Derek Huynh

After my first days in Europe, Athens, I had seen the different cultures and the every day environment of Athens. It was a place I could see myself wanting to live in. Everyday was very hot, food was cheap and so nice. Shopping was the best part, the amount of choices you had was very different to your typical clothes back in Auckland. Especially at night the vibes of the city was just so relaxing. Everyone is out going, buskers having fun with the crowd and everyone just getting in there having a good time. The monuments we saw were outstanding. This was the very first time I had seen them apart from pictures and videos of them. But seeing them in front of my eye was awesome, taking pictures and all could not do justice. After Athens we were to travel to Italy by an overnight Ferry! I was looking forward to that so much! However when we got to the terminal our ferry had been delayed and we had to wait around in the Ferry terminal for a few hours which wasn't too bad as us boys were just chilling in a cafe eating and talking. What made it an even better time was when we were all just sitting in the cafe taking most of the chairs and tables up (we were basically their only customers) and the boss of the cafe was getting angry because sam was making his own sandwich it was massive… and kicked him out! But we weren't sitting with sam we were in the corner with most the 6th formers. Luca having nothing to do started making in front of the boss and one of the staff saw Luca doing the and came up to us very angry and kicked him out. So we all left. So that was that. There was also a group of guys and girls about our age, dancing around downstairs. We found it really strange but us being away without phones, talking to our friends decided to go downstairs and to sit near them! We see one of the girls putting away an Australian flag and we were like ''are you from Australia!'' And she was like yeah! How about you guys? We said we were from Australia, mind that we said we were from Australia because everywhere else no one knew where New Zealand was but knew Australia. But we did tell her later that we were from New Zealand. We started talking to her about our trip and all that! Her name was Lilly and her friends were from Austria on a trip too. But she was originally from Australia. We learn that one of the girls went to Waiheke for an exchange before and so we just talked to her about that. The ferry finally arrives and we are all so keen, only to arrive in very small cabins. In my room have Henry, Tommy and Andy. After we drop all our suitcases in our room we have a little stroll around the ferry. It was a maze. I got lost straight away but finally make my way to the main level where everyone was, the deck where there was a pool and cafeteria. The time was about 9.00pm. The Austrian girls were also up there too and so we just hanged with them. After some time dancing in the disco with them we had to go to sleep! The next morning we made our way to the deck and we had basically made a new friend. We spent some time playing cards with the guys on the trip and hanged with Lilly for some time. We got our tans on, I was literally a burnt nugget! We finally arrived in Italy, saying goodbye to our friends we made, adding each other on Facebook ,snapchat etc. it was funny because we didn't have phones and so we wouldn't see the till a months time! Rome is by far my favourite. Food is very very good, kebabs for 4 euros and they're massive! Shopping is fun because we get to barter and sometimes its funny cause we play around with he seller and sometimes they get mad but oh well! My favourite day was when we went on the night walk and stopped at the colosseum, taking very good pictures! Me and Rishi got a picture that was so 'gram worthy'. Rome is by far my favourite part of the trip! And I would love to go back. We are on another train to Avignon at the moment after a terrible 12 hour train ride from Florence.