HECUA - Study and Intern in New Zealand

Spending a semester traveling, interning and studying New Zealand with a cohort of students and a group of caring and humble faculty is one of those experiences that will stick with me always.

New Zealand is a beautiful country, with friendly people. The island biodiversity, progressive politics, copious sustainability initiatives, and indigneous-colonizer relationships make it an interesting and unique place to study biology, political science, environmental studies, and peace and justice studies.

HECUA staff did a great job of supporting me throughout the semester, as well as in the logistics of travel before and after. I always felt safe, learned a ton (academically and personally), and had a lot of fun.

This program was the perfect combination of independence and community, academics and career building, travel and finding a place to call home on the other side of the world.

The professors are some of the most caring and inspiring I have ever had, allowing me to pursue topics I was interested in, challenge what I thought I was capable, adapt to my overall needs and help achieve whatever I set my mind to.

The program is beautifully designed to show you slices of beauty across New Zealand as you travel the first month and build relationships with your fellow students and teachers. It makes the moment you arrive in your homestay in Wellington so much sweeter as you revel in finally unpacking your suitcase at your homestay. I was lucky enough to intern at Conscious Consumers and inch closer to the kinds of careers I want post-graduation as well as getting a taste of what it could really be like to live and work abroad.

As we were saying goodbye, one of my coworkers commented that "New Zealand tends to get its hook in people". I didn't realize until I came home home much the country and its inhabitants really have touched me in a way that begs to draw me back.

My trip with HECUA to New Zealand was transformative. Going into it, I thought I would get an environmental and cultural education; however, it was so much more than that. The program is set up in such a way that really immerses you in New Zealand culture and the issues you are studying. You get a wide range of views and opinions by visiting permaculture farms, staying with indigenous Maori and talking to policymakers. The program taught me how to change my perspective, shift away from my traditional western views to consider issues like dairy farming and renewable energy from local indigenous perspectives. There is a nice combination of travelling and homestay, because you get to see a large amount of New Zealand while also forming stronger connections in Wellington with your host family and internship. As a Psychology/Educational Studies double major, I was not sure if this program was a great fit, however its inclusive and holistic nature makes it applicable to all areas of study. I really recommend it!

If you are looking for a personal, eyeopening, and inspirational experience HECUA New Zealand will provide. This program is perfect for any major and is actually enhanced by the wide range of students who participate. Not only is the first month of the program hugely informative on topics ranging from New Zealand's environmental issues to Maori language revitalization it is also a very special emotional and even spiritual experience. I say this because the staff of this program are truly amazing and pour their hearts and souls in to sharing what they love and loath about their country with their students. The program has an emphasis on Maori cultural values and practices and therefore has a emphasis on communing with nature. If you do not like sharing your feelings or spending time in the bush then this program is not for you. If you are ready to let go of your personal inhibitions and learn by doing and feeling then this is for you. Respect and patience play a huge role in having a good experience as well, you must be ready to do things that you might not usually comfortable with, like sharing your feelings and experiences in a group setting. The Wellington section of the program is also great. Wellington is a fun city and the public transportation system is awesome. Make sure to chose an internship you are going to like, I would suggest talking to people who have had the internship in the past before you settle on it. To suffice, you will not regret having embarked on this experience, one you return home you will see how much you have learned about the world and about yourself, I guarantee.

Day one of our journey. A vehicle full of strangers headed to a place called One Tree Hill (which has nothing to so with the soap opera). Upon arrival we were given free reign to explore the area and see the beautiful monuments and landmarks. It appeared that it was about to rain. Scratch that.... it was about to pour. We made our climb snapped our first group photo and quickly learned what New Zealand weather was all about. This is the first real moment of appreciation that I had for the adventure that was to come. Today looking back at it, my expectations fell short of the reality of this journey. My life has changed and it all started with that one not so peculiar, peculiar moment.

By late November, the weather in Wellington began heating up, reaching the low 70s every day-- just in time for us to be heading back to the states in a few weeks. Around this time, all of us on the program were thinking about our families back home in America, missing them despite having the time of our lives on, quite literally, the other side of the world. In both an effort to make us feel at home and have a concluding get-together, lead professor and host Charles decided to have us over for a thanksgiving dinner. Along with his family, several friends, and a few of our host parents, we ate turkey, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and all the other traditional staples of the holiday. Although there was no football, and even less fall color (it turns out maple trees are not a thing in New Zealand), it felt like home. Between the bond we students forged together and the family setting created by Charles and the other HECUA staff, it made what could have been a tough time to be away one of the best thanksgivings ever.

Aside from the five initial weeks of traveling around the North Island of New Zealand, I enjoyed the internship portion of our time in Wellington the most. My initial match was not the best fit or timing, however, with the assiduous work and devotion of Charles, our program co-director, I was able to intern with Sustainable Coastlines and Zealandia, an eco-sanctuary. This contributed to my independent study, while providing a plethora of different experiences and skill-building opportunities.

HECUA New Zealand was a truly remarkable experience. The combination of field study, internship, independent research and more traditional class is an unparalleled way to live, experience and learn about New Zealand. The program staff is supportive, helpful and generous. My internship at an environmental education center in Wellington helped me realize my passion for environmental education, and teaching in general. My individual research project about the Quaker Settlement in Whanganui allowed me to engage with new concepts and connect with interesting people. I loved living in Wellington-- having a bus pass and being connected with a frisbee team were some of the highlights of my time. Charles, the main director of the program is an incredible teacher, mentor and quasi-guardian.