Massey? Murdoch? summer for U.S. student

[alliecat44]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm currently toying with the idea/fantasy of going to NZ/Australia next summer for an international experience. I'd love to go to Massey for a few weeks, and have a good friend at Murdoch who I'd love to visit (as well as knowing a couple of surgical oncologists in Melbourne--since I'd be flying all that way, might as well see them too, hey?). 🙂

I was wondering: do any of you folks currently at Massey or Murdoch know of any US vet students who have come over for just a few weeks? If so, do you have any idea of what sort of experiences they had (observing clinics, sitting in on lectures, traveling to farms/zoos/etc)? Since our summer=your class time, I'm wondering if that would preclude any sort of externship opportunity.

This is still obviously in the VERY early stages of maybe mapping out a big trip, but I'd love any info/advice you have. If you know of who I should contact faculty/administration-wise at the school, that would be great, too! (Right now I don't think I have enough of a plan to speak intelligently with them about it, though.)

Thanks in advance!!! **waves to hollycozza** 🙂

 

[laurafinn]

Hi! I don't know of any US students who have come over to Massey for a couple of weeks. Doesn't mean it can't be done, though 🙂 We're out of classes for study break/exams/holidays from June 1 through July 14, so coming later during your summer break would probably be better. You might get some volunteer work experience at Welllington Zoo, or shadow a farrier and see the thoroughbreds here. I don't know about seeing the Massey clinics, labs, etc, you'd need to talk to someone at the school. There are plenty of farms around, check the WWOOF site or Help Exchange for potential opportunities there - just make sure they are 100+ ha farms, otherwise you might just be cleaning up after someone's pet sheep ;-) It's a slow time for farmers, with the days so short and rainy, the lambs gone and the cows dry. You'll see less, but you could have time to sit round the fire with some tea and have a good chat about farming in New Zealand. You're also welcome to crash on my couch for a few days (my roommates are also Massey vet students).

All the best,

Laura

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

GO! And send me pictures!!!😀

I toy with the idea of applying to Massey for a residency, despite Colorado being my first choice...I'm a big "nature" person and NZ would be heaven. I would just have to find a way to get all my furry and scaley critters over there with me!

 

[Hollycozza]

Hi Allie! 🙂

I'm at Sydney and there are currently two Dutch girls in the clinic there doing a three month research placement with our pathologist and specialist surgeon, so there must be opportunities there, though I can't speak for Massey or Murdoch.

I know one of my classmates did a placement in the Melbourne uni clinic too, so it seems like the university clinics are fairly open to visitors. If you're interested in doing something at Sydney at all, I would try emailing our faculty office ([email protected] <[email protected]>). We have a small animal clinic in central Sydney and a large animal clinic and a small animal clinic 60km away in semi-rural Camden.

Good luck with it all 😀

 

[alliecat44]

Thanks so much for the info and advice, Laura and Holly! 😀 It makes me that much more excited about the whole thing. We currently have three Aussie interns and one Kiwi, and they're wonderful wonderful people. I don't know; you guys just breed 'em well down there!

Thanks for the info--will see on getting some sort of worthwhile educational experience lined up (so I can enjoy all of the fun not-so-educational experiences) in order to convince my uni to give me money. You guys are wonderful! Thanks!! 😍

 

[Hollycozza]

Glad to be of help, let us know what happens 😀

 

[Pandacinny]

I don't have any tips for you specifically, but just wanted to say that New Zealand is a great country and I wholeheartedly recommend a visit there! I studied abroad in New Zealand in undergrad and loved it. I'm always wishing I could go back for a little while, at least and am thinking of applying to Massey next year because of this. (Not that I'd probably get accepted, but still...)

 

[JIKJen124]

Funny you post about that... I was actually trying to figure out how to accomplish going "down under" myself... I researched the universities directly, and I haven't figured out a way yet, but keep me posted!

 

[alliecat44]

Thanks again, guys!

I'll definitely keep you all posted. 🙂

Jen, that's because great minds think alike!