Abroad with Megan

This vlog shows a snippet of my time here in Sydney. Compared to Dunedin, Sydney is fast-paced and has a true city feel. The beaches here are absolutely beautiful, and I got the chance to go surfing. In my BIOL 3100 course, we visited the Long Reef Reserve where we did field work counting various mollusks. It also would not be a true vlog of mine without featuring some animals! My friends and I went to both the Taronga Zoo and Featherdale Wildlife Park, and I got to feed some adorable kangaroos and wallabies . I got to see a platypus and koala for the very first time which was super cool. There was so much to see and do in Sydney, and I can’t wait to see what I will be doing next time I upload a vlog!

Waitangi Day is a New Zealand national holiday celebrated on February 6th to recognize the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Unfortunately, I had an organic chemistry exam to prepare for on this day and was unable to partake in any of the events on campus, but this did not stop me from researching more about this unique holiday. The indigenous people of New Zealand, the Maori, and the early European settlers known as Pakeha clashed until the creation of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Before the making of the treaty, New Zealand had not been recognized as a sovereign nation, and the British became responsible for doing so under its name. Representatives from the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs worked together to make this living document. The treaty was drafted by William Hobson, and two interpretations of the treaty were made: the English version and the Maori interpretation. These two carried different interpretations on both sides which led to some conflict. In 19...

My very first activity when arriving in Sydney this weekend was visiting the Taronga Zoo. A group of my friends and I mastered the transportation system of the city and made our way to the zoo which was only a bus ride and ferry ride away from our hotel. Once we arrived, we got the chance to take the sky shuttle across the zoo which was absolutely massive. My friend Hannah’s favorite animal is a platypus, and the Taronga Zoo is one of two zoos in the world that has them. When we entered the room that had the platypus, it was very dark which surprised me. The biggest surprise, however, was seeing how small they were in person. I always had this preconceived notion that they would be around the size of a beaver, but they were very tiny and fast in the water. Watching them dart from one end of the tank to the other in the darkness made capturing a photo very difficult. I was also amused at how adorably clumsy these animals were. Every time they swam they managed to get themse...

During my visit to the Dunedin Botanic Garden, there were so many beautiful plants that caught my eye. However, I found the flowers native to New Zealand to be the most intriguing. These were indigenous plants that I would most likely never get the chance to see again, so I focused my attention on these incredible flowers. The first plant I saw native to New Zealand was the Leptospermum Pageant. The pale pink and bright neon green center is what initially caught my attention, and it reminded me of a lily pad. I learned that it is a low growing shrub that grows flowers in order to attract bees and butterflies. The next plant I decided to draw was the Kowhai which is the national flower of New Zealand.  This entire flower is dangerous when consumed, but the seeds are the most poisonous to humans. The Maori also use this plant within their homes because of the bright coloring and for their medical properties. The next plant, the Koru, is special to Maori culture, an...

This weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Christchurch and Akaroa, and I recorded memorable moments from the trip. On Friday, we stopped by Orana Wildlife Park, and I got the chance to get up close to the lions which was incredible. We then spent our Saturday in the city of Christchurch and went to the local farmers market. Before we left to go back to Dunedin, we drove down to Akaroa where we went on a boat tour and encountered penguins, fur seals, and dolphins. Overall, this weekend was filled with good food, friends, and cute animals!

    The most striking part of New Zealand that stood out to me was mesmerizing colors of the water. From the plane ride as we approached the South Island, I was amazed at how beautiful the ocean water was and could not wait to explore. I grew up around water for as long as I can remember. Ever since elementary school, I participated in the neighborhood swim team and even took lessons for a few years. I have also spent all of my summers at Lake Oconee, which are some of my favorite memories. My family and friends would tube, wakeboard, jump off rocks, and explore new parts of the lake. One of the defining features of Lake Oconee is how clean the water is, and this stood out to me with all of the water sources here in New Zealand.     However, my perspective on what I had considered being “clean” water completely changed after our trip to the ecosanctuary. During our tour, we stopped by a little pond and the tour guide asked us whether or not we thought the water wa...

           Welcome to New Zealand and welcome to the University of Otago! While my trek getting here was certainly not easy due to the twenty-hour flight in a middle seat, it was most definitely worth the pain. I am constantly blown away by the breathtaking views everywhere I look. Even when I sent my mom pictures from my phone she could not help but second guess if the pictures were real and actually taken by me. I am by no means a photographer of any kind and my mere iPhone pictures certainly do not give this place enough justice. The University of Otago has a true campus feel with beautiful architecture and greenery surrounding the area. One of my favorite buildings is the Clocktower which was built in 1879. The historic building makes me think of the New Zealand version of the Tech Tower which is visible from virtually every point on campus. It reminds me of a slither of home and is a site to see every mornin...