Bowdoin College
EcoQuest Spring 2004
Studying abroad is about expanding perspective and challenging one's understanding of the world. It is about becoming intimate with something foreign. But it is also about becoming intimate about something very familiar: you. Jumping into a new culture, environment, climate, language, customs and even education system can be a bit like jumping into ice-cold water. It is disorienting and tends to momentarily take one's breath away. But almost immediately, one is far more aware of details that are often overlooked in the comfort of one's home. Studying away inspires ideas, maturity, and an opportunity to challenge oneself.
I studied away the spring of my junior year. By then, I was very comfortable at Bowdoin. I took some things for granted; some days I did not take notice of the whiff of sea air that occasionally makes it to campus, or admire the Bowdoin Pines that are a signature of the school and the area. Studying away can turn one's world on its head (particularly if one travels to the other hemisphere!), and sharpen one's awareness of one's destination and home. And, oh New Zealand! What a destination! It is a beautiful country with international environmental leaders, exotic flora and fauna, a strong commitment to conservation and restoration, and yours to explore for three months.
EcoQuest is a wonderful program that fully immerses students in field ecology, environmental policy, local action, and Kiwi and Maori culture. That shock of landing in an entirely foreign place is lessened when one recognizes that there is a host of caring, knowledgeable and able staff to guide you. Their energy is infectious, and their commitment to education is unwavering. EcoQuest is the type of program where one absorbs information and experience effortlessly, and yet it is also the kind of program where there are no limits to one's own personal experience. The beach is your library, the mountains your museum, and one's interests are explored collectively and individually, as faculty and staff happily aide any curious student.
I left New Zealand with an appreciation for the place, the people, and the new knowledge and experience I had gained. I also left EcoQuest with a new appreciation for everything I had left behind at home, and a fresh enthusiasm for returning to it. The semester had a different pace than one at home, partly because it was free of many of the campus obligations that many students quickly accumulate. It was deep breath out for me, and a chance to think carefully about what I wanted to do next. Often in the early morning after a run, I would read papers and consider options for my next step: graduate school. I can't tell you how many lists I have saved from those three months full of ideas, locations, programs, and possibilities. Now, a year later, I am accepted to the PhD program in Biology of my choice, and am ready to meet that challenge beginning in the fall!
It is impossible not to fall in love with New Zealand and become passionate about their landscape, their visions, and their environmental management. Every experience is personal and different, but I can't imagine any student leaving without some fundamental change or some substantial realization. My experience is a treasure that I will always carry with me, and one that will be there through all future challenges and successes.