Monday, February 4, 2008
I have learnt a lot from the New Zealand learning trip in November 2008.
The New Zealand friends we made there were all very carefree, they had a lot of freedom, and thus they were very adventurous and daring. They liked to do things that were challenging, and are not restricted. However, we Singaporeans, do not like to come out of our comfort zones and try new things.
While I was in NZ, I did many things I never tried before, or even thought of doing it before.
For example, climbing Mount Maunganui, taking the Blokart for a spin, or climbing the rocky shore.
In Singapore, we lead very busy lives, and hardly have time to stop and rest, to visit and appreciate the nature, to climb mountains or rocky shores. Hence when I was in NZ, I was really glad to be able to do many things I would never have had the chance to do in Singapore.
View from the top of Mount Maunganui
I learnt about the long shore drift being responsible for the formation of the beach while climbing Mount Maunganui. From the top of the mountain, we could see the whole beach, and a part of the city. Based on what I learnt, the long shore drift brings sedimentary rocks down the beach and also brings away from of the sand. The build of sand dunes are caused by long shore drift. Also, the refraction of the waves caused by the small islands nearby is responsible for the shape of the coastline. This coastline will always change, after all, change is the only constant.
Amidst the rocky shore
Kiwi360's plantation of kiwis
Another thing I learnt from this New Zealand trip is that the kiwis made in New Zealand actually requires a lot of time and effort to grow them properly. Because selling kiwis are New Zealand's main contribution to the economy, they cannot afford to let the standard of their kiwis drop. Therefore, while visiting Kiwi360 in NZ, I learnt that the have to undergo lots of planning, organising and also how they should use technology to aid them in their plantation. All in all, it is a lot of hard work, and it is not easy to keep this plantation growing.
Last but not least, I learnt that the Maori culture and tradition is very strong in NZ. When we visited the Marae, the Maoris welcomed us with the proper Maori welcoming session; they had their ancestors' pictures hung on the walls, and they treated their elders with utmost respect. The case of endangering cockles is one example of how they love and cherish the nature. When too many people were coming down to the beach to pick cockles away, they were afraid that the cockles would become extinct. Therefore, the painstakingly proposed to the government to ban people from taking cockles away from the beach, so as to ensure that cockles can still reproduce. I admire the Maori people and their insistence on protecting the environment, although it is very sad for them. I think that we Singaporeans should learn from them and be proactive in helping to save the environment!
Jun Weng doing pushup in the waters HAHA
My first own dug cockle- I put it back exactly where i found it, of course.
All in all, this NZ learning trip has enriched my life boundlessly, and I definitely do wish to go there again to learn more things.
7:27 PM