Inside Student Blogs

Andrew Collins Christchurch, Fall 2010

Andrew is a student at the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH, where he is majoring in Geology. He grew up in Maine and, since attending school in Ohio, has found that life as a flatlander does not entirely suit him. Therefore he has decided to return toward the sea and study abroad on a mountainous, shaky island on the opposite side of the world. He's finding that it suits him quite well. He hopes you enjoy his photographs.

Andrew's Posts

• Reflections on Christchurch A Year Later

  11/10/11 • (0)

  There is virtually no aspect of my life that I would consider untouched by my time in New Zealand. I feel that my study abroad experience gave me a fresh perspective in so many ways.

  A Year Later, Christchurch, New Zealand

• ‘Nothing is different, but everything’s changed’

  11/30/10 • (0)

  I’m home. Or, rather, I’m back in the good ol’ US of A. I came to consider and accept Christchurch just as much my home as Maine, where I grew up. Sadly, though, I had to leave that wonderful city.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Post-departure

• Finding New Synonyms for ‘Amazing’ is Becoming Increasingly Difficult

  11/15/10 • (0)

  Three hours after my exam on Monday I was on a plane bound for the North Island, the one place (and rather large percentage of the country) I had not yet explored.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• A Most Productive Study Break

  11/01/10 • (0)

  It’s exam time now. Last week was a study week for me (no exams), so I did what any sensible university student would do. I left.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• A Wonderful Weekend in Wellington

  10/22/10 • (0)

  This past weekend I decided to branch out a bit. It was time to visit the North Island.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, North Island, Photo Blogs

• Canterbury Tales: Architecture Edition

  10/13/10 • (0)

  So, as I’ve been confined to my room and various libraries around campus and have nothing adventurous to post, I decided I’d give you a bit of a visual tour of some of the architecture around the Canterbury (not just Christchurch) region.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Canterbury Tales: Spring Edition

  10/01/10 • (3)

  It’s spring time! The flowers are out and it’s been sunny and warm for practically three weeks! In light of that fact, I’ve spent the past few weeks out and about the various city gardens taking photographs.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

  9/27/10 • (0)

  With the run of beautiful weather we’ve been having lately I could hardly bear sitting inside all weekend, so I decided to hop on the train and head 180 km north north-east to Kaikoura, a small touristy town of somewhere around 3,000.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Getting Away

  9/14/10 • (1)

  The aftershocks haven’t stopped after a week and the University is still closed. A four-week spring break is a little bit more than I bargained for.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• When Things Go Bump in the Night…

  9/07/10 • (2)

  I shrewdly concluded that since my bed was shaking, my room must shaking, so the building must be shaking.

  Earthquake.

  Christchurch, earthquake, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Deux Jours à Akaroa

  9/03/10 • (1)

  I spent two days in the lovely little resort village (pop. between 500 and 1000 depending on the source) of Akaroa, smack dab in the middle of Banks Peninsula. Akaroa means “long harbour” in Maori, and is a very apt description.

  Akaroa, Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Paradise Found

  8/30/10 • (1)

  So, alas, I’m back from the Cook Islands. It’s nice to be home but I do miss the 85-degree daily sunshine and the crystal-clear, habitable water.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Adventures in the Rainforest

  8/23/10 • (2)

  This past weekend me and a bunch of friends (nine of us altogether, in two cars) made our way up to the top of the South Island to Abel Tasman National Park for some light tramping.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Paint it Black… All Black

  8/17/10 • (0)

  Two weeks ago Tuesday (August 3rd) we actually got some lovely weather! And what else would I do with such weather but take pictures? I went into the city and snapped some photos (finally) and then hopped on a bus and went out to a little hillside village called Cashmere.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Sunset, Sunrise, and a Little Port Called Lyttelton

  7/29/10 • (1)

  Hello! Week three of semester two is wrapping up here at the University of Canterbury. Only nine left to go (of lectures, that is)! Insert two weeks of break somewhere in there and you can bet it’s going to fly by. Seems like much to little time to explore such a small country.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Oceans and Cities and Hills! Oh, my!

  7/21/10 • (1)

  Well folks, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve settled in. Classes are going swimmingly and I’ve got enough food around to last me at least a couple of weeks. Now, at least until assignments start rolling in and building up, it’s time to relax and explore.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• A Weekend in the Alps

  7/13/10 • (4)

  We (IES Christchurch students) went to a tiny little ski town in the Southern Alps for two days and it was absolutely breathtaking. Therefore I feel the need to share the photos that came out of it.

  Christchurch, New Zealand, Photo Blogs

• Introduction and Pre-Departure

  7/08/10 • (2)

  Greetings and welcome! My name is Andrew Collins and I’m operating out of Christchurch, New Zealand, where I’m studying for the next few months! I’m pretty much just going to jump into this at lightning speed, so all I’m going to say is have fun and enjoy!

  Blogs, Christchurch, New Zealand, Pre-Departure