After 18 weeks of living in Sydney, my time has come to an end. It’s common to hear that peoples’ study abroad experiences were some of the best times of their lives, and I am honored to now fall into that cliche. I think the hardest thing in the coming weeks will be to not burst out into conversation about how much I loved Australia and all my travels (as well as relearning to walk on the right side of the sidewalk). My time here has truly become such a big part of who I am, and I will never let that go. I am comforted by the fact that I will one day return to Coogee beach, hopefully for even more than a few months, and nothing will get in the way of that. 

I think the best way to wrap up my time abroad would be to summarize some of the biggest lessons I have learned.

Have fun planning trips, but don’t forget to schedule in time to rest. If you’re the average student studying abroad, you probably want to see as many places as possible in a short period of time. This means packing trips with activities and sightseeing. And, don’t get me wrong, I am all for getting the most out of your trip, but it’s not worth sacrificing hours of sleep for a flight that's $10 cheaper and will leave you feeling tired all day which will likely seep into the rest of the days. This tip might not apply to everyone, but if you’re like me and need your 6-8 hrs of sleep, I promise you won’t enjoy your trip any less if you choose to sleep in a little. 

Don’t skimp on the local traveling! I know so many people who study abroad and only plan weekend travels to other countries or cities before even considering looking in their own backyard. Don’t get me wrong, Sydney can be appreciated in just a few days by the average tourist, but locals have so many different neighborhoods with unique cuisines, activities, and events to choose from. Just choose a direction, find a bus or train, and see where you end up in an hour! I would never have ended up at Watson’s bay if not for this philosophy (see last picture of previous post).

Adaptability and patience are key. Especially when traveling with friends, there are a lot of thoughts and opinions in the air. Learning to take into account different desires and compromise takes time. The patience comes into play when you’re waiting for everyone to get out of the house! The reason my hostel’s trips were (more or less) successful was because everyone was flexible, made sure to stick together, and the people who didn’t help in the planning process knew they were in no place to complain.

Where you live matters. A lot. While most schools offer international students housing, this was not the case with UNSW. My choice to live on Coogee Beach was definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made. There is simply no feeling like walking out of the building you live in, looking out into the vast ocean, and just sensing your smile grow like a rainbow appearing after a storm. Do research on your options, try to find roommates, and live it up!

These are the most important of countless lessons I learned while living abroad the last 4.5 months. I now look forward to re-acclimating myself to the US and relearning how to walk on the right side of the sidewalk. Thank you for tuning in with me for the past weeks – I hope one day, you will find yourself in Sydney. Cheers!

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering

The end of our last international trip marked the start of many lasts as the days left in Coogee started to dwindle. I challenged myself to find a good balance between studying for finals and spending time in my favorite spots around the city. I also made sure to embark on my final coastal runs before the ultimate challenge — a half marathon just days before my departure from Sydney. When I first learned about the half-marathon, I strongly deliberated whether it was the right choice to sign up and add the additional training stress on top of finals. Ultimately, I, alongside Caroline, decided that running 13.1 miles through downtown Sydney would be the perfect way to wrap up our time abroad. Despite the stretch of relatively poor weather for the past two weeks (60° and rainy), we woke up bright and early at 5:30am on the Sunday after finals to start making our way into the city. We had spent months training for this moment which marked the end of our time abroad, so the fact that it was here so soon almost took us by surprise. Nevertheless, we went in eager and confident with the simple goal of making it through all 13.1 miles without stopping. The running route perfectly passed a variety of places I had visited and hotspots for memories of my time in Sydney. From Hurricane’s Grill and Star casino where I celebrated my birthday with all my hostel-mates, to Darling Harbour and the Opera House, the sites we passed fueled my run and kept my mind off the miles ahead. Friends and families of runners riddled the route with motivational posters and chants of support. Just as I was losing steam at mile 12, I looked up to see my own friends cheering me on. Shoutout to Lauren, Rachael, Anthony, Charlotte, Shaunak, and Evan for waking up early and making their way into the city for Caroline and I. The energy and love witnessed at a race like that is truly unmatched and something I’ll never forget.

^ Caroline and I after the race with a poster made by Lauren!

Other adventures that weekend included a visit to Luna Park, a small amusement park across the river from Sydney. Despite having very few rides and attractions, we had a lot of fun hopping from the Ferris wheel to the roller coaster to the carpet slides.

