Exams

Well, I have almost made it through my study abroad semester at the University of Otago, in Dunedin New Zealand. I only have the final exams left.

Queenstown In October

Two weeks ago at after the end of lectuers I went on a Wine Tasting tour of the Centeral Otago Region. It was run by the University of Otago Recreation Centre, and was alot of fun. I recommend it.

The guys from the wine tour, including my flatmats Katri and Marianne.

Winecave at Gibbston Valley Vineyard outside of Queenstown.

Black Ridge Vineyard and Winery, one of Otago's oldest. The grapes are grown on the rocky hillside in less then 100mm of top soil.

So now I'm onto exams, with my first one being tomorrow at 9:30 am.  The exam process is much more formal at than at home. Students are not allowed to even bring coats or bags into the exam rooms. The only things you are allowed to bring into the exam room is your student Id, which you must show in order to sit the exam, pens, and if required, one of three models of calculators which the University has approved. Nothing else is allowed, including water bottles.

The exams are all essay format, and the exam period takes a full month. I have about five days between all of my three exams, which seems like a luxury compared to home. Unfortunately, it gives me more time to get stressed out about the exams, all of which are cumulative. The exams are also worth 60% of the total grade for the class. In fact, I should be studying for one right now.

I ended up taking three Food Science classes. One of the classes tied into my PSU classes, the other two were pretty different. None of the classes had textbooks, so we are being tested strictly from lectures, and lecture notes.

Students here never seem to ask questions in lectures, even though the lecturers always
ask if there are any questions. According to one of my lecturers, when I asked, students tend to communicate questions primarily via e-mail. It was frustrating, since I'm used to having some sort of dialog in-class.

In a lot of ways, the classes here have just not been very engaging. I never got that "click-whir" feeling you get when you have to actually engage your brain, which is kind of disappointing. Maybe, I'm just ready to be done with school
for a while.

When I get back from New Zealand, it looks like I should be qualified to graduate from PSU. Then I guess the fun really starts and I have to get a job. I don't know how the job market looking this fall for recent college graduates. Having been out of the country for the last five months, I feel like I'm coming in blind.

Oh well, I'm looking forward to the three weeks following my last exam, when I actually get to go do some stuff that doesn't involve school. Plus, I hear there is some sort of party planned for my return home.