So far, things are going great! Last week I found out I made the University of Otago Women’s “B” basketball team, and I am so excited to play basketball competitively, in New Zealand! I also recently traveled to Christchurch where I hiked “Taylor’s Mistake” trail. It was an absolutely amazing experience and I kept having to pinch myself to see if the views I was taking in were actually real. I literally feel as if I am living in a screensaver, 24/7! This coming weekend, I am planning on visiting Millford Sound where I hope to go camping and sea kayaking.
As far as my classes go, I am really enjoying all of them! I am taking a Gender and Society class, a Maori performing arts class, and an Epidemiology class (which is probably my favorite!). I have never taken an epidemiology class before, but I am quickly learning that it is really something that I would like to look further into when I get back to the States.
Over the past few weeks we have studied the incidence of cancer in New Zealand, and in particular, we have studied the incidence of lung cancer in Maori versus non-Maori people. Maori most notably have a much higher incidence of lung cancer than non-Maori people. Now most people would attribute that to the fact that it must be due the difference in skin tone, or ethnicity, that make Maori people more prone to getting lung cancer than non-Maori. However, there is no biological mechanism that can explain why Maori people are more likely to get lung cancer than non-Maori; the truth of the matter can be explained by the lack of tobacco education and outreach services to the Maori population. It’s a shocking truth, but one that epidemiologists in New Zealand are currently studying in order to promote social justice within the New Zealand healthcare system. This class has really increased my interest in epidemiology as it aims to promote social justice within the healthcare system and make sure the underserved are receiving equitable healthcare in comparison to the general population.
Pictures of my tramp to Taylor’s Mistake in Christchurch, New Zealand.