Carmyn Wahl, from the University of Montana, shares her most memorable moments from her study abroad program in New Zealand’s South Island and Sydney, Australia. She writes:

Hello! My name is Carmyn Wahl and I am a sophomore at the University of Montana studying international business and finance. Last winter I went to New Zealand and Sydney with AUIP to study sustainable business. This three and a half week program is something that completely changed my life. I am so glad I decided to take a chance and do something out of my comfort zone. My classmates and I learned so much about New Zealand and Sydney, and what they do to practice sustainable business.

The Routeburn Track

I wanted to share some of the highlights from my group’s experience last year to show those who haven’t signed up how wonderful an experience this course is.

The first memorable moment that pops in my head is our hike on the Routeburn track. This was one of the first days our group really got to know each other and experience the beauty of the South Island of New Zealand. The day we hiked was cloudy and misty which made the experience much more interesting. It was a great feeling knowing we were seizing the opportunity to hike one of the most beautiful tracks in New Zealand.

Dance off in Christchurch

Another moment I cherish is the day we took a walking tour of Christchurch and all of us, including our professor, had a dance party on the Dance-o-Mat, which is a dance floor with a washing machine speaker. It was so much fun to let loose in the middle of the city. Something that made it even more special was one of our classmates had a dance off with a local dancer!

My third memorable moment, and also my favorite day on the trip, was kayaking and hiking in Abel Tasman National Park. It was a calm, beautiful morning the day we set out on the waters. Crossing paths with seals and birds alike, I was in awe. We relaxed on the golden sand and then hiked our way back to finish this amazing day.

Kayaking Abel Tasman

Lastly, a bittersweet memory I have that sticks with me dearly is the dinner we had as a group in Sydney, Australia. I spoke with everyone, talking about all the fun things we had done on this amazing trip. Our professor gave one last toast to all of us, as the next morning we all went our separate ways at the airport.

All in all, there were memories we made every single day of this trip and I cherish all of them. There is no better way to spend winter semester than travelling and learning about the beautiful country of New Zealand and Sydney.