A University Education in New Zealand only lasts about 3 years. Even more incredible is that during all 3 yrs, all the classes taken are directly related to your major! As a result, it is rare that students intending to live and work in NZ need any further education. This is amazing to me! It is such a contrast!
The papers (classes) I am taking are going to be challenging and fun!
Travel Writing- a critical analysis of travel writing authors; then we get to try it on our own! One of the books assigned is The Happy Isles of Oceania, Paddling the Pacific by Paul Theroux. So far I am enjoying it!
Phonology-the study of the sounds of language-which, ironically is being taught by an American from Cleveland!
Cross-Cultural Communication- geared toward business majors but i feel is useful for anyone looking to work internationally. Here our big project is to pick a location, research about the cultural practices and give a briefing to the class and prepare them to go to that location.
Environmental Anthropology- This is looking to be a favorite! Here we discuss how people shape the environment and how the environment shapes people. My professor for this class just finished her PhD on the topic of how the people of Bouma National Heritage Park in Taveuni, Fiji negotiate new knowledge introduced by community based development within their own world views. Since she has done considerable research on a community in Fiji, she is very knowledgeable about the importance of language preservation and is turning out be a valuable source of information for me!
And on to something less boring:
A few cultural differences:
Kiwi- a fruit but also how the people of NZ refer to themselves
It is not unusual to see a Kiwi walking barefoot in public places. Even in the cold; There are a few how insist on wearing shorts!
Also the men wear short, shorts. There is even a construction worker on campus who is always wearing shorts! They fall mid thigh, and it was strange at first, but now is common place.
Look left first, then right when crossing the street. I am finally starting to get the hang of it! It is the most bizarre thing to get in the habit of!
Certain cross-walks here make me feel like i'm in a video game!
Most business close at 5pm, and hardly anything is open on Sunday.
Item that would normally be cheap at home are expensive here! and there isn't a wide selection of items. For example; face wash and shampoo; instead of an entire wal-mart style isle of them, there is one small section with probably 7 options instead of 17.
Most of the produce is locally grown and the wind turbines on the surrounding hills provide most of the city's energy. Recycling is a way of life, not a privilege. As a result there are more items packaged in cardboard boxes or glass instead of plastic over everything.
Burger King; is the King of American fast food here.
everything is small; from cars to houses to food portions nothing is really 'super-sized'. Everything is just what you need, and nothing more. Even the 'fancy houses' are an average sized house back home. It is this quaintness that makes it easy to fall in love with your surroundings.
Here are a few photos from a walk along the Manawatu River. This river separates Massey University from the rest of town. Here is a link to a few fun facts about the River.
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