Journal for scheswor

In The Land of the Long White Cloud...

I have tried to learn as much about Kiwis as I can. First and foremost, my Kiwi flatmate Monique has provided me with knowledge I couldn't have gained elsewhere. Simple things like words such as "element", "Lux", or "tinny," a Kiwi flatmate has been invaluable to my experience.

I have read the school magazine from time to time but feel that the local news on "stuff.co.nz" almost does a better job of informing me of New Zealand's affairs. I try to introduce myself to Kiwis when the opportunity arises but have found most of my friends in the International programs.

I spend most of my time learning new Kiwi words or nuances in social exchanges. It took me a while to get used to "Cheers" as a replacement for "Thanks." At first, I was slightly bothered to not hear a "Thanks!" in return. New Zealand is a land of contrasts; they are among the most relaxed people I've ever met but their language hints at a most precise sense of order to affairs, almost seemingly strict in their tone. Over time, one discovers these impressions are temporary and I still long to get to know the "average" Kiwi better. I still have trouble coping with their sense of trust in strangers; one day I tried to place a woman's purse behind the counter for safekeeping and she almost seemed offended. It was a strange experience overall...

Though I have yet to visit the butterfly portion of the Otago Museum, I feel like I have explored Dunedin well. I could probably take time to enjoy more of the daytime events whereas "uni life tends to revolve around nighttime. Although it is fun to "club," a lot of the places our group frequents have become uninteresting. However, I feel like I will be exploring much more of New Zealand in my backpacking adventure in 2 weeks. We'll be starting in Auckland and bussing our way back to Dunedin over the course of a month. Wish me luck!!!

Posted by Savanna Chesworth at 06:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I can't believe I'm almost done!

I know it seems a bit silly to pack several blog entries into such a short span of time but I just realized this evening that I need to complete my "while abroad" portion of being abroad. Time has gone by so quickly and I wish I had done this earlier on, completing these assignments that is. I have truly been so immersed in being here that it has been almost too much for me to "remove myself" and write these assignments. However, I've never used a blog before and I have to say the experience is somewhat liberating given the variety of thoughts I can share.
I think a commentary on the education system here is perhaps most appropriate, given that we're halfway through a month of reviewing for finals. I don't quite understand why they must spread finals across a months time and feel that it only allows me more time to procrastinate my studies. However, it makes me realize I wish I studied more regularly and, thus, I really want to study harder when I get back to WU.
Commenting on the education system here, I have had trouble dealing with the lack of required attendance and large class sizes here. I never realized how important it is for me to have someone accountable for my participation in class but, at this large school, I realize I not only want but NEED role call!!! I truly can't wait to get back to WU where we actually DISCUSS topics and DEBATE our opinions instead of a professor lecturing for 50 minutes. I mean, the professors are experienced and attempt to be fascinating, but nothing compares to the experiences I've had at home.
I have to say, however, the system here is not necessarily worse but DIFFERENT. The fact that final exams count for so much here is really shocking. I mean, I believe it is important to be able to display the knowledge you've gained in an elegant manner at the end of the course but I'm a little nervous for the weight it has on my final grade. Not to mention, my Kiwi flatmate has suffered from such weightings... she has spent NUMEROUS hours at the library preparing for this exam only to find herself wondering if her dedication paid off on the 60% question. I believe she deserves to pass, given that her efforts have been far above anything I've ever attempted but the grading system here seems unlikley to change anytime soon. I believe efforts throughout the course should have greater weight on overall grade but, I suppose, being an American from a small, liberal arts school, I like what I'm used to. I really appreciate the fact that Willamette takes a holistic approach to my learning. I can't say one method is necessarily more effective than the other for retaining knowledge in the long-run but can say that this is one aspect I miss about being home.

Posted by Savanna Chesworth at 05:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)