^ Luna Park!

We were also able to squeeze in two trips to Sydney suburbs including Newtown and Watson’s bay. Newtown’s King St is full of diverse restaurants and wellness shops that could keep you entertained for hours. Watson’s Bay is located at the northernmost point south of the river. Taking the ferry there was also something I was adamant about given how much I loved the ferry to Manly beach. I can’t believe we hadn’t made it out there sooner given the incredible views:

^ the view from the ferry (you can clearly see the rain falling over the north part of the city)

^ spectacular view from Watson’s Bay

This spot quickly became one of my favorites in all of Sydney and I look forward to returning one day.

The last few evenings in the hostel were definitely somber ones as we said our goodbyes and played our last games together. Rachael made a great short video encapsulating some of the moments we’ve shared and scheduled a time for us all to gather and watch it. Alex brought down his electric guitar and we sang our hearts out into the night. Everyone recognized how much our time together meant to one another and that a reunion for 18 people is next to impossible especially given our poor trip planning skills. This was the last time we’d all be together in that hostel living room.

Just like that, my time in Sydney has come to an end. My next and final post will contain my reflection of my time abroad. Cheers!

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering

With one day left in the Hanoi area, we scheduled a day tour to Ninh Binh where we biked around rice fields surrounded by mountains, took a boat trip down a river in Tam Coc which went through three different caves, climbed up steps to Lying Dragon Mountain, and visited Dinh King temple. The various mini-adventures were all stunning, but it was hard for me to properly appreciate them after spending three days in the most beautiful environment I’ve ever laid eyes on. The intensely hot and humid weather (which wasn’t a problem in the mountains of Ha Giang) didn’t help either. Just a few minutes of walking outside was followed by sweat and dehydration. If anything, this weather encouraged us to always have a smoothie or juice of some sort in our hands. For $1-2, the drink options are endless and we sure took advantage. Once we returned to Hanoi, we quickly made our way to the airport and flew to Ho Chi Minh City where we were spending the next two days.

^ The view from Lying Dragon Mountain

Our first day in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, was spent exploring the city and doing a food tour in which we once again rode on motorbikes, but this time in the city. Let me tell you, being on the back of a motorbike in a Vietnamese city is not for the faint of heart. Bikes and cars are constantly appearing out of nowhere and are often on a collision course with you until the very last second. The stream of vehicles never stops — not for pedestrians, not for other vehicles, sometimes not even for an ambulance. A perk of the food tour was that our three drivers were young university students who knew a good bit of English, so we could finally ask questions about their lives and experiences as well as Vietnamese culture. The other highlight was the food. I had the guides help me make a list of all the foods we tried:

Bun bo hue - spicy noodles soup

Banh xeo - Vietnamese pancake/crepe eaten in lettuce wraps with shrimp, bean sprouts, and a variety of leaves including basil and mint. It is dipped in a sweat sauce. (This was a personal favorite)

Dim sum

Banh mi - Vietnamese sandwich

Banh trang nuong - Vietnamese pizza

Bo lui xa - grill beef and lemongrass

Kumquat & sugarcane iced tea (personal favorite)

Coffee Banh flan - flan cake (personal favorite)

^ Banh Xeo - A very yummy dish which requires skilled rolling to produce.

^ Banh flan - literally the best flan I’ve ever had over a bed of crushed ice and coffee.

It goes without saying that we left that food tour with happy stomachs and a strong desire for a nap. Later that day we did some shopping! It turns out that Vietnam has endless stalls of knock-off (but very high quality) backpacks, bags, clothing, and so much more. We were particularly eager to buy backpacks and fanny packs which were significantly cheaper than normal prices. As crazy as it may sound, over those two days in Ho Chi Minh, the three of us bought 13 bags/backpacks for us and our friends/family in addition to other clothing, coats, and souvenirs. To this day I will never know how I managed to bring everything I bought back to Sydney in addition to my already full backpack and one-weeks-worth of clothes. I do always love a packing challenge!

With one day left in Ho Chi Minh, we had to take a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels not too far away. These tunnels were the site of many battles between American forces and the Vietcong during the Vietnam war. In addition to getting to see several traps used by the Vietcong and learning about how the Vietcong formed (and survived in) the tunnel system, we got to walk 100m in the tunnels ourselves! Walking so far crouched over in a tunnel with a height of 1.5 meters was not easy, so you can imagine our shock when we got out and learned that the tunnel we went through was made 1.5x larger than the actual tunnels used in order to accommodate tourists.

