Two Weeks Away (A bit of background information)

Hello!

My name is Johnny and welcome to my blog. In two weeks, on February 7th, 2010 I will be departing for New Zealand in order to study at Victoria University of Wellington. Wellington is the country's seaside capital and is home to many museums. I picked Wellington as my place to study as it is located at the south end of the north island and thus is centrally located (see map above). From Wellington, I hope to travel all over the country trying new activities everywhere I go.

So why study abroad in New Zealand?

College is both a place for higher education and a time for novel experiences, according to my mother. At Vassar, I have been exposed to many new academic ideas, mostly in the field of psychology and music composition (my major and minor), as well as many new experiences including lobbying in Washington, D.C. for better climate change legislation and spending a week in both Sebring, FL and Biloxi, MS with Habitat for Humanity. Although I greatly enjoy my time and the people at Vassar, I am always seeking new ways to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Going to New Zealand is not merely stepping outside my comfort zone, but leaving it almost halfway around the world.

I want to study abroad in NZ in hopes that I spend more time in nature, experience a new culture, and glimpse the world from a non-American's view. Nature has alwasy been a place for deep though and reflection; two things I rarely have time to do at Vassar. Having time in the great wilderness of New Zealand will not only let me reflect, but will also help me prepare for senior year and what lurks in its shadow: the real world. Experiencing a new culture and seeing the world from a non-American's eyes are on in the same. I have never spent significant time with another culture before and feel that it could only be beneficial to any American. Although at college we are taught to think freely, there remain within us many social/cultural biases we unknowingly hold about the rest of the world. I wish to challenge myself to see how the world view us as Americans by participating in the traditions of the Maori and Kiwis.

As for my academics, I home to continue studying new concepts and ideas. I find undergrad psychology to be quite universal and could easily stay at Vassar to study psych. In NZ, you can only take 60 points worth of classes which equates about three classes, which is a bit of a bummer as there are many more classes that interested to take. I am currently enrolled in Maori language, Maori music, and criminal thought; all classes not offered at Vassar. I have also applied to the music composition department at Victoria University and have yet to hear if I will allowed to take any classes. I have my eye on Intrumentalization, which teaches how to write for many different instruments. I will find out my acceptance status once in Wellington.

In summary, I want to study abroad to spend more time in nature and experience a new culture, while becoming more knowledgeable about New Zealand, continuing my academic growth, and hopefully catching a glimpse of the world from a non-American's perspective. I feel New Zealand is a place where I will achieve all of this and more. Traveling to a foreign country with no familiar faces will place me far away from everything I know, which leave a 100% chance that I will encounter new experiences.

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover" -- Mark Twain