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
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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
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
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
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
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
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
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