^ examples of traps used in the Vietnam War

^ A cross-section view of the underground tunnels used by the Vietcong. Traps were set at the entrances and throughout the tunnels in case intruders found their way in. The kitchen was strategically designed so that smoke from a fire would leave through incremental holes making it less visible near the ground. To prevent wild dogs from approaching the smoke and revealing its position, spices were mixed with water and poured around the smoke’s backdoor to scare them away. The tunnels were only built at night as well so as not to draw attention, and all entrances were covered with leaves to blend into the environment.

Between the nature, people, culture, food, and shopping, Vietnam was hands down one of the best trips I had the chance to go on and I can’t wait to return one day. Cheers!

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering

As final exams approach, the University of New South Wales offers yet another study week of no classes allowing students to relax and study up for finals. For those of us here for just a single semester, however, this means another opportunity for a long trip! After a frenzy of examining ticket prices and receiving feedback from friends, we landed on Vietnam as our destination. Most of my roommates were all traveled-out and weren’t interested in a long trip just before the end of the semester, but that didn’t stop Shaunak, Charlotte, and I. Before I knew it, I was on a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, and then to Hanoi (after missing the first connection to Hanoi due to a line at customs that could probably wrap around the moon if fully extended). Our first day there was dedicated to settling in and making our way to Ha Giang, the northern province of Vietnam where we would be getting on motorbikes and biking around the mountains and villages for 3 days. Below is everything I recorded about those first few days in Vietnam:

First day in Vietnam!! We kicked off with a good start dropping our bags off at the hotel we had to cancel on the night before after missing our flight. On our search for an ATM, we found that crossing a street has never been so difficult. From bikes appearing behind you out of thin air to a never ending stream of traffic, it takes skill to know when to commit to crossing a street. I felt like the chicken from the game Crossy Road. It took us a few tries to learn that you just have to start walking and the cars/bikes will go around you. Overall, with a population of 100M people and land area the size of New Mexico, Vietnam is very full of hustle and bustle. This being our flex day, we walked around, came across a phenomenal lunch spot with endless dumplings and juices and duck for just $40 usd for the 3 of us, briefly visited the Ngoc Son Temple, went to see the train that passes right through a street of cafes, and went to the Imperial Citadel of Thang. While waiting for the train, I enjoyed a classic Vietnamese Egg Coffee made with condensed milk and an eggy foam on top. To say this was one of the best coffees I’ve ever had would be an understatement. For dinner, I had an incredible shrimp soup and chicken curry. Vietnam isn’t exactly known for its curries like Thailand, but I was still thoroughly satisfied. We then picked up our stuff and went to meet up with our tour group for the next three days doing the Ha Giang loop. I have literally no idea what to expect, but I’m currently on a sleeper bus on the way there so there’s no turning back. Sleeper buses appear to be a common form of transportation here to get around cities at night. Two birds, one stone!

^ Hanoi Train Street where a train passed right in front of us and I enjoyed an egg coffee. 

The hard part at this point was that nobody was telling us where we were going or what was going on. We kind of just trusted that it would all work out. I was in and out of sleep until about 2:30am when I was awakened to someone holding a phone inches away from my face with google translate open reading “You have arrived”. Just like that, we were herded off into some building (a hostel), we were shown to beds, and everyone passed out. This all might sound like good fun, but when you have no idea what the plan is, no cell service, and nobody to communicate with, your brain just can’t predict what’s about to happen. Especially at night when you’re disoriented. We were being led into the abyss. 

^ Me, Shaunak, and Charlotte at 2:30am after 6 hours on the sleeper bus.

The morning was a bit better. We finally met the owners of Road Kings, the company in charge of the motorbike tour. They got everyone fed with either pho or a banh mi (Vietnamese classics), explained to us on a big map where we would be traveling the next three days, and set us off with our motorbike drivers. 

^ A map of the Ha Giang province where we would be traveling for 3 days.

