University of Otago, Dunedin

Dunedin is built on the remnants of an extinct volcano

Our last morning in New Zealand was spent in the town of Dunedin, population 126,000. Students at the University of Otago (NZ's oldest university) make up almost 1/5 of the population. We ventured out for a walk around the campus before our four hour drive to Christchurch. As soon as we stepped on campus, I was taken by it. First of all, a creek runs through it, just like Chico State! Chico's campus is a bit more natural, and Otago is more stately.

Public art on campus

We were told that the main administration building, the oldest one on campus, has been used as a film stand-in for Harvard because apparently it's cheaper to fly to New Zealand to film than at Harvard.

Registry Building (our Kendall Hall)

Within minutes on campus, I told Andy, "Let's find the education department and see if I can come back here." After a pleasant bit of a map hunt around campus, we found the College of Education. I walked in and asked if there was someone I could talk to about a professor exchange. The women at the reception desk acted a bit surprised and said they would go check. They apparently had called the Associate Dean from morning tea, and Dr. Jacques van de Meer was very gracious to have a chat with us.
It was a great conversation. Andy and I gushed about our trip across New Zealand. Jacques told us about the teacher education program and also about Maori culture in general. We discussed how they consider New Zealand bi-cultural. There is the Maori culture and then there is all other cultures. (This is very different from the US!) Even though Maori make up only about 17% of the population, the policies and practices of New Zealand consistently put Maori culture at the center of all. Maori are recognized as the original owners of the land and respect is paid on a regular basis both in substance and form.
Before we left, we agreed to keep in touch and discuss any opportunities to collaborate or return for a study visit some time in the future. (It's never too early to start planning my next sabbatical!!) Jacques also encouraged Andy about opportunities for him to learn about restorative justice when/if we return. Just another example of Kiwi hospitality.

"Hello. Do you have professor exchanges here?"