IFSA Butler may or may not be the greatest study abroad company to ever exist. On top of making getting here easy, putting on an amazing orientation and getting us some sweet diggs they have provided yet again. IFSA Butler is one of the few companies that provides some really choice (notice the use of New Zealand slang) outings during the semester.
And our first just occurred, which was AMAZING!
Gerald, my boy aka our wicked cool bus driver, and Guy (our kiwi student services coordinator) met us bright and early for an entire day of fun filled adventure. After a drive (which I mostly slept through) we came to one of the largest working gold mines in New Zealand. Which would have been really cool if it wasn't 830 in the morning and I had just been awoken from my nap. But regardless, it was still really cool to watch some people move dirt around. Yeah.
THEN we went to an abandoned mine, which was way cooler. It was from the old mining days (back when the rush first began in the 19th century) and Gerald, who knows everything about everything, explained how miners used to drag huge rocks up this hill using only horses then break them up and then wait for the rain to come so they could pan it. Talk about dedication. We also got to walk into an abandoned mine which definitely just reiterated the fact that I will never ever work as a minor. WAY too claustrophobic.
Then we drove up the coast heading to Naseby, stopping to get some bomb pumpkin soup for lunch. THEN WE WENT TO NASEBY!
Why so excited you ask? Well let me tell you, because we went curling and ice luging. Now some may not appreciate the greatness of curling as a sport but it is probably the most underrated sport I have ever encountered. I was weirdly obsessed with it during the last Olympics and this was a small dream come true. I did not dominate, but I did learn that it is a game of intense strategy, concentration and trash talking.
Then we went Ice Luging, that's right the sport that killed someone in the last Olympics I participated in. Sort of. I mean Olympic luggers (sp?) reach fast speeds that can whip you out of the little car thing. I went down the track steering myself into walls every five seconds and wearing a helmet that had apparently belonged to a small child named Jake. But it was still a ton of fun being yelled at by an eastern European man, it's part of the real experience and all.
Then after a drive through some beautiful scenery that has never made me realize more that I am actually in Middle Earth we returned to Dunedin and some awesome pizza. Sweet as.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Differences
So clearly being in a different country and all one would expect differences, but since New Zealand speaks English and has its roots in England just as America does one would also think, well it can't be that different right. WRONG. This place is majorly different. And I'm not talking about the fact that they speak a completely different kind of English over here, oh no. There are more drastic differences than just that.
To begin, their version of "English". You think American college students have hard slang to understand? See if you can identify the following. Togs, Dosh, Jandals, Choice, and Sweet as
Another major difference that would definitely dishearten the person that hasn't spent some very cold nights in Vermont, there is no central heating in student flats. Let me say it again, there is NO central heating in ANY of the flats. And no insulation either. You want to know what that means to staying warm? Space heaters, extra blankets and LOTS of layers. I now know I will never complain again about being hot because Saint Mike's keeps the heaters in the dorms somewhere near tropical.
They drive on the left side of the road, which is fine because I won't be driving BUT it is very confusing when crossing the street. The whole "right, left, right" saying taught to kids in America for rules when crossing the street, try "left, right, left"
There's way to many to list, but more later!
To begin, their version of "English". You think American college students have hard slang to understand? See if you can identify the following. Togs, Dosh, Jandals, Choice, and Sweet as
Another major difference that would definitely dishearten the person that hasn't spent some very cold nights in Vermont, there is no central heating in student flats. Let me say it again, there is NO central heating in ANY of the flats. And no insulation either. You want to know what that means to staying warm? Space heaters, extra blankets and LOTS of layers. I now know I will never complain again about being hot because Saint Mike's keeps the heaters in the dorms somewhere near tropical.
They drive on the left side of the road, which is fine because I won't be driving BUT it is very confusing when crossing the street. The whole "right, left, right" saying taught to kids in America for rules when crossing the street, try "left, right, left"
There's way to many to list, but more later!
Monday, July 12, 2010
UNI
Although it may seem like I only came here to explore New Zealand and meet great people, there is another reason for my travel to NZ. New Zealand's oldest university, one of the southern most universities in the world, the University of Otago. Or as the locals (and our british friends) call it "Uni".
First of all the place is huge. I'm talking 20,000 people, HUGE. Before all the students arrived the city of Dunedin was a ghost town, but now there are so many students and people here that it hardly seems like the same place. One huge difference is the sheer volume of building and space that the uni takes up. It is also the largest employer in Dunedin.
The students put American college students to shame. Nicknamed scarfies for the scarves that we all have to wear when it gets cold. They are notorious for interestingly enough burning couches. But that's banned now, but secretly still happens. Can't wait to experience that one. The drinking age is 18 and it shows. To experience the "real" scarfie culture one would have to be on Castle Street at about 2AM during orientation. One word, riot.
The classes are also drastically different, sorta. My religion class, Love and Heroism: Religions of South India is about 8 people in a class setting that reminds me of Saint Mike's. However, my Maori Society class is in a lecture hall that seats 550 people. That's more than my graduating class at Saint Mike's, every time I enter that room I imagine that is what it will be like when I walk the stage a graduation. SCARY. Students also are not required to attend class. There is no attendance policy. It's a whole new level of student responsibility that I am sure will prove harmful for some internationals, mainly the boys. ALSO, a A/A- is anywhere from a 100 to an 80. AN 80! Talk about different expectations.
Speaking of uni, I have reading for class and I am trying (ish) to get that done. More soon!!
First of all the place is huge. I'm talking 20,000 people, HUGE. Before all the students arrived the city of Dunedin was a ghost town, but now there are so many students and people here that it hardly seems like the same place. One huge difference is the sheer volume of building and space that the uni takes up. It is also the largest employer in Dunedin.
