A Week in Dunedin

The Journey to the Land Down Under...and East

I have yet to calculate how long it took me to arrive here. If I were to do so, should I account for the fact that my journey thrust me into the future by one full day-- a full 16 hours ahead of Toronto? Either way, after a stopover in LA and a layover in Auckland, NZ (which by the way is a nice city where I had the chance to drink coffee and call home), I finally arrived in Dunedin, NZ.-- my launching pad for the next 4.5 months.

The highlights of my journey over included:

(1) Sleeping for a full 10 straight hours on the long-haul flight to Auckland and

(2) The flight from Auckland to Dunedin. This 737 airplane reminded me exactly of the ViaRail train from Toronto to London. It was an entire flight full of undergraduate students returning to university after their winter break. The kids, a.k.a. my fellow colleagues, were all pumped up and ready for "re-orientation week". I should have known what I was in for when I got to talking with a nice young boy who sat next to me on the plane. He wasn't sure whether school started this week or next.

Dunedin, New Zealand

As I have already indicated, Dunedin, NZ is London, Ontario's sister city --albeit more scenic.




It is a small town populated, so it seems, entirely by university students who are constantly drunk and partying. Students live in "flats" which are largely unkempt homes without central heating. Locking the front door is taboo or else an unnecessary precaution. Never mind locking your door, why not just leave the thing wide open? I guess if your house looks totally trashed and abandoned it wouldn't be desirable to a criminal anyhow. But I don't want to give off the impression that people do not take pride in their homes around the neighbourhood. In fact, many students design plaques to be placed on their homes to repreeeeseeennnttt. "The Pink Pussy" and "The Debacle" or "Shlong Palace" are are few of my fav's.

My Awesome "Flat"

I live in a very dangerous area... RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from the most well known international threat... McDonalds. I'm happy to report that I have only indulged once since my arrival (the first night). I think that is the greatest victory of my journey thus far.

For the most part, students at the University of Otago live in “flats” located around campus. In NZ flats refer to houses rather than apartment buildings. I am living in a flat with 3 other girls: Petra from the Czech Republic, Sani from Fiji, and Rachel, a local Kiwi (a.k.a. our Kiwi Host). I am very fortunate to have such nice flatmates and an amazingly clean and new flat!


This is me and Petra...

Petra and I

The Weather

Believe it or don't... but it gets pretty damn cold and rainy in the south of NZ. The weather hear hovers around 5-10 degrees Celsius. That isn't too bad if you come from Canada. But since the homes have no insulation or central heating, keeping warm can be QUITE the feat. Most students rely on hot watter bottles, space heaters, or electric blankets to keep warm... some of which are known to rack up quite expensive utility bills.

Law Classes

Most of my classes were canceled in the first few weeks of lecture for a variety of reasons. My classes include: Law of Emerging Technologies, International Criminal Court (taught by a Canadian prof!), Energy Law, and Environmental Law. Energy and Environmental are highly boring thus far, but the Law of Emerging Technolgies and International Criminal Court are quite interesting.

The best part of all... 8 hours of class per week!!! Can you say part-time student and travel ops?

Highlights from Week 1

1)   Getting Lost on my Way to Ross Creek: Another exchange student, Sina (from Norway) suggested that I jog to Ross Creek- a very beautiful water reservoir. I tried mapping my adventure on google maps, but sure enough, I got lost along the way. After asking about 15 different people for directions, I finally found it. It was worth the trek, although it was a bit cold outside. A beautiful little river runs down the hill, and there is a hiking trail in the woods alongside the water. It’s a really nice walk and I hope to go back!

2)   Queer Support Wine and Cheese: The other week, some of the international students were going on and on about attending this "Wine and Cheese". I later saw signs on campus that read... "Queer Support Wine and Cheese". I was a bit puzzled but quickly went along my merry way and forgot about it. We later attended this wine and cheese that took place in a small room on campus with an overhead projector and screen blasting songs such as "Baby I was born this way"... (and later some Justin Bieber- awesome). I should have clued in when I saw the sign but I totally forgot. OH DEAR.

3)   International Pot Luck followed by Partying in Dunedin: Despite the fact that I despise pot-lucks, I must admit that we put together a pretty awesome pot-luck dinner at our flat!  Everyone who attended was asked to prepare a dish that is local to their home country.  I prepared none other than a traditional poutine dish—fries, gravy, and mozzarella cheese.  Although I went a little lite on the gravy, I think they were overall well received.  Other dishes at the pot luck included: Bambouraka (Czech version of a latkah), meat pie (Kiwi), Kentucky Fried Chicken (American), Meat Balls and Potatoes (prepared Norwegian style),  apple pie (American).

Left-Right:  Marketa (Czech Republic), Petra (Czech Republic), Rachel (Kiwi)

me

Left- Right:  Sani (Fiji), me :)

Later everyone headed into town, and I ended up on a mini bar-tour with Sani, Kolbrun (Icelandic girl who lived in our flat last semester) and her boyfriend Kothry (I have no idea how to spell his name).

4)   New Zealand’s Got Talent: On Sunday night I attended the official auditions for New Zealand’s Got Talent. We were the audience members and we had to pretend to clap at something really exciting, and then do a medium clap so that the cameras could film us. That part was fairly annoying... but the people auditioning were really good!!! My favourite act was this girl who did a pole-dance. This girl has serious muscles and really legitimized pole-dancing as a sport in my mind. Apparently they are trying to add pole-dancing to the Olympics...wow!!!




Cheers to Week 1!!!