This feature was written by Ryan Francoeur in conjunction with OSU Global Opportunities. Read about Ryan Francoeur’s study abroad experiences and explorations during his time at the College of Forestry at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The opportunity to travel and study in New Zealand will go down as one of the most incredible experiences of my lifetime. I can see myself as an elderly man chatting someone’s ear off about how I lived in Christchurch for over four months when I was in my late thirties. I never could have predicted that I would have this chance if you had asked me even just a few years ago. I say that it was incredible for a number of reasons.
As many people already may be aware, the landscape in New Zealand is one of a kind and left me in amazement numerous times. Not only that, but there were often plaques describing the cultural importance and history of the amazing views that I was looking at. Having lived in Vermont for most of my life, it was especially eye-opening to begin to understand the influence of the Pacific on this island nation. Looking out over the headlands to the vastness of the deep blue spread before me was incredible. The geographic isolation of New Zealand has created the evolutionary conditions which provide a wide range of endemic species to explore. For anyone interested in birds, this is a bucket-list place to visit. In addition to numerous endemic birds, they have ferns, trees, flowers, reptiles and insects that are found nowhere else on earth. There is a little something for anyone interested in exploring some of the rarer species on the planet.
The social environment was really exciting and different as well. Living in Christchurch was the only time in my life that I have ever lived in a city. My impression of cities was a reflection of my experiences with those in the northeast of the US, and let me tell you, those experiences led me to believe that I wanted to only visit for short periods of time, if at all. Christchurch is a vibrant city full of friendly people and things to do. I found that locals were just as interested in learning more about life in the US as I was in learning about their experiences. Christchurch touts hundreds of green spaces, and most of the buildings don’t go beyond several stories in height. On top of that, the city was one of the cleanest I have ever experienced. I had no issue acclimating to this type of city life, which was a worry I had prior to arriving.
Another interesting part of Kiwi life is the relationship between the Indigenous Māori culture and that of the non-Māori, known locally as Pākehā. Māori culture has stood the test of colonialism and is especially prevalent on the North Island. I had many opportunities to explore the culture through museum exhibits in Wellington, community-based tourism in Rotorua, a tour of the Waitangi treaty grounds, and within my courses at the University of Canterbury. Learning about the history and current cultural practices of the Māori was one of the highlights of the experience. It was interesting to compare and contrast relationships between government and Indigenous North Americans to that of the relationship between Māori and the New Zealand government.
The University of Canterbury made me feel welcomed and I very much enjoyed my experience there. The campus is beautiful with many familiar trees and shrubs, including giant sequoias, much like the Oregon State University Corvallis campus. There are all kinds of student services, with tons of cafes and food options, a gym, an amazing library, a community garden, and lots of outdoor seating to soak up the sun, study, and socialize. I took courses in forestry, sustainability, and biosecurity, which is very much a priority at the University of Canterbury. The students in my courses were very welcoming and interested to hear about life in the US. Something funny that came up a few times during field trips was the topic of ticks, which they don’t have! I made friends with some of the local students and will possibly see them again as a decent number of them have plans to travel to the US and explore. I also met other American students from various parts of the US as well as students from India, Russia, and Korea. I made lasting connections with my professors who were equally interested in picking my brain about the US experience. I am hoping to one day make my way to Fiji to work on a sustainability project one of my professors plans to continue and expand. I feel extremely lucky to not only have explored New Zealand, but also to have experienced student life at the University of Canterbury and would absolutely recommend studying there.
One of the biggest reasons I doubted I would ever be able to have an experience like this was because of financial constraints. The Gilman Scholarship was a big part of why it felt possible for me to study in New Zealand. This is a scholarship that is offered through the U.S. Department of State to students with financial need to increase accessibility to international education opportunities. If you are receiving a federal Pell Grant, you are eligible. The scholarship offers up to $5000 to support study abroad opportunities. The application process is a bit involved, but Oregon State University has a National & Global Scholarships advising staff that specializes in supporting students throughout the process. The Gilman Scholarship website also provides all the necessary information and guides students through the steps for applying. On top of all that, they have an application assistance phone line which I found extremely helpful and responsive when I was finalizing my application. The scholarship is competitive and requires several essays, but it is well worth the effort as the scholarship nearly paid my full tuition for studying at the University of Canterbury. Between that and Oregon State University Dean’s Fund for International Engagement, the cost for studying in and experiencing New Zealand was that of the flight, accommodations, and food.
I strongly suggest that anyone feeling limited in their ability to study abroad due to financial reasons reconsider. If you are willing to make the extra effort to apply for the Gilman Scholarship and Dean’s Fund, your out-of-pocket tuition costs could be less than a domestic term at Oregon State University. On top of that, I was able to bring home 24 credits for a four-month period and still balance exploring New Zealand and coursework. These study abroad specific scholarships made it possible for me to have an experience that I will never forget, and I want to let everyone know that what may seem impossible can be possible.
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