A couple of photos from me

This is a picture of the students sitting on an old Maori Pa site in Hahei.  (look for them in the top left hand corner of the pic).

  This second picture is during our broken Hills walk in the Coromandel.

  This picture is all of us in the Whare Nui at the the Whakawerawera Marae being taught about Maori culture

  And a group shot of us in the Southern Alps

I've been home for two days, and already I wish I could go back.  At the beginning of the trip, I remember Dr. Swanson telling us that when we got home, it would seem like it were just a dream.  I believe him now.  It really does seem unreal to think that I spent the last month of my life in New Zealand.  Hence, this semi-reflective blog of reminiscence.

However amazing I thought this trip would be before we left, it was nothing compared to how amazing it actually was.  You could barely look anywhere without seeing something beautiful…it made it difficult to sleep on the bus knowing what amazing scenery was constantly passing by (though somehow, we all found a way).  Perhaps equally amazing is the sheer smoothness of the entire trip.  I had my doubts when setting out with thirty college students (many of whom have an invincibility complex).  I figured someone was bound to end up either in a hospital or a jail cell before the trip was over.  Nope…through some miracle we all made it out almost completely unscathed--which anyone would count as miraculous if they saw our hike up Broken Hills or our rafting through Waitomo caves.  Quite impressive from a bunch of wilderness amateurs if you ask me.

Something that also surprised me was--get this--I LEARNED things.  Quite a lot of things that I was much more interested in than I realized.  Of course you always learn so much about culture when you travel abroad, and since New Zealand is bicultural, we got a double dose of Kiwi folk and Maori.  I could rant for quite a while about how cool both are, but I'll refrain for the sake of not dominating the blog.  That aspect of the learning was just natural…you can't live in another country for a month without learning about the people.  The academic part (aka, the part that reminded us all that we were actually taking a class) was pretty amazing as well.  Getting to experience up close the plants and animals that are so wildly different from our own was just another reminder of the many wonders of evolution.  It's a shame humans had to go and mess up such a beautiful process.  There were so many other topics we covered--genetically altered food, thermophiles at the bottom of the ocean, the medicinal properties of manuka honey (which I plan to remember when I'm a doctor some day)--it was hard to keep track of it all!  In a good way, of course.

All in all, this was probably the most amazing and memorable month of my life.  I still can't believe all the things I got to do and see, and I can't wait to go back to do it all again.  And now I'll wrap up the sappiness with a kudos to J. D. for such a brilliantly planned trip…of course now I think I would expect nothing less from a kiwi.

Cheers!
Brandi

Wow. Just wow. There’s really no other way to describe our last week in New Zealand. Sitting at home now, I’m trying to convince myself that it really happened. You’d think 40 hours on a plane or in an airport would sink things in. Anyway, New Zealand didn’t disappoint in the last few days.  Skydiving, yes SKYDIVING, at 12,000 feet in Queenstown is definitely at the top of the amazing experiences list. It was the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen and such a rush! Traveling through the South Island, one of the things that was most unique to me was how there would be snow covered mountains in front of you and green ones behind. The Mirror Lakes were some of my favorite scenery. Beautiful, blue, and clear enough to cast perfect reflections of the mountains behind them.  But the Southern Alps and Mt. Cook took the cake for views.  It wouldn’t be the end of the trip without one last hike and it definitely tested all of us, but was so worth it in the end. I’m not sure anything will top this trip and, while I can’t speak for all of us, I know I’m looking at the rest of my summer wondering “What now?”

Lisa Snider

June 6, 2010
The sun set for the last time on us in New Zealand today.  After tonight, we will be on our way to another hemisphere, the right side of the road, Dr. Pepper, heat, humidity, tips, not included tax, and our own beds and showers.  I can’t lie and say that I’m not ready to go home, but there are so many things that I can’t take with me from here.  Things like meat pies, banana milk, kiwis (the bird and fruit), fiords, indescribable scenery, and the absolutely draining, cursed hikes that would leave you with a sense of great accomplishment and a view that made you forget every burning muscle for a few moments.
Our final grand hike was definitely one for the books.  Yesterday, we awoke at the base of the Southern Alps with the sun beaming on New Zealand’s tallest mountain, Mnt. Cook, named after the great explorer who drew a surprisingly accurate map of New Zealand, Captain James Cook.  We were told by Brain, our bus driver, that it would take a person about five days to hike up that beast.  Well, guess what hike we did…not that one.  No, we got up and hiked the Red Tarn trail which should be renamed The Stair Master.  My legs have never burned so much except maybe when I had to run bleacher laps in high school.  We have concluded that if you combined Rangitoto (the volcano in Auckland) and the Broken Hills (in Hahei), you’d have a good idea of this hike.  Our legs, lungs, and calories were all burning by the time we finally got to the top, but once again, New Zealand didn’t let us down with the view.  Like a miniature set, we could see the tiny village in which we had slept being cradled by the giant white-crested mountains.  The top of our mountain itself was flattened with a small frozen pond surrounded by knee deep snow in some parts.  If we looked down from the top, we would look nearly straight down to the bottom.  We had basically climbed up a cliff.  We got some amazing pictures, caught our breath, and when our legs finally moved without shaking, we headed back down the mountain (which was definitely a much easier route).  In total, the trip took about two hours, and I was so happy that we did it.
-Amanda

