Although I am very happy I took a break before starting grad school, my brain has been working overtime to catch up. So far my classes are all very interesting, they are Human and Animal Neuropsychology, Behavioral Interventions, Behavioral Pharmacology and Teratology, and Developmental Psychology. I've found the the teaching style is a bit different here, and it has taken me a little time to adjust to the laid-back Kiwi instruction methods. Laid-back does not translate to no work though, I have quite a few presentations, papers, and tests throughout the year. I realized how much I missed being in school, and being here has reignited my passion to continue my graduate studies in clinical psychology. I soon will be helping out on a research study that looks at the effects of prenatal methadone exposure (methadone is a drug used to treat opiate addiction) on the child development, and later a study examining intergenerational transfer of parenting attitudes and behaviors. I think both experiences will be really great, I really respect the researcher running these studies (she is my developmental psychology professor).
Even though school has been good so far, I think some of best experiences have been with my Rotary club (especially my "kiwi parents" Allan and Jill) and my travels in New Zealand. The Papanui rotary club meets on Thursday evenings here, and so far I have gone to a meeting each week. Allan tells me they are known as the "laid-back and friendly" club of Christchurch and I would definitely agree. They also serve the best food! Last Thursday was "International Night" and all the rotarians brought a dish from a different part of the world. There was also a very interesting speaker from the Himalayan trust. The Himalayan trust is a non-profit organization to help the Sherpa people of Nepal (built and maintains many schools and hospitals in this remote area). It was started by one of New Zealand's most well-known and beloved figures, Sir Edmund Hillary. He and a Sherpa mountaineer were the first known people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Sadly Sir Edmund Hillary died recently, and the speaker at the Rotary was a close friend and fellow mountaineer who told wonderful stories about their treks and humanitarian efforts in this region. I also attended a BBQ at the home of Allan and Jill, along with my fellow rotary scholars in Christchurch and some rotary club members. The food was delicious and we all had an excellent time, I feel so lucky to have such a great host family!
I also was able to head out to Kaikoura last weekend, which is a town on the east coast of the south island know for it's beautiful landscapes and abundance of marine life. Here are some pictures as promised:
The last picture was the view from my hostel. Needless to say, I had a great weekend with excellent weather. The locals were all very friendly, there were quite a few people from Canada and Europe working in the local shops, bars, and restaurants. I will be going to Wellington this weekend for a rotary seminar for scholars studying in New Zealand, it will be great to hear about their experiences and learn more about New Zealand Rotary. I will write again soon to report on my Wellington, hopefully with more pictures!
