Ok. For those who know me, you can infer my fear for this field trip began escalating the moment I received the news of our field trip to Body Worlds here in downtown Auckland. While my mom was obviously jealous and eager to hear about my experience, my blood pressure rose to an all-time high. So, for those who might not know me, it took 3 nurses, 1 doctor, and my mom to hold me down whenever I went to the doctor (until sometime in high school). To this day, I'm still not sure what was so terrifying...but, even waiting outside the Body World exhibit I felt my stomach clench and head become hollow as I dreaded what was behind those doors. Traveling Tip #11: Even if something is out of your comfort zone, weigh out the pros and cons and decide if it's really worth worrying about or if you'll regret not giving it a try.
To my surprise, the exhibit was absolutely fascinating. Every body was "real" and plasticized for instructional and learning purposes. Boy, did I sure learn from these (dead) people. Additionally, the kids were actually quite mature about the number of genitalia and positions the bodies were placed in. The tour guide explained how everything in the exhibit was real, except two sets of eyes which were replaced by glass replicas (*this is because deaths due to drowning make the eye balls cloudy and clear, which negatively affected the overall vision the for the body*, I know.....cool, right?).
Since photos were allowed, I decided it would be beneficial to snap a few to remember this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We were at the exhibit for just under two hours and then decided it was in our best interest to leave the exhibit before enjoying our delicious packed lunches. We walked over to the waterfront and I enjoyed my sandwich and chips. I lost my water bottle the day before, so I would've been dying of thirst...but that exhibit made me realize I wasn't...they were. Sorry, a little dead humor. But don't worry, the best has yet to come.
This beautiful piece of art, "The Lighthouse by Michael Parekowhai" was the first highlight of the after-Body-Worlds fun. The downpour of rain didn't stop the classes from viewing this $1.5 million 1950's state house replica. It was quite fascinating as the inside was decorated in neon lights representing the constellations seen in the southern hemisphere...aka I couldn't recognize any of them.
However, the big finale was the escape to Silo Park in the Wynyard Quarter, along the North Wharf. This is where the kids were allowed to play in the nearby water in the Wind Tree sculpture, the playground Karanga Plaza, and a metal bridge-like structure allowing people to walk up and overlook the harbor, or take the elevator. Four of our students were the lucky winners who were stuck in the elevator for 68 minutes. A few students told the teachers about this, not knowing the severity, and then one teacher proceeded to call 1-1-1. Traveling Tip #12: Always know the local emergency number, just in case!! In the meantime, some of the students thought this was prime time to VLOG.
After 2 fire brigades, one police car, 2 engineers, and lots of trial and error, the students were rescued and got to snag a picture with their saviors. ~Supposedly~ they didn't push all the buttons, just clicked the down button and it got stuck...but you know middle school boys. Who knows! When they clicked the emergency button, someone from the South Island answered trying to help them, but let me remind you, we're very much so on the North Island so that didn't really help. While they waited in the elevator to be rescued, the boys played handball to pass time...because what else do you do when you're trapped inside an elevator without your phone. And THEN, when we were trying to get the bus, they weren't picking up and all 80 students and the teachers had to run back to the other side of the harbor to catch the bus. Thankfully, only 30 minutes late.
However, the bus ride was also quite entertaining. I sat on the back of the bus monitoring the older Year 8 boys...lucky me. They asked me various questions about America and the stores we have and the things middle schoolers do and then tried asking about my middle school years. Little do they know, I was an angel. I just couldn't help but laugh when they asked about vaping. These were also the boys carrying around a speaker playing Logic and typical American rap music as we traveled around the Wharf.
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