thus extending past many of the stereotypes of their native culture.

This needs to be concluded, so I shall: life is still confusing for me but so much can be changed with perspective, I wish that all may be encouraged to treat each moment with respect, as even the most insignificant moments (as some might judge) can be a powerful moment of transformation as well as be another moment that adds to a better perspective.

With thanks for human companionships and friends from home,
Karl Smerecnik