So I have now been in Christchurch for about a week and half and what better time to update all my loyal followers on what is happening in my life? We arrived initially in Christchurch at the airport to find that our scheduled taxi pick-up was nowhere to be found, but a phone call and a little while later we were exiting the airport on the chilly grey day into a cab heading to the university. The cab driver was quite jolly and gave us a little crash course of the city as we drove (I'm not sure if it's okay to use the term crash course in a sentence about driving, but I'm going to do it anyway). One interesting fact he told us was that Christchurch is called the garden city because of it's expanse of parks and public and private gardens and apparently they get really pretty foliage here so that will be something to look forward to being the loyal New Englander that I am.
The university was only about a 5-10 minute drive from the airport and when we arrived we checked into our rooms and received a welcome bag and shirt. Then, at long last, I got to unpack. There's something very fulfilling about making your new bed and hanging up/putting away all your clothes that is very appeasing. Three of my roommates (or should I say flatmates) had already arrived when I checked in, two girls (Chelsey and Kate) who go to school (Rowan) and are from New Jersey and one guy (Zack) who is from Taronga on the North Island. The fourth, and final, flatmate Scott arrived a few days later and is from Hamilton, which is also on the north island. We all get along great and it's really nice to have a balance of the familiarity of people who are from the states as well people who have lived in New Zealand their whole life. Also Zack and Scott have friends who also go to University (or Uni as everyone here calls it) so it definitely increases my social circle by having friends from here.
The flat is really nice. There's two bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, small balcony/deck area, and five single bedrooms (with double beds!!!). It's relatively similar to what I lived in back in Boston and, as always, it's great to have a single bedroom (no matter how much I enjoy my flatmates). We've put a few chairs out on our little balcony area (we're on the fourth floor) so it's nice to go out there and relax anytime of the day/night. Looking out over the city, the first thing you'd notice is the lack of tall buildings. The city feels a lot like a large town in that way. There are no skyscrapers that we associate with so many U.S. cities and, while there are many retailers all around, it is hardly the consumerist culture that so many americans are used to. It was appalling to find they only had a portion of an isle allocated to cereal and only one or two brands of peanut butter (honestly, how do they live!?!). All kidding aside it is a bit liberating to not have to choose between ten brands of mundane items. Another liberating thing is not having a phone (which I will inevitably have to get, but have been avoiding for the time being). You don't realize how compulsively you rely on technological items until you go cold turkey and abandon them. It's been great to use skype to keep in touch with people, but being able to go out and not worry about someone texting you or ringing you is a very free feeling.
The dynamic of the student population is a bit different here in that there are only a handful of major universities in New Zealand. So if you come from a medium or large high school you likely will know a lot of people from your high school at university. Also college is not so much a brand here like it is in the states. Not to say they don't have sweatshirts and t-shirts, but they don't push it to the extent that american schools do because honestly who needs collegiate brand keychains, shot glasses, stickers, pins lanyards, sweatpants, hoodies, hats... you get the idea. I took some time to walk around the campus in the first few days I was here before the hordes of other students arrived. Unfortunately I don't have pictures to post yet, but hopefully I'll get around to taking some soon. The campus is nice, the architecture incorporates a lot of cement, which isn't always a recipe for aesthetic appeal, but it incorporates green areas and plants nicely. There are a few big athletic fields nearby (one of which was flooded with cricket players all dressed in white, it was quite heavenly really).
All the international students attended an orientation in the first few days we were here. It was informative, but a bit long. Aside from that and enrolling for classes (which required working your way through a maze of an academic building stopping about 15 times on the way) there wasn't a whole lot related to academics in the first week. So, like any good college student, we went out frequently and slept in late. The flatmates and I went into town one night, but realizing that cabs are quite a bit more expensive out here (and buses oftentimes don't run very late) we've elected to stay closer to campus recently. There's an on campus bar with pool tables and a good outside lounge area. It's odd to see so many things here sponsored by beer and alcohol companies. The drinking culture is definitely much more embraced and relaxed than in america. I can't imaging the 18 year old drinking age doesn't hurt this either. It's been fun to go out and meet a lot New Zealanders in a relaxed setting. It's always a good time to shoot back questions about New Zealand life vs American life over a beer. I also experienced my first toga party this past week, which obviously no college experience should be without. Oh, and in case you were wondering the answer is yes, I do look dashing wrapped up in a bed sheet.
