I have somehow managed to join 2 postgraduate classes here that have turned out to be my favorite courses. My environmental management course focuses on entities working together to manage environmental problems. It also emphasizes a lot of inequalities when it comes to environmental management, which I find really interesting to learn about. The class is interactive and we have open course discussions every week that allows me to learn more about the perspectives of my peers. In general, learning about how the kiwis mitigate their environmental impact is fascinating compared to my knowledge of environmental issues in the States.
Unfortunately, for this course I also have a 4500-word essay that requires a lot of time and effort. I am constantly finding new study spaces around campus. I have always been partial to coffee shops for their hectic atmosphere but chill background music. Shaky Isles is similar to the U.S.’s Starbucks (in that it is very hipster but also greatly over-priced) and there is one located in the center of campus that offers a really nice atmosphere. A more reasonably priced coffee shop with a similar study space available is the Quad Café, also centrally located on campus but has limited table space. Behind that is another café (unsure why they’re so crowded in one area) that I just found this week when my friend and I got coffee. This is my current favorite as it has a much cozier vibe and is undiscovered by a lot of my classmates.
If I need a quiet space then the library or my residence hall’s study space is perfect. The library has 7 floors (don’t quote me, I’ve only been up to the 3rd) that are designated group work or quiet space. There are a ton of study desks but limited outlets. The Carlaw Student Park has a study space above the reception area on the second floor. It’s designated to be quiet, has a lot of desks and plugs. I often go here when I’m too lazy to leave the residence hall and my friends who also live in Carlaw will study with me.