Climbing Mt. Cook
The South Island has been amazing!! The North Island was beautiful- the ocean and beaches...but nothing compared to the Southern Alps! Everywhere you look there are snow-capped mountains, HUGE snow-capped mountains. We’ve explored Queenstown, been cruising on two different fiords, and now climbed the tallest peak on the South Isle. This trip has been amazing!
We woke up Saturday morning nestled in our YHA-cabin, parked right at the base of Mt. Cook, snow blanketing the ground outside. We then had our morning cookies and took off trekking towards the TALL mountain, 3,754 meters tall. First crossing a small creek, then up the mountain we went. UP, UP and UP the mountain we went…UP and UP…STAIRS. The ENTIRE way, I’m talking like, straight up the mountain, and this was a “2 hour return” trip. And up those stairs is the only option and then straight back down, so you can just imagine how many stairs there were- quite the experience. But when we all finally reached the top, the view was worth it. We could see the small village we had stayed in down below, and the mountains around us didn’t seem to be quite as tall anymore. And the snow around us was breathtaking; literally, the air was much thinner up there! Yeah, the trek was definitely worth it, now I can say “I have climbed Mt. Cook in New Zealand!”
Stephanie

This week on the south island has been amazing, and my favorite part by far had to be the sounds (which are actually fjords). Our group had the opportunity to go on two nature cruises- one through Milford Sound and the other through Doubtful Sound. Milford Sound was really gorgeous and held a lot of history. Captain Cook originally didn’t even notice the fjord, because the mountains appear to overlap and form one land mass. Of course, eventually someone got close enough to realize that wasn’t the case at all, and thus Milford Sound was named so by the Europeans. The guide on the cruise explained to us the significance of several waterfalls, crevices, etc. to the Maori people, including one waterfall that was said to make one look younger in a day if he or she allowed the spray to hit his or her face. I did so. However, I did not wake up the next morning looking like a child. Doubtful Sound was actually my favorite of the two, and that cruise took place the following day. Getting there involved Brian (our bus driver) driving us 30 minutes to meet a fairy which took us across the water in an hour to meet another bus which drove another hour before arriving to Doubtful Sound. The fairy and bus ride were both rather scenic and set up the “nature-y” mood for the cruise. Throughout the duration of this lovely ride and I saw seals, penguins, and dolphins. The seals were lazily lounging on the water’s edge, sprawled across rocks. The penguins would only pop out of the water long enough for me to miss the picture, and the dolphins danced happily through the water, just far enough away so that a clear photo was impossible. Nonetheless, it was spectacular to watch these animals in their own, natural habitat. As the boat made its way back to meet the bus, the sun was setting. Although we couldn’t see the sun, the many colors of the sunset glistened off the snow-covered mountains for the perfect end of a wonderful day.
-Kayla Treece

Photos court. Jenny

The pics below are of: Waitomo Cave wandering, White Island Wandering, Our Farewell to Pete, our intrepid bus driver, Taupo Bungy, and Hot Water Beach

Some new photos and JDs last blog

Hi all,

well the last of us arrived back in New Zealand today. The 40 hour plus transit really allowed me to reflect. I am still impressed that after four weeks and 32 people that no one got broken or didn't come back, but moreover, I am really happy to have seen the actual changes in the students. They really learned a lot both on the academic front and in the intrinsic level. I am sure this trip has helped them understand themselves and where they come from someway a little better.

Well guys, I will be posting the last few posts as they come in but for all of us who went, it was a special time, and although there will be no more meat pies, I hope you let the little piece of New Zealand live just over the horizon of your minds.

Sweet as!

