Week 2 -- Getting Settled

Classes don't start until the 18th, so this week was taken up by orientation activities, errands, and acclimating to my new environment. On Monday I finally got my international phone (at a technology store called Dick Smith, no less. What!?). It was quite a relief, as being in an unfamiliar place without the comforting weight of a phone in my pocket felt surprisingly unnerving. The next step was figuring out the details of pre-pay plans and addons, in addition to adjusting to T9 Word... but enough phone talk.

On Tuesday we had the official University of Auckland international students orientation, where we were welcomed by a marvelous performance of the intimidating Maori haka and other traditional dances/songs. Unfortunately that was followed by your typical snoozefest info session, where they read off the same information handed to us in little baggies at the door. I didn't mind, though, as I used the time to go through the masses of logistical papers and travel brochures I had accumulated over past few days.

Later that day me and some people on my program took advantage of a free bus tour of the Auckland area provided by the university. We got to see some of the outlying regions of Auckland, and best of all, Mt. Eden, the tallest of the many small volcanic cones spread around the Auckland area in what is known as the Auckland volcanic field.

Other volcanic cones visible from the top of Mt. Eden

Mt. Eden crater with downtown Auckland in the background

On Wednesday, I took a tour of the Auckland campus, which helped me get more oriented. The campus is surprisingly small for such a big school (40,000 students). But I guess what they lack in space they make up for with giant lecture halls that seat up to 900 people. Lucky for me, my largest class has ~90 students. That's Topics in Pacific Arts, which studies the crafts and dance of the various Polynesian cultures, including the Maori. I'm also taking two geology courses, both with the same awesome professor, Julie Rowland. She's really enthusiastic, and I'm sure she'll make the topics of Structural Geology and Tectonics really engaging. Those are both smaller classes of 20-35 students. Lastly I'm in a Linguistics class, the Origin and Evolution of Language, and that's with just 10 students. Unfortunately that professor seems a little spacy and forgetful, but hopefully the course content alone will be enough to keep me interested.

There weren't any decent orientation activities planned for Thursday-Sunday, so me and three other people in my program, Ben, Emily, and Krissi, decided to have a group dinner Thursday night and plan a trip for the coming weekend... More on that soon.

Waiheke Island

The next day our New Zealand adventure really begins: an organized weekend orientation trip to Waiheke Island, an island off the coast of Auckland known for its beautiful beaches and wineries. Saturday morning, July 9th, we headed to the harbor where we took a beautiful 30 minute ferry ride that provided scenic views of downtown Auckland and some cool-looking islands.

View of Auckland from the ferry with Sky Tower

Sedimentary rocks!

A short van ride took us to our accommodation for the trip, a marae, or the shared sacred ground for a Maori community. After lunch we were split into four groups to do activities. Our group started with flax weaving, a craft in which the long, narrow leaves of the native flax bush are used to create things from baskets and hats to small trinkets or works of art. We just made flowers... but it was still quite a challenge.

Entrance to the marae with wharenui in the background

Mealtime

Struggling with flax weaving

Next our group took a tour of the island. We visited some nearby beaches and concluded the tour with a nice wine and beer tasting at a local winery/brewery. The day ended with a viewing of the movie Whale Rider, an excellent New Zealand film showcasing some of the Maori culture. Then the entire group promptly fell asleep, all of us together in the wharenui, or "big house."

Beach view on the island tour

Wine/beer tasting

Inside the wharenui

On Sunday our group started off with Mau Rakau, a martial art using traditional Maori weapons. Fortunately it happened to be low tide, so our group got to do it on a beach right by the ocean, which was absolutely amazing. Although it sounds corny, it felt really "zenny" and I got pretty into it. Our Maori instructor (that's her in the blue below) drilled us, but she was great. She'd shout things like, "Your reaction time is too slow! Faster!" I kept envisioning her as some army drill sergeant haha.


Next we did sea-kayaking off a magnificent beach. As we left the sheltered bay and paddled more into the open water, I looked to the horizon and the vast ocean before me. That's when it hit me that I really was in New Zealand.

After a quick shower at the marae, we packed our things and headed back to the mainland. Between the fun activities, educational cultural experience, and IES group bonding, I couldn't have asked for a better opening weekend in New Zealand.

Departure and Arrival

I wake up on Wednesday morning, July 6th, in a daze. Even though "today's the day," it still doesn't feel like I'm going to New Zealand. There are mixed emotions as always: happy, sad, excited, nervous. I finish last-minute packing, and before I know it I'm driving to the airport, waving goodbye to my family, and then taxiing on the tarmac. The flight from NYC-->LA is long and cramped, but my iPod, book, and noise-canceling headphones (thanks you Spraos'!) make it bearable. Next up it's the looong night flight from LA-->Auckland. 13 hours, a free beer (yay international flights), and a sleeping pill later, I've arrived in New Zealand. Local date and time: Friday, July 8th, 8:30am. Did I just time travel?

Immigration, baggage claim, and customs go smoothly, though the dog sniffing our bags for illegally imported fruits (not drugs?) does spook me out a bit. Me and the other exchange students on the flight gradually congregate by the exit to be whisked away by taxis to our various accommodations.

We arrive at the Wellesley Apartments, or WSA, where I will be living. It's a convenient 5 minute walk to the University of Auckland campus, and sports wonderful views of the surrounding downtown area. After a couple hours of unpacking and getting settled, the other kids on my program (IES Abroad) living in WSA meet in the lobby to attend our first orientation meeting. Despite the jet lag I manage to stay awake through the lecture and the following dinner. But afterward, I happily return to my flat for a good nights sleep and a fairly early end to my first day.

The view from my flat