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Tag: Australia/Oceania

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By mtumasz

DSC_3661Kia Ora Mates! In case you guys didn't know, I'm really into photography, and this is one of the reasons I picked New Zealand to study abroad. The scenery and landscapes are simply breathtaking here. You don't need to have a nice camera to take a good picture though. Document everything. Even if it doesn't seem that cool to you, everyone back home will still be totally jealous.

I have probably taken over 10,000 pictures since getting to New Zealand, and I can say for a fact that not all of them are good. But I feel like it's important to document things, even if they don't look cool. Yes, you may look like an idiot taking a picture of a random sign, but years from now, you'll look back on this picture and remember exactly what that area was like, simply by looking at that sign, or whatever other random object you took a picture of.

Also, I prefer being behind the camera, taking the picture, instead of being in the picture. My friends started demanding that I get in some pictures too, and I'm so glad they did. It did look kind of odd on my Facebook where I was tagged in no pictures but posted a ton of pictures of my friends!

On another note, if you want a really good picture, it might take some dedication. I have woken up early for several sunrises on the beach, or went on hikes to watch the sunset from the top of a mountain. Or maybe you have to get a little down and dirty to get just the right angle on a picture of that waterfall. Don't be afraid to try something new. Worse comes to worse, you delete the picture and no one even knows!

In this waterfall picture, it was pouring rain, freezing, and all the rocks were very slippery. But did I rough it to get a good picture? You betcha.DSC_3763

And that second picture? Taken at the halfway point on a 19.4 kilometer, 7.5 hour hike. Chilling a couple thousand meters up and freezing cold, but was it worth it? Or course.

So just remember, don't be afraid to snap a couple pics for you. If something looks cool to you, who cares if your friends think you look dumb, studying abroad and traveling is for you, so take pictures for yourself!

Cheers!

Published on

By mtumasz

DSC_4157What's up mates! This post is going to be short, due to the fact that it's right in the middle of exam time here in New Zealand!

So final exams in this country are very stressful. Mine are all worth 40-50% of my final grade, very different from back in the states! I have been studying just about non-stop for the past week and a half in preparation for exams, and I started to go a little insane. So, I did what any responsible college student would do: take a day off from studying and go lie on the beach all day!

My friends and I went to this gorgeous place in Coromandel, NZ called Cathedral Cove. Scenes from the Chronicles of Narnia were filmed here, and it even makes an appearance in Macklemore's "Can't Hold Us" music video! We were so lucky with weather on the day we went. It rains in NZ just about everyday, and it can change drastically so fast. But for some reason, it was beautiful and sunny the entire time we were there, not a cloud in the sky! We all might've gotten a little sunburnt...

It was really nice to just take a day off from the books and just relax with friends. With time coming to an end here in paradise, it was nice to venture out of Auckland for just the day. When we got back to our apartments, we were so tired from doing nothing at the beach all day that we all went to bed wicked early. This was good because we were all able to wake up early the next morning to get back to studying! A win-win all around.

So if you're feeling stressed about exams, don't be afraid to give yourself a little "me time." It will definitely be good for your mindset and probably help you out in the long run!

Cheers mates!

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By mtumasz

I"m typing this as I'm cooking dinner, so of course I have food on the mind. As I'm nearing the end of my time here in New Zealand , I started to think about the delicious food I got to go back to. But then I also started to get sad about all the food (and drink) I would have to say goodbye to here!

Things I'm looking forward to when I go back to the States:

  • Dunkin Donuts (or simply filtered coffee)
  • Chipotle burritos
  • My mother's banana bread
  • American Chinese Food
  • Cheez-Its
  • Ben and Jerry's

Things I'm going to miss from New Zealand:

  • Kiwi fruit
  • Pavlova - the lightest dessert, it seems like there's no calories! (there are...)
  • L&P soda - a soda unique to NZ!
  • The chocolate! For some reason, their chocolate is amazing. Hershey's got nothing on them...

