| hoveround
July 16, 2011
11:34:01 AM
Entry #: 3763867
| Hey everybody!
Another update for you all. First and foremost, I've survived the (almost) first two weeks that I've been here. It's been a pretty crazy experience thus far. Like I've been saying, the only bad part about Dunedin is that it's cold. But today it's 50°F, the warmest it's been since I've arrived. It's kind of a shock going from the hot summer to a cold winter, but I'm already getting used to it.
Yesterday I finished my first week of classes. I'm taking two low-level anthropology courses (an introductory course and another about human evolution), a course on Maori culture (the indigenous people here) and an Environmental Science class. They're all pretty interesting. I really like my two anthropology courses. My professors for those classes are two pretty cool dudes (one's an archaeologist) and both are American. I originally wasn't too sure about the Maori class, but I really liked our first lecture on the Maori creation narrative and how their stories on how the world was created. And so far my class about the environment and society has been what I expected: A lot of talk about climate change and rocks
I don't think this semester's going to be very hard. In order to get my credits (only credits transfer back to Etown, not grades), I have to get a D- or better. A D in New Zealand is a 40% - might as well change the name from "study abroad" to just "abroad." It's great to be in that kind of situation because now there is absolutely no pressure. I can learn what I want to learn and get out of the classes what I put into them. Since there is SO much leniency with grades, a lot of international students tend to skip class and don't put much effort into their studies. I likely won't skip many lectures though because I really enjoy the material and have a genuine interest to learn it. One lesson I've learned during my life that is only reinforced by my time abroad so far: The importance of an education and the desire to learn.
Last week I also moved out of my flat and into a better one. My previous flat was a lot father from campus, was always cold and our "kiwi host" was never there. The kiwi host is supposed to be a support person to help international students transition into the country, new housing and help adjust to the University. She wasn't any help at all, so I moved into a flat a little closer to campus. The best benefit is that I'm now a lot closer to my friends who live right down the road (about 180 m away vs the 850 m from my old flat). The other great part is that I now live on the same block as the Pizza Hut, Domino's, KFC, McDonald's and the cheapest/best fish and chips. There's a reason they call my street "Fatty Lane."
I've taken the liberty to indulge in the Kiwi culture a little bit as well. I've made friends with international students as well as some locals. The culture here is fairly similar to back in the States (ie: McDonalds), though New Zealand definitely has a leg up on America when it comes to hospitality. Kiwis are SO kind and hospitable. The mood here is so relaxed people don't get upset over many things. For example, I've never really heard any car horns beeping during the heavy traffic. And everyone's just really polite. It's such a refreshing change of pace. On a different note, I've recently discovered that New Zealand is the third-heaviest drinking nation in the world, behind Russia and Ireland. The drinking age being 18 here makes their views on alcohol so much different from the United States. I've been able to attend a few "gatherings" just to get an idea of how things go on down here. It's all so very interesting. And rest assured, I've been keeping things under control. Speaking of Kiwi culture, I get to go see New Zealand's national rugby team, The All Blacks, play in a match next weekend. And with the Rugby World Cup coming to New Zealand in Sept./Oct., I'll try to get tickets to one of those matches as well.
I must say that being away from the States is a little refreshing. Of course with the internet I'm never too far away from the news, but I like being off the grid a little bit. It's refreshing in this time of globalization to be separated and only have to worry about what's happening on the South Island. Soon enough I'll be back to the global citizen I was only a month ago but until then, I'll enjoy my time becoming a Kiwi.
Hope all is well in the States,
Micah
PS: Anybody wanna Skype?
PPS: Feel free to forward this on to anybody I may have missed sending it to.
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