I started classes today, but I shall save that for my next entry. Although it was fun to go out most nights and sleep in til the early afternoon I'm glad to start being on a somewhat more normal schedule. I haven't really been a full time student in about 9 months, so hopefully I'll be able to easily get back in the swing of things. I'll have more on my adjustment of learning to learn again next time. Again, my apologies for the lack of pictures, I realize my words aren't nearly as interesting as pictures of kangaroos and koalas.
The university was only about a 5-10 minute drive from the airport and when we arrived we checked into our rooms and received a welcome bag and shirt. Then, at long last, I got to unpack. There's something very fulfilling about making your new bed and hanging up/putting away all your clothes that is very appeasing. Three of my roommates (or should I say flatmates) had already arrived when I checked in, two girls (Chelsey and Kate) who go to school (Rowan) and are from New Jersey and one guy (Zack) who is from Taronga on the North Island. The fourth, and final, flatmate Scott arrived a few days later and is from Hamilton, which is also on the north island. We all get along great and it's really nice to have a balance of the familiarity of people who are from the states as well people who have lived in New Zealand their whole life. Also Zack and Scott have friends who also go to University (or Uni as everyone here calls it) so it definitely increases my social circle by having friends from here.
The flat is really nice. There's two bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, small balcony/deck area, and five single bedrooms (with double beds!!!). It's relatively similar to what I lived in back in Boston and, as always, it's great to have a single bedroom (no matter how much I enjoy my flatmates). We've put a few chairs out on our little balcony area (we're on the fourth floor) so it's nice to go out there and relax anytime of the day/night. Looking out over the city, the first thing you'd notice is the lack of tall buildings. The city feels a lot like a large town in that way. There are no skyscrapers that we associate with so many U.S. cities and, while there are many retailers all around, it is hardly the consumerist culture that so many americans are used to. It was appalling to find they only had a portion of an isle allocated to cereal and only one or two brands of peanut butter (honestly, how do they live!?!). All kidding aside it is a bit liberating to not have to choose between ten brands of mundane items. Another liberating thing is not having a phone (which I will inevitably have to get, but have been avoiding for the time being). You don't realize how compulsively you rely on technological items until you go cold turkey and abandon them. It's been great to use skype to keep in touch with people, but being able to go out and not worry about someone texting you or ringing you is a very free feeling.
The dynamic of the student population is a bit different here in that there are only a handful of major universities in New Zealand. So if you come from a medium or large high school you likely will know a lot of people from your high school at university. Also college is not so much a brand here like it is in the states. Not to say they don't have sweatshirts and t-shirts, but they don't push it to the extent that american schools do because honestly who needs collegiate brand keychains, shot glasses, stickers, pins lanyards, sweatpants, hoodies, hats... you get the idea. I took some time to walk around the campus in the first few days I was here before the hordes of other students arrived. Unfortunately I don't have pictures to post yet, but hopefully I'll get around to taking some soon. The campus is nice, the architecture incorporates a lot of cement, which isn't always a recipe for aesthetic appeal, but it incorporates green areas and plants nicely. There are a few big athletic fields nearby (one of which was flooded with cricket players all dressed in white, it was quite heavenly really).
All the international students attended an orientation in the first few days we were here. It was informative, but a bit long. Aside from that and enrolling for classes (which required working your way through a maze of an academic building stopping about 15 times on the way) there wasn't a whole lot related to academics in the first week. So, like any good college student, we went out frequently and slept in late. The flatmates and I went into town one night, but realizing that cabs are quite a bit more expensive out here (and buses oftentimes don't run very late) we've elected to stay closer to campus recently. There's an on campus bar with pool tables and a good outside lounge area. It's odd to see so many things here sponsored by beer and alcohol companies. The drinking culture is definitely much more embraced and relaxed than in america. I can't imaging the 18 year old drinking age doesn't hurt this either. It's been fun to go out and meet a lot New Zealanders in a relaxed setting. It's always a good time to shoot back questions about New Zealand life vs American life over a beer. I also experienced my first toga party this past week, which obviously no college experience should be without. Oh, and in case you were wondering the answer is yes, I do look dashing wrapped up in a bed sheet.
I started classes today, but I shall save that for my next entry. Although it was fun to go out most nights and sleep in til the early afternoon I'm glad to start being on a somewhat more normal schedule. I haven't really been a full time student in about 9 months, so hopefully I'll be able to easily get back in the swing of things. I'll have more on my adjustment of learning to learn again next time. Again, my apologies for the lack of pictures, I realize my words aren't nearly as interesting as pictures of kangaroos and koalas.
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