Australia: Pre-Departure” “Are we there yet?” by Bree Daigneault

Elizabeth Quay Bridge in Perth at sunset.
I plan on experiencing not just Perth but Western Australia (okay well maybe not all of it, as it’s a pretty big state). I hope to make friends that are just as interested as I am in seeing the city, the beaches and the more rural areas. So I’m going down under with a big ole smile on my face and tons of charisma baby. After all, how could I not?

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New Zealand: Post Program Reflection by Emily Webster

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Takeaways and Final Reflection

As I have said over and over again, I truly feel so grateful to have had such an amazing opportunity. I remember sitting in the advisors office over two years ago talking about my upcoming schedule and the future student teaching requirement. On a whim she mentioned the option to complete the student teaching requirement abroad. There had only been 2-3 students who had done so in the past so I really didn’t know what to expect. I turned the idea over and over in my mind and talked to friends and family who I knew had my best interests in mind. Once I came to the decision to go, I was excited! I was still nervous and knew it would be challenging but I also knew that if I didn’t take this opportunity I would regret it for the rest of my life.

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New Zealand: End of Program by Emily Webster

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Now that I’ve returned, it’s time to start to wrap up this blog. I have enjoyed sharing my adventure with those who followed along. The next two posts are requirements for the travel writing program, but they also offer a valuable opportunity for me to reflect on the last four months and begin to think about the next four months and what they have in store for me.

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New Zealand: Internship: Arrival by Emily Webster

I ’m starting to get settled into Northcote College. Here’s what’s been going on!

During the week before school started, I attended a new staff meeting and an all staff meeting. I am very happy to be starting my internship at the beginning of their school year. It has helped me feel more integrated and I’ve gotten to be a part of events that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. I set up my schedule and which classes I’ll be working with for the term. I get to work with three different teachers for a variety of subjects:

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Australia: Exchange: Mid Program: “A Day in the Life ” by Danika Mogensen

 

Mid Program: “A day in the life”


Normal Day

The best part about my time in Australia would have to be the people I have met. I am lucky enough to be living with all Australian Housemates in a student share house. My House is only a 10 min. walk from campus or 5 minutes by bicycle. My house is situated closest to the ‘Shortland’ side, which is where all my classes are.

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New Zealand: Mid Program: “New Adventures” by Ian Faulds

 

New Adventures

New Zealand is amazing! I love it here so much, and I can see myself returning to Wellington again to live. Wellington is much like a mix of Vancouver, BC, Portland, OR, and Bellingham, with lots of artistic people all over the city playing music and painting (gratify is all over, but it isn’t associated with gangs, just really neat art).

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New Zealand: “Maori: New Zealand’s First Nation” by Ian Faulds

Maori: New Zealand’s First Nation

One of the most unique things about New Zealand is the fact that its First Nations tribes, collectively called the Maori, have been incorporated into society. The Treaty of Waitangi was created and signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Maori chiefs, establishing New Zealand, but recognizing that the Maori still had ownership rights to the land Britain was colonising. In effect this made them equals; however, the British (being the British) took advantage of the citation and didn’t do everything they agreed upon in the treaty. Before the 1970s the treaty was pretty much ignored and the Maori were treated as an insignificant race (though much better than how Native Americans were, and still are treated). In the 1970s there were many protests from the Maori wishing to address wrongs done to them over the years. A national inquiry into breaches of the Treaty was established and since then the Maori have been granted hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation.

 

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