#bustudyabroad

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Auckland, New Zealand: Top Places to Explore on the Weekend (Rachel Fisher, SHA ‘18)

Who better to share travel and study abroad tips than a BU hospitality student? They live for travel, international exploring, and adventure! In our latest travel guide, Rachel Fisher (SHA ‘18) tells us the best places to spend your weekends while studying abroad in Auckland, New Zealand!

There is no limit to the number of adventures to be had in Auckland. From art exhibits to festivals to markets, there is always something going on in this city—it’s just up to you to find it! Everything you need to have a fun-filled weekend is within walking distance of the city center. These five places are just a few of the must-do’s here.

 1. The Crew Club on Friday night                           

149 Quay Street, Auckland Central

Bring your I.D. and some friends to enjoy some incredible (and free) live funk music starting at 9:30. A seven-piece band called Untitled takes the stage, covering all the Stevie Wonder and James Brown you could ever want. If you are up for a free night of grooving and singing all the lyrics to “Uptown Funk,” make your way to The Crew Club.

2. The Shelf

50 High Street, Auckland Central

Finding a great cup of coffee in Auckland is not a difficult task. The country of New Zealand takes the drink quite seriously, and you are pretty much guaranteed to find a great brew no matter which shop you duck into. But, whether you are a coffee connoisseur or you prefer a non-caffeinated beverage, a visit to The Shelf is absolutely necessary. Good vibes, delicious and beautifully-plated brunch food, and impeccable latte art all make this cafe a great place to stay for a date or a homework session, but the true allure of this shop is The Iced Mocha. At $8NZD, you expect a bit more than the average mocha. When the drink arrives at your table, you receive a glass of coffee-ice-cubes, a tiny mug of warm chocolate sauce, two cubes of Wittaker’s chocolate, and a glass pitcher of milk. The construction process for this beverage has proven too difficult for many, but once all of the components are properly melted, swirled, and poured, the result is delightful. Easily the best iced mocha you will find in Auckland.

3. Auckland Domain Wintergardens

Wintergarden Road, Parnell, Auckland

If you enjoy a quiet afternoon and a bit of a wander, make the walk up through the park to get to the Wintergardens. These two greenhouses are filled to the brim with gorgeous tropical and rare plants of all varieties. The luscious foliage is a sight to see, and the courtyard outside, with its glassy pond and fountain flowing year-round, is a beautiful place to relax. Down the hill just a bit are a few duck ponds, a hibiscus garden, and many paths to wander. Admission is free, and you can spend as long as you’d like surrounded by plants.

4. Giapo Ice Cream

12 Gore Street, Auckland Central

A scoop of ice cream from Giapo can make any day 100% better. Their specialty flavors alone are incredible, but each flavor has its own unique toppings that just take it to the next level. Add a deluxe cone, and you may never come down off your sugar high. The store recently moved to a new location, and with that move, added a few exciting changes to the menu: ice cream made with liquid nitrogen and ice cream poutine! But watch out: once you try it for the first time, you’ll be tempted to return to try every flavor.

5. La Cigale French Market

69 Saint Georges Bay Road, Parnell, Auckland

Looking for the world’s most delicious chocolate croissant? Look no further and head to La Cigale French Market. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, you can find dozens of vendors selling pastries, sausages, coffee, olives, hummus, cheese, fruit, spices, and anything else you can imagine. Most vendors hand out free samples, so don’t eat breakfast beforehand! Here you’ll find fresh, top quality products and sometimes even live saxophone music. (My recommendation: The Organic Mechanic for lavender black currant kombucha. But this definitely comes second to a chocolate croissant with a flat white.)

