Orientation Week

February 24th, 2014

Hello everyone! While abroad in New Zealand I will be blogging regularly for my overseas program assistant position. Several times a week I will be sharing what I have been doing, what it is like, and what I hope to do. I hope all of you enjoy my blog.

Chinese Lantern Festival at Hagley Park

I arrived in New Zealand Sunday, February 16th, after 12 days in Australia. Today is the first day of classes at University of Canterbury, Christchurch New Zealand. The past week consisted of an international welcome day, orientation day, and some time for exploring. I went to the Chinese Lantern Festival in a park nearby, Japan Day near the Sunday Market, and managed to get some time at Sumner and New Brighton Beach with friends on the abroad program as well as Kiwis.

Chinese Lantern Festival

This current week is filled with events and programs for new and returning students. One program is Mardi Gras, which I plan on attending. There will be music, dancing, and of course all kinds of confetti, beads, and crazy attire. Other programs include fair day for campus clubs, Toga Party, Comedy Club, and Summerstein with carnival rides and numerous entertainments.

So far I have really enjoyed my time here. It has been slow starting with orientation week, but that isn’t a problem for me. More time for me to get settled and have more fun. I have 3 flat mates to help me out: Tom, Olivia, and Laura. Tom and Olivia are Kiwis and Laura is here on the UWSP Abroad Program, like me. There are two bathrooms, individual bedrooms, and a communal space with a kitchen area including supplies.

A view of the landscape on Sumner Beach

The variety of food at supermarkets is very comparable to the U.S., except much more expensive, as expected. I did notice that bananas and mangos are so much more flavorful. While in Australia, I would often buy a mango for after dinner as dessert. It was absolutely delicious, so sweet and big, almost the size of a softball. Mangos are a must.

Most my time in Australia was cloudy weather. It was a lot of sightseeing, touring, and making good conversation with great people when the weather was not ideal. One thing I must share is a conversation I had with a man in a Thai restaurant. He had asked where I was from. I of course said the U.S. He was intrigued and asked where from. I replied Wisconsin. He looked rather confused, and said “uhh West Kansas? Yes, I have heard of it!” I still chuckle thinking about it. I should have asked if it was right next to East Kansas. He had heard of Illinois and Michigan but not Wisconsin. Dialect differences always make for funny moments.

Take care!

-Scott