Blogs • The President 2009
All Guns Blazing
Posted by Tom English on Friday, March 6, 2009
/ 11 Comments
As the title may suggest, Selwyn College and the new members of the fold are now right back in the thick of the scarfie lifestyle. The year started off for the returners of 2009, as well as many exies, with the BBQ tour of NZ which is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated events in the calendar before O-Week even starts.
The rough idea is that the SCSA committee organizes a BBQ in each major venue, or where an ex-resident is handy to host one, between Auckland and Selwyn College in Dunedin. The first years are then invited from each prospective area to come along to these meet and greet do's, and get a bit of a taste of the Selwyn lifestyle and meet the people they are to spend the next pivotal year of their life with. They were a rip-roaring success- returners and exies provide the service of their presence and good spirits to the freshers, and conveniently enjoy an 8 day trip down our beautiful country. This years itinerary included 2 days spent in the Malborough sounds at Sport's Representative Freya Morrison's bach, which was enjoyed by all the roadie crew and provided a MUCH needed rest after 4 consecutive North Island BBQ's. Then from Picton, the crew slogged down to Christchurch, Timaru, and finally to home sweet home at 560 Castle.
O-Week was another great success, with a rousing powhiri from the Selwynites of 2008 to welcome both the first years and their parents; added to this duty it was also the last haka that the boys of 2008 were to do together, so personally it meant a lot to me and it was pretty evident by the power of this haka. O-Week was enjoyed by everyone with odd sleeping hours, parties, tradition, initiation to the university, and even for a few lucky health sci's an English diagnostic test.
The first year out of College is a huge year, the change is more dramatic than any progression through secondary school- to be fair any hostel in Dunedin will treat each person on their own merits, and you can have a fantastic experience even if you don't make your first choice. A lot of my friends have told me a lot about their awesome 2008 after initial disappointment at missing out on their preferred hostel, but Selwyn is most definitely the best place to be immersed in another culture; another way of life.
People often ask Selwynites why they would return to the hostel, why do they think Selwyn is so good? It's hard to answer, because it's not in the facts, the size of the rooms, the food or the quality of the services; there is just a special energy at a place where some of the most talented young Kiwi's come together and are free to explore a most unique culture within a culture. The tradition, the years of previous Selwynites, and the legends that come with it. This is the life blood of the place.
We are now settling into a semblance of order with class having started, and Nevill Cup and Cameron Shield teams forming. Keep checking back for a regular update on the state and life of the college, but better yet come visit if you ever have opportunity and experience it for yourself. With a sweet bunch of new Selwynites, the college is in good stead for 2009.
The rough idea is that the SCSA committee organizes a BBQ in each major venue, or where an ex-resident is handy to host one, between Auckland and Selwyn College in Dunedin. The first years are then invited from each prospective area to come along to these meet and greet do's, and get a bit of a taste of the Selwyn lifestyle and meet the people they are to spend the next pivotal year of their life with. They were a rip-roaring success- returners and exies provide the service of their presence and good spirits to the freshers, and conveniently enjoy an 8 day trip down our beautiful country. This years itinerary included 2 days spent in the Malborough sounds at Sport's Representative Freya Morrison's bach, which was enjoyed by all the roadie crew and provided a MUCH needed rest after 4 consecutive North Island BBQ's. Then from Picton