Breeana Laughlin, 2011 New Zealand and Sydney Sustainable Business student alumni, writes: If you’ve never stayed in a hostel before, it can seem like an elusive thing. I had never stayed in a hostel before studying abroad with AUIP. I was pleasantly surprised by a lot of the cool features you get staying at hostels that you wouldn’t get in…
Continue readingGeorge Hayward, 2012 North Queensland Sustainability student blogger, writes: Now that schoolwork is just about done, we didn’t have to worry so much about taking notes and got to focus all of our attention on soaking up the sites and sounds of Australia. We started after breakfast with a trip to Gallo Dairyland, a chocolate and cheese store. Everything looked…
Continue readingStudents on AUIP’s New Zealand sustainability program visit a ‘seal pup nursery’ north of the small settlement of Kaikoura in New Zealand’s South Island. Maurice and Heather Manawatu take AUIP students here as part of their Maori Tour experience. The nursery is located in a waterfall pool a short walk from the coastal highway. Up to one hundred seal pups…
Continue readingHannah Cohan, 2012 North Queensland Sustainability student blogger, writes: Day 3 in Australia! Right now I’m on Magnetic Island, with thirteen minutes left to go on my internet…aaaaand there’s a spider on the mouse pad. This is going to be more difficult than I thought… /mute thud/ Now that that’s out of the way, on to business! ***DISCLAIMER: I didn’t…
Continue readingGeorge Hayward, 2012 North Queensland Sustainability student blogger, writes: Wednesday, June 6 Today we arrived at our second last location: a homey place called “On the Wallaby.” It’s a backpacker’s lodge with probably the friendliest staff we’ve encountered so far. This was evident as soon as we arrived when Tracy (one of the employees) greeted us with smiles, jokes, and…
Continue readingStudents in AUIP’s New Zealand study abroad programs visit the scenic coastal village of Kaikoura, on the east coast of the South Island. Visitors can inhale the fresh ocean breeze, spot an impressive array of wildlife, peruse quaint shops and try mouthwatering local fare. But Kaikoura hasn’t always been the beachfront utopia it appears to be. Like many towns throughout…
Continue readingGeorge Hayward, 2012 North Queensland Sustainability student blogger, writes: Saturday, June 2 Finally! A place that feels like home. Today we arrived at our farm stays, and it has been quite a comforting experience thus far. I’m with the four other male students on a 260 acre property that has been owned by this family since 1985. Upon arrival this…
Continue readingGeorge Hayward, 2012 North Queensland Sustainability student blogger, writes: The first thing on the agenda today was a trip to the Canopy Crane Research Station. After a thorough briefing of all the plants and animals on the site that could harm us (this is customary in Australia) we broke into groups and participated in tree measurement and analysis. The research…
Continue readingGeorge Hayward, 2012 North Queensland Sustainability student blogger, writes: Today was very active. We went to the Daintree Discovery Centre and had a guided tour. Something really interesting that I learned on this tour is that the canopy provides structural support to the trees. The roots of these trees only go about 6-12 inches into the ground because only the…
Continue readingVisiting Christchurch, New Zealand for the first time since the earthquakes can be sobering and emotional – but it can also be an inspirational experience for American university students studying abroad. When students tour with AUIP in New Zealand, they often take part in service projects that help the city recover from the damaging earthquakes that have taken place in…
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