[buafricanstudies]

Join our student @astrorrachel tomorrow as she takes over our Instagram and gives us a peek into working w/ ASC outreach. Rachel was born and raised in Chicago, and is currently an undergraduate junior at the Pardee School of Global Studies and Kilachand Honors College. She has taken 2 years of Swahili, and following a summer studying in Zanzibar, Rachel is now excited to continue her studies in International Relations and Public Health. http://ift.tt/2dZCwee

[buafricanstudies]

New Swahili Program Focuses on Health

Boston University’s African Studies Center (ASC) piloted a Swahili language course designed for Masters of Public Health candidates during  Spring 2016, and students discussed the benefits of the course as well as the close the ties between the School of Public Health and the Center. The class, Swahili With a Health Focus (CAS LE491), emphasizes Swahili language useful in conducting fieldwork and surveys, as well as cultural specific notions of health.  Jennifer Beard, Assistant Professor of Global Health, took the class , and said the Center provides a link for faculty and students at the Medical Campus to colleagues on the Charles River Campus with similar research areas. “In the Department of Global Health, almost all faculty and many staff and students have worked and/or lived in one or more African countries and we have active research projects there at all times,” Beard said. “But, because we are on the Medical Campus, we don’t often have contact with all the people around Boston University also working there. The African Studies Center creates links to Boston University colleagues we might never meet otherwise, even though we share similar interests and passions.” Peter Quella, Assistant Director of the African Studies Center, echoed these sentiments, saying School of Public Health researchers account for a large percentage of Boston University’s researchers in Africa. “African Studies recognizes that School of Public Health faculty make up nearly one third of our affiliates on campus—and they represent Boston University’s most active researchers on the African continent,” Quella said. “Plus, they have great programming to get their students to the continent too. It didn’t take much for us to recognize this natural synergy between our desire to teach African languages and African studies courses and this very active and interested group of scholars. In fact, since I’ve arrived at Boston University, School of Public Health students have actively encouraged us to pursue a better way to work together. I will admit that their energy and zeal for educational opportunities at Boston University were the driving force for developing the relationship.” Beard said the course is especially helpful for Masters candidates doing field work in Africa — who will now arrive at their research locations having already developed significant language skills. Five students in this semester’s course will be traveling to Tanzania in May as part of the East Africa Field Practice Program, according to Beard, while other students in the course have either already spent time in East Africa or are preparing for a future trip. “In particular, the students traveling in May will have language skills they can use as soon as they arrive to socialize with people in the community as well as design and conduct their research,” Beard said. “Of course, they only have one semester of practice, but they now have a strong foundation to build on and the confidence to at least start conversations in Swahili and laugh at their mistakes. I am confident that their ability to speak and understand will develop rapidly once they are immersed in their day-to-day life in Tanzania. I hope that I can say the same for my own abilities by the end of June.” Rupal Shah, a Boston University SPH alumni, assisted with the Swahili With a Health Focus course by researching teaching materials and holding conversation sessions with students outside of class. Shah, who was born in Tanzania and researched there as part of her experience through the School of Public Health, said the course helps educate students on more than just language skills. “This course was unique, in that students had the chance to participate in a language lab once a week to practice conversational Swahili,” Shah said. “During the conversations many cultural questions about East Africa came up which allowed a further discussion to take place regarding the importance of communication in the field. Not only do the students have a basic grasp of the language but they also have a better understanding of communicating with respect to the local culture.” With a geographical divide between the School of Public Health and African Studies Center, Beard said it is even more important for the Swahili With a Health Focus course to continue to serve as a way to bridge the gap between the two programs. “The crosstown divide between our campuses does pose a barrier,” Beard said. “That’s why having the Swahili Course with a Health Focus taught here at the School of Public Health twice a week has been so great. I am taking the class along with the students and when I see the delight and excitement about their upcoming travel that the course has been stirring up since January, I am convinced that we need to keep this class going and increase enrollment in coming semesters.”

Photos above of the 2016 SPH team on the ground in Tanzania. To follow their adventure and others check out instagram.com/BUSPH

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We’re officially on Tumblr! Also check out our instagram.com/BUAfricanStudiesCenter

Photo by Alix Saba, Pardee ‘11