JD

Milford and Doubtful

I am fortunate enough to have visited both Milford and Doubtful Sound both of which are located in Fiordland here on the South Island. Milford Sound has been called "the 8th Wonder of the World" and I can certainly see why. I am not aware of any other location where the majesty of untouched wilderness is laid out so plainly. Both sounds owe a great deal of their beauty to the fact that they are completely untouched by humans. Not a single sign or sound of mankind can be detected when the ship slows to a stop. Just imagine no buildings, no roads, and no power lines. There are only mountains, snow, and native bush - although I should not neglect to mention the dolphins, penguins, seals, and numerous species of birds that we saw cruising around the sounds.
The most fun part of visiting Doubtful Sound was the journey there. Our group had to take a bus out to a ferry, which took us across a beautiful still lake. We jumped on a bus on the other side, which took us to another harbor located on Doubtful Sound. Talk about isolation: only a few people live there and everything that they need has to be ferried across the lake. Doubtful Sound didn't have a single view to match the iconic mountain at the beginning of Milford, but Doubtful had plenty more to offer. The cruise through a fraction of Doubtful takes about three hours where as a complete tour of Milford takes only half the time. Its almost possible to get bored of looking at spectacular scenery on the long cruise, almost. Once we were done sailing around the most beautiful place in the world for about three hours we got back on the bus and up the valley we went, across the lake, and back on the bus.
If you ever find yourself on the South Island and only have time to visit one of the two sounds you need to visit Doubtful Sound. It feels less touristy than Milford Sound and offers twice as much time to look at the wonderful snow-capped mountains. If you are traveling New Zealand the way you should be you will take enough time to visit both and never forget the experience. The most important part of your preparations should be offering a sacrifice to the rain gods before you travel (two goats and 4 sparrows should suffice).
Haliee

Dear New Zealand,

I just thought you should know that I think you are the coolest country in the world. When I began my journey to your shores I was naive enough to believe I knew something about you. I knew the name of your capitol and the date that you became a nation. I knew you had mountains, sheep, and rocks and a giant extinct bird called a "moa". I knew every little unimportant detail and I can't thank you enough for setting me straight on the issues that are more "vital" to life. For example, thanks for teaching me that when I go shopping for jade, I need to look for the word "pounamu" and when I shop for clothes, I need to actually pay attention to what its made of because there is a farmer somewhere benefitting from my search for quality. Thanks for proving to me once and for all that fruit flavored milk is NOT nasty and that jars of jelly-like soy sauce called "marmite" definitely ARE. Thanks for showing me that "biosecurity" is worth the hassle and that, although my country is much larger that you, we should still treat it as though every single tree, seed, and invasive species makes a big difference even if we can't see the changes here as quickly as your fragile ecosystem might. Thanks for literally taking me to the edge of a volcano and then to the belly of a deep, cold cave. Thanks for proving that I CAN eat fries without ketchup (as long as they are made from kumara). Thanks for the memories and the lessons and prepare yourself, New Zealand, because I WILL be back soon.

With awe and admiration,
Brixey

It’s the end of the trip, and I am not ready to leave! I have learned so much. I love how much this country respects its native species. They put a lot of effort into conserving their lands, including the Maori people, plants, reptiles and birds. I had an amazing culture experience staying in Whakarewarewa village where we learned some of their traditions and what they mean. They even taught us a couple of their dances and how to make poi. It was hard to understand at first, but I think it was a really good culture exchange for everyone. I was also happy to visit several wildlife sanctuaries. They have been really successful in bringing back several bird species and the tuatara (oldest reptile) that have almost gone extinct. It was cool to see some of these animals in their natural habitats. New Zealand really values their few native species and the rest of the world could learn a lot. We owe it all to our heritage and conservation is vital.
-Miranda Lisko

Currently we are on New Zealand’s South Island where the weather is much colder than the North Island that we had to say goodbye to a few days ago. It’s amazing how much we have seen, experienced, and learned our first 21 days on the North Island. I have fallen in love with the Maori culture. They value family and relationships more than any other culture I have come across. From a young age they learn their family genealogy that is passed down orally and most everyone can recite their family history back hundreds of years to early settlement days. Our overnight stay in the Maori village Whakarewarewa was a great experience where we got to see the traditional Haka dance and Poi dances. Us girls were taught a Poi dance and Maori song. Poi are small balls on the end of string that typically women spin around and make beats with against their hands. They make it seem so smooth and easy, but it is definitely not as easy as it looks, and we were even taught a dance that they typically teach their two to four year olds. I think the guide took pity on me for trying so hard but doing so poorly that she let me take a bath in their natural thermal baths! The water was perfectly warm like an all natural hot tub. An experience I will never forget. The whole trip has been more than I could have asked for, the experience of a lifetime.
-Maggie Wilson







It’s been four days since we departed from Wellington on the North Island and travelled down to the South Island. These past few weeks seem to have come and gone so quickly, but I have experienced and learned so many new things since the beginning of the trip. I’ve enjoyed being able to learn about New Zealand from the cultural and physical as well as historical aspects. My favorite experiences of the trip so far have been hiking the Putakura rainforest trail and black water rafting at Waitomo Caves. While we were hiking the Putakura trail, we actually got to walk through old gold mines, where we got to see green “glow worms” for the first time. It was incredible being able to walk through an actual rainforest and discover just how beautiful this country really is, and even though it was pouring down rain on us the entire time it was still one of the greatest things I’ve done. Blackwater rafting was also an unforgettable adventure. The 10 degree Celsius water was almost unbearable, though it made the experience even more memorable! Like the goldmines in the Putakura trail, the caves were lit up by green glow worms, which we learned was caused by the excretion of enzymes, oxygen, and other products in their waste which gets burned up for energy (called bioluminescence) and causes them to glow. Seeing and learning about the caves was a really cool experience. I am so lucky to have been able to come on this trip and learn about another country and its culture; I have enjoyed every experience while in New Zealand and am looking forward to our last few days here!
Alexa Schmitt

