INTERNATIONALISM Taking a look at Wellington
A little culture, a little history, a little governance – the Wellington trip covered all the bases for the 10 international students who spent a wild and windy long weekend in the capital in early June.
Thrown in for good measure was a rocky Cook Strait crossing, a Chinese hot pot dinner cooked by the boys themselves, the views from Mt Victoria, and some spirited card games. Trips to Weta Workshop, Te Papa and the New Zealand Parliament were all on the agenda, but there was also time for shopping. International Student Manager Deanne Gath accompanied the students on the trip, which was designed to add value to their College experience. “The trip was keenly anticipated, and that’s always exciting, but the best part for me was how well they connected across the age groups, nationalities and cultures,” says Deanne. “One night a Year 9 student showed real initiative and cooked for us all. He gathered a team of helpers and bought what was needed for a hot pot and together they cooked it at the YHA hostel where we stayed. It was a great meal and a good experience for all of us.” The shared meal was a satisfying end to a full-on day. It started with a tour behind the scenes at Weta Workshop, a highlight for those into Lord of the Rings , followed by time at Te Papa, where the boys were able to explore at their own pace, and then a tour of Parliament, including the
shown the technology employed to future-proof the buildings against earthquakes. Year 9 student Michael Li was one of the enthusiastic participants on the trip. “It was heaps of fun. We had a really good time.” Visiting Weta Workshop was his favourite activity. “Just seeing all the cool stuff and the costumes was awesome. I really liked seeing the costumes I’d seen in the movies, and all the amazing details. The designs were fantastic.” And although Parliament looked “not that big on the outside”, it proved to have lots to see inside, says Michael.
“I found it really interesting. The whole weekend was excellent – a little bit longer would have been even better!”
debating chamber and below ground, where the group was
College Issue 37 2019
43
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker