Week one in Queenstown has been absolutely AMAZING! It is February 17th and I feel like I have experienced so much of New Zealand already. TEAN has jam packed our orientation week with so many fun activities! On our first day, a Kapa Haka (Maori performing arts) group came and taught us a traditional Maori song and dance. The leader of the Kapa Haka group put in front of 200 TEAN students to help with the Maori dance demonstration and I was so nervous! I dance at Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show and we do a Maori section but Disney’s piece is not as complex as what we learned that day. Turns out, the Maori director from Kapa Haka came from Dunedin, and is actually my professor for one of my papers!
Afterwards, TEAN took us to the Gibbston Valley Winery. What a treat! Upon our arrival, endless platters of fresh New Zealand cheeses, biscuits, mussels, curated meats and breads were waiting for us.
Ariana (Rollins), Jules, Christina, me and Rosie (Rollins)
Other activities this past week included riding on the largest gondola I’ve ever been on, luging down a monstrous snowcapped mountain and dinning on lamb and sipping on red wine at the Skyline Restaurant above the city of Queenstown.
Here I am at the Skyline dinner. What a view!
The highlight of the trip was funyaking and jetboating on Lake Wakatipu. Kayaking through the glacier fields of Aotearoa was unbelievable. This is a must-do if you are ever in Queenstown.
Lake Wakatipu
Christina, Jules, Aaron, me, Rosie (Rollins) and Greg
Greg and Rosie taking five!
This first week in New Zealand has been a dream. Today, my friends from TEAN and I are parting ways to start our journeys at University here in Aotearoa. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us all!
Ka kite! (Maori for “until next time!”)