"Ma whero ma pango a oti ai te mahi"

(I wrote a lovely review but it got deleted by accident so this one will be less lovely.)

To be honest, going on my New Zealand/Australia trip was probably the best decision I've made to date. There wasn't a single moment during the trip where I thought to myself "darn, I regret this." I have so many wonderful memories and fantastic stories, It has made my friends at home totally sick of me.
Obviously there were some obstacles during the trip. Normally I would list examples but each group will have different difficulties presented to them (and different solutions to those problems). Regardless, the good times we had far outweighed the hard.
One of my favorite experiences was Canyoning and Repelling in Katoomba, AUS. I find heights challenging (and not always in a good way) but for some reason repelling down the 30 meter waterfall was invigorating instead of terrifying. Amazingly enough, I have a reason for this glorious change: About halfway through our trip, we realized that every experience we have is preparing us for the one that follows. (Ex. Volunteering for canoeing trip, canoeing trip for hiking trip, hiking trip for more volunteering, etc.). In each stage of the trip, we became stronger and more understanding. We also learned important life skills like how to work in a big group, how to use your strengths, and how to enjoy each day despite its challenges.
I am so grateful for all of the experiences that the NZ/AUS trip gave me. Everyday tested our limits and provided new challenges while exposing us to two amazing countries and to so many wonderful people. I hope that someday I can send my children on their own PD trip.