Today we went to the Zealandia Wildlife sanctuary. Native New Zealand bird species inhabit the park. They constructed a five mile fence around the sanctuary to keep out pests that prey on the native birds. The fence is engineered in such a way to simultaneously prevent a variety of small mammals from entering the park. The mesh that the fence is contructed out of has very small holes to keep rodents out. Along the entire length of the fence is a hood scoop to keep out climbing animals such as cats. The fence also extends into the ground so burrowing animals can't tunnel into the park. The flora in the park is only 80 years old but will need another five hundred years of undisturbed growth to return to the state it was in before the arrival of humans. Pine trees have infiltrated the native bush of the park must be removed according to our guide. These pine trees are the only non native life forms that thrive in the park. The park was interesting and the scenery was beautiful but it was cold and I was under dressed. This country is colder than I thought, I'll be glad to get back to warm weather back in Arkansas.

Erik Sowell


Today we went to the Zealandia nature reserve in order to learn more about the wildlife of New Zealand. When we arrived there we were directed to an exhibition room where they had some of their native birds on display along with buttons that enabled you to hear what each of the birds sounded like. The life-size display of a Moa especially stood out. We have heard alot about the Moa throughout the trip and many of the places that we have been to included sculptures or paintings of the huge bird. Once we had all had a chance to explore the exhibit they played us a short movie that briefly depicted the impact of humans on the New Zealand landscape. After the movie, we started our tour through the outdoor area of the reserve. Our guide provided us with alot of information about the New Zealand wildlife ranging from the presence of different weeds to the conservation of rare reptiles. At one section of the walk there was a feeding station for the birds. There we were able to see firsthand how they kept "their" birds in the conservatory. Since any bird can easily fly in or out of the protected area, the people who work there created an area where the heavier birds that they want to help preserve can eat by stepping on a lever that the little birds can't access. One of the bigger birds flew onto one of our group member's heads during the walk. I have to say, that was funny. Apart from the birds, she showed us various types of lizards that live in the reserve as well as some of the insects that frequent the grounds. I really enjoyed our time at Zealandia and I learned alot.

Mitchell Adams

Blog #1:
I always knew New Zealand was gorgeous but there is so much more to the beauty, behind the beauty, creating the beauty that amazed me during my time there.
First of all, the history of the native life of New Zealand is very different from anywhere else. New Zealand separated from Gondwanaland relatively early (before mammals made it to NZ) leaving the bird population, especially, to thrive and evolve into many different species. The Kiwi, of course, is one of the main icons of NZ and there are many different places that are focused on Kiwi conservation and rebuilding the population. One place specifically that really impressed me in the way they are trying to rebuild the Kiwi population (as well as the Tuatara, a native reptile--and very cool animal--to New Zealand that is nearly absent from the mainland because of the introduction of mice that came along with human settlement) is the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a 600+ acre patch of native bush and wildlife fenced off (with possum—not O-possum—and mice proofing qualities) about ten minutes away from Wellington (the capital city). They actually just recently found some baby tuatara in the sanctuary—a big deal because the mainland population has been in danger. They also have a small Kiwi population thriving within the fence, which is exciting because: 1.) They are the cutest bird in the world, and 2.) They are one of the most interesting animals. Their bones have marrow, their feathers are downy, their eggs are 15-20% of their body weight, and they actually have one of the shortest beaks because of the way the term “beak” is defined.
The efforts Karori goes to in order to protect and replenish the wildlife populations (not only the animals but the plants as well) is astounding as well as inspiring. The only thing that confused me during our visit there was the short video in the indoor exhibit. I couldn’t tell what message I was to glean from it…was human settlement of New Zealand a good or bad thing? Yes, we introduced the threats to the native life of NZ but now we are the ones saving those native species from extinction.
--Destiny Davis

