Author Archives: amj5300

Another Phase Complete

I have to admit, I have been procrastinating this post. Of course, part of this procrastination comes from being overwhelmed back in the US. But, most of all, it comes from denial. Writing my wrap-up blog post is just further confirmation that my semester abroad has come to an end. There’s so much in NZ and so much in the US that I have to be thankful for, but I can’t help but long for my NZ life a bit each day during this transitional period.

 

Sometimes, I have to stop myself from saying or writing “end of the experience,” instead of “end of the semester.” There really is a huge difference implied.

 

In my view of things, study abroad is really a bunch of phases. “Phase One” consists of pre-study abroad ambitions and planning.” This one seems to have a definitive end.

 

Phase Two” is the actual semester. Of course, there are plenty of sub-phases consisting of hesitations, doubt, excitement, travel, discovery, and much more. Again, this phase has an end.

 

I’m not sure how many phases there are after this point, but I’d say even more sub-phases compose the grand “Phase Three.” They’re marked by any situation we encounter and view or approach a new way based on what we learned while abroad. Other sub-phases include reunions, continued contact, and updates. Ultimately, “Phase Three” should be ongoing because we stay in contact with our friends and hold onto our lessons, memories, and experiences.

 

I think it’s a shame to view the end of my semester abroad as the end of my experience. Really, it has opened up the door for many things to come.

 

In reflecting upon my experience, here’s some further advice I have to give:

 

-Take initiative:

Don’t let your major limit your options to study abroad. Don’t let class restraints stop you from trying to enroll. Don’t wait for someone to organize a trip for a place you want to go. If you want to make the most of your time in another country, you must be a leader and make plans. This is definitely a long-term perk as well: leadership development!

 

-Be independent:

Similar to taking initiative, but stemming from specific observations…Initially, I was disappointed I was doing an “exchange” and not a “study abroad program.” In other words, I was mostly on my own (though the education abroad advisors are an excellent help!!) to figure out classes (the petitioning process is not easy; start early!!), housing, trips, etc. I thought I wanted more support.

I ended up being one of the first students in my housing and made many European friends. A few days later, Americans on a program bombarded the dorm. I was slightly embarrassed; they were on a program with their own trips and orientation and stayed to themselves. I thought it was a shame to see many of them not branch out of their program bubble and even made Americans look a bit close-minded. I do think these programs can be great, but definitely be aware and try not to get sucked into the exclusive nature I observed!

 

-Make a list:

Do some research before you leave of things you MUST do. But, don’t do too much research or facebook stalking or you’re just going to ruin that “wow” moment that comes from seeing things for the first time. I made a list with my friends near the beginning of the semester and it was fun to check things off as we went along, or look to it on a weekend we were at a loss for what to do. A general list is good, because, in the end, the unplanned and unanticipated things are going to be some of the most memorable.

 

-Put the camera down:

Take some pictures and then stop! Things you see will never look as great the second time or on a 4×6 so don’t lose the moment trying to capture it. Sit, stand, walk, swim, do whatever you have to do  to truly appreciate what you’re experiencing.

 

-Immerse yourself:

Befriending other exchange students is awesome. It’s an excellent opportunity to meet a wide range of people. However, take a step away sometimes from the “international student” role and try to just be a student like everyone else. Befriend locals, chat with professors, and talk to other students in classes. In my opinion, investing myself in the university made my experience that much richer!

 

-Don’t save big things for your last trip:

This may not apply to everyone, but my the end of the semester, my friends and I were all so physically and emotionally exhausted (more than we anticipated) that we didn’t have the gusto for a huge trip and were grateful we had a chill, go-with-the-flow, last trip.

 

To those of you still abroad, enjoy every minute! I’ve enjoyed reading your posts throughout the semester and look forward to continue reading about your experiences!


Location: Auckland, NZ

One More Week Livin the Kiwi Life

How time flies!

Tomorrow, I have a pretty huge final in my most challenging class here…so, thought I’d take a quick minute to blog. Makes sense, right?

