The students and staff have just wrapped up orientation week and are eager to begin academics here in Kaikoura, New Zealand.
It was a full and exciting week for each of our students (Jada, Kendra, Chloe, Ben, Josh, Karleigh, Erica, Danielle, Luiza, Adam, Perry, Hannah, Katie, Caitlin, Allie, Lauren, Rebecca, Dan, Kooba, Kayla, Ashley, and Krista) who now call the Old Convent, home. Most were surprised after meeting the CCSP SoPac staff, (Courtnay, Allie, Sam, Tyler, Emma and Jess) to step out of the airport into New Zealand winter. It’s been averaging around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (around 9 C) over the past week; however, thankfully, the first few days of orientation were beautiful, allowing students to take in both the ocean and mountain views that surround our home here.
Our first night students and staff enjoyed a classic New Zealand dinner of fish and chips on the beach and spent some time together dedicating the semester before everyone went to bed early in order to catch up on some much needed sleep in their new rooms.
Most of the bedrooms in the Old Convent have names based on past occupants, lending even more character to the 100 year old building, so some students found themselves at home for the semester in rooms with names like “Mother Superior,” or “Sister Anne,” etc. The first few days were spent getting oriented to the Convent and to the town of Kaikoura. This included introductions to CCSP bicycles (each student gets one to use for the duration of the semester) and remembering to stay on the left side of the road. Also, a tour of the library (including everything from New Zealand travel guides, to Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie Dillard) occurred in the morning. And Emma and Sam, our kitchen staff, discussed things like the “leftover fridge,” which at most times will contain a delectable sampling of leftovers available for those mid-afternoon cravings or weekend brunches.
Students had their first taste of downtown Kaikoura as they split into groups and conquered a scavenger hunt arranged by our SLCs (Tyler and Jess). When finding the hospital, most groups take a photo from outside the building, but Ben (Messiah ‘13) decided to go one, or maybe two steps further and pose inside while lying on an empty patient bed (with permission from the on duty doctor).
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