Blog #2:
I left New Zealand three days ago and even though I had a brilliant time I was happy to get home (missing my family, and REAL ketchup, got to me a little bit). The first thing I did when we landed in Los Angeles was go to McDonalds and get some fries (not chips) and ketchup (not Tom sauce). Then a day later I was greeted by the humidity and heat of Arkansas. Now I’m all settled in (pretty much) and have plenty of time to reflect upon the trip.
Hahei was my favorite place--which is saying something because every place in New Zealand is absolutely breathtaking. I remember the feeling I had during the first few days whenever we were driving in the bus through the countryside. Everywhere you looked was a beautiful landscape—just there, on the side of the road, no searching out little gorgeous secret spots, every place was worthy of poetry. The variation of the landscape surprised me. One day we would be driving through the temperate rainforest thick with tree ferns and pine (one of the introduced trees for the timber trade), then we would be surround by steep rolling hills of grassy farmland dotted with sheep, and then eventually (near the end of the trip), we drove through a desert covered with sandy colored grass patches (with “Mount Doom” in the background…just had to mention it). All the while, we were reminded of the volcanic history of New Zealand-- either with calderas staring at us from just a few miles away, steam clouds rising from the side of the road from a patch of hot ground (heated by hot water), exposed layers of soil and ash, or bubbling mud pools speaking of a day when humans were not there.
One especially cool experience was the day we visited the Waiwera hot pools. It was raining lightly that day and I wrote in my journal “there is nothing better than sitting in a pool heated by the earth with cool misty rain washing over your face with a lush green mountain as a backdrop.” I can see why the Maori are closely tied with nature. In a place like New Zealand it’s difficult not to feel some sort of spirit around you. The steam fields (created by the hot water close to the Earth’s surface) surrounding the healing hot pools bordered by thick green bush is a common scene.

In just over twenty days, I learned about the geological history of New Zealand by simply being there. The effects of humans (and everything they brought with them) as well as volcanoes/geothermal forces is evident just in experiencing the landscape by walking, hiking, and driving through the country. Of course, the sprinkling of JD’s descriptions and explanations of what we were seeing also helped put the timeline of NZ’s life together. The trip was full of many different experiences; everyday was a different landscape or aspect of the same landscape. I only wish my pictures had captured the brilliance of the place.
--Destiny Davis

Looking back on this trip i would have to say it was a
life experience i wouldnt trade for anything. From the beautiful
scenery and features to the educational aspects, this trip was
unbelievable. The volcanoes, the hot water beaches, the wild life, and
unique plants only found in New Zealand were awesome. The hot water
beaches blew my mind. Digging a hole in the sand while building a
fortress to preserve the newly created hot tub was definatly one of the
aspects most unique to New Zealand, it's the only place one earth these
are found. I didnt realize how much we learned until the third to last
day when we went a museum. Our tour guide went on spill after spill
about the natural evolution of new zealand and how the influx of
humans, along with the unintended new commers such as the possom and
rats, has munipulated its natural environment. It was almost boring
because I seemed to know everything he was saying and in some cases
knew more about the things he was briefing us about from our visits to
the different universities or uni's as they call them. We got to talk
to some of the experts that where supplying the museums with thier
information. After the lecture on the medicinal purposes of Manuka
honey from the manuka plants native to New Zealand, I was convinced and
had to bring some back to the states. I can't wait to sign up for this
trip again next year, it was legit.

Dustin

While others are having fun in the south island, I'm home in the states and back to work. We learned a lot about the ecology, flora, and fauna of New Zealand, but I think one of the most interesting things about traveling is learning about the culture and quirks that are unique to that country. I've compiled a list of some things that I noticed that make New Zealand a whole other world.

1. Kiwi's drive on the wrong side of the road. I suppose since it was colonized by the British, they felt that they had to be wrong like the British and drive on the left side of the road :P It took quite a while for me to get used to looking at the right side of the street to ensure I wouldn't get run over. Now that I'm back in the states, it feels strange to be on the right side of the road. As Kristi would say, "right is right".

2. Kiwi's have two buttons on their toilets. One button only uses half as much water as the other button. If you haven't figured it out already, one is for "number one" and the other is for "number two".

3. Kiwi's have switches on their outlets that can turn them on/off. It took us awhile to figure out why our batteries and such weren't charging.

4. Kiwi's spell "tire" as "tyre". That's just silly.

5. Kiwi's close all their stores by 5:30 PM. With the exception of grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and gas stations, EVERYTHING is closed by 5:30 PM. We had to make a mad dash to the stores to get all our souvenir shopping done.

6. Kiwi's have unusual chip flavors. They range anywhere from burger flavored rings (a Dr. Swanson favorite. Sharing is a must if you are seen with Burger Rings in his presence.) to roasted lamb and mint flavored kettle chips.

7. Kiwi's give you ample opportunity to recycle. There are recycling bins EVERYWHERE. There's no reason for you not to want to help the environment!

The thing you notice most about New Zealand is the people and the love they have for their country. There is a certain pride they have in maintaining its natural beauty. They go above and beyond to conserve their native animals and plants. It is truly a place thriving with culture and beauty.