Anyways, I’ve been preoccupied studying for my other finals (one of which was this morning). The last two weeks have been a bit of a blur of studying, socializing, shopping, and exploring-not too much structure.  I really just wanted to post because today marks one week until my flight back to the states. It’s weird starting to say goodbye to people, such as my friends at uni and some of the faculty I’ve bonded with during my stay. I try to keep goodbyes quick and casual because, I, like many people, hate goodbyes. My friends left for a mere day trip yesterday and I thought it was terrible. It’s insane to think in just a week when I say bye to them, I won’t get to hang out with them the next day. But, back to the moment, there’s still so much I have to look forward to and appreciate with my friends here in New Zealand!

Something I found interesting is that most of the European exchange students are staying here an extra month and traveling here, Australia, Fiji, or anything of the like. On the other hand, most American students are heading home about a week after finals end. I thought this was an interesting difference. I don’t know if it’s financial, cultural, academic scheduling, or what, but it makes me wonder about the value and perspective different cultures put on travel. 

Now, not to get sappy, but it seems like I was just counting down one week until I left for my study abroad and now it’s almost over. It’s mind blowing how much this feels like my normal way of life. With my final tomorrow and then travel, I may get a quick blog entry in before I depart, but, most likely, the next time I blog will be from California…ah. My friends and I all fear that when we return home the semester will seem like it was just a dream and didn’t really happen…I hope we’re wrong!

 

 


Location: Auckland, NZ

Finals Weeks

Last week started final exams. It’s a weird time here because we’re still abroad, class-free, and yet we’re not free to just soak in the sun all day. Finals kind of loom over our heads; it also doesn’t help that my friends and I all have completely different finals schedules over the next two weeks. Nevertheless, we have been very careful to make sure we are not pre-maturely ending our study abroad experience.

 

During the week, I spent lots of hours studying more than I have in a long time. My final was on Friday and was hard as anticipated. Finals here are three hours! I don’t think I’ve had an exam that long since AP exams in high school. Also, no one uses pencils. Oops. I definitely find finals here more stressful than at home.

 

As a study break, I met with Robyn, the women in engineering equity advisor at UoA. I did a sort of interview and just casual conversation with her. She has been helping me out all through the semester and is just an absolutely lovely person. I admire how she handles her position and her mission. I appreciate her saying she hopes her position doesn’t exist in five years-the percentage of women in engineering shouldn’t be an issue and they shouldn’t need a person to provide academic and all-around support.

 

Yesterday, we went out into the city to look for gifts and souvenirs for friends and family back home. We took a nice trail into the city and the sun cast itself perfectly through the trees. We hadn’t taken this trail together since the first week or two of the semester. It was nice to take it again with those same two people I met from the start. Who knew those two people would be my best friends for my months here.

 

Anyways, souvenir shopping- easier said than done. It’s incredibly awkward and difficult to buy souvenirs when you have lived somewhere for a semester. It feels like sending souvenirs from my hometown in Ohio…why would I do that? Not to mention, buying gifts for people is always so hard (more so with a limited suitcase volume and weight and money running out!). Nevertheless, it was great walking down Queen Street, a main street downtown, full of people on the beautiful Saturday afternoon. People were shopping, playing music, dancing…it was a great atmosphere.

 

On the way back, we stopped at an adorable gelato store off the main road in a quaint little alleyway. We pass the sign for it all the time and realized there was no better time than this lovely day. The woman behind the counter was beyond friendly and served me up the most delicious double chocolate gelato I could ask for. The cone was even fresh.

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We then stopped in a nicer store that sells traditional Maori jewelry and art. It was so nice to be here after spending time in cheesy tourist shops. The woman who worked here was also so sweet and certainly made me want to go back to support her work.

 

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I have been staring at the wall of my room where I have printed calendars posted. I printed out one for August, September, October, and November to keep organized and note important dates. I have been crossing off the weeks as they pass and it scares me that I’m already on the last of the four printouts! At the same time, though, everything, including time, has been just right.

 

When I first met my flat mate, Joe, I was excited to learn he was a runner. He told me he was training to run the Auckland Marathon on October 28. I was excited for his goal but remember thinking, October 28…that’s forever away. Yet, just a few hours ago, I returned from watching him run. As a high school runner, being back in the running environment made me so incredibly happy. Strangers cheering on strangers and overall good vibes filled the air. It was a great start to the day. And of course, Joe did well, which made it better.

 

It’s nice how beautiful weather puts everyone and everything in good spirits…I don’t mind.

