Adventure abroad
Photos courtesy of Lily Anderson, Hayden Banks, Sierra Matyi and Kelly Paris February 21, 2025
Cultural immersion and physical activity in New Zealand study abroad shape UD students’ careers
Hayden Banks will never forget where he was when he turned 21 years old. The University of Delaware junior celebrated his birthday overlooking a cliff with gorgeous sea views at sunset while on a Winter Session study abroad trip in New Zealand.
“That moment on our Clearwater Wildlife Tour in Dunedin stuck with me the entire trip,” Banks said. “We saw sea lions and penguins on the beach — something I might never see again.”
Spotting even one penguin is rare, but these students hit the jackpot.
“Our tour guide told us if you see one penguin, you’re lucky; if you see two, you’re really lucky; and if you see three, you should buy a lottery ticket. We saw a family of seven,” said tripmate Lily Anderson.
Banks and Anderson were among 29 students who skipped the rest and relaxation part of UD’s winter break and, instead, were more physically active than ever.
“It’s the best thing I could have ever done,” Banks said. “I’ll never forget it.”
During the three-week study abroad, students hiked more than 25 miles up various iconic peaks, biked 40 miles on the Otago Central Rail Trail, and played sports they’d never tried their hands at.
Anderson, a junior medical diagnostics major with a pre-physician assistant (MDD-PPA) concentration, loved the one-way 12-mile trek up Tongariro Alpine Crossing — an active volcanic landscape.
“It felt like you were on Mars,” she said. “The changing landscapes on the way up were stunning.”
The challenge tested her fitness.
“That hike is no joke, but it was the most fun we had the entire trip,” she said. “It was so rewarding to get through it and see my athleticism grow over those three weeks.”
Banks, a junior kinesiology major, was thrilled to make it to the summit.
“I think we went through all four seasons on that hike,” he said. “It was hot as we ascended, then really windy and cold at the top.”
But it wasn’t just about the adventure. Students from various majors in the College of Health Sciences stressed the bonds they created with one another.
“On hikes, we stayed in groups, and no one was left behind; we stuck together. Regardless of how anyone was feeling, we supported each other, and that’s a transferable skill to any workplace,” Anderson said. “The bond we created was really special, and it will be a lasting connection.”
Classes on women’s history in sports and physical activity and the science of human movement taught by Nancy Getchell, professor of kinesiology and applied physiology (KAAP), and Todd Royer, associate professor of KAAP, complemented the experience.
Students learned how to use hiking poles and play rugby and netball.
“Both are integral to New Zealand’s sports culture that provide women with a strong sense of community and empowerment,” said senior Kelly Paris.
Banks found himself a bit too tall for hiking poles.
“At 6’2”, I had trouble adjusting to them, and it felt like I was exerting more effort to use them correctly,” he said.
The Lord of the Rings enthusiast also got to see Mount Doom — an iconic spot for book and movie series fans, while on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike. Adding to the sense of adventure, students also took curling and surfing lessons and floated down a river 80 meters underground in the dark Waitomo Caves.
Paris, a nursing major, said the trip taught her the importance of physical activity.
“It’s such a big part of life in New Zealand, and I’ve brought that back with me,” she said. “I’ve cut back on screen time since being back and want to be more physically active.”
Sierra Matyi, a junior kinesiology major, said this trip will make her a better physical therapist.
“If I have a rugby player as a patient, I have a better idea of how they move their bodies and what the sport means to them, which will be valuable in my practice,” Matyi said.
But for Matyi, the highlight was New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes.
“I’m from Staten Island, so I’m used to the big city, and New Zealand shows you there’s so much natural beauty in the world and how amazing this planet is,” she said.
Matyi also enjoyed the cultural experience, where students were welcomed into a Marae, a sacred space for Māori communities where cultural events and special occasions are celebrated. There, they learned about New Zealand’s history, how to weave with flax and perform a haha dance, and experienced a native feast cooked on hot coals before spending the night.
“It opened my eyes to the diversity of others, created an understanding, and taught me how to empathize with others,” Matyi said.
Paris admitted she had some misconceptions before visiting the Marae, but the opportunity gave her a new outlook.
“The experience changed my perspective on different cultures and how to approach them — something I’ll carry with me as a nurse,” Paris said.
Anderson also learned so much from the strong sense of community among the Māori people.
“They taught me to be more open-minded and educated about other cultures and their values as I pursue a career as a physician assistant,” she said.
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