I’m stumped as I try to figure out why this university home to 30,000 students doesn’t feel huge. Perhaps it’s b/c it’s smack dab in the middle of the city and so is concise, hemmed in. Perhaps it’s the beautiful, well-cultivated parks and open spaces. Perhaps it’s the laid back attitude (no one is rushing). Whatever the reason, Auckland is not overwhelming despite its size. Or perhaps it’s just the sunshine.

Highlights:
1) Student support: There are so many international students here. It’s the beginning of the semester and so there are many “get-to-know-you” activities (dinners, quiz nights, food nights – at the last one, some American students made a giant rice krispy treat in the shape of the United States – now that’s good eatin’), excursions to bungy jump, camp, bike, etc. There’s a program where int’l students can spend the weekend/an evening with a kiwi family (an alum of the university). Auckland Int’l staff are friendly and numerous, and they find U.S. students some of the easiest to work with. Like in any large school, the onus is on the student to speak up when they need/want something.
2) Student life: There’s a central student union complete with café, basketball court, travel agency, health center, etc. Today it was home to a skateboarding competition, complete with free energy drinks so everyone could watch the crazy tricks in a caffeinated hum.
3) Auckland is a major research institution. Faculty have connections with major universities (such as Cornell, Boston U.) in the U.S.A. and research informs teaching even into the intro undergrad courses. I met with faculty from computer science, statistics, and marine biology. NZ has much to offer the sciences, given its very unique location, hence my interest in meeting with these folks (and my bias as an environmental science major).
Computer science: strengths in software engineering, theory and artificial intelligence.
Marine science – has their own boat and marine research station 1 hr. N. of the city. Has connections with Wood’s Hole in the U.S.
Statistics – biggest dept. in NZ. Strong in statistical ecology and molecular genetics.
All these depts. Reminded me of studying at the University of Michigan as a grad student (world class faculty, independence need, unlimited opportunities, big classes with smaller labs and tutorials).
4) Facilities: Architecture is a mixture of old (mid/late 1800’s white stone buildings) and new (glass and metal).

Overall comparision of the two unis I visited:
Victoria University of Wellington: small city, political center, sea/ocean part of every day atmosphere, small classes and accessible professors.
University of Auckland: big city, business center, urban campus woven into the city center, research institution with high academic standards.

Both unis have wonderful support staff (or we wouldn’t be working with them!), superb access to the great outdoors, and offer many ways to integrate with kiwis and the lovely NZ culture.

A run at last…
Finally took a run. Beautiful. Along a path that follows the shoreline. Now I see why they call this “City of Sails”. Rain tomorrow, so glad I had one day of sun here.

Tennessee Williams in NZ
Saw “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, a production at the Maidmont Theatre on campus. Fascinating to see how the Southern drawl is affected by kiwis. Very good. Great stage set and good acting. On the walk back (11:00pm), Auckland was thrumming with students heading out to cafes and nightclubs. Yawn.