Merideth Tumasz – GW Blogs from Abroad

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

AdminNovember 22, 2013December 14, 2018

Kia 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.

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!

I’m Beached As, Bro

AdminNovember 20, 2013December 14, 2018

By mtumasz

What'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!

And so it Comes to an End

AdminNovember 15, 2013December 14, 2018

By mtumasz

Kia Ora mates, unfortunately this will be my last post.

I will be departing New Zealand this Monday, November 18th. These past 5 months have been absolutely incredible, and they have definitely flew by. I could blog all day about my amazing experiences, and I would still not be able to write it all out. Studying abroad has been one of the best decisions of my life, and I highly recommend if anyone is even thinking about study abroad, that they should definitely do it.

I'm not totally sure what to write about in this last post, other than I am so sad to be leaving. I have not started packing because I am in denial that I have to leave. I have been trying to cram in all these last minute activities to do before I leave, to help keep my mind off things, and I think this method has worked pretty well!

While I am wicked sad to leave this amazing country, I am also really looking forward to being home, especially for the holidays. Having to start school in mid-July was totally worth it so I could be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. My family and friends are thrilled for me to return, but hopefully they don't mind when I'm cranky from all the jet lag!

I hope all of you have enjoyed reading my blog these past 5 months and I have hopefully given you some useful travel information and heaps of incentive to come to New Zealand!

Cheers!

Merideth

Don’t Read this if You’re Hungry!

AdminNovember 13, 2013December 17, 2018

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...

Tips for Escaping Homesickness

AdminOctober 22, 2013December 14, 2018

By mtumasz

Kia Ora mates! It's Merideth writing from Middle Earth.

In New Zealand, universities are starting to prep for final exams, and this means I actually need to get my butt into gear and put the "study" back into study abroad. This is stressful, and it's common for abroad kids to start to feel homesick during this time. I am totally guilty of this, and have been getting pangs of home-sickness lately.

All semester, we have been able to coast through our work and have fun and go adventuring, but there's no escaping finals, and being stressed in a foreign country just makes you miss the comforts of home even more.

Dealing with homesickness can be tricky, but I've come up with a few pointers to cope with it.

Stay busy. You will miss home less if you're not constantly sitting in your room debating life!
Make plans in your study abroad country until right before you leave. This way you have other things to look forward to besides going home.
Try not to plan things for when you are home, because then you will just focus on those and look forward to those activities, instead of taking advantage of the last little bit of time you have abroad.
Try not to Skype your friends from home too much. If they tell you how much fun they're having while you're gone, it will only make your homesickness worse.
You're not alone! I'm sure most of your friends abroad are also going through the same thing. Talk it out with them!

Hope this is helpful! I have a countdown of when I'm going home on my laptop, which probably isn't the best idea, but it will be bittersweet when I leave!

Just try to remember to make the best of the little bit of time you have while abroad. You don't want to regret anything as soon as you get back to the states!

Cheers!

Staying Healthy

AdminOctober 13, 2013December 14, 2018

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!

An Accidental Bonus

AdminOctober 4, 2013December 14, 2018

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

I Dare Ya

AdminSeptember 26, 2013

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!

SPORTZZZZ

AdminSeptember 20, 2013December 14, 2018

By mtumasz

Ok guys, here's the scoop. I'm a huge rugby fan (and I also play for GW). Rugby is New Zealand's main sport. Their national team, the All Blacks, are incredible. Last weekend, I went to their match against South Africa. I thought the atmosphere at the game was going to be similar to something like an American football game, but I guessed totally wrong.

First off, the city of Auckland (where the game was held), gave free bus and train transportation to the game stadium, which was on the outskirts of the city. Once you got there, you were surrounded by happy fans, everyone wearing jerseys or hats, or whatever paraphernalia they had. I entered the 48,000 person-capacity stadium and took my seat (second row behind one of the end zones, I might add) and automatically felt energized. There's just something about watching a live game in person that gives me such an adrenaline rush.

Anyways, before the game starts, the national anthems of both countries are performed, but then the All Blacks perform their legendary haka, which is a traditional Maori war-cry that is now mostly known for the pre-game tradition for the Blacks. Once this was completed, the game starts and from the first minute, the game is extremely intense. New Zealand and South Africa are huge rivals, so tensions were high.

Half time comes, and the Blacks are ahead, but not by much. Second half is just as intense and invigorating as the first, and as the final minutes wind down, everyone in the stands is cheering and hollering, because the All Blacks are going to win. Final score: New Zealand 29, South Africa 15.

My friends and I head to the train station to go home, where once again, it's free, thanks to the city of Auckland. We are surrounded by happy fans, even South African ones! No fights broke out, there was no rude language, and everyone was just genuinely happy to be in each other's presence. This was a drastic change from American sporting events...

Overall, the game was incredible, and if anyone is in New Zealand, I highly recommend checking out an All Blacks game. It was definitely one of my favorite experiences so far!

Cheers Mates!

Hostel Living

AdminSeptember 18, 2013December 14, 2018

By mtumasz

Greetings Mates! Time for another weekly installment of my knowledge and experiences from Abroad in New Zealand!

So I just came back from mid-semester break, where I traveled around Australia for a week, then the South Island of New Zealand for a week. It was AH-MAZING. But traveling constantly, with no incoming cash flow, can be challenging. The goal is to make things as cheap as possible, to be able to do as much as you can while on a budget. For this two week trip, we saved money by staying in hostels, instead of regular hotels. We also ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday, and I don't think I'll be able to eat another one for years...

So anyways, we spent the entire trip hostel hopping. Hostels are great for meeting new people, especially if you're traveling by yourself. The ones we stayed at would have social activities each night like bingo, pool contests, and free drinks at local bars. They would also give away awesome prizes like free bungy jumps, bar tabs, and discounted adventures throughout the country.

Some hostels even give you FREE MEALS. We had several hostels that gave us free dinner, and even free breakfast. It feels so good to eat a nice warm meal after eating granola bars all day.

If you do decide to travel throughout a country, and are trying to save a couple bucks, I highly recommend going the hostel route. They're fun, friendly, and definitely cater to the college-age demographic.

There are a couple downsides about hostels though. You usually don't get your own room; you could be sharing a room with up to 12 other people. Also, the bathrooms are communal, so make sure to bring some shower shoes. Also, not all hostels have free wifi, and this can be hard when you're trying to plan things, or trying to stay in contact with people not traveling with you. But other than that, hostels are great.

Safe travels and stay tuned for more adventures from down undah!