Guech’s Year of Exploration in New Zealand
Visiting a beautiful lavender farm in the town of Wanaka
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Guech Sok, a rising senior at Beloit College, reflects on her study abroad experience in New Zealand.
My journey began when I first received an email that I got accepted into a study abroad program at University of Otago in New Zealand. I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to share this terrific news with my SHE-CAN mentors and family. |
I was literally screaming and jumping around inside my room at Beloit. New Zealand, a heaven on earth, has always been on my bucket list. I chose to study abroad during my junior year at the University of Otago because I am an environmental biology major. I’m very passionate about plants and Otago offers many life science courses, including botany.
During my first semester at Otago, I was able to take classes that I couldn’t take at Beloit such as Plants, People & the Environment in New Zealand and Plant and Fungal Biodiversity. I loved taking these classes and learned so much. I had the opportunity to go on a field trip to the Leith Saddle and Dunedin Botanic Garden, where I learned a great deal about New Zealand’s native plants. I also had the opportunity to learn about “Māori,” an indigenous knowledge and practice regarding the medicinal and commercial uses of native plants. 
I loved learning about all of New Zealand’s native plant species
Apart from studying, I also got a chance to further explore New Zealand by going on a tramping (kiwi way of saying hiking and backpacking) trip with my friends to Milford Sound and Lake Hāwea Conservation Park. There, I got to see sea lions, penguins and takahē (the New Zealand flightless bird.)
I was able to experience takahe up close!
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The campsite our group stayed in at Lake Hawea Conservation Park
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I had so many first experiences such as kayaking and backpacking. It was my first time hiking 15 miles, and I loved fully immersing myself in nature during our overnight backpacking trips. It was an unforgettable experience to sleep in a tent under the stars. Being able to learn about plants and the environment in New Zealand has truly enriched my understanding of my major and has further inspired me to protect what the earth has gifted us.
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My first time kayaking was a blast
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Hiking through Lake Hawea truly an unforgettable experience!