Study Abroad in the land of Maoris, New Zealand

New Zealand Travel Diary: Entry 1

When Che Guevara looked at the Incan ruins in Peru, he was angered by the brutality of Spanish conquerors who had annihilated a rich Incan civilization. But why am I telling you this? Well, I am going to New Zealand for study abroad in July for Fall semester. And I cannot wait to see Maori culture and meet Maoris in their original land. Maoris are indigenous population of New Zealand who have a very rich culture and tradition that at times may appear very exotic and strange even to outsiders.

Maoris have suffered too due to Britian's colonialism in New Zealand and its legacy still has left its imprint in the form of a historic treaty signed between Maoris and British crown in 1800s. The document is still used today by Maoris to assert their rights from non-Maori population who are in the majority. I am no Che Guevara but I am still very excited to live and learn about indigenous Maori culture and traditions.

There is another thing in common between New Zealand and Nepal (the country I am from). The tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest was first climbed by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal. They shared a special relationship before and after this success. Edmund Hillary came back to remote mountainous village of Nepal called "Namche" and helped it develop by constructing schools and health centers for improved education and health. His contribution is valued not only by local Namche villagers and Sherpas (mountain guides) but also by every Nepalese. He is an inspiration to everyone. Nepal and New Zealand share this relationship of being two moutainous countries with majestic beauties and breathtaking landscapes.

I am ready to begin this almost five month long journey to beautiful land of Maoris that appears like a "paradise" through study abroad program of IFSA-Butler. I want to live like a Kiwi and learn Haka, a traditional dance performed by Maoris. To the land where zeal is at the zenith.

Deepshore Drilling at Trinity

This post is intended as humor only. Contents of this post are not verified and reader discretion is advised.

A very confidential source has confided that deep-shore drilling has moved from Louisiana to Trinity University after a disastrous drilling experiment in Louisiana. Unfortunately, an undercover journalist was able to sneak in and capture several shots. All construction and drilling zones were sealed off without letting golf carts drive even on grasses. All pavements and sidewalks for pedestrians were torn apart so that it could be hidden away from public observation. Pedestrians had to snake around and take longer paths. Shown below are pictures snapped by investigative journalist Digital Subway.

 Deep-shore drilling at Trinity University. Photo by Digital Subway

Lots of heavy machinery has been reported to be sneaked in at Trinity. Photo by Digital Subway

This hole is allegedly to lay down pipeline for oil flow. Photo by Digital Subway

Large areas have been dug to lay down the secretive pipeline. Photo by Digital Subway

 Bell Tower is no longer the tallest structure at Trinity University. Photo by Digital Subway

This machine with cutter is to cut the pipeline in case of any emergency. Photo: Digital Subway

Beating Summer with Aqua Sports

I can not stop talking about the FIFA World Cup 2010. I know there are so many upsets and unpredictable results. The only clear winner uptill now that has not suffered any setbacks are Brazil and Argentina. Brazil all the way.

Putting aside World Cup talk, I want to describe about my weekend. I went tubing in Guadalupe River with my friends. It was so much FUN. The atmosphere was just so jovial. All you do is rent a tube and you can bring your own booze. You could drink while tubing in the river. That's what most people did and social lubricant as it is rightly called, overcame awkwardness and people spoke to others who were no more strangers. A woman fell in love with my sunglasses and pleaded to exchange mine with hers. After I said No, she got off her tube and came to mine, neck deep in water and started flirting.

Tubing is really fun. Of course you never know unless you try for yourself. In the later evening, we went to a state park and camped there. I learnt to set up the tent with instructions from my friend Lawrence. Sawan barbequed some very juicy chicken and beef patties. The dinner felt great after an exhausting afternoon adventure.

The Camp that Lawrence and I set up. Photo: Digital Subway

Next day, we went to Austin and did canoeing and kayaking. My arm muscles ached after more than 2 and a half hours constant rowing in the river. The weekend was very aqua-sport intensive but I definitely enjoyed it a lot. I wet my camera and it stopped working. I do not have pictures yet so I will post them later

Construction Begins at Trinity during Summer

Heavy Construction has begun at Trinity University. Between Moody Engineering, Cowles Life Science and Chapman, in that open area, the huge project for a big Science building has begun. The area has already been sealed off and bright orange markings with numbers and lines can be seen all around, even on grasses.

Construction at Trinity during Summer. Photographer: Digital Subway

Construction has also begun outside Mars McLean Building on the way towards Coates Library at Trinity. Several dozers are already in action and look like little monsters digging the earth furiously and diligently.

