Spring 2004: Cody Buchser, University of Miami
Our adventure began long before our first academic experience here in New
Zealand. After flying across the world, losing a day when we crossed the
date line, we arrived to the smiling faces of staff and the sweet smell of a
new country.
Our first week at EQ (our headquarters in Kaiaua on the Firth of Thames) was a learning experience in itself, allowing us to create our sense of place. The pace is fast, the lessons important and never ending. We were taught to "see" when we looked during our first real scholastic experience when we hiked 700 metres up to the Pinnacles on the Coromandel Peninsula. Marine biology, ecology, riparian management, mussel aquaculture, benthic fauna, and migrating birds' flyways only cover a few topics of study. Interaction and submersion in each topic of our studies is an integral and wonderful part of the program. It is a rewarding process--to learn from one's own experiences, rather than reading about others' experiences from a book.
What an amazing time I've had so far...Good energy, good people, breath-taking sites!