Author: Allison Kondrat
The beginning of our long day started with an early breakfast and bleary expressions. After an hour long drive we arrived at the beautiful Ocean Beach (a redundant yet straightforward name for the area). There we met a former MP, Chris, who was gracious enough to speak to us about his experience with leadership, government, and police. We all walked along the beach to a bird sanctuary (which was originally supposed to be a large apartment complex) and saw the sand dunes in the distance. Thankful to not be slipping and sliding in the deceivingly soft sand, we then listened to Chris’s reflection on servant leadership, the current political atmosphere of New Zealand, and how he suggests that we, as young leaders, can improve ourselves and the future. I was very inspired by what he shared, as was the rest of the group.
From there we left to grab a bite to eat in Napier. A PSA (from our experience on this journey): nothing is open on a Tuesday. We all ended up booking it from the vans to a fun ice cream shop (Lick This), only to realize that we all had shared the same idea. After leaving the shop we were surprised to find out that “Greg time” (the leadership session run by our gracious host) was to be held at the Arataki Honey Farm. We all did some souvenir shopping- for some finding laundry substitutes- and tasted the different types of honey (manuka honey is NOT overhyped). Afterwards, Tom, a former American NGO worker spoke to us about his experience in political advocacy and politics. His story was especially impactful to me as I am very driven to incorporate criminal justice reform advocacy into my future career. His passion was palpable!
Reflecting on our trip, as the end is quickly approaching, I am excited to see our application back in the U.S. Although it is sad that our shared experience is soon to be over, the memories will live on. I hope to bring back the passion, introspection, and joy that I experienced throughout the trip (minus the ridiculous amounts of bug bites, sleepless nights, and forced ma te wa). I am happy to be coming home and cannot wait to return to Texas were I will not be wearing anymore (damp) layers.
