I never expected myself to travel to New Zealand. Whenever I pictured studying abroad it was somewhere in the countryside, probably in Europe, and most definitely this side of the equator. Somehow, though, I found myself sitting on a plane and preparing myself for both a 20-hour long plane ride but also to travel, for the first time, outside of the country and the farthest I’ve ever been from home. I remember feeling excited, anticipatory, but also overwhelmingly unsure of myself. I can’t say all that disappeared the moment the plane landed, but over time I found myself falling in love with the country and all it had to offer, which in the capable hands of our professors was a lot.

Where most study abroad programs are located at one university, ours was stationed all over both islands. From our first location in Rotorua all the way down to Fjordland in the South Island, we knowledge-thirsty band of 13 students explored and studied rainforests, mountains, valleys, glaciers, flatlands, cities, and so much more to really understand how science and nature intermingle. I can honestly say I never expected to collect soil from a remote hillside, extract the DNA from it in the most renowned University in New Zealand, clone it, and then test it for certain compounds that could be used in future antibiotics. Nor did I expect to climb into a helicopter and be whisked over snowcapped mountains then dropped off into the middle of a glacier to experience firsthand the effects of global warming. Or see a midnight ocean full of glittering bioluminescent creatures, swim in natural hot springs, hike through a prehistoric land that appeared frozen in time, and really learn just how extraordinary our world is.

I also never expected to gain immense respect for the New Zealand culture. On top of our medical experience, our professors immersed us in the Māori culture. They taught us about the whakapapa, the native people’s ancestral tree, and how it needs to be protected when considering GMO amongst plants in their lineage. We learned a bit of the language and how to use it to express ourselves, read about the devastating treaty of Waitangi and were even taken to a Māori welcome ceremony (or Powhiri) to see their cultural practices firsthand. We were also encouraged to create a Mihi, which essentially is a short introduction to others saying who you are, but only telling them the things that will forever represent you. And really, that was the biggest takeaway from this program. At the core of it all, who am I, and how will I use what I have to make a difference in this world.

So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping to support me financially in order to make this program happen. I know I will be using the knowledge I gained from this program for many years to come, both in the medical field but also simply in my daily life.

Name: Rebecca Salmoson
Status: Sophomore
Major: Human Biology
Hometown: Rochester, Michigan
Program: Conservation Medicine in New Zealand