Numerous bulldozers aka "little monsters" at work. Photo: Digital Subway

What would you call it? Creative Destruction. Photo: Digital Subway

Holes everywhere. Can you dig it? Photo: Digital Subway

 Some path has been paved with stones. Are we going back to Stone Age? Even more perplexing is the covering of trees with a wooden ring like structure. See in the picture below. Make some sense of it if you can. I do not know what it is and what purpose it serves.

Stone paved path. Notice the trees. Photo: Digital Subway

Middle East Imperialism

I know you don't need me to tell you about Israel's raid on flotillas in Gaza. But really what the Hell do Israelis think they are doing? First they attack humanitarian aid workers and now they refuse to apologize. And they refuse to let an international team conduct a fair probation of events that transpired and innocent lives were lost. Israel claims it is fully capable of such a probation. Are others not? How can a perpetrator defending his case be the Chief Justice at the same time?

In the name of preventing Hamas extremists from arming themselves and strengthening their bunkers, it has imposed sanctions on even food items like jam and solantro. Really? I have no words to describe this  Israeli Imperialism on Palestinians. The attack Israel carried out last year killed hundred times or maybe even more civilians than did rockets fired from Palestine allegedly by Hamas extremists. How can anyone justify that?

And now that Turkey's citizens have been killed, Israel is suddenly starting to come under heat and its illegitimate sanctions in international water is coming under scrutiny. The world is crying out to stop this. How long will the United States government keep supporting Netanyahu's government? Only few months ago, Joe Biden suffered humiliation during his visit to Israel when Israeli authorities announced new plans for building more settlement areas. Israelis have money so they can buy lands from impoverished Palestinian civilians living on the border who want to sell their land and escape anyway from intolerable suffering and violence from both sides.

Is there any solution to this problem that has been deepening since UN's controversial proclamation of Jewish state of Israel. It seems to be polarizing more and more countries. Iran and several Middle East countries were already on Palestinian support and now Turkey, an influential country in the region seems to be joining the camp. We keep hearing about two state solutions from several actors like the US and the UK who are mediating talks between these two nations. But does it really mean anything without Israel showing some respect and halting controversial settlement plans till a peace deal is struck?

Vuvuzela, a characteristic of South African Football

It has been heartwarming to watch FIFA World Cup Football 2010. There have been some major upsets, few lack lustre performances and many amazing performances. Even big name teams are finding it hard to score easy victories upon little known, lower ranked teams. It's been a pleasure to watch these games. My only complaint is time difference. All games fall between my office work time and I have to watch it online while my (American) office colleagues walk in only to find me watching football instead of busy working like them.

Work or football has become a puzzling choice not only for me but thousands of people like me in other countries like England that can boast avid football fans. According to a BBC podcast that I was listening to today, many companies in England have been pretty lenient on their workers watching football at workplace. Kellogs has been very supportive, I heard.

In Bangladesh, due to power cuts during FIFA world cup game, avid football fans could not watch the game. They came down to streets protesting against the government and attacking power utility buildings. The government had to issue a request to businesses to halt their operation from 8 pm onwards so that enough power is available to run televisions in Bangladeshi homes. My country Nepal faces power cuts for several hours daily too. Nepal Electricity Authority should learn an early lesson from Bangladesh or else face similar consequences.

Vuvuzela, a trumpet made up of plastic that produces a loud noise has been another interesting controversy during this FIFA. It is a stadium trumpet very popular among South African crowds and we can hear continuous sounds on our television sets during games. European and other western television viewers have complained against this "annoying" sound. I can only imagine what Westerners among South African crowd in the stadium must be feeling. It's been a tradition for them and most other Latin American countries too. I know it's annoying but it's South Africa's world cup and we should let them entertain us their way. No more western interference, please.

Brazil is playing their first game tomorrow. Brazil all the way!!!!!!!

The World Cup has Made me Alive Again

The wait is finally over. The World Cup fever has begun and with it the whole world has joined hands together to watch this wonderful charismatic game of football. No, I will not say it as soccer. Americans should name their game of football as handball because that is what it really is. The only time they use foot is while kicking it from the 10 yard line or something, I don't know.

We say enjoy it while you're still young. Watching world cup and realizing that millions and certainly bilions are watching it across teh globe makes you feel young again. Staying away from home for two years is a long time and it can emotionally drain any human being. That's how immigrants have to live in their emigrant country. I was starting to get tired of this monotonous life. College too had started to seem like to be a routine and everyday brought mundane assignments. Weekends brought less relaxation than project deadlines. I had lost touch with my culture, religion and festivals. I have been twice to a temple, once this year and once last year. Sometimes, you feel you are lost in translation, as they say. That was exactly what had happened to me. And I imagine it happens to all of us.