Hien Tran

Hey all,

I'm really gonna miss New Zealand, but I'm glad to be back in the States. The last few days spent in Wellington were awesome. I really don't whether it was just the weekend, or if New Zealanders party every night like the world will end the next day. All I can say is: it was very loud at night. Even on the seven floor of the hostel with the windows closed. It's a lot like I imagined New York to be. The Wellington Museum, Te Papa, was really awesome. It's probably one of the best museums I've ever seen. The Zealandia reserve was beautiful, but I didn't get to see any Kiwis. It made me sadface. The Tuatara research program at the University in Wellington was fascinating and I'm contemplating on applying for graduate school there.
Hopefully I'll see many of you soon, because I have many stories to tell.

Pepper Veerhusen

Elizabeth Dourlain
I’m now in Wellington, NZ-the capital city. We viewed the parliament buildings but didn’t get to go inside. I was told the government is very conservative at the moment. We also went to the Te Papa museum. It was a very interesting place. There were lots of information about the geography and plants of the land. They had earthquake simulators and explained how the fault line affects NZ daily life. For example, Wellington had to rebuild many buildings to make them more earthquake proof. They have added a rubbery type of material that the building stands on to allow movement during an earthquake instead of breaking and falling to pieces. We also got to see many fossils of the extinct birds from NZ. We saw the moa. It looks like an over glorified ostrich. The Maori hunted it to extinction when they first arrived here. It is quite understandable though, because it is such a massive bird. The meat, feathers, and bones could all be used and in big quantities.
Since the trip is coming to an end, I wanted to give an overall perspective of NZ. It was very surreal being in NZ for the first couple of days. We did a lot in those first days that I think I should have prepared more for. The hike up Rangitoto was one of the most beautiful and hardest things I’ve ever done. The environment was very exciting since it was a volcano. There were many volcanic rocks and the crater was filled with native trees. The best part was the overview of Auckland once we reached the top. We got to be above the clouds. It was amazing. We then went to Hahei, a beach city. It was fascinating knowing that only a small drive could take me through the winding mountains and forests straight to the ocean and beaches. Rotorua was especially exciting because of all the volcanic activity and geothermal areas. I learned a lot about how the volcano has shaped the way of life there and how it has shaped the region. Maori culture is also very prevalent there and is integrated throughout the entire city.
NZ main concern I learned is protecting its environment. The ecosystem is so unstable that just a tiny bacteria or insect could decimate it. It’s really cool the approaches the scientists are taking to overcome many of the pests in the area, such as controlling the clover weevil by using a wasp (done at the University of Waikato). They made sure the wasp wouldn’t also become a pest before releasing it. Even though some animals are not native to the environment they are still being “protected” for use like the cows and sheep for farming. They are very important sources of income for NZ and must be watched to make sure the livelihood doesn’t become an issue. At the farm we visited, we saw many unique ways for moving the sheep and trying to keep up with demand or increase demand because wool prices are dropping due to synthetics. They also had the coolest dogs.
Overall this trip was amazing. I think I know more about the history of NZ than any other country now. Visiting this island has opened my eyes to a lot of things going on in the world and has also made me aware of how delicate nature is. This country has almost put many species into extinction. Mainly by not knowing or thinking about consequences. It is good that they are trying to save and correct the mistakes they have made. I just wish that other countries would go about things in the same way. But even though I’ve had such an amazing time I’m ready to head home!

Liz D

We've been in the south island for all of three days, and I've already seen more amazingly beautiful scenery than I did in three weeks in the north island (and no, I'm not trying to rub it in for you north-islanders who read this). What we did today was a good majority of it: Milford Sound. The two-hour drive to the sound was about the most scenic route I can imagine, with mountains on either side of us for almost the entire trip. We stopped at the Mirror Lakes on the way in, and the Chasm on the way out, both of which were incredibly beautiful and probably worth the trip in themselves. But anyway, I'm running out of internet time so I'll start talking about Milford now.

Milford Sound is one of the two things I was told I HAD to see when I went to the South Island, and today I found out why. It was definitely one of the most beautiful things I've seen here. We went on a cruise through the sound itself and out into the ocean beyond it just far enough to see how impossible it is to spot the entrance from the water. As we sailed back in, we saw the same sight that greeted the explorer who discovered it (I forget his name...) on accident when a strong gust of wind blew his boat into it. It must have been an amazing relief to expect your ship to crash into a wall of mountains and end up sailing into such a beautiful fjord. Yes, a fjord. Not a sound as the name implies. The difference is that fjords are created by glaciers and are a bit more narrow. Not entirely sure why they still call it a sound. Maybe next time we'll find out :)

Brandi Bowlin

JD's Bit

Well Hello any followers of this Blog,

it was with great sadness that we said good bye to 17 of our fellow travelers as their time in New Zealand had ended, meanwhile the remaining 15 went on for an new adventure in the South Island. It is from my cozy hostel in Queenstown, with eight others sleeping around me that I write this.

