It’s already Friday here in NZ!

Last night I had my first experience with the Wellington rain. It started about 5 mins after I arrived at my flat (thank goodness) and continued through the night.

My flatmate told me that NZ was once called the Island of the long cloud by the Maori. I could tell why. The clouds formed a perfect gray background obscurring the mountains, hills, and even the bay.

The rain was nice but has mad it fairly colder here. I am still in shorts but it is much cooler.

Went to classes today and have 1 more workshop. I really don’t understand philosophy. At least at this point I see almost no real world application of what has been taught in my Argument and Analysis class. It is all epistomology and quite boring. I am not alone in that belief and am quite certain that I do not ever want to go into philosophy. In two weeks we start ethics which should be a much better discussion than knowledge.

Going to a cricket game this weekend as well as another festival. Got a few applications and forms to fill out for home that are due soon. It is kinda strage living in both worlds. In order to position myself for this next Fall I have to continue to be involved now.

One of the things I have noticed about the NZ eductional system is that the students are much less organized than in the US. A prime example of this is the fact that there are no 2 hole puches (the paper is different here) availiable to students. Most people write in Journals that have little adjustable organization. I miss my color coded binders and page dividers. (Yes I do go to GT).

Also, as many of you may know I am pretty good at playing the educational system game. It is a game indeed, it has rules and you can win or lose. One of my techniques that I have discovered universal involves the lecturer or Professor of the class. During the course of the first few weeks the Professor identififes friendly faces with which to confirm thoughts. I am not sure if they do this on purpose or subconciosly but they do it anyhow. The key is to look interested, but still look disintereted. To be following along but not hanging on every word. After awhile you will notice that when explaining a complex topic they will check with you (normally by making eye contact) that you are understanding. I am that (or one of those, my perspective is not that grand) for two of my classes.

This key positioning allow the professor to know who you are without actually introducing yourself. It works well with my strategy to not introduce yourself in the first two weeks of a class. This strategy however does not work on very confident Professors who usually don’t need any confirmation of if they are doing a good job.

Well, I am off to International Business and hope all of you back in the US are doing well!

All the best!
-Mathias