 

 

 


Location: Auckland, NZ

Venturing North

To celebrate the ending of classes and provide a bit of relief before studying for finals, my friends and I took a trip up to the north of the north island. We left Friday right after my last class and arrived at our hostel right off of Ninety Miles beach around 9. We were warmly greeted by Arthur, who we’d spoken with many times on the phone due to some booking complications. Him and his wife, Heather, who run the hostel were beyond sweet.  All of the hostels we have stayed in have had such great hosts and I absolutely love their kind hospitality. We unpacked the car and headed straight to the beach to watch the stars, moon, and admire the waves. It was so peaceful and serene. I appreciate how safe most of NZ is. There is little reason to fear being at such a place at night. Though, of course, I wouldn’t do it alone!

 

The weather the next morning was perfect as can be. We stopped at two incredible beaches on our way up to Cape Reinga, the northern most point of NZ. It really offered a feeling of closure; we had been to the southern most point of NZ over semester break and now we were at the opposite end…we’ve covered it all! I cannot describe the magical color of the water or how it perfectly sparkled under the sun. Here’s a peak:

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It was hard to leave. After admiring the beauty around us, we went to one of the bays we overlooked. The water was by no means warm, but we swam anyways. There is nothing like swimming in the clear blue of the Pacific; a bit of cold water shouldn’t stop anyone!

 

That day we also went sand boarding-it’s essentially sledding on sand dunes. This was quite the experience! We climbed a dune bigger than I could fathom. When my friend initially proposed going to the top of it, I didn’t think he was serious. We had to take many breaks before getting to the top and we’re a rather fit bunch. It was such a physical challenge! Two of my friends got down gracefully but the other two of us successfully wiped out and ate our fill of sand. Nevertheless, it was fun and thrilling. It was crazy to have the sea to one side, forest on the other, and vast sand dunes all around. It really did look out of place. I love the immediate diversity of NZ’s landscapes-it’s truly incredible. As always, the drive was an activity in itself.

 

Admittedly, with many hours in the car (1100 km covered), I was given a lot of time to think and became a bit homesick. To my surprise, I really hadn’t felt homesick until the last few weeks. I would’ve expected it in the beginning of the semester, not the end! When big events happen at home, you truly realize how far away you are. Now, I am nervously awaiting and preparing for finals that are 60-85% of my grade! Still so much to do and see before finals finish and before my final trip around NZ!

 

On a side note, while waiting outside my professor’s office, I met an American student pursuing his PhD in mechanical engineering here at University of Auckland. We had a great conversation; it’s always nice to unexpectedly meet new people you have things in common with…even if it’s just both being from America! Between my discussion with him, and my flat mate applying to graduate schools, I have become more fascinated by the idea of enrolling in graduate school abroad. I honestly have no idea whether I want to work or continue to graduate school after senior year, but definitely want to continue international pursuits! I think interning or pursuing a master’s abroad is a great way to do this. So many possibilities!


Location: Auckland, NZ

One Month?!

Tomorrow marks one month until I land back in the US. This thought absolutely blows my mind.

 

My apologies for skipping a blog the past week; school has been very busy!! I was overwhelmed with the last tests, projects, and presentations for the semester. I am glad they are all over but nervously await finals preparations and finals exams. Here, they are worth 60-80% of my grade….I have never had that before.

 

Anyways, after one stressful week, my friends and I went camping near Bay of Islands in the northern part of NZ. It was nice getting out of Auckland again, one of our first times since semester break. When we pulled up to our campsite I was just in awe. It was quiet, just another camper or two parked right next to the bay. The sun was setting and the waves were thrashing and I just cannot describe how happy it made me. I soaked my feet in the chilly water right after putting up the tents (no easy task given the 20+ mph winds but that didn’t phase us), and then explored the beach. The next morning, we went tramping around the campsite; it was so serene and isolated. I had no idea that we were surrounded by so much forest at our beachy campsite. That’s one thing I love about NZ; you can have beaches, forests, and mountains all at once.

 

On our way back to Auckland, we stopped at Ocean’s Beach and played some ultimate frisbee after swimming in the ocean.  It was great and extremely tiring! This was one of the first times the water has been “warm” enough to swim in since arriving…it was actually ice cold and we were the only people without body suits but it was so worth it.

