As an Environmental Studies major, it is hard for me to watch people treat this earth the way they do. There is a scarce amount of land that has been untouched by humans. It is truly inspiring to be able to visit naturally wild places. Last year, I had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand with my family after a semester abroad in Australia. I had heard about how great New Zealand was, but every combination of words proved inadequate during my trip.

I had no expectations for the country of New Zealand. I've found that it's the best way to travel. When we arrived, the airport alone was impressive. It consisted of art, colors of nature, and concepts of new urbanism, which celebrates the history of an area through the careful planning and development of urban areas. Wallpaper that painted the hallways with bright colors left me wondering how the natural landscape would compare. We then began our journey.

We rented a car, which was a culture shock in and of itself, and drove all around the South Island, ferried to the North Island and then explored some more. The roads were curvy and well-traveled, but trustworthy and welcoming. Every turn brought new scenery, from rolling hills that are too green to comprehend to mountains that soared into insurmountable heights. The sheep outnumbered people 5 to 1. It's not often that I drive such long distances without seeing enormous amounts of human impact. No pictures or words could ever illustrate the immensity of pristine land that New Zealand beholds.

I was left in awe by every place we visited, and I hope that New Zealand and others like it can be inspirations to other parts of the world by leaving nature untouched and thought of as invaluable. It's very respectable to see a place that thrives so independently on its land and the cultures that cared for it. There is no place like New Zealand other than New Zealand itself, and I'm so glad I was able to share this experience with my closest loved ones.

We left nothing but footprints and good vibes and took nothing but pictures and happiness. I brought home my own appreciation and love for a place that I've only met once. It's a place that leaves you wanting to go back and a place that leaves you speechless when attempting to explain all that it is in just a simple conversation. The best way to describe New Zealand is to say "go see it yourself"!