Kim van Sparrentak
Study: MSc Urban Environmental Management.
Destination: Wellington, New Zealand.
Internship.
Hi Everybody,
I am Kim, 24 years old and a Master student Urban Environmental Management. The next 6 months I will be in Wellington, New Zealand for my internship. At this page I will keep you updated of my adventures! You can also follow me (@noituloveroce) and other WURldexplorers on Instagram: search for #WURldexplorers!
See you!
A new adventure on the other side of the world
To finish my Master degree in Urban Environmental Management I am travelling to the other side of the world. I will start my internship in New Zealand the 1st of October. A 36 hours travel will bring me to Dubai, Singapore, Melbourne and then to my final destination: Wellington. I am looking forward to meet the Kiwi’s, experience the famous wind of Wellington and of course to start working at the city council. I will work on a city level on sustainability planning in the capital of New Zealand. I am curious about their points of view on sustainable city planning and to what extent it fits with what I learned during my degree. As a Dutchie I am of course mainly curious to what extent the bicycle is incorporated in their policies ;).
The safest country in the world?
New Zealand is known for being one of the safest countries in the world. What they don’t tell you is that there are some dangers, which are not taken into account when publishing these statistics.
Life's a beach!
Studying Urban Environmental Management has opened my eyes in many ways on how cities can become more enjoyable and liveable. One of my favourite examples is the tactical urbanism they applied in New York City. They decided that the way Times Square was used was not beneficial for anyone, not for the retailers, the pedestrians, the car drivers nor the tourists.
The freedom of cycling
Since last week I have a bicycle! The first week of my internship one of my colleagues told me I shouldn’t get a bike unless I felt suicidal, but my Dutch roots were stronger. I found myself a bike, bought me a bright pink helmet and cycled to a meeting. Cycling is so common in the Netherlands that you might forget to appreciate it. However, after not cycling for more than two months these ten minutes felt like total freedom.
Too small to make a difference?
New Zealand has an image of being clean and green. Their beautiful mountains, forests and rivers are what they are known for. They have a unique biodiversity and landscapes which you can enjoy on both the North and the South Island. However, the daily practices of the Kiwis may not contribute to preserve this beautiful New Zealand.
Christmas in the summer
Christmas time might be hard when you are abroad. You feel like visiting your family and friends for dinners and feel like curling up in front of the fireplace. However... This year was quite different. First of all, it didn't feel like Christmas one single bit. It was warm, the birds were chirping, the trees were in full bloom and the days were very long.
Happy New Year!
This year I was one of the first people in the world to enter 2015. I figured that being in one of the first countries, the party would be huge. I could not have been any more wrong. First of all, fireworks are not really a thing in New Zealand. They sell it only once a year, around Guy Fawkes’s day.