News from New Zealand:
Valerie Hewell from abroad
Valerie Hewell
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: Opinion
Returning from a two-week holiday back to the rainy Massey University campus of Palmerston North was a bit depressing, especially considering all I had to look forward to was the large workload I'd accumulated. Heaps of assignments and test preparations I feared were going to prioritize most of my time the second half of the semester.
Even though I didn't mind doing some of that, I'd seriously been bitten by the travel bug after my travels to the South Island and couldn't wait to be back traveling again. To my surprise though, I had many opportunities to see more amazing New Zealand countryside than I was expecting. While the first half of the semester was consumed with the excitement and newness of getting away from Seguin, this half of the semester I feel like I've started to settle in and, through the haze of novelty, I've been able to see New Zealand and its culture for what it really is. One thing that I'm realizing is the tremendous impact that America has on the world. I know that sounds mundane and obvious, but especially with the presidential elections approaching, I'm realizing that most countries are more engulfed in U.S. matters than their own.
Despite the fact that the New Zealand elections are approaching as well, everyone is talking about Obama and McCain, with a news anchor even commenting, "and now from the exciting U.S. elections to the (yawn) New Zealand elections."
Another more difficult realization I've begun discovering is who I am: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Although this realization has been rough at times, I feel so fortunate to have had this experience to understand more about myself: a process that I now realize is ongoing. Despite these "real-life" realizations that I've undergone this second half of the semester, I've also had a bit of time to travel and experience more of New Zealand.
I found a passion for snowboarding in the South Island and it's a habit that I've had to feed while here in Palmy. The nearest snow resort is two and a half hours away so I was able to go a few times before the snow started melting under the depleted ozone layer and spring heat. Since it's a different hemisphere, the seasons are opposite ours... oh, and did I mention this 'snow resort' that I frequented is an active volcano!?
That's one nice thing about Palmerston North and New Zealand: everything is so close. We're about thirty minutes from the nearest beach and two and a half from the nearest mountain. Speaking of beaches, another weekend trip we were able to make was a surfing/camping trip to the beautiful Hawkes Bay. It was such an amazing opportunity to surf (or attempt to) and just see the amazing New Zealand beaches. It was even virtually seaweed and jellyfish free, unlike the Gulf of Mexico that I've become so accustomed to.
Besides my weekend trips and uni-work, I worked quite hard on planning my month-long travels through all of New Zealand and Tonga with Eleri. Now that I only have one final left, I'm down to less than a week before I can begin to enjoy all of this hard work and finish out the study abroad experience strong.
Even though I didn't mind doing some of that, I'd seriously been bitten by the travel bug after my travels to the South Island and couldn't wait to be back traveling again. To my surprise though, I had many opportunities to see more amazing New Zealand countryside than I was expecting. While the first half of the semester was consumed with the excitement and newness of getting away from Seguin, this half of the semester I feel like I've started to settle in and, through the haze of novelty, I've been able to see New Zealand and its culture for what it really is. One thing that I'm realizing is the tremendous impact that America has on the world. I know that sounds mundane and obvious, but especially with the presidential elections approaching, I'm realizing that most countries are more engulfed in U.S. matters than their own.
Despite the fact that the New Zealand elections are approaching as well, everyone is talking about Obama and McCain, with a news anchor even commenting, "and now from the exciting U.S. elections to the (yawn) New Zealand elections."
Another more difficult realization I've begun discovering is who I am: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Although this realization has been rough at times, I feel so fortunate to have had this experience to understand more about myself: a process that I now realize is ongoing. Despite these "real-life" realizations that I've undergone this second half of the semester, I've also had a bit of time to travel and experience more of New Zealand.
I found a passion for snowboarding in the South Island and it's a habit that I've had to feed while here in Palmy. The nearest snow resort is two and a half hours away so I was able to go a few times before the snow started melting under the depleted ozone layer and spring heat. Since it's a different hemisphere, the seasons are opposite ours... oh, and did I mention this 'snow resort' that I frequented is an active volcano!?
That's one nice thing about Palmerston North and New Zealand: everything is so close. We're about thirty minutes from the nearest beach and two and a half from the nearest mountain. Speaking of beaches, another weekend trip we were able to make was a surfing/camping trip to the beautiful Hawkes Bay. It was such an amazing opportunity to surf (or attempt to) and just see the amazing New Zealand beaches. It was even virtually seaweed and jellyfish free, unlike the Gulf of Mexico that I've become so accustomed to.
Besides my weekend trips and uni-work, I worked quite hard on planning my month-long travels through all of New Zealand and Tonga with Eleri. Now that I only have one final left, I'm down to less than a week before I can begin to enjoy all of this hard work and finish out the study abroad experience strong.
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