Student reflects on New Zealand adventure

Grant Dillard
Staff Writer
gdillard@murraystate.edu

Cady Stribling
Features Editor
cstribling1@murraystate.edu

Junior agriculture communications and Spanish double-major Camryn Clift had the experience of a lifetime studying abroad in New Zealand with the Hutson School of Agriculture.

Far from a vacation, for 13 days students woke before dawn for class, went on day-long visits to farms and ended each day with a night class.

Yet, Clift describes the program as an amazing experience. Over two weeks, the group traveled to several cities including Auckland, Hamilton, Mata Mata and Rotorua.

“It’s awesome to see how much life can be lived in such a short period of time,” Clift said. “Not only did I get to visit this new and exciting place that’s basically on the other side of the world, but I had the opportunity to learn about the industry I love at the same time.”

Clift said the same work ethic and respect for the craft that she cherishes in the U.S. was mirrored in the hearts of the New Zealand agriculturalists she met.

While traveling through different cities, students saw the preserved scenery that New Zealand is known for like hot springs, geysers, kiwi farms and cherry orchards.

On the ninth day of the program, Clift found herself four feet from a native blue penguin colony in Oamaru. Earlier in the day, the group had visited deer farms and Lake Tekapo where lupine flowers were in bloom.

“All in one day I got to learn about a fascinating industry that was completely novel to me, visit a place with flowers that I have only ever been able to read about and see the most stars in the night sky that I had ever seen before,” Clift said.

Describing her winter break study abroad experience as full of firsts, Clift said she will never forget her time in New Zealand.

“I had the opportunity to see beautiful countryside and natural wonders that I probably will never get to see again, so I am so grateful for my New Zealand experience,” Clift said.

Clift left New Zealand for Spain where she will spend the remainder of her spring semester studying at the University of Alicante.

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