Katie Corner, Special to The Denisonian–
Jet boat rides down bright blue river canyons, hikes on some of the world’s most renowned trails, and holding the biggest gold nugget in the country: this has been the first month in New Zealand for Caroline Moore, a junior studying abroad at Arcadia University.
In addition to her rigorous biology and HESS coursework, Moore is finding every opportunity for adventure in her new home off The Hill.
“When am I ever going to get the chance to come here in my adult life?” Moore said. Located in the South Island, Dunedin stood out to her as the perfect place where she could thrive academically while getting the most out of New Zealand’s cultural and natural beauty.
Moore kick-started her abroad experience with a guided backpacking trip on The Milford Track, arguably the most famous hiking trail in New Zealand. She and her travel companions spent multiple days “glamping,” sleeping in huts each night. Moore leaned into the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ attitude with a trip to The Franz Josef Glacier nex
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“All I wanted was to get up there,” Moore said. Poor weather conditions had delayed their helicopter flight to the attraction in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. When the weather finally cleared, the group was not left with much time. But Moore, sporting a Big Red hat, soaked in all 20 minutes she got to spend walking on the glacier.
When she’s not traversing glaciers or lugging down mountainsides in Queenstown, Moore is keeping busy with school. Her schooldays include a mix of tutorials, lectures and a lot of walking. Moore lives in a flat with five flatmates and one Kiwi host, and unlike Denison’s compact campus, Arcadia is much more spread out. In addition to her wild hiking endeavors, Moore does a lot of walking in her day-to-day life.
In a country where there are seven sheep for every one person, there are endless surprises for Moore to discover. She’s eating lots of hand pies, a local delicacy, and learning that “courgettes” are just zucchinis.
“Slowly but surely I’m getting to know more Kiwi students,” Moore said.
Although she wanted the comfort of studying abroad in an English-speaking country, where communication would be easier, her Kiwi classmates have shown her a version of the language that is entirely their own. Kiwis don’t have a chat with a friend, they “have a yarn.” Kiwis don’t think, they “reckon.” Moore plans to bring these fun new phrases back with her to Ohio.
She’s also picked up on the saying “Kia ora,” a Maori greeting phrase. This way of saying hello is merely one example of the prominent Maori influence Moore has encountered so far in New Zealand.
“I’ve been so impressed with how indigenous Maori culture is represented and respected here. It’s so unlike the U.S.,” Moore said. From cultural dance shows to Maori language translations on most road signs, indigenous culture is present everywhere you go in New Zealand.
Although Moore is settling in nicely, she misses some things about life at Denison. “I miss the way I live there. There’s easy access to everything on campus and I really have a routine nailed down,” Moore said.
No matter the distance, each day in Dunedin reassures Moore that she made the right choice in venturing out on her own to study abroad.
“I like being more secluded down here. It’s not like Europe where you can pop over to other countries, but that’s what I like about it. I feel like I’m getting to know my host country even better this way,” Moore said.
To all Denison students considering studying abroad, Moore encourages you to get out of our comfort zone and deviate from where your friends are going.
“You need to be okay being uncomfortable for more than just a day,” Moore said. And if you’re anything like Moore, the discomfort will dissipate and you’ll be living like a local in no time.