| 
| 
| 
|  |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
New Zealand: Student Comments
“I can't say how much richer my life is after having visited New Zealand. It's one of the most beautiful countries in the world, the people are inviting, the mix of different Asian and Pacific Island cultures is rich, the music is fun and has a sound of its own, the theater and film is very deservedly respected and on the rise, and the outdoors recreation tops the charts. There is so much to see and do! Things you can't miss are the Wildfoods Festival at Hokitika in March, the rugby games in Wellington, any of the beautiful sounds, overnight cruises, Fox and Franz Joseph Glacier, the black beaches of Piha in Auckland-there's too much to name. There's a song that sums it up: "Four Seasons in a Day," by a New Zealand band called Crowded House. In New Zealand at any one time of year, depending on where you are, you can be lying out on a hot beautiful subtropical beach, skiing down a snowy peak, tramping through a rain forest, or driving through barren and hot desert; there's nothing missing here!” —Jessica Fletcher, UC Santa Barbara “I had such a good time meeting new people, working with professors, and learning all kinds of useful field techniques. We traveled down to the South Island (it was my first time there) to the Nelson Lakes National Park area as part of a field ecology/landscape course. We spent most of our days in the scenic outdoors and learned about sampling methods (for vegetation and invertebrates), ways to assess spatial distributions (for plants), how to use survey equipment, and how to describe a soil profile. We were divided into groups and spent most of the day in these groups, from making breakfast together, to spending hours in the forest or in a cold river, to cleaning up after dinner. It was basically a week-long field trip, and there was serious academic work involved, a lot of work, actually; but spending lots of time in such a scenic area and meeting other students (many of whom I now consider good friends) was totally worth it. It was really a great course, and although it was difficult to get up so early every morning, I really enjoyed learning hands on. Being an environmental studies and ecology major, the stuff I learned will most likely come in handy. The course was also a great way to meet some fun people, work really closely with professors, and see some gorgeous New Zealand landscape!” —Judy Kim, UC Santa Barbara “I cannot express how grateful I am for everything everybody at the EAP office has done for me. As soon as I stepped off the plane I felt like I was home; I felt like I had been in New Zealand for years. It was the most fantastic feeling. Everybody here is incredibly friendly and willing to help. The country itself is beyond my expectations. I have only seen a fraction of what it has to offer but it has been some of the most gorgeous scenery I have ever seen (and I've traveled around the globe quite a bit). I have only been in New Zealand four months and already I have had the time of my life. I can't imagine how anybody could come to New Zealand and not absolutely fall in love with this country and the people who live here. The level of education I am getting in New Zealand is just as fantastic as it is at Santa Cruz. The main difference is that there is a lot less hand-holding and students are expected to be more self-sufficient. However, if you need help with anything there are plenty of people you can turn to and they are more than eager to help in any way they can. The professors are approachable, and it's easy to understand them in lecture with their accents. I am taking a class on Maori society and culture and have found it fascinating to learn about the New Zealand natives (a culture that is still very prominent in New Zealand society). It was so awesome to learn about moko (facial tattoos) and then see one on the street in Wellington only days later. I thought it would be extremely difficult to balance my studies with having fun and exploring New Zealand, but after the first few weeks I realized it is really quite easy. ” —Elizabeth Kroft, UC Santa Cruz “New Zealand is an amazing country with so much to offer. The outdoor activities are endless and the education is very unique. As a biology major, I find the structure of the courses allow for more hands-on experience as well as interesting field trips. Most classes are run by several specialists sharing with you their exceptional array of knowledge on the subject matter. The scenery is out of this world as well, leaving you speechless at times. You will fall in love with the genuine niceness of the people here, and leave with so many phenomenal memories you'll definitely want to come back for more!” —Sabrina Littee, UC Santa Barbara “Being an anthropology student, I took several Maori studies courses at the university, as well as learned much about this culture outside the academic system. The synthesis of classroom-taught learning combined with everyday exploration and conservation led to an understanding and appreciation of the Maori, as well as all cultures. I highly recommend anyone going to New Zealand to take up such studies; it was one of the most rewarding parts of EAP and I believe it gave me an understanding of the land and its people that I want to share with everyone. This is the true 'Kiwi' experience.” —Shakti Magneron, UC Santa Cruz
|
| x | Copyright ©
the Regents of the University of California |