The first part of the tip was fun, and it was made fun by the very students that were with us as well as our very cool bus driver, Peter. To the 17 now all back home safely Stateside. Thank you for being hard, being cool, making the most of this trip, and not giving me toooooo many grey hairs. to the 15 that are taking part in this sub adventure..... you ain't seen nothing yet!

Watch this space

JD

As our adventure through New Zealand comes to a close, I can’t help but to recall all the things we have been through as a group. I have acquired so much knowledge while on this trip as well, all of which can be condense into a single subject: how human impact has altered the landscapes and ecosystems of New Zealand. This first came about when Polynesian people, carried by eight great canoes, landed on the shores. What they saw was a land untouched and pure. In this untamed jungle, many creatures (some now extinct) could be seen roaming the terrain or gracing the air. An example would be the giant moa, a flightless bird that would have dwarfed the ostrich. But with the settlement of these early humans, many animals, like the moa, were driven to extinction. These people brought with them many mammals not known to the land, and these new species devastated the defenseless native ones. This first group of settlers became known as the Maori people. Another wave of settlers came from Europe in the 14th century. Again, when they landed, they brought with them livestock, disease, and a dream of a land untapped. These new settlers ravaged the landscape in search of timber, the likes of which could be found nowhere else in the world. The iconic kaori tree was almost logged to extinction. Luckily, in the late 1800s, the people of New Zealand began to see the errors of their ancestors. Conservation efforts started to take hold, and many began to develop sanctuaries for native species of plants and animals. These nature reserves were constructed with the hopes of preserving and reestablishing some of the species that were endangered, such as the kiwi bird and rimu tree. It is the hope of many kiwis (people of New Zealand) that their restoration efforts will be successful.
Sean Caudle


We all said our first of many “goodbyes” this morning. Our bus driver, Peter, was heading back to Hamilton leaving us less than content with our quickly approaching departure. It was rushed and uncomfortable but I think it made us realize the importance of every single person on this trip. Of course, we all scoped out the people we wanted to associate with and those we wanted to avoid within the first few days; and even the people we liked rode on our nerves at times. But at the end of the day the trip would not have been the same had any one individual not been there. It is weird to think that what we’ve experienced will never be again. Never will all of us be able to travel together again and create the atmosphere that was our trip to New Zealand.
Tomorrow, half of us will embark on the long journey home and the other half will continue their adventure down in the South Island. While the landscape has been breathtakingly beautiful, it will be nice to return to sunshine and warmer weather, the good ol’ Natural State. We might not think we’ve been changed by this experience but I’m sure our friends at home will think otherwise. This “experiential learning” is something that is hard to quantify and measure. What did we learn? Well besides the mountains of Maori history and culture (pun intended…) and insights into Food Research, we’ve learned the value of community and participation. Every person plays a specific role, whether seemingly significant or not, that contributes to the overall well-being of the group. One thing I can say about our group is that we have good synergy. We are willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of the whole. Perhaps most notably seen in our bungee jumping excursion; since so many of us were willing to pay for a thrill, we received a free jump (thanks to JD!). Our enthusiasm and participation in all the activities on this trip has enhanced our appreciation for community.
We will bring this community back to Arkansas and share our experiences with others so that they too may appreciate what we’ve learned. Besides all the souvenirs and memories, we will bring back with us 31 friends (32 including Peter) who embarked on one of the most valuable experiences of our lives.
Jenny England

Today we went to the Zealandia Wildlife sanctuary. Native New Zealand bird species inhabit the park. They constructed a five mile fence around the sanctuary to keep out pests that prey on the native birds. The fence is engineered in such a way to simultaneously prevent a variety of small mammals from entering the park. The mesh that the fence is constructed out of has very small holes to keep rodents out. Along the entire length of the fence is a hood scoop to keep out climbing animals such as cats. The fence also extends into the ground so burrowing animals can't tunnel into the park. The flora in the park is only 80 years old but will need another five hundred years of undisturbed growth to return to the state it was in before the arrival of humans. Pine trees have infiltrated the native bush of the park must be removed according to our guide. These pine trees are the only non native life forms that thrive in the park. The park was interesting and the scenery was beautiful but it was cold and I was under dressed. This country is colder than I thought, I'll be glad to get back to warm weather back in Arkansas.

Erik Sowell


Today we went to the Zealandia nature reserve in order to learn more about the wildlife of New Zealand. When we arrived there we were directed to an exhibition room where they had some of their native birds on display along with buttons that enabled you to hear what each of the birds sounded like. The life-size display of a Moa especially stood out. We have heard alot about the Moa throughout the trip and many of the places that we have been to included sculptures or paintings of the huge bird. Once we had all had a chance to explore the exhibit they played us a short movie that briefly depicted the impact of humans on the New Zealand landscape. After the movie, we started our tour through the outdoor area of the reserve. Our guide provided us with alot of information about the New Zealand wildlife ranging from the presence of different weeds to the conservation of rare reptiles. At one section of the walk there was a feeding station for the birds. There we were able to see firsthand how they kept "their" birds in the conservatory. Since any bird can easily fly in or out of the protected area, the people who work there created an area where the heavier birds that they want to help preserve can eat by stepping on a lever that the little birds can't access. One of the bigger birds flew onto one of our group member's heads during the walk. I have to say, that was funny. Apart from the birds, she showed us various types of lizards that live in the reserve as well as some of the insects that frequent the grounds. I really enjoyed our time at Zealandia and I learned a lot.

