Life at a University

I know I gave a quick update related to my classes when I first started. But I thought you might want to know a bit more about them, now that I've figured them out(and found them all!)

My favorite class is still my Personality class. The lecture isn't very interesting(three weeks in, and we're still reviewing stuff!), and the professor isn't the most engaging public speaker. But the labs are fantastic! The first lab we had we got to play games to determine basic personality traits and how we use them to judge people.Then how we had a discussion about how we base romantic relationships on certain traits and what makes those relationships successful or not. This week we all bit in to lemons to see how much we salivate. High or low salivation levels mean you are either a low sensation seeker, or a high one. I'm the only American in my lab section, I never really realized it, but I stand out A LOT! It's not a bad thing, but I'm still not quite used to being the one with the funky accent.

My New Zealand Literature class is proving to be a bit over my head. If you're reading this blog, then you most likely know that I LOVE books. I've worked in a library since I was 14, and spend every spare moment reading. However, I'm in an upper level course surrounded by people who are majoring in Literature! They critique these stories in ways I would never have even imagined. Even with feeling a bit like the underdog, I must admit; this is an excellent class. The Professor just captivates everyone's interest, he has a way of speaking, of reading the stories and explaining them that just pulls you in. I'm learning a ton from him, even if it is in a crash course sort of way.

Statistics is well.. it's statistics. What can I say? There isn't in sort of poetic spin that I can put on it. This is my lowest class-credit wise, and I'm actually spending the most amount of time in class on it. I've got either a lecture, examples, or tutorial class every day except Monday. I hope by the end of all this time spent in a lecture hall, I will at least understand a little bit about this subject.

My history class is split between two professors. The lady is very in depth, and just likes to stand and lecture(she also gets annoyed when people ask too many questions :/). I think we all are nursing sore hands at the end from trying to write our notes as fast as she talks. The guy is a super exuberant, active lecturer- and he LOVES to hear our opinions. It's infectious when he teaches our class, everyone is at the edge of their seats paying attention-which is very hard for college kids to do first class of the morning! With either professor it's fascinating to hear about these events from a New Zealand perspective. Exactly HOW were they active in WWII? How did they feel about the "American Invasion" in 1942? how did the cold war affect them? It's fascinating! I love it!

I just finished up my third week of classes. Next week I have my first test, which is quickly followed by another one, and then two, 6 page papers that are due about the same time. Where did time go? Surely we haven't learn enough to be able to be tested on them yet?!



As to life at the Uni. Well, I'm getting used too it. I've learned I can handle the massive class sizes, at least for this semester. I'll be glad to go back to the little ones at St. Kates next year. Living in the Uni housing is also an experience of it's self. I've learned to sleep through the rumble of the city buses going by at all hours, or through the drunk guys below us who like to sing Miley Cyrus at 2 in the morning. I've learned that for those that are dedicated, the parties start Wednesday night and continue until Sunday-which means the only quiet time for those of us who don't drink is Monday and Tuesday when everyone else is passed out. My flat mates are fantastic, I couldn't ask to live with better people.We have many conversations about the differences between America culture and New Zealand- most of which have to do with food. Speaking of food, I've found out I really enjoy cooking every meal for my self. And I've even come to enjoy Marmite-which is definitely an improvement over Vegemite. All in all, Life is good.