Bowen Humphreys, Grizzlies Abroad marketing intern, writes:

My study abroad group was incredibly lucky. Two years ago we spent a total of seven days in Christchurch during our New Zealand program. Prior to our arrival, an earthquake had hit Christchurch, and we felt tiny tremors while we were there. But our group, and even most Kiwis, found it a novel, thrilling and uniting experience.

We took pictures of buildings that had minor damage and enjoyed all the life and energy that Christchurch had both during the day and at night. I clearly remember spending New Year’s Eve in Cathedral Square, watching fireworks exploding above Christchurch Cathedral and feeling surrounded by a palpable sense of community that joined everyone, even an American outsider like me, in the spirit of recovery and patriotism.

Not a month after I returned home, the worst earthquake Christchurch had ever experienced hit unexpectedly in February 2011. I saw pictures of Christchurch’s symbolic Christchurch Cathedral spire toppled, read the news about the deaths and injuries and conversed in almost hushed tones with my study abroad classmates. My life went on.

Later in 2011, I was invited to return on the program as an assistant to the two professors. I jumped at the opportunity, wanting to see for myself Christchurch a year later, wanting to walk in the same square a year later and try to find that feeling again, wanting to volunteer and help Christchurch—and in some way repay this debt of gratitude I felt I hadn’t adequately expressed to the country of New Zealand and her people.

But we didn’t stay in the same hotel near Cathedral Square as the year before. We stayed in Lincoln University’s dormitories, about 14 miles or 22 kilometers away. One night there was a 5.2 tremor off the coast. I was woken up by what felt like someone shaking my entire bed frantically. It was over before my mind fully comprehended what was happening. The gravity of what had happened stayed with me, especially when the class was bused around the city to volunteer. I say around the city, not through it, because even a year after the destructive earthquake, downtown Christchurch was still largely in crisis recovery mode.

I was in complete shock as we drove by buckled roads covered in mud and soil, condemned buildings and empty lots that used to have businesses and houses. Our local guide, an enthusiastic professor from the University of Canterbury, couldn’t talk fast enough to point out every single empty, now graveled lot.

Upon arrival at our volunteer area, I immediately set to work on the most physically demanding part with a fury, resolving to give even more back to the Christchurch community. When we had finished, we had cleaned, weeded, dug trenches, gardened and even inspired four passersby to volunteer as well. The next day there was an opinion editorial in the newspaper about my group’s volunteer efforts. I felt honored to have so much of an affect upon the recovery of Christchurch.

I still feel I owe a debt to the people of New Zealand that I’ll doubtfully ever be able to repay, even if I return and spend the rest of my life there. But I hope that what little I have done will change things for the better.