My grandmother came to the United States from a displacement camp after World War II. She tells me that she was supposed to be sent to New Zealand, not the United States. The problem was, they wanted to split our family because New Zealand wasn’t accepting so many people. So they chose to stay together and come to the United States of America instead. The opportunity I am accepting by studying abroad in New Zealand is about more than simply having fun and learning something new in a new place; it is a way for me to see what my life could have possibly been like, had my grandmother decided to stray from the family and continue on her path toward New Zealand.
I am a big water girl, and New Zealand seems like a great
place to do a variety of water activities. I am currently PADI Advanced SCUBA
certified. I’ve been a lifeguard since I was 15 and this past summer I worked
on the Surf Beaches with the Ocean City Beach Patrol in Ocean City, Maryland. I
learned to surf before I could boogie board, and my kayak is one of my favorite
possessions. I love to fish and I’m always down for trying something new!
According to 100% Pure New Zealand, “Thousands of kilometres of coastline,
lakes and rivers herald New Zealand as a water sports mecca”, making it the
perfect destination for me! I look forward to bettering myself at surfing and
fishing, as well as gaining diving experience and learning to try new water
activities, maybe windsurfing or sailing. I am also looking forward to the
amazing views and learning to love a new culture as much as my own.
When I had first chosen to study at the University of Auckland for my semester abroad, I had no idea what fun I now assume I will be having. I simply chose the program for three main reasons: it is a Loyola Program (meaning it has no major fees associated with it that would cost more than my attendance at Loyola University Maryland and as long as I take the pre-approved classes, the credits are guaranteed to transfer), it has classes I can take to fulfill requirements for my major, and it is close to Australia so I can visit the Aussies while abroad. It seemed like a cool place and an opportunity for me to gain international experience that wasn’t just for “vacation”. But the more I look into it, the more fascinated I become with New Zealand. There is so much to see and so much to do in Auckland and the surrounding areas accessible to me through this program.
