SMEAL International Programs

Newsletter January 2007 Vol.1 #3

Amanda Harper, Finance major, studied abroad in Wellington, New Zealand, Spring 2006.

A new country, a new culture and a new ad- hour plane ride to New Zealand. However, I venture all awaited me in Wellington, New knew deep down that New Zealand was the Zealand. The four and a half month study right choice for me. So, after some hesitation I abroad program there enabled me to explore decided to just go for it. I couldn’t wait around a beautiful country, meet a vast array of peo- and think about it any longer. I knew I always ple and interact with a unique culture. Yet, wanted to go to New Zealand again, and I fig- upon my return home, I realized that the ex- ured what other time in my life would be as perience did more than just that. My stay in perfect as this time to go. So, I filled out my New Zealand was, without a doubt, one of application, handed it in after the deadline, and the best experiences of my life and it taught waited months for the letter that would inform me a great deal about myself by fostering a me that I was accepted into the study abroad new understanding, a new appreciation and program at The Victoria University of Welling- Hintz Study Abroad Scholarship ultimately a new me. https://intranet.smeal.psu.edu/students/uprog/edabroad/index.html March 21, 2007 Deadline For the most part, my decision to study I was so used to learning abroad in New Zea- about American land was an easy one. business – cash, stocks, I always knew I trading – here at Penn wanted to travel State, and I was shocked abroad for a semes- at how much the Maori ter during college value their land and after I traveled to resources and incorporate those values Tahiti, New Zealand into their everyday lives. and Australia in high school on a school trip. Ever since then I knew that I would The term Tangata whenua (literally, "people of the land") is one day return to often used by Māori to describe New Zealand. I loved the part of the country ton for the spring of 2006. themselves in such a way that that I had the opportunity to see and was emphasises their relationship eager to someday experience more of it. Yet, While studying in New Zealand, I took 3 with a particular area of land. - from Wikipedia as decision time approached, I began to con- classes: Maori Society and Culture, Maori Busi- sider other countries. ness and Art History. My most interesting class I wanted to return to was Maori Business. I am a Finance major here see more of the mag- at Penn State, so I thought it would be interest- nificent country I ing to learn about the business practices of their visited in high school, native people. The differences amazed me. The but I was nervous Maori people have developed a unique culture because I didn’t know that is very in-tune with nature and extremely anyone else who was connected to their land. I was surprised to going and I had never learn in my class that the majority of Maori busi- been so far away ness is centered on the land. The amount of from home for so wealth and opportunities of an individual, family long. I considered or company is based a great deal on how much countries in Europe land they own and how valuable it is. I was so because they would used to learning about American business – have been a little bit cash, stocks, trading – here at Penn State, and I closer than the 14- was shocked at how much the Maori value their

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land and resources and incorporate those provide for their children. Her mom’s main values into their everyday lives. From taking responsibility was to run the farm, keep the two Maori classes in New Zealand, I had the animals clean and healthy and maintain the gar- privilege of interacting with, learning about den while her dad provided the meat for every and understanding such a different culture. family dinner. Her family was almost entirely It immediately became obvious to me that self-sufficient as they rarely bought anything the Maori people are so proud of who they from the grocery store because everything they are and where they come from and could needed was right in their backyard. All five kids not have been happier to share their stories helped with the chores around the house every- with us. They are a culture that is continu- day. They did things like cooking, cleaning, ously struggling to advance in society, and it feeding the animals, and gardening. On one meant the world to them that we were so evening her dad was kind enough to take us eager to learn about their history, customs overnight to one of his forests so we could ex- and traditions. perience the type of things he does while he is hunting. We stayed in a small cabin with no My light course load granted me a lot of electricity, woke up before the sun came up, time to tour the country. Before classes and took a two-hour walk through the bush. It started I was able to travel through most of was so peaceful out there. We walked lightly the North Island, and on my two-week on the damp path I was lucky enough to spring break I got to see the entire South and only talked in have my parents and aunt come and visit for a week. Island with a group of friends. The opportu- whispers as to not Living so far away from nity to travel allowed me to interact with disturb any of the home and being away other New Zealand natives as well as people animals. Back on from my family for so long from other countries outside of the class- the farm, Briar’s made me homesick at room. It also gave me the chance to see just mom let us herd some points during the how beautiful the country really is. Because and shear the semester, so I was happy only about one-third of New Zealand’s sheep, milk Gladius that they made the trip to population lives on the South Island, huge (one of their cows) come and see the incredi- ble country that I had told expanses of land exist between towns with and feed the chick- them so much about. everything from rolling green hills to huge ens. We helped her churn butter and make lakes to snow-capped mountains. The land- bread and scones from scratch. At night we sat scape is absolutely breathtaking. and talked with the entire family in the living room huddled around the wood-burning stove. During my excursions through different I was so lucky to meet Briar and have the parts of New Zealand I did many things that chance to experience what it is like to live on a I never thought I would have done. For ex- real New Zealand farm. Her family was so wel- ample, I went white water rafting down a 20- coming and did everything they could to give us foot waterfall, took full-day hikes through a true New Zealand experience. glaciers and along coastlines and went sky- diving from 13,000 feet in the air. However, I gained so much from my study abroad experi- one of my most memorable times in New ence in New Zealand. Not only did I get to Zealand was a weekend I spent at the house explore another country and come to under- of one of my Kiwi friend’s, Briar. She was a stand a different culture, but I also grew as a native New Zealander that lived in my build- person and learned a great deal about myself. I ing who I grew to be very close with. Her feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to family lives on a farm in a 103-year-old travel abroad at such a young age. I learned so house about two hours north of Wellington much about the history, traditions and goals of in a small town called Marton. From the the Maori society. I traveled the entire country moment we arrived at her house, I felt like I and saw the most spectacular sights for which was part of a traditional Kiwi family. We pictures could not do justice. I formed bonds were introduced to everyone and then im- with different people that will last a lifetime. I mediately put to work. We helped her grew as an individual as I became more inde- Questions/Comments about this newsletter younger sisters make a fire, prepare dinner pendent. As a result of studying abroad, I am Contact Tina Jacquette and bake a pumpkin pie. Briar’s mom is a now more confident in myself. I had the most [email protected] nurse, and her dad hunts and manages a wonderful experience studying abroad in New number of forests around the area. It was Zealand. I am fortunate I got to do, see and previous newsletter issues available at: http://www.smeal.psu.edu/uprog/oip/index.html amazing to see how much work they did at learn everything that I did and hope that I will home, aside from their regular jobs, just to be able to return someday. - Amanda Harper