memoryofauckland-blog

[memoryofauckland-blog]

The Start of Something New

I arrived at Auckland Airport on the fourth of July, 2019, chased all the way to central Auckland by heavy rain. The rest of the day was spent cooped up in my temporary lodging watching the window get pelted by sheets of water, a somewhat depressing experience for a lone student in a foreign country for the first time. I opened my eyes the next morning to a clear blue sky with a smattering of clouds, the skyline strange and enticing at the same time. So really, I consider this my first day in Auckland, a day of exploration.

On my way to the university to pick up my student card, I was forced to assess my habit of looking to the left first before crossing the road—knowing the traffic operates on a set of opposite rules intellectually does not make long-ingrained instincts go away. Looking back the way I came, the bright yellow and red buildings were beautifully offset by the Sky Tower standing regally in the background, and I giddily snapped a picture.

Cutting through Alfred Park, I was amazed at the sheer size of some of the trees, where in my hometown park the giants would seem small in comparison.

The university was quiet, with few students lingering during semester break, but the quad proved to be an entertaining place, primarily because I found the two birds. The complacent and lazy creatures did not fly off when I approached, a novelty for me since wild birds would scatter and dance away at the tiniest potential disturbance from where I come from.

Card secured and some food in my belly, I decided to go for a walk to the Auckland harbor. In twenty-three years of existence, I had never had the chance to go to the seaside. St Patrick’s Cathedral was an accidental find on the way, sitting pensively in the fading lights, the blue tiles of the roof complementing the evening sky.

I didn’t go in and headed on to the harbor. A ferry was just departing on pier three, and commuters were a busy mass behind me. The sound and texture of the expanse of water both soothed and excited me. I was on a foreign land all by myself, and the adventure was just beginning.

[memoryofauckland-blog]