 

This past Friday, we took a ferry across the harbor to a neighboring town. This was just a little thing we decided to do and that’s what made it even more amazing. Seeing Auckland’s skyline as the sunset and once it got dark just made me feel so warm inside. I really have grown to love this city. My friends and I got some coffee in this cute town and just had a chill night enjoying each other’s company.

 

As I hit this one-month mark, it is so incredibly hard not to get prematurely sentimental and reflective and think about the future. I’m sure many of you will/are going through this as well! There’s so many “lasts” it seems that I want to ignore. This is the last week of lectures. I already feel like I’m going to miss my classmates. I am meeting up with my engineering group again (not to work on our project thank goodness) but instead to just be social. Needless to say, I am baking a lot this week for my friends, groups, and classmates.

 

Things ending makes studying even more difficult, that’s for sure! This weekend my friends and I are heading to the northern most point of NZ, Cape Reinga, before we crack down and study. The final plans are to do a 4-day trip including Lake Tauopo, the Tongariro Crossing, and Mt. Taranaki. Then it will be time to go.

 

Ech, that was weird to put in print.


Location: Auckland, NZ

Summer’s In The Air…

….and it feels absolutely amazing. Despite the school work being loaded on, it can’t get me down. Today, I re-fell in love with New Zealand. Nothing remarkable happened today and yet it was perfect–that’s part of what I think makes NZ so great.

 

This morning, after losing an hour of sleep to daylight savings, my friend and I made an 8 am grocery run. The streets were absolutely empty. It allowed me to truly appreciate this walk I do so often and all the wonderful stores, boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and seating areas that adorn this walk. I am going to miss this walk so much–the surroundings, the company, the struggle and convenience at the same time. Parnell/Newmarket, where I live, has just the perfect mix of city and small town feeling. As I was grocery shopping, I realized how used to this life I have become; I tend to forget it’s just temporary. As I approach the three month mark, and have a bit over a month left to go, it’s hard not to get preemptively sappy and reflective so I’m constantly reminding myself to live in the present but can’t suppress thoughts of things I’ll miss and things I can’t wait to return to.

 

As the weather gets even more lovely than I thought it already was, everyone starts to come out a bit more, like summer back home. The streets have random markets, festivals, and tents. Families, couples, teenagers, and kids…everyone’s out and about and it makes me incredibly happy. There are hoards of runners and bikers as well, many in groups; I love how active the Kiwis are.

 

Anyways, my friends had been planning to go to One Tree Hill, not too far from where we live. But with all this uni work and my anything-but-ideal grades, I knew I should be staying in. Nevertheless, I went outside to say hi to everyone. The sun was shining and the air was just perfect. I knew I couldn’t stay inside on a day like this.

 

After a bit of internal conflict, I ran back to my flat to pack a backpack and change into some shorts for the bit of a trek that lay ahead. I’m so glad I went. The park was absolutely gorgeous and I’m hoping to run there in the future. All the cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, and a beautiful fountain greeted us into the park. There were tons of people there, but not in the way that I find annoying. The spirit was just fantastic. A huge band was playing so we went around asking people what the occasion was for–no one knew. It was just happening. We saw a bunch of little kids rolling down hills and some “sledding” on cardboard boxes. My friend and I couldn’t resist and cackled like children as we rolled freely down the hill. It was fun to feel carefree for that time I was spinning wildly down the hill with nothing to do but scream and laugh and be one with the other children.

 

We alas got to the top of One Tree Hill, not without passing some sheep, of course, and came up to a beautiful view of Auckland, the Tasman Sea, and the Pacific. It was awesome to see in one view, water, sheep, a park, a city, and suburbia. I love this city. I would love to find anything like it back home.

 

Exhausted from the sun and the walking, we took a bus back and got groceries for a BBQ. As I sit hear blogging, stomach full with a delicious strawberry nut Panera-like salad we made, a grilled potato (friends made grilled chicken too), I feel warmed with the feeling of summer.

 

And it’s just Sunday: A day at home that would just be an ordinary catch-up-on-homework Sunday. While I still have to do that, I’m so glad I went. It was not an epic trip or must-do in Auckland, but something about this just day was absolutely wonderful and made for a great start to the week.

 


Location: Auckland, NZ

Studying while Abroad

This week was a reality slap to the “study” part of studying abroad.

 

I had two large projects due that most students worked on during the semester break. With my traveling the entire break, I obviously had a lot of making up to do. So, it was quite a stressful return and beginning of the week, but I got through it (hardly).