Mitchell Adams

I don’t think I could have chosen a better trip for my first time abroad. The last few weeks
have been amazing. This country has so much to offer; cultural experiences, high-tech
research institutions, and some of the most beautiful nature I’ve ever seen. Hands down,
this is the experience of a lifetime. We are now in Wellington, the last stop for North Island
folks, where we will say goodbye and the other half of us will head down to Queenstown.
While the trip doesn’t end here for me, I’m looking back wondering where the time went
and realizing just how much we’ve done. Here are my highlights: Cathedral Cove.
Definitely my favorite beach and absolutely beautiful. Perfect weather, a beautiful hike on
the way down, and an overall great day. Manuka honey. Still my favorite lecture. It was
fascinating to learn about its antibacterial qualities and to see the photos of how much
healing it could do. White Island. It’s an active volcano! Just saying, I don’t know many
people who can say they’ve walked around on one of those. We learned about how it’s
monitored and the guide took us around and told us about the steam vents, the mud pots,
and the milky, metallic-tasting streams. Whakarewarewa, the Maori village. The night on
the Marae was very interesting. We received a formal greeting from the tribe and were able
to enjoy some of their music. Our boys learned the Haka and the girls learned all about the
poi. They had wonderful stories and histories, especially about the meanings of their carvings, and I loved being in their village and just seeing how they live. Bungy jumping. Definitely something I want to do again. The scenery was amazing and the rush was incredible. Now, bring on the South Island!

Lisa Snider

    I’m now in Wellington, NZ-the capital city.  We viewed the parliament buildings but didn’t get to go inside.  I was told the government is very conservative at the moment.  We also went to the Te Papa museum.  It was a very interesting place.  There were lots of information about the geography and plants of the land.  They had earthquake simulators and explained how the fault line affects NZ daily life.  For example, Wellington had to rebuild many buildings to make them more earthquake proof.  They have added a rubbery type of material that the building stands on to allow movement during an earthquake instead of breaking and falling to pieces.  We also got to see many fossils of the extinct birds from NZ.  We saw the moa.  It looks like an over glorified ostrich.   The Maori hunted it to extinction when they first arrived here.  It is quite understandable though, because it is such a massive bird.  The meat, feathers, and bones could all be used and in big quantities.
    Since the trip is coming to an end, I wanted to give an overall perspective of NZ.  It was very surreal being in NZ for the first couple of days.  We did a lot in those first days that I think I should have prepared more for.  The hike up Rangitoto was one of the most beautiful and hardest things I’ve ever done.  The environment was very exciting since it was a volcano.  There were many volcanic rocks and the crater was filled with native trees.  The best part was the overview of Auckland once we reached the top.  We got to be above the clouds.  It was amazing.  We then went to Hahei, a beach city.  It was fascinating knowing that only a small drive could take me through the winding mountains and forests straight to the ocean and beaches.  Rotorua was especially exciting because of all the volcanic activity and geothermal areas.  I learned a lot about how the volcano has shaped the way of life there and how it has shaped the region.  Maori culture is also very prevalent there and is integrated throughout the entire city. 
    NZ main concern I learned is protecting its environment.  The ecosystem is so unstable that just a tiny bacteria or insect could decimate it.  It’s really cool the approaches the scientists are taking to overcome many of the pests in the area, such as controlling the clover weevil by using a wasp (done at the University of Waikato).  They made sure the wasp wouldn’t also become a pest before releasing it.  Even though some animals are not native to the environment they are still being “protected” for use like the cows and sheep for farming.  They are very important sources of income for NZ and must be watched to make sure the livelihood doesn’t become an issue.  At the farm we visited, we saw many unique ways for moving the sheep and trying to keep up with demand or increase demand because wool prices are dropping due to synthetics.  They also had the coolest dogs. 
    Overall this trip was amazing.  I think I know more about the history of NZ than any other country now.  Visiting this island has opened my eyes to a lot of things going on in the world and has also made me aware of how delicate nature is.  This country has almost put many species into extinction.  Mainly by not knowing or thinking about consequences.  It is good that they are trying to save and correct the mistakes they have made.  I just wish that other countries would go about things in the same way.  But even though I’ve had such an amazing time I’m ready to head home!

Elizabeth Dourlain