This week’s post shall be divided into three sections: school, a trip to Mount Cook National Park, and social. Head’s up, there are a lot of pictures in this post :)
School here is much chiller than at McGill, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it a joke, rather a healthy work-life balance. I think the best way to describe it would be that it’s similar to high school – I have to listen in class, stay on top of things, etc. but overall, it’s been pretty easy to contain work within the 9am-5pm, with no work in the evenings or weekends – and that’s a #bigwin. This week I had a fun hydrology lab to do in my geography class, which involved taking a walk along the length of the Leith River – not only did I have an excuse to spend time outside and explore the city a bit, but I got to do this for school.

Doing my homework

Social activities this week included going to $4 lunch (usually with people from my flat), Jazz night, and climbing ~ good fun :) I also went outdoor climbing (top roping AND bouldering) at Long Beach (around 30 minutes drive) with the Tramping club on Wednesday! That was just so fun, and this blog post is so late that I already went again this week. In two posts’ time, I shall take and include a photo.


This weekend (March 22nd - 23rd) was my favourite weekend thus far in New Zealand - the sights and the people. This past weekend we went to Mount Cook National Park. Mount Cook is the tallest mountain in the world. We drove up on Friday night for a few hours and set up camp.

The trip to Mount Cook
In our car was Aidan (my flatmate) and two of his friends from home (Benjamin and Sarah) and Rory. There were also a bunch of other exchange students going to Mount Cook that weekend.
First view of the mountains
The towering Mount Cook
That first night, the sky was so clear, and dark as midnight, and the stars were beautiful twinkling lights, in all directions. I can't remember the last time I saw stars like that.
A terrible photo of the terrific stars

I was so spoiled this weekend ~ I didn't grocery shop, book the campsite, bring any cooking things, etc., but at least everyone was graced by my presence (LOL). When I asked Benjamin if they ever got tired of cooking and bringing Aidan and Sarah on trips, they said `no, I want people to feel like they would die without me' (joking, obviously) and honestly, that's iconic. Anyway, Saturday morning we ate fluffy blueberry pancakes.
We then began the ascent straight up the side of a mountain. The trail was called Mueller Hut, and the halfway point was Sealy Tarns.
Sealy tarns, around halfway up the mountain to Mueller Hut
Tarns are small alpine lakes and they are so cute. This tramp was 1000 m of elevation, and the first half of the hike was 2+ hours of stairs (killer stairmaster) and the second half was scrambling over rocks and boulders. The hike was very satisfying and I think the most beautiful sights I have ever seen in my whole life?
Rory, Aidan and Benjamin
The whole way up there were panoramic views of mountains, including of Mount Cook which isn't always guaranteed if it's foggy out. Every so often we would hear an avalanche or a rock fall on the neighbouring mountain, which sounded like distant thunder. There was also a glacier in the distance, which has been rapidly melting during the past decades. It was sobering and amazing to witness the landscape changing and degrading in front of our eyes.
Avalanches and rock slides were happening on the adjacent mountain around every hour

A glacial lake, river, and Mount Cook


Standing on two mountains at once
Spot the moon
Again, the wonderful Mount Cook

Once at Mueller Hut, we had lunch, ate some Hi-Chew candies, and then began the descent. A kea (New Zealand's mountain parrot) visited us while at the hut!
A kea, the New Zealand mountain parrot

We went back down to camp, ate some bomb.com burritos, and went to bed. The next morning we did the Hooker Valley tramp, which was only 100 m or so of elevation, but provided panoramic views the whole time. People say these two hikes are some of the best in New Zealand. We saw a rainbow on the hike, and I touched my hand to the glacial lake.
A glacial river
A glacier
Spot the rainbow


Things this week feel like they're clicking -- it's almost as if my flatmates read my post or knew exactly what I was feeling. It feels like there has been a bit of a shift and I'm getting that feeling of "I really like you guys". I also decided this week that I was going to try to make some of my own friends so it's possible that this mental shift changed my perspective on things. This also means I am settling in here, and have to actively remember where I am, so I don't forget that I'M IN NEW ZEALAND. Also, the time here is flying by, I've already been here for a month.

Something that makes exchange so great is that people are ready to go, willing to participate in hikes and activities; people are enthusiastic. Things breeds a sort of `easy happiness'. In the sense of at home, McGill, or Montreal, it's real life and school is harder, and people might have less energy or time or money to do fun things. That means when I'm happy there, it's a very satisfying happiness where it feels like I built my life and found out what I need to enjoy my day-to-day. On the other hand, here almost everything is fun and exciting and people love it here. So there's a lot of happiness, but it's a different joy than at home.

Another thing that is different here is that you can go on trips with people you barely know. Comparatively, at home, a reading break trip, for example, would probably happen with some of your best friends. So the trip becomes a social adventure where you're also getting to know the people you're hanging out in the wilderness with :)

When I am around my flatmates and we are all hanging out together, it is a carefree and joyous. They are quite goofy and it's fun to have that side brought out of you. Rarely is there a boring moment in our flat.
Another day in the life of Rory