Well, class officially started Monday, and now that I'm four days through the first week, I have a pretty good feel for how each of my classes are going to be. Classes in New Zealand, I'm finding among other things, are much less structured then the lectures you'll find in the States. For example there are no correlating Monday Wednesday Friday, or Tuesday, Thursday classes. My timetable (what they say instead of Schedule) is completely random, and I hardly ever have the same lecture in the same classroom at the same time two days a week. Which is going to make it quite difficult to memorize my classes.
But besides that, all of my classes are small. I'm accustomed to the 300 person lecture halls back at ISU. Well, the maximum amount of people I have in a class here is 50 in my Psychology lecture. The Minimum, is 4. In my Physical Thermodynamics course there is a total of 4 people in lecture, myself and 3 other guys. It blows my mind really. My two other classes Religion and OChem have about 20 people in them. The lecturers all vary in teaching methods, which is something you can find in the states, and they are fairly easy to catch on to and understand. Though I am finding a bit of a culture shock in the different notation and jargon in my Termo class, that is going to take some getting used to.
So all in all, life is going well around campus. I've joined a few student groups, including the Alpine Club (they just do a bunch of extreme sports, not just what we would consider "alpine" in the States), the Surfing Club, the Massey University Christian Fellowship and the Fire Club.
Additonally, I had an interesting opportunity at the Alpine Club booth. I'm sure you are all are aware of what a Cicada is. Those annoying, hornet like insects the buzz and bite and sting?
This particular species is unique to New Zealand, as are all that can be found in this country. At the clubs table they were frying them up in a pan, in a sort of stir fry style. I had the pleasure of eating one, wrapped in a leaf of some sort. Surprisingly, it really didn't taste that bad, only slightly discomforting when it's leg or wing became wedged between my teeth. But, it was definitely an experience that I'm not likely to have again, but at least I know now that I can eat bugs if I need to ;). But none the less, I'm pretty excited about the Clubs I joined, and hopefully they will give me more opportunities to get out and about and off of campus.
Speaking of getting off of campus, this weekend I plan to go Tramping (Hiking as the non-Kiwis say it) with a few friends in a local gorge. I'll take lots of pictures, so you can look forward to that. I apologize that this post was neither extremely exciting nor congested with pictures, I promise the next one will be.
Noho ora mai.
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How big is that cicada? It's hard to tell from that picture. And what exactly does a Fire Club do?
ReplyDeleteKua Haere au.
The Cicada I ate was probably about eight cm long.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Fire Club twirls ropes and poles with lit fire wicks on the ends of them.
"Extreme Sports"....I am remembering the ISU "broomball incident" and hoping the Alpine club doesn't but you in close contact with large aggressive Kiwi's.. Your smart and kinda tough, but a little on the small side..and it would take me a little bit to get down there to kick some Kiwi butt if required. So have fun but go easy on the extreme stuff, please ok!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could combine the fire tricks with ballroom dancing and start something new? That would be ka rawe.
ReplyDeleteKua Haere au