Temptations of Technology

After reading Elliott's article you realize his main concern is the over using of technology while traveling.  He challenges the reader by showing how the experiences you want to take in while traveling are destroyed by the way technology has evolved society.  It made me think about how most people put up pictures from their trips and update there Facebook's  for the sake of their outlook and for the people looking at their profile.  It seems as if it is more important to have everyone else envy your traveling experience through Facebook then one actually enjoying and taking advantages of the experience itself.
My purpose for going to Australia and New Zealand is to live up the expectations of the trip. But not only to do that but challenge myself on strive to learn more and more as every experience and chance to acquire knowledge is given.  My purpose is to go and meet the natives from the land and ask them about the history and the myths they were told.  I want to go there and not only compare and contrast the what I have already researched but really challenge myself to get everything I can out of this voyage to Australia and New Zealand.
After reading this article there was one quote that really caught my eye it was when Elliott said "technology isn't really the issue.  But too much of it is.  It trivializes travel, turning it from a much-needed, multisensory recreational experience into fleeting and utterly forgettable entertainment"(22).  It really shows that technology is not needed but abused.  This article really opened my eyes and changed my mind on how much technology should actually be used.  I think that half the time the technology is used it is more of a distraction then necessary. This article really shows how society is wrapped around society to where we even have started saying "there is an app. for that!" We are no longer spontaneously exploring and finding the hidden treasures in traveling, we are looking on the internet for the best rated tour and for the five star restaurant. 
I do think there should be boundaries for the use of technology for the class.  I know the rule is set to where we cannot use a cell phone unless of an emergency or after "school hours", meaning at night while in our hotel rooms.  I think that there should be rules to Facebook and Twitter and basically all connection to home life other then our parents.  At first there will be complaining but in the end I think everyone will have respect for the rule because instead of wasting their after hours time on Facebook they could have been journaling or looking through pictures or just bonding with their roommates.  All the unnecessary  use of technology can wait until we arrive back in the United States.  We should be living the trip to the fullest and I think that all the technology would do is hold us back from a hidden adventure.

Creation Stories

When looking at the world as a whole every culture is known for having creation stories.  I believe these stories were made to explain the reasons for their beliefs and creation.  I believe in the early ages there was always a fear of the unknown and these stories were their ways to explain their existence.  When trying to explain complex views to children, stories are made to make it easier to comprehend.  Creation myths still have a place in the world today and I believe they will always have a place in the world as our stories are passed down from generation to generation.  Creation myths are still used today when trying to explain to children the simple creation of humans.  There is the religious view explaining Adam and Eve, there is the evolution view from being created from apes, and there is the well known childhood story where we were all dropped off by a stork in the midst of the night. 
The stories from the Maori and the Aborigines tell how Australia and New Zealand were all based off the simple fact of nature.  The Maori had a life based off of not only overcoming conflicts but showing how the nature and gods were precious to them.  But it also shows how they wanted to see the "light" by separating their parents.  Both versions of the story explain how the children were very rebelling children.  While looking at the creation stories from the Aborigines.  Their creation myths were based on not only nature but the creation of animals and life.  Peace was the turned into evil and the sun which was the leader of all came down and allowed them to change into what they wanted to be, it showed rebellion as well. Then two creatures (humans) were created and placed on the earth to control and be superior to the lands.
There are many similarities between the three stories. They all created and revolved around nature. Light is necessary for them to survive.  Rebellion was popular from the children, showing how there is still the rebellious stage in children today.  Not only were there similarities but there were differences. Some of these differences were that the Maori's were more about getting the light into their land and separating their parents.  Rebellion was a major part in their creation myth.  Where in the Aborigines' myth nature and light were the main symbols.  The creation of life was what was the most important and how the Mother Sun watched what life she created.
Yes these myths might seem outdated but there are still parts of the stories that still make sense in today's world.  When looking at the revolution of life you see that in both stories there is rebellion with what has been created by the god's and spirit's.  There is still rebellion in children in today's world.  It shows the natural way of human life.   It also still explains how we as people are still the leaders of the land and animals today.
I believe in the story of Adam and Eve because I was brought up religiously based.  This story explains how and why people believe in  high power/God.  And how we have become where we are in the religious world today.  These stories portray a glimpse to what our ancestors believed in.  There also is the evolution theory which has recently been passed around and has been put into thought, but it is new to the world today and it shows that there is a scientific answer to everything.  But I believe in the higher power that has been believe in for centuries not the science that has been around for just about 50 years. I believe in a life after death with a higher power which has given the relief to the thought of death to many people because they will then be with their God.

The History

As one looks at how the history of Australia was created Britain claimed the land and settled the first six colonies. Just like Australia the United States was claimed by Europe and the 13 colonies were created.(http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_europeans/index.htm) New Zealand was also discovered but first by eastern Polynesia, it was later signed over to the British through the Treaty of Waitangi.  Just like how in Australia there was a gold rush that took place in the south, in the United States there was a gold rush that took place in California.  People came flooding in from everywhere and the settlers that were already living in either the United States or Australia people from the suburbs and farm lands fled their homes and left deserted cities and towns to go find gold.(http://www.australianstamp.com/coin-web/aust/goldrush.htm) There was Gold also discover in Tuapeka, New Zealand this also lead to a gold rush.  As the 1900's come into place in 1901 the six colonies made a commonwealth of Australia.  This was a democratic government. The 13 colonies that were formed in the United States made the articles of confederation in 1777, which then led to the Constitution of the United States. (http://www.barefootsworld.net/aoc1777.html)  Within the British Empire New Zealand became a dominion which means it was a self-governing country.  Fifty years later in the Australian History the Aborigines were not only given the right to vote but were also recognized as citizens.  In the United States men were always allowed to vote but women were given the right in 1920.  The rights began to grow for the Australian people, in 1976 the Aboriginal Land Rights Act was passed.  This gave the people the right to claim their ancestral land in the Northern Territory. As France and Britain fought for westward expansion in the United States the French and Indian War arose.  This led to fighting against the Native Americans and the colonists for the western portion of the United States.  After that war Britain attempted to stop the expansion by creating the Proclamation of 1763 which led there to be tension between the mother country and the United States. (http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1160.html)