 

In fact, I ended up having to skip class to spend more time in the computer lab in an attempt to program a code that was just not going my way. I ended up meeting up with one of the students at uni whom I kind of knew from tramping club (and by knew I mean facebook friends) to help me out. He was so eager and enthusiastic to help me out and did a great job teaching me and asking me questions to help me get through the assignment. While I wanted to be doing anything but this code, I was excited to make a new friend, especially him, because, to me, he is the ultimate Kiwi. He is extremely adventurous and has travelled NZ through and through doing incredible hikes and other outdoor challenges; he has given my friends and I some great advice for the remainder of our stay.

 

That said, I often get called out for taking uni too seriously while abroad. While many people are taking the easiest classes of their college career, I am continuing my engineering studies as I would back home. When I was deciding to study abroad, I did have to consider whether I would actually be able to enjoy myself if I chose to enroll in a semester no lighter or easier than at PSU. In the end, I figured it’s worth it and I still feel that way.

 

Even if I’m putting in a bit more time and effort than my international friends here, and maybe spending awhile longer in the library and computer lab than is expected, I have found it makes me feel good about the entire experience. Some of my friends here are at a bit of a loss as they feel unchallenged and bored in their classes. It frustrates me when people then judge the university as being so much easier or worse than their university at home when their course selection here does not compare with what they normally take at home.

 

I have been very pleased with my uni education here so far. I don’t have scantrons; I have built relationships with my professors; most of all, I have developed relationships with other students. It’s awesome to meet all the international students, but it’s also exciting to get to bond and immerse myself with Kiwis. From group projects, to cramming in the library, or finishing up a computer project, I have met so many people in the faculty of engineering, here, who make me feel at home. The engineering students here are incredibly tight-knit  (even though the school is huge), and so, while I certainly stand out like a sore thumb to them, they have all been incredibly kind and helpful and a key part of making my experience abroad memorable.  I think the places I see and activities I do are tremendous, but ultimately, it’s the diversity of people I am meeting here, and lessons I learn from talking to them and observing them, that truly make my experience unique.


Location: Auckland, NZ

There’s No Place Like “Home”

After being absent from blogging for awhile, I am back.

The “home” I am referring to, though, is my flat back in Parnell, NZ.
The last two weeks, I have been traveling the south island. Right before this semester break, I was drowning in papers and exams and couldn’t get myself to write a post! But, no worries, I will make up for it.
At a glance, these past two weeks consisted of the most beautiful sights I have seen in my life. I’ll admit, I am not one to make superlative statements like the former, but in trying to come up with anything that has competed with what I witnessed on the South Island, I’ve got nothing. From twinkling stars in the night sky at Mt. Cook, to the majestical mountains of Queenstown, to every rolling hill, and lamb (of which there were thousands), everything seemed to put me in awe.
While this vacation, I’m sure, will be a highlight of my semester abroad (a climax to my friends and I, in fact, making me quite sad that it’s over), it also left me very contemplative. Before I divert, I will post in more detail about what my friends and I actually did and share some pictures that attempt to show how amazing it was.
Anyways, I typically don’t get “homesick.” Not even my first semester at college, or overnight camp, or the first few months here phased me. But, on this trip, which I loved and am so fortunate to have taken, all I wanted to do was share it with my parents, sister, family, and friends at home. Everything I saw or did or encountered seemed to remind me of someone back in the US. It was at these times that I actually felt that I am on the other side of the world.
I think a lot of this also had to do with my lack of access to the internet. I realized how much I rely on the internet to keep me feeling connected even when I’m so far away. This is definitely a good and bad thing; I was glad to not check my facebook and emails daily and live in the moment, but also can’t deny how much closer I feel to home with such resources at my fingertips.
But, what I think has stunned me most of all, is how excited I was to come “home.” This concept perplexed my friends before we realized that in the past two months, Auckland has become our new home. It’s somewhere we feel comfortable and anticipate returning to after breaks, a day trip, or a long day at uni. It’s somewhere we can be to ourselves, or knock on our neighbor’s door to hangout.  
With this in mind, we all couldn’t help but ponder how great it will feel to return to our actual homes, with our family and friends, at the end of this semester. At this thought, I yearned for my old street and house which my family has moved from, but continue to understand that it’s the people who really make home, home.

