Studying In New Zealand: April 2013

My former work desk (but, is no more)

Alas, the first half of the first year of my doctorate program has proven to be rife with turbulence and conundrums. I have moved once again into another room, which has proven to be very unsettling for me. And, the introductory chapter to my thesis, the gateway into the rationale and instruments of my study, proved to be more challenging than imagined, wrestling as one does with the contents of this very important chapter to decide what information to keep out and what to include

The weather has not helped me to stay perky and happy, as the sky portends gloom and doom for what now appears to be every day and tomorrow. Sprinkles don’t hurt, but they do keep me inside, failing to beckon me onto my walking trails. I don’t like the moisture on my clothes as I walk; very distracting and annoying.

I did manage to make it out to Taupo about two weeks ago with other international students. The ride out there included a stop at Mt. Ruapehu and its accompanying peak, the name of which presently eludes me. The latter had snow on it so early in the year. Not yet winter, but the peaks of this mountain was already capped with a snowman’s winter hat. I can’t wait for winter; while the rest of the northern hemisphere is preparing for the coming warm months of spring and summer, I am taking out my winter coat and vest from their hiding place in the back of the closet.

Taupo is considered a resort on the northern island. Lake Taupo is fed by the Waikato River, home for a number of aquatic species and at least five hydroelectric projects. Taupo centre is like many tourist traps, but not as congested, and contains many of the same retail stores one would find in the streets of Berkeley. This aspect of the town takes away from what would otherwise be a very charming community. What makes Taupo centre unique is the harbour, which appears to be well-maintained by the environmentalist staff – who are called, rangers in the United States.

Another unique facet of Taupo are the number of Maori wood carvings; I noticed them right away. In New Zealand, the Moari culture comes to the surface. I believe I mentioned this fact about it in a previous blog.

So, this trip took me out of Palmerston North to another part of the North Island. My next trip will be to Rotorua. The international office also has a trip planned to there. According to the writings of the Lonely Planet, Rotorua is the capital of Maori cultural displays and is home to a number of hot springs. This must mean it smells like rotten eggs because of the sulphur released into the air. A little like the onsen baths I took in the wilderness of the Japanese mountains around Honshu island.

Before I end today’s blog, I have to proudly announce that I DID get through the introduction, all 11,000+ words of it, but not without more revisions. These days, I am plodding through the literature review chapter and making corrections, once again, to the paragraphs that don’t make sense and re-reading, verifying, and fact-checking the citations and paraphrases from my first, coarsely-written draft.

As promised in the last blog, I have uploaded photographs from my trip to Taupo and from the neighbourhood around Massey University. Enjoy to your heart's content!