It took just 15 minutes on that bike to absolutely fall in love with Vietnam. The motorbike was a bit scary at first, but the wind blowing in my face and the incredible views made me feel more alive than ever. I can’t even express into words how beautiful this country is. My mouth dropped on that bike more times than I could count. This scenery might genuinely be the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Little green mountain humps digging deep into the horizon. Farms and crops growing all up rocky hills. Little villages following the valleys. I can’t wait for the next two days on the bikes. My butt and legs definitely hurt after some time, but boy was it worth it. We stopped several times at random outlooks (had some incredible coffees today including a silver coffee whatever that is) and then went to a waterfall which was a little overrun with people (from other bike tours) but it was also nice to see. We were then led to our hotel accomodation which was a lot nicer than any of us expected. The meals have also been great and in the form of several family-style dishes ranging from veggies to chicken to soups. We ended the night with some karaoke! Time to get some rest before breakfast at 8am.

^ An average meal on our trip. Two drinks and two coffees were included each day as well.

^ Two of my favorite lookouts.

^ Our first accommodation out on the road.

The next day was full of more incredible views as well as a stop at a river that leads into a cave where you can swim. I had never swam in a cave before, so the experience was definitely one to remember. We ended the day in Dong Van, a city and rural district of the Ha Giang province. We went out into the square of Don Van and it was all lit up and quite beautiful because of a holiday/festival that I think just ended. Lights around shops, signs, and streets seem to be a motif in the cities we’ve visited. We also tried this interesting drink that was made of boiled ginger with rice paper balls, but I couldn’t tell you what it was since getting information has been hard with no translators and limited cell service. 

^ Yet another incredible lookout.

^ My driver and I!

On our last day with the bikes, we visited the Vietnam-China border at the very northern tip of Vietnam and then had a looong drive back to Ha Giang. Time flew by on the motorbike with the constantly changing views, but the time took its toll on my lower body. The scheduled stops and stretch breaks were a godsend. Before we knew it, we were on the sleeper bus back to Hanoi. 

I can’t put into words how beautiful Ha Giang province is and how awesome the trip was. All I can say is that the words “wow” and “beautiful” were playing on repeat in my head. The sheer vastness of the mountains and valleys decorated with terraces, farms, villages, and more was all something I never want to forget. I will surely be back. 

My next post will cover our next day in Hanoi as well as two days in Ho Chi Minh City. Cheers!

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering

The end of yet another week of travel meant the start of yet another week of recuperation. But, unlike in the US when the end of a trip means the drop of baseline dopamine levels, returning home to Sydney is always something to look forward to. There’s no feeling like driving up to the hostel, getting out of the car, and staring out into the open waters outside our front door. The return to routine feels even better between the daily coastal and gelato runs. 

^ Coogee coast during sunset time

Not much happened this week other than my 21st birthday! It was on a Tuesday which was less than ideal because of my classes, but I never like to make a big deal of these things anyway so a simple dinner with my friends was all I really wanted. The visit to the Star Casino, Sydney’s largest casino, was just the cherry on top. 17 of us - almost every single one of the students living in the hostel - joined together at Hurricane’s Grill for a wonderful dinner. I was also surprised at midnight with a cake and mini celebration. We’ve had several birthdays in the hostel over the past few months and we’ve made sure to celebrate each one with all the love and excitement we could. I was very thankful to have so many friends by my side celebrating with me so far from home.

The casino visit was everything I imagined. Even though you only need to be 18 years old to gamble in Australia, none of us had ever gambled and several of us were eager to give it a shot. I was personally interested in playing poker and roulette. The slots also proved a worthwhile investment of my time. I won’t get into the weeds of the games I played nor peer pressure anyone to gamble, but let’s just say I was able to double the $100 Australian bill I entered with. The birthday gods were really looking out for me and I couldn’t be happier. Photography wasn’t allowed in the casino so I don’t have pictures of our time there.

On a different note, the time changed so the sun sets an hour earlier now, and with fall starting, the temperatures have definitely cooled down making a sweatshirt a necessity in the evening. At the very least, this is Australia’s way of making our oncoming departure to home just a little bit easier.

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering

When I initially started planning the trip, I struggled to find a good itinerary online. Beyond Queen Victoria Markets and the National Gallery of Victoria, the majority of recommendations were to visit streets and cafes, or activities that you couldn’t quite get the essence of online. Sure, a street is pretty and well-known, but how much time should I allot to visiting it?? I can only buy so many renowned Melbourne coffees. Answers to my questions were few and far between. Needless to say, figuring out the number of days to spend in Melbourne and coinciding adventures was more difficult than I’d like to admit. But, if it’s two things I learned from the trip, it’s that you’ll find adventure if you look for it and always schedule in free time to look for it!

