George 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…
Continue readingGeorge Hayward, 2012 North Queensland Sustainability student blogger, writes: Saturday May 26 I don’t have a bucket list (maybe I should), but if I did, snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef probably would have been on it. In which case, I could now cross it off! That’s right, today was our first day at The Reef for data collection and…
Continue readingKerri Malone, 2012 New Zealand Adventure Tourism student blogger, writes: I was aware that a trip to New Zealand would require a personal surrender to cold weather, endless spouts of rain, and spurts of sunshine, but snow? The trip is now at a very near end, and we are surrounded by a camp park blanketed in white, as well as…
Continue readingLily Hislop, 2012 New Zealand Adventure Tourism student blogger, writes: At 7:30 this morning everyone sat around our faculty member, with a pill in our hands, waiting with baited breath. We were supposed to go on a dolphin swim today, and at 7:30 exactly we find out if the trip can go on or not, depending on the weather. And…
Continue readingLily Hislop, 2012 New Zealand Adventure Tourism student blogger, writes: Today might have been my favorite day. We left Nelson, but not before having a lovely hot breakfast. On our drive to Kaikoura our professor had us stop at a very special waterfall. We walked up a little mountain path that ran parallel to a stream. And then “Oh my…
Continue readingWhen you return from your study abroad program, it’s inevitable that everyone will ask you, “How was <insert country name>?” And somehow they expect you to be able to sum up in a few words your incredible experience about which you could talk for hours. Oregon State student Kimberly Kenny has certainly experienced that scenario. So to expound on her…
Continue readingRegardless of whether Australia or New Zealand is the rightful creator of the first pavlova, the sweet treat remains a favorite in both countries. And ninety-five miles west of Cairns at Tyrconnell is home to arguably one of the best pavlovas found in Australia. Our friend and co-operator of Tyrconnell, Cate Harley, whips up pavlovas that have all our North…
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