The students put American college students to shame. Nicknamed scarfies for the scarves that we all have to wear when it gets cold. They are notorious for interestingly enough burning couches. But that's banned now, but secretly still happens. Can't wait to experience that one. The drinking age is 18 and it shows. To experience the "real" scarfie culture one would have to be on Castle Street at about 2AM during orientation. One word, riot.
The classes are also drastically different, sorta. My religion class, Love and Heroism: Religions of South India is about 8 people in a class setting that reminds me of Saint Mike's. However, my Maori Society class is in a lecture hall that seats 550 people. That's more than my graduating class at Saint Mike's, every time I enter that room I imagine that is what it will be like when I walk the stage a graduation. SCARY. Students also are not required to attend class. There is no attendance policy. It's a whole new level of student responsibility that I am sure will prove harmful for some internationals, mainly the boys. ALSO, a A/A- is anywhere from a 100 to an 80. AN 80! Talk about different expectations.
Speaking of uni, I have reading for class and I am trying (ish) to get that done. More soon!!
Friday, July 2, 2010
DUNEDIN
Hostels = Internet for 6dollars an hour.
Hence the lack of postings and responses to emails, sawry!!
Moving on. Dunedin is absolutely beautiful. Its set up similarly to the Scottish city of Edinburgh which if I had ever been there would probably be much more interesting. After orientation in Auckland we stayed in a hostel for a few days and just got to explore the city. The Octagon is the center of the city and it has amazing restaurants, clubs and stores. We all learned very quickly it is much more efficient to shop at the grocery store and make huge dinners together so we did that while we are in the hostel. While exploring the city we entered the University for the first time and it is amazingly beautiful. If I had my camera cord I could share it with you. More when that happens!
Hence the lack of postings and responses to emails, sawry!!
Moving on. Dunedin is absolutely beautiful. Its set up similarly to the Scottish city of Edinburgh which if I had ever been there would probably be much more interesting. After orientation in Auckland we stayed in a hostel for a few days and just got to explore the city. The Octagon is the center of the city and it has amazing restaurants, clubs and stores. We all learned very quickly it is much more efficient to shop at the grocery store and make huge dinners together so we did that while we are in the hostel. While exploring the city we entered the University for the first time and it is amazingly beautiful. If I had my camera cord I could share it with you. More when that happens!
Orientation
IFSA Butler was definitely the way to go when traveling anywhere, especially if its New Zealand. Not only are the staff very knowledgeable but they make everything fun. Not in the corny freshman orientation way but the enjoyable way! After picking us up at the airport it is a whirlwind of activity for a few days to get everyone over the jet lag.
We went kayaking, hiking, swam in natural hot springs, played rugby and cricket, went rock climbing, and so many other things that I can't even remember. The amazing IFSA-Butler staff also taught us ...
The definite highlights were the Marae and the Villa Maria Winery, which were both on our last day of orientation. The Marae is the traditional meeting house of a Maori people of New Zealand. It was a great honor and an eye opening experience to spend the night there. Kiwis are welcoming in general but being inducted into something so ancient and beautiful was truly an honor.
Wine tasting, well that was just awesome. No description needed!
After that we jumped on the plane to Dunedin!
We went kayaking, hiking, swam in natural hot springs, played rugby and cricket, went rock climbing, and so many other things that I can't even remember. The amazing IFSA-Butler staff also taught us ...
The definite highlights were the Marae and the Villa Maria Winery, which were both on our last day of orientation. The Marae is the traditional meeting house of a Maori people of New Zealand. It was a great honor and an eye opening experience to spend the night there. Kiwis are welcoming in general but being inducted into something so ancient and beautiful was truly an honor.
Wine tasting, well that was just awesome. No description needed!
After that we jumped on the plane to Dunedin!
32 Hours of Travel
So as the title implies it took about 32 hours of straight travel to get to New Zealand. Our flight left Boston at 630 in the morning, and Dane got some beautiful pictures of the sunrise over Logan which will be uploading soon. Also met up with some Mike's kids at the terminal, a Mr. Michael Jablonski and Mr. Gregory Bejian.
After a 6 hr flight to LAX, during which we picked up two more IFSA-Butler kids and two more SMCers we had an adventure in LAX. Which consisted of America losing to Ghana, overpriced cheeseburgers, seeing Ice Cube and his family and waiting 13 hours for our flight out. We also set up camp in the airport, all taking naps and getting yelled at by security for racing the luggage carts. Notice Mike protecting everyone's stuff with his eyelids closed:
The flight over was very long. VERY LONG. 13 Hours long. And I couldn't sleep. Which was painful. I watched two movies, ate a lot of food, did way too many Soduko puzzles and listened to everything I had on my Ipod. Arriving in NZ was lovely, a very nice Australian man next to me switched seats so I could be at the window when we came into Auckland. It was 6 in the morning, I had skipped June 27th. Hope I didn't miss anything too special.
After a 6 hr flight to LAX, during which we picked up two more IFSA-Butler kids and two more SMCers we had an adventure in LAX. Which consisted of America losing to Ghana, overpriced cheeseburgers, seeing Ice Cube and his family and waiting 13 hours for our flight out. We also set up camp in the airport, all taking naps and getting yelled at by security for racing the luggage carts. Notice Mike protecting everyone's stuff with his eyelids closed:
The flight over was very long. VERY LONG. 13 Hours long. And I couldn't sleep. Which was painful. I watched two movies, ate a lot of food, did way too many Soduko puzzles and listened to everything I had on my Ipod. Arriving in NZ was lovely, a very nice Australian man next to me switched seats so I could be at the window when we came into Auckland. It was 6 in the morning, I had skipped June 27th. Hope I didn't miss anything too special.
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