I'M GOING TO NEW ZEALAND!

Hi everyone, my name is Kayla (Maggie) Hughes.

I was accepted by my college, A&M University, to study abroad in New Zealand! This immersive, once-in-a-lifetime experience, is a dream come true. This (metaphorically) priceless educational, cultural, and formative trip will allow me to engage in experimental learning activities and gain a context-based view of culture-specific and educational-based practices as they exist in New Zealand.

This trip is designed to embrace the tourism slogan "100% pure" through the activities and events my classmates and I will participate in - including an inside look at educational contexts through school visits in tandem with an underground view of one of New Zealand's most wildly imaginative and immersive attractions of the Weta Cave. We also have the amazing opportunity to engage and explore the indigenous culture at the Tamaki Maori village. From island tours, nature hikes, and engaging with the vibrant cultures of New Zealand - we will be provided with unique opportunities to learn from and appreciate the people, places, and practices of New Zealand - both rural and metropolitan.

I also get to fulfill my childhood dream of seeing Hobbiton! Any fellow nerds will be freaking out just as much as I have been since I got the acceptance email. It is hard to express the depth of my excitement through words on a screen, but I hope you know that I am profoundly happy and appreciative of the fact that this study-abroad opportunity comes with the promise of so much growth educationally and personally.

There's a beautiful sentiment that cultural experiences like this are invaluable. Priceless. But Texas A&M dug deep, beat the odds, and found a way to put a price tag on it. Gig'em Aggies!

In all seriousness though, I would deeply appreciate any contribution you may give in helping fund this opportunity for me. And if you have any questions at all, I'd be happy to answer them.

Thank you :)