To make matters worse, just before we called an Uber to the airport, we got an email saying our flight was canceled. Jetstar, the cheapest airline to get around Australia, had worked out pretty well for us until that moment, but from what we heard from other travelers, we knew it was just a matter of time before a flight of ours got canceled. We were able to move the flight to the next morning for free, but lost half a day of our trip. Even more inspired to pack our time there, we found out there was a rugby match in melbourne that evening. Melbourne is known for its sports scene as the annual host of the Australian Open, Australian Grand Prix (F1 races), as well as countless cricket, rugby, and Australian football matches in its famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) stadium. I had wanted to watch a rugby match for the longest time, so I was more than excited. The crowd was electric. It was the Melbourne Storm vs the Brisbane Broncos, two of the biggest Australian cities, so tensions were high. I won't get into the details of how rugby is played, but in simple terms, it’s not too different from American football except for the fact that players can only throw the ball backwards (like laterals in football) and they wear virtually no padding or helmets! The two 40-minute halves are also played with no timeouts or ad breaks, so the game doesn’t have the constant (and annoying) pauses which make American football feel never-ending. Needless to say, we were thoroughly entertained. 

The next day we got breakfast at one of Melbourne’s most famous cafes and breakfast spots, Seven Seeds, where I enjoyed a pourover coffee with notes of peaches and pineapple as well as an egg dish that still pops up in my dreams. 

Breakfast was followed by a walk through the Queen Victoria Markets, a walk along the river, and then a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria. I personally loved the gallery which had a variety of different exhibits ranging from robot dogs walking around a room to walls full of peoples’ confessions. I returned the next day to continue my exploration of the gallery. 

Here is a picture of one of the concession walls:

And here is a robot dog looking at some of its observers:

On a walking tour around the city, we learned that Melbourne used to be called Batmania after John Batman who claimed to have founded the city in 1835. We also enjoyed the Carlton Gardens, visited and learned about a prison that was converted into a university, and ended with a great view of the city. 

As much as I loved Melbourne and it’s unique ability to combine the city feel of Chicago with the cafe and food scene of Paris, the visit reaffirmed my bond with Sydney. 

^ me at DeGraves street - a fun little street and popular destination for coffee-lovers.

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering

Back in Coogee! After over a week of traveling, it was time to rest. Classes continued as normal and everyone’s desire to fervently enjoy our home, Coogee beach and Sydney, returned. Tuesday was marked by trivia at the Coogee Bay Hotel. Our 3rd place finish granted us a $25 gift card split six ways, so we were practically swimming in our winnings. On Wednesday I went exploring with Lauren and, like usual, we came across more of Sydney’s hidden gems such as Hyde Park and the neighboring Cathedral. St Mary’s Cathedral might as well be located in the winding streets of Spain with how much it resembles the cathedrals scattered throughout Europe. Just take a look for yourself!

On Saturday, a few of us market-lovers headed off to the Glebe Markets where incredible artisans and undiscovered chefs celebrate their passions by selling their work at stalls. I was personally more than happy to celebrate with a Turkish Gozleme full of chicken, spinach, and mushrooms. From Glebe, we made our way to the Paddington Markets which displayed more of the same. This time, I celebrated with two of the yummiest falafel pitas! I was particularly interested in a booth containing black-and-white photos of Sydney’s eastern suburbs from the 1900s. Having spent my limited time here, it was mesmerizing to see how much Coogee has changed in the last hundred years. The most notable change being the removal of a massive dock splitting the beach right in half. I was also surprised to see that the beach was just as packed back then as it is now!

Conveniently, nearby there was someone selling copies of their artwork portraying different neighborhoods of Sydney, so I made sure to get one of Coogee to commemorate my time living there. The Glebe and Paddington Markets are just two of several that Sydney showcases on a weekly basis. If you ever find yourself in town, make sure to visit at least one of them! 

