The College | Arts & Sciences

I’ve traveled a long way to get here, over many seas and different tectonic plates. I have arrived here, like so many tourists before, and so many colonists before that, in awe of my natural surroundings. New Zealand is truly a beautiful place.

I live in Auckland, which is a modern, bustling city, but from which it is still easy to detect that the land around you does not stretch for miles (or kilometers) and that somewhere, out in the distance, the sea meets the shore. Every day when I walk to class, I pass on the footsteps of the great Auckland War Memorial museum, which sits a top a hill with a clier view to Rangitoto and Devenport, to ferry destinations less than 100km from the North Shore. I’ve been to Rangitoto but not Devenport, but every time I look over, every morning before class and every afternoon after, I know again that I am in New Zealand, and the pacific lies in wait just a few moments away.

I passed by a travel store yesterday and saw a sign that translated for us “no worries,” which, the sign stated, meant that you were in New Zealand and now could relax. We have this term in the states, bit I wonedered if relaxation was more prevalent here–if the stereotypical “island life” was pervasive. Well I’m not really sure that it is. Auckland is a lot smaller than a lot of American cities, and certainly less bustling, but it is a city nonetheless, with businesses aside bars and night clubs, and men in suits and prostitutes on K-road (or so I’m told). What is it that makes a city chaotic? Is it a feeling? Is it the number of taxi cabs, the width of sidewalks or the amount of air pollution? I don’t think there is an agreed upon term, but nevertheless, Auckland surely meets some of those.

--Josh Malina '11

I have just finished my first three weeks in Prague and my second full week of classes. I have settled into my apartment, conveniently located about 3 minutes from Wenceslas Square and the center of town. My flatmates (of whom there are 5 - 6 of us total!) are all very nice, although we have had to do a little negotiating with just one bathroom for the 6 of us. The city itself is gorgeous! The river Vlatva runs right through the middle of
the city, separating New Town (where I live) and the historic Old Town from the Lesser Town (where Prague Castle is located). I have walked all through the city and along the river, mostly with a sense of where I am heading, although on more than one occasion I have found myself lost.

I am loving all of my classes, many of which fit right in with my curriculum at Wash U! I am taking a class about nationalism and minorities in the Czech Republic and I feel ahead of the game, at least in these first two weeks, as we discuss the definition of nationalism, nations and nation-states (thank you Professor Watt!). I am also taking an art history class which is my favorite class, as we go on excursions to a different
museum in the city every week. I have also been taking czech language which is proving a little difficult but a fun challenge nonetheless. My other two classes are Political History of Central Europe in the Twentieth Century and a class titled Prague, Vienna and Budapest which is a comparative look at the three cities intellectual and cultural developments. I very excited about this class as I plan to visit both Vienna and Budapest during the semester.

I also have an internship this semester with an organization called People In Need, the largest development aid organization in the country! I am mostly proofreading their english texts although I do get to do some independent research on different countries and conflicts for sites of future development projects. I am currently working with the director of International Development and have been focusing on their projects in Pakistan (a waste management facility) and in Ethiopia (a project working on stimulating drought resistant crops and agriculture to boost the local economy). I can't help but think back to International Development freshman year and realize how relevant and important all that hard work was (thanks Professor Parsons!).

Last weekend we went to a town called Cesky Krumlov, a historic castle town about an hour by bus north of the Austrian border. It was a beautiful town up in the hills! I also just returned from a long weekend in Florence and Milan with some friends from my program for our fall break. I just can't believe how easy it is to travel here! I strongly recommend the program for anyone looking for a program that challenges you to really stand on your own two feet, be independent and try new things. I wouldn't trade my experiences here in these first few weeks for anything!