Birthdays, Seeds, Sights and Dogs

 Shay's Birthday



Longfield Farm - our lecture spot looking out over the Rakaia River gorge



Longfield Farm produces lots of grass and other seeds to export to Philadelphia!


Through the bus window on the way to Mt. Somers Station


Mt. Somers Station


Meeting one of "heading" dogs at Mt. Somers Station







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Land Where the Mountains Meet the Sea by Skylar

Image
After visiting one of our last few farms, Acheron Station, we were off to Kaikōura, the land where the mountains meet the sea. We spent a total of three days in Kaikōura and stayed in the Dusky Lodge, the only place in the small town that could accommodate all forty of us. I was most excited to see some of Kaikōura’s native wildlife, and while driving into the area, we could spot some wild seals along the rocky edges of the ocean. The next day, we visited the last and largest farm we’ve seen so far, Bluff Station, which was an hour away from Kaikōura. On our way back, we made sure to make an actual stop off the bus to observe a fur seal colony. There were dozens of seals and pups playing, sleeping, sunbathing, etc. With only ever seeing seals in an aquarium, I thought seeing them in the wild was an amazing experience. Other people spent their time in Kaikōura out on the ocean, where they saw other native creatures, including the albatross, the largest flying seabird, and dolphins. ...
Read more

The Farewell Dinner by Dominique

Image
Our study abroad farewell dinner was the perfect way to celebrate the journey we had shared. The evening began with an explanation of the winery. I may be biased as a food scientist, but I loved hearing about the production process and the steps you can take to develop different fruity flavors. We then moved inside and were presented with glasses of sparkling sauvignon blanc, its crisp flavor setting the tone for the night. We paired it with a selection of delicious starters: sweet potato rounds, arancini, and wontons. As the evening unfolded, we moved on to a tasting of pinot gris and chardonnay. During this part of the dinner, we learned a valuable tip about white wine that I will definitely put into practice: if it is served too cold—below 3°C—it can numb the roof of your mouth, masking its full flavors. Just as we were taking in this lesson, Scott McFadden and his partner Ang who own the Acheron Station arrived. Alex and Sue Bruce, the owners of Travlon, arrived not long after, add...
Read more

Caring for Each Other by Rachel

Image
Nearing the end of our month together, I reflect on the journey it took to get here. It started in the wee hours of morning well before daybreak, four flights totalling over 24 hours– 35,000 feet up and then back down, rinse and repeat. Once we arrived, we were immediately inundated with change: new faces, new sights, new information. I remember being fascinated even by the cars on the road, things alike but somehow entirely brand new. The reality sets in that you are now half way across the world with a bunch of people you do not know, and it is daunting. You make it through by an unspoken give and take. You put yourself out there, you care for others, and you find they do the same.  Caring for each other has been an essential part of this trip, and was seen in a variety of forms. More often than not, it is most evident in the quiet spaces in between rather than in explicit actions. It could be seen in the times spent teaching each other yoga flows and rugby throws, sharing books,...
Read more