My Study Abroad Experience
During summer 2025, I was able to study abroad in New Zealand and Australia! I learned about both New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) and Australia's Sign Language, Auslan. It was such a wonderful experience to meet with the Deaf Communities across the globe. I met people in a different hemisphere who knew people I knew back home! Overall, it was a life changing experience and I couldn't have gone one a better trip.
Wellington, New Zealand
We began our trip in Wellington, New Zealand. Here, we visited the Wellington Deaf Club and met many members of the local Deaf Community. We participated in the world's first cross-sign language exchange at Victoria University where we shared ASL with their NZSL students. It was an amazing experience! We also visited New Zealand's Ministry for Disabled People, where they work to ensure accessibility for all people, particularly Deaf New Zealanders. Wellington is the capitol city of New Zealand, so it was interesting to meet many of the nation's leaders in Sign Language Rights and Deaf Education.
Rotorua, New Zealand
Our next stop along our trip was in Rotorua, New Zealand. Home to many natural wonders, we saw some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. We visited a geothermal park and saw hot springs and geysers, as well as one of the largest lakes in the southern hemisphere, Lake Taupo. We enjoyed sailing on Lake Taupo and saw some native Maori carvings on a cliff overlooking the water. We also were able to visit the Maori cultural center where we learned about the native traditions of New Zealand as well as eat a traditionally prepared dinner and watch a Haka, a Maori dance to welcome visitors. Maori culture is so pivotal within New Zealand, and it was fascinating to be invited in to learn about and participate in their culture.
Auckland, New Zealand
Our last stop in New Zealand was Auckland, where we had many opportunities to connect with the Deaf Community that is very challenging in the US. We visited the School for the Deaf, Ko Tako Rao. Here, we were greeted with open arms into the school's community. The Maori students led the school through a Haka dance to welcome us. Instead of singing the words like the tribe in Rotorua did, students signed the Maori concepts, which was incredibly beautiful and moving. We also connected with the Auckland Deaf Society, a Deaf Club. We got to meet locals, play games, and have fun and community. We also visited Kara, an AI sign language interpreting service, an innovative use of AI and one of the first of its kind. We also visited many of the beautiful natural and man-made wonders of Auckland, from islands covered in vineyards to volcanoes to the top of one of the tallest buildings in the world!
Melbourne, Australia
After a quick flight from Auckland we arrived in Melbourne, Australia! It was a beautiful city and much busier than New Zealand felt. We enjoyed a tour of the city by a local Deaf professor, which was very helpful to know what the locals considered worth doing! We also enjoyed a day trip with a group of local Deaf people. We took a bus to St. Kilda, one of the best beaches in the world. Since the seasons are opposite, we had the whole beach to ourselves! After the beach, we went to a wildlife sanctuary where we could pet and feed kangaroos and wallabies, as well as see a lot of native Australian animals. We ended the day trip at St. Philips Island where we watched thousands of penguins parade from the ocean up the beach to their nests. Melbourne is also a technology hub for many companies, so we met and networked with Expressions Australia, a company that works to provide interpreters and resources to Deaf Australians. My favorite part of Melbourne was the Deaf- run cafe. Here, Deaf students from the local School for the Deaf learned life skills and how to work in the food service industry while connecting with customers. It was a great signing environment as well as a place for students to improve their resumes for future employment.
Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia was the last stop during our trip. We visited one of Australia'a last Schools for the Deaf, which uses a charter school method. We had an interpreter translate into Auslan what our tour guide said as we toured the Sydney Opera House, which was really cool to help me learn some Auslan signs. We also visited the Sydney Zoo. It is one of the only zoos in the world that you can take a boat to! I enjoyed visiting other monuments in Sydney, from climbing the Sydney Bridge to visiting Bondi Beach to traveling to the Blue Mountains. All in all, it was a beautiful city and a fantastic trip full of sign language immersion!