Then today as the World Cup kicked off, I realized I was filled with life again. Seeing the whole world and less so Americans probably rise up to the euphoria made me feel so happy again. Two years of detached college life that had stripped me of excitement and connection with my culture was revived again by imagining myself four years ago and reminisicng the company I had enjoyed while rooting for favorite teams and cursing opponents. It all seemed to come back again. I know I am being carried away a little and some of this may appear exaggeration but I felt a genuine excitement for something after a very long time while watching the game. No, SuperBowl never succeeded in doing the same. A single day event spanning a couple hours can hardly have the same effect. The first time I watched SuperBowl was to see advertisments. I am not kidding.

Fatal Death of a Bird from a Crash Against Glass Window

We were surfing on the web facing Murchison glass windows when we heard a thud and something fell down. My first reaction was someone (one of my friends) threw a ball or some soft material at us just as a prank. But when we got up and saw, it was a bird that had crashed against the window.

I had not seen a bird crash against the window with my own eyes. We got out to see if we can help the bird. I went near and tried to move the bird but saw that it had broken its neck. A viscous liquid was oozing out, it was not blood. We realized the bird had broken its neck pretty bad and there was no way we could help it. If we moved its neck, it would have popped open. The bird crashed at the glass window with a significant amount of force. I had not realized that reaction force against a flying bird could be so large. The crash had made a pretty loud sound. Sadly, the bird died in less than 5 minutes from its initial crash. The damage done was irreparable.

In the image below, if you see closely you can see the liquid oozing out of the bird's neck.

A Bird after crashing against the glass window. Photo by: Digital Subway

From the image below, you can estimate the reaction force the bird must have felt.  Liquid oozed out immediately.

Glass window after a bird crash. Photo by: Digital Subway

After this incident, Sawan and I, two fellow engineers realized that the research to prevent birds from crashing against glass windows is very necessary. More birds die annually from crashing against glass windows than from flying planes or rotating wind turbines. Fortunately, a team of engineers including Brian Williams led by Dr. Jack Leifer is working this summer at Trinity University to prevent flying birds from crashing against glass windows. From my understanding, a mechanism is set up to detect flying birds which activates another system that repels them by some sort of sound unpleasant to birds or some other mechanism that I am unaware of.

I feel sorry for the bird. Wish there was more I could have done.

Bird after crash against Glass Window. Photo by: Digital Subway

Summer in San Antonio

What would it be like to spend a summer in San Antonio? I asked this question to myself last summer and figured it would not be so fun with unbearable San Antonio heat. I packed my stuff and headed towards North East to stay with my friends. This summer however, I decided to stay in San Antonio. And it was a wise choice keeping in mind that I will be leaving for New Zealand in July.

                            Musuem itself is so artistic. Photo: Digital Subway 

That's right. I am leaving for NZ in July to study abroad for a whole semester. I know, it's so exciting. I came to realize that the common misconception "engineering majors don't get to study abroad, period" was not true. At least not at Trinity. For engineers, it is difficult because courses are structured for all four years in progression and if you miss a semester, you don't have the pre-requisites for the next semester's courses. Also, it is extremely rare to earn transfer credits for an accredited Engineering program because each country has a different program. However, Dr. Mahbub Uddin, an engineering professor at Trinity visited several engineering colleges in New Zealand and Australia to determine compatibility last year and now we can get transfer credits for engineering courses if it meets core course content.

Morale of the story: Engineers can study abroad too.

I will also be taking some Anthropology and Politics courses for my International Studies major. I am excited for my venture into NZ, an exotic place and a favorite among directors to film exotic movies like Lord of the Ring and Avatar among others.

                                

I was telling you about spending a summer in San Antonio. It has been pretty fulfilling so far. Last weekend, with a group of friends I went to San Antonio Museum of Art that is about 10 minutes away from Trinity. It charges a small fee to students but with Trinity I.D., it is absolutely free! We were impressed with richness of its collections and got to learn a great deal about ancient, medieval and modern art. My favorite section was the gallery containing Psychedelic Art.

         From left: Jaskirat Batra, Me, Kang Chon Kim and Sawan Vaidya. Photo: A stranger

                          My favorite pyschedelic art. Photo: Digital Subway

I was glad to see some artistic idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses from Nepal too. Sadly, I don't have any pictures of those. Below is the image of a cupid that I thought was pretty photogenic.

 Cupid. Photo: Digital Subway                                                                     

I will brief you about my other ventures into San Antonio in the future.

Note: This blog was written as a post for Official Student Blogger Program for Trinity University.