On Sunday, we woke up and claimed one of the public grills on the grass just above the beach! Scattered around the beaches and parks, Sydney has conveniently located free-to-use public grills which are always full of families or groups of friends picnicking, grilling, and clearly enjoying themselves. It was only a matter of time before we could make it happen. It was food galore. We had corn, burgers, veggie skewers, hotdogs, career salad, toasted buns, chicken skewers, watermelon, a chocolate pastry, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting. Between the grilling, the food, the beautiful weather, the beachside view, and the company, we were really living the dream. Better yet, we followed up with a game of volleyball on the beach, and then a dip and rock scramble in the rock pools. The day simply could not have gone any better, and I have the hostel to thank for that. Living with a group of 18 other students studying abroad, eager to get out there and have fun has truly made my time here. I can’t wait for our remaining adventures together as our final month approaches. Cheers!

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering

With Milford Sound and Te Anau in the books, we made our way back through Queenstown and to Wanaka, a small resort town on a lake. Most well known for a tree, Wanaka is a peaceful town with a single main street and little else to distract you from the incredible views in all directions. As for the tree, it is not one to be missed. Surrounded by water and a backdrop that belongs on your computer’s homescreen, the scene makes for a satisfying image during the day and an even more satisfying picture at sunset. Judge for yourself:

With some time to kill, I went on what was easily one of the most beautiful runs I’ve ever gone on followed by a quick dip in Lake Wānaka. The sheer beauty and tranquility of the town surely made it one to come back to. After a relaxing dinner and walk around the town, we headed straight to bed in preparation of an early wake up the next day. Then, it was off to Mt. Cook! This was the day I laid eyes on the most spectacularly blue water I never would have imagined. Here is a picture of just one of the lakes that popped up during the drive:

The hike to Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak, was short, but wildly beautiful. I particularly enjoyed the conversations we had as we hiked. There’s something about walking with friends towards a common goal that brings out the conversationalists in all of us. From getting to know one another’s favorite passions and hobbies, to debating the value of the seemingly infinite photos we take on our phones everyday, everyone was engaged with a walking partner or group the entire time. A Go Blue! was even shouted at a walking passerby in a Michigan sweatshirt. I can assure you we’ve seen one on almost every trip, but I’ve just forgotten to mention it. Here are a few of the views from the hike:

One of the campervans joined us car groups, so this picture includes almost everyone!

And below is the final lookout. Pictured from left to right are Shaunak, myself, Evan, and Joel, a student from Germany taking a gap semester abroad!

We spent the next few days driving down the eastern coast from Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, back down to Queenstown. Unfortunately, this drive lacked the staple lakes and mountains we all loved, and I found it to be less scenic than the western coast. Take it from me, no need to leave the western coast of the South Island except for a quick visit to Christchurch if you want to see what a big city looks like in paradise. As soon as we made it to Queenstown, we let the adventures begin! Personally, I was only adamant about skydiving, so skydive I did. Skydive almost everyone did. Something about studying abroad for a semester really makes students adrenaline junkies. I don’t know if it’s the freedom that comes with living so far from home or the desire to make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime study abroad experience, but I was more than happy to partake. Having done iFly (indoor skydiving) at 10-years old, I was extremely calm going into it. A self-declared seasoned skydiver, I convinced myself I knew exactly what to expect. Boy, was I mistaken. It all happened so fast. As soon as we got to the skydiving center, we were separated into groups, put into gear, matched with a pro, and falling out of a plane flying at 9,000ft all in the span of 20 minutes. While the whole thing lasted just 3-4 minutes, the actual freefall was about 25 seconds. 25 seconds of wind blowing, hands freezing, and utter awe. I simply could not stop smiling the whole way down. The incredible weather met with the incredible views of a lake and mountains was the perfect recipe for skydiving. No matter how scared everyone was going into it, everyone came out euphoric.

Outside of skydiving, the last two days in New Zealand were a choose-your-own-adventure. While some were out at the world’s biggest canyon swing, others were kayaking in the lake and getting massages. Shaunak, Evan, and I found ourselves playing mini golf in sombreros we got from a Mexican restaurant. I also spent a good bit of time on our AirBnB balcony. With this view, how could I not??

All in all, I couldn’t recommend the South Island of New Zealand more to my fellow adventurers and adrenaline junkies. The main thing we learned from the trip was to plan more time hiking and less time in the car! Road trips make us excited to explore as many different places as possible, but constantly being on the move and driving several hours each day really takes a toll on you. But no regrets — I’ll be back! 

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering