The Political Science Program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, with the assistance of the University’s Division of International Studies & Programs, is pleased to introduce its Pacific Studies Program - a pioneering collaborative initiative between A&M-Kingsville and the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

The Pacific Studies Program (PSP) is being co-directed by Dr. Nirmal Goswami, Professor of Political Science, A&M-Kingsville and Dr. Elaine Webster, Director, Summer School and Continuing Education, University of Otago. The PSP will include graduate and undergraduate students traveling to and staying in New Zealand from July 5th, 2012, through July 22nd, 2012, attending classes at the University of Otago, and visiting multiple sites through field trips in the greater Otago region. Areas of focus include history, politics, economics, culture, sustainability and environmental policies, etc., with reference to both the greater Pacific region and New Zealand.

Dr. Christine Reiser-Robbins, Anthropology Program, Texas A&M-Kingsville, is directing a Service Learning Project, a special component of the PSP. The PSP will facilitate interaction between middle and high school students from Bishop School District, Texas, and Logan Park High School, Dunedin, Otago, through the application of Internet-enabled technologies.

You are all invited to cyber travel with us as we learn about the uniqueness of New Zealand and the surrounding region. This blog will document our experience. You are welcome to post comments.


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Flowers and Birds


Sunday, July 15, 2012

After a week of steady cold and cloudy skies, the weather here in Dunedin finally let up and sunshine baked the city.  The change in temperature presented us with the perfect opportunity to explore the local botanical gardens on the outskirts of the City.  Like everywhere else here in Dunedin, just getting around was quite the challenge.  Getting to and around the botanical gardens required “tramping” (hiking) up steep hills and through muddy trails.  Once we made it to the top, we had breathtaking views that overlooked much of Dunedin and the surrounding landscape.  The gardens had a very diverse collection of vegetation, some native to New Zealand and some from places all over the world, such as Southern Africa.  Yet plant life wasn’t all there was to see.  Many cages housing exotic birds lined sides of the hills, with many of them actually singing and flying energetically around as we walked by.  The bright colors on many of the birds make bird-watching an enriching  hobby in Dunedin.  Although we had to cut our journey short to make it to lunch, the botanical gardens will most definitely be a place to visit again!

-Matthew R
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