Location: Auckland, NZ

Education

During our day trip this past Saturday, we got on the topic of our experiences as students. Martin, a boy from Germany, mentioned how at his university they are given two opportunities to re-take a test during their time of study if need be. He said he had re-taken one that he was extremely unprepared for/ didn’t properly anticipate.
 
After all, it was his first multiple choice exam.
 
 My jaw dropped. Martin took his first multiple choice exam in his second  year of university. I couldn’t tell you when my first multiple choice exam was it was so long ago and there have been an infinite amount since. In response to my shock at this statement, another German friend of mine responded, “In Germany, we take real tests.” I laughed at this statement but it honestly made me quite sad because it was true. If nothing else, the fact that schools there are willing to take the time to grade “real” tests, already expresses a deeper value in education than our system where educators simply use a machine to grade and critique a student’s “knowledge” of a topic. Already, I am more excited for my exams here as NONE of them are multiple choice. Especially in engineering, a subject so based on process, method, and problem solving (not just the solution), I would expect all exams to be this way. However, at home students appear inadequate as they go about an entire process correctly, aside from a calculating error, which causes them to get an entire multiple choice question wrong. I know the American educational system is constantly struggling to find a “fair” way to asses how students are learning, but the increasing of standardized testing, I believe, is only holding our system back.
 
I have engaged in a couple of other conversations that I have found interesting in regards to education at home and abroad.
 
A boy who I befriended, Deon, was chatting with me when I ran into him at the library. He asked me how I felt University of Auckland compared to my university at home in terms of education. I responded that it was hard to tell with the types of classes I’m taking/ my year of study/ just these few weeks. Then, he continued to say he asked because (at least in NZ), University of Auckland boasts the best, most prestigious reputation. Last year, he attended Auckland University of Technology, AUT, a “not-so-good” school as deemed by society here. I think of it like OU’s reputation vs. OSU’s reputation currently, perhaps? Anyways, he then went on to say that since transferring here he thinks that’s all crap. The faculty here is known for their intelligence and research yet they can’t necessarily lecture or teach. He doesn’t feel like he has received a higher quality of education since transferring. I found it sad and interesting that this is such a universal issue. This point he brought up is something I constantly think and rant about. So many universities pride themselves on their amazing professors and all they have done, yet don’t discuss their actual teaching abilities or how they interact with students in the classroom. Even so, society accepts these universities as the the “best” and most respectable learning institutions.  It was nice to here, first-hand, from someone who has transferred, that, often, the prestige and reputation built around universities is rather superficial, and does not always reflect the educational experience of the student body.

In addition, after chatting with some people in a project group of mine, I got invited to the facebook group for the school of mechanical engineering (as I am taking 2 ME courses here and another course that all engineering students need to take). It should/will be helpful, but it’s immediate effect was distraction. I have found that after being here 5 weeks I feel like I recognize more student faces here than at home. Anyways, this group is crazily open. Everything from shirt ideas, to complaints, to homework help is found here. I found multiple comments criticizing my Italian Dynamics professor. A meme was made which reads “MECHENG 222 cannot be taught without an accent” and other people who refer to it as ITALIAN 222. Now, I admittedly was annoyed with this woman, initially,  but between the facebook group and rude people in class, I have realized that she’s not that bad. The students need to be more accepting and get over it, in my opinion.

I mention these posted issues because what I found most interesting, is how they are handled. All expressed concerns are summed up by two members of the group, the elected representatives for second years in the school of mechanical engineering. I found it awesome that they have such a tight-knit and direct way of addressing issues. These two students attend meetings every few weeks with staff to discuss issues and concerns of the students. They type up the minutes and the staff responses and put them on this facebook page. The issue mentioned above was addressed with much apprehension. I think the staff is fully aware of the difficulty some lecturers cause students, but know, as do we, that it appears as discrimination. Also, on paper, I’m sure these lecturers are extremely qualified people. I think it’s wonderful that this university is full of so much international diversity; it’s actually one of my favorite parts of being here. I’ll admit, though, here and at home, having a professor you can’t understand (along with a difficult subject) will always be an extremely frustrating situation. Nevertheless, students need to be more accepting of professors, where they come from, and see their brilliance even through a thick accent.

Location: Auckland, NZ