Auckland, New Zealand
Today is my last day in New Zealand. Throughout the last couple weeks, it was my hope to post more frequently (at least one post per major stop). Unfortunately, the wireless Internet connections here are extremely unstable. If I connect, most of the time the connection is extremely slow and more frequently than not, the connection drops all together. I decided to just enjoy my trip here rather than deal with the frustrating Internet connections. However, I did manage to get a stable connection here at Auckland International Airport so I could make this one last post. I wanted to summarize the remainder of my trip since my post from Dunedin and wrap my summer up.
After Dunedin, I went to Christchurch. Unfortunately, there was not a whole lot to do or see in Christchurch, as the city was hit by a huge earthquake a couple years ago. As a result, many businesses, restaurants, etc., were shuttered. I stayed at a nice hostel, but it was a pretty far walk from anything important. Christchurch has made great strides to rebuild, but it has a long way to go before the quality of the city is back to where it was pre-earthquake. Christchurch is located on a fault line so the city has concerns about how it will handle future earthquakes.
Christchurch was my last major stop on the south island. My next stop was Wellington, which is located on the north island. Wellington is a hilly city by the water, and home to Victoria University of Wellington. I had the opportunity to visit Victoria University of Wellington where I also got to speak with a housing and residence life professional and see one of their residence halls. I learned a little more about New Zealand higher education during my visit. For example, I learned that anyone could attend a university once they reach the age of 20. Once a person is 20 years old, regardless of whether or not they have ever received an education (i.e. primary school, secondary school), that person can apply to attend a New Zealand university for a liberal arts degree. Intensive programs such as medicine, engineering, or physiotherapy are off limits to such applicants because certain high school grades and standardized test scores are required to be admitted into such programs.
After Wellington, I went to Rotorua, a place that is famous for natural hot springs (and smells of sulphur). Unfortunately, the hot springs were located approximately 30 minutes away by shuttle, and I didn’t know that. I didn’t book a shuttle in time, so I did not have a chance to see the hot springs. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time in Rotorua. Rotorua has some great restaurants! I suppose I will have to just come back another time to see the hot springs.
Finally, my last stop here in New Zealand is the city of Auckland (which is where I am posting from, as I had mentioned at the beginning of the post). Auckland is beautiful. Auckland actually reminds me of New York City in many ways. I almost feel at home here. I visited University of Auckland and their accommodation services department yesterday and I learned about their new residence halls. University of Auckland can house about 2500 students at this time, and they are hoping to add another 3500 beds in the future to reach 6000. They are constructing a new campus along with new residence halls. University of Auckland’s housing model operates more like an American university, as opposed to University of Otago and Victoria University of Wellington, which operate by the Oxford-Cambridge models of housing that I discussed in an earlier post. During my visit to University of Auckland, I learned about the history of higher education in New Zealand. Before 1964, New Zealand only technically had one university: the University of New Zealand. There were multiple regional campuses all over New Zealand, but no matter what campus you attended, you received a degree from the University of New Zealand. For example, you could have attended the College of Otago (now known as University of Otago) or the College of Auckland (now known as University of Auckland), but your actual degree would only display the name University of New Zealand. Eventually, this changed to the independently run university system that is currently in place.
This summer, I had an opportunity to experience something unique, rare, and life changing. I am forever grateful to have gotten this eye-opening experience. My work and my travels in Australia and New Zealand have led me to discover my niche interest in learning about higher education and student affairs in other countries. As I continue to grow as a professional in this field I will continue to reflect on the international experience I had this summer, and I will seek out more international opportunities in the future. I hope to use what I have learned this past summer to improve how I practice my profession. I look forward to returning to the United States where I will spend this coming academic year finishing up my master’s degree. I also look forward to discussing my summer experience with my classmates, colleagues, faculty, friends, and family.