You don't realize what you're going to miss whenever you leave or go somewhere new. Who knew I was going to start drooling as soon as someone mentioned Chipotle? I did luck out though, because New Zealand culture is fairly similar to the states, so I didn't have to worry about the food being too different. But the few things they don't have here (like filtered coffee) have caused me to go a little insane. I can't wait to get my American food fixes when I return, but I also have to figure out how I can mail New Zealand treats back to my house...

Published on

By mtumasz

Hey guys, it’s Merideth again!

No matter what country you visit, or where you’re from, everyone is susceptible to getting sick. Whether it’s the common cold, the flu, allergies, injury, or something more serious, there’s always a chance for us to start feeling a little under the weather.

I’m not a doctor so please don’t take what I say as accurate medical advice; I’m just speaking from personal experience and what my friends have had to go through as well.

About a week after I got to New Zealand, I got acute tendonitis in my left foot, which means I was constantly at the doctor’s.  I was at student health, a blood work office, and a Radiology office all within the same week. Luckily, for international students studying in New Zealand, student insurance covered almost every procedure I had to get. Don’t rely on this though. Check the specifics before you get wherever you are studying abroad. I had to pay upfront for my ultrasound and then get reimbursed, but all my medications were free!

On another note, getting sick with the common cold while you’re studying abroad definitely puts a damper on things. As obvious as it may sound, take proper precaution when cold and flu season starts to approach in your foreign country. Have plenty of orange juice and vitamin C around, keep tissues and hand sanitizer handy, and try your best to get plenty of sleep. You won’t be up for a hike or that awesome weekend adventure if you can’t breathe and your throat is on fire!

Doctor’s procedures and appointments might work differently than you’re used to, so don’t freak out if something seems out of the ordinary and just trust the employees. They are there to help you and if you’re polite and ask questions, they aren’t going to get irritated.

Hope this helps everyone who is thinking of studying abroad! Stay healthy!

 

Published on

By mtumasz

Kia Ora!

So my friends and I went to a quaint little beach town last weekend in New Zealand. In this place called Tauranga, we had made our plans to do some hiking, some chilling by the beach, and visiting some waterfalls. While we were there, we got an added bonus. The weekend we were there, there was a town festival going on!

One day, we stumbled upon a farmers market that was filled with yummy local foods. Plus, there were tons of free samples, which was our favorite part. Farmers markets in the states are fun, but this one had different local foods that you wouldn't really find at a typical market in America. Quiches, unique meat pies, and locally-grown dried fruit, just to name a few. It was a great way to kill a couple hours and take in the local products.

That night, some locals told us of a fireworks show that was going on. So we walked down to the beach and watched fireworks over the beach.

Also, the local art gallery was offering free admission that weekend in honor of the festival. So my friends and I popped in there and were able to see some really cool paintings and sculptures from a couple New Zealand artists. Definitely different from American artwork, but still cool, nonetheless.

We had no expectations for this festival, but it turned out to be awesome. Everything was free; live entertainment, food samples, and fireworks, it was a great weekend.

So, key point from this post, definitely check out local activities if you happen to be around. It could be hit or miss, but it's a great way to experience local culture and learning about the surrounding area. Check the local paper to see what's going on. Also check your university to see if there are any free shows or events going on then.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Merideth

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raft over waterfall
Rafting over the falls

What's up mates? Ready for another installment of the Epic Adventures of Merideth? Well aren't you in for a treat.

Last weekend, my study abroad program (IFSA-Butler) took a group of us on an adventure weekend. So you're probably thinking, adventure, I wonder how intense it was. Well, it was crazy. I like being adventurous and exploring, but I'm not an adrenaline junkie in the least!

We did mountain biking, luging, and white water rafting. Everything was incredible, but I'm going to focus this blog post on the rafting.

Our group did level 5 rapids, which is the highest level you can commercially raft in. To make things even more nuts, the river we went down had a 23 foot waterfall we had to raft over. I may have peed my pants a little when we went over, not gonna lie. Our raft flipped over and I thought I had drowned, but turns out, life jackets work really well!

This post was not designed to brag about how awesome my weekend was. Instead, it is a gentle recommendation that when studying abroad, don't be afraid to try anything new. Chances are, you'll regret it later on. I almost chickened out and didn't raft over the waterfall. I'm so glad I stuck with it though. It was incredible. That waterfall was also the largest waterfall in New Zealand (and I'm pretty sure the world) that you can commercially raft over. While things may seem scary, probably even terrifying, just try it. I'm a pretty wimpy person, but here I am, living proof that you can raft over a 23 foot waterfall and live to tell the day.

Cheers!

Published on

By arosema93

At my ‘Uni’, the Australian National University, I have been living at a college for the last 7 months. And yes, there is a difference between a university and a college in Australia. They ARE different things, which can initially lead to some confusion. While a university is exactly what we would think of a university, a college is a residence hall on or near the university, similar to a dorm, but not always owned by the university. At ANU, international students and students from other states are guaranteed a spot at a college if they choose to accept it.

ANUHowever, besides living in it, the similarities to an American dorm ends about there. First of all, every room is a single. Everywhere. Australians enjoy living in single rooms and find the concept of living with other people, sometimes random new people, to be extremely weird and uncomfortable. As GW students, we often think of people who choose single rooms as being quiet or shy or something along those lines. No one really wants a single room unless they are antisocial. In Australia, this is not the case due to the nature of what a college is. While colleges do feature single rooms, they also all have some sorts of central areas where large amounts of socialization take place. Instead of partying or hanging out in someone’s room, socialising takes place in a large common area with all the other residents. Sometimes, as in the case of my college, the common area can feature things like a massive kitchen where all the ressies cook and eat meals, a fully stocked bar, a lounge area, and a games room with pool and ping pong. ...continue reading "University, College, and Uni. Are they not the same?"

Published on

By mtumasz

Kia Ora Mates! This post is going to be slightly all over the place, but very informative. I’m going to tell you all the little travel tips you might not think of when traveling from another country.

Super Important Fact #1:

Check the requirements for traveling from one country to another. I am currently in New Zealand, and am spending a week in Australia (I leave tomorrow, Ahh!) and my group of friends and I did not realize you need a traveler’s visa to enter Australia. Usually this isn’t needed for traveling among countries in Europe, but it still doesn’t hurt to check. Another big point off of that is checking for vaccinations! Traveling and vacationing is no fun if you’re extremely ill the entire time…

Don’t be afraid to use public transportation, because taxis can get very expensive! If the bus or train system looks confusing, ask someone at the information counter and they will be more than happy to help you navigate to where you are trying to go! ...continue reading "Travel Awareness – Or Things Easily Forgotten"

Published on

By arosema93

AustraliaThey say that you learn something new every day and this week it was something I never expected to learn before coming to America. I learned to drive a manual car! Apparently, something that I never realized is that most of the rest of the world still largely drives manual cars, partially due to their fuel efficiency. So, when I came to Australia, I was hit by the realization that I would only be capable of driving about 10% of the cars in the country. In Australia, some states require a separate license/test in order to drive a manual vehicle. However, an American license is 100% valid in Australia and also still qualifies me to drive a manual; despite the fact that I would have no idea what I was doing. ...continue reading "How to Save a Baby Kangaroo"

Published on

By mtumasz

Group PictureKia Ora Mates! Once again I will say, New Zealand is amazing, breathtaking, every awesome adjective you can think of. It's crazy to think that I have mid-semester break in a week, and that I'll be taking midterms soon; it feels like I just got here!

Last weekend, my friends and I all rented a minivan and drove Northeast of Auckland, to the Coromandel Peninsula. Absolutely gorgeous beaches, nice waterfalls, and heaps of hikes to do. My favorite part of the weekend trip wasn't any of this though; it was the drive back to Auckland. ...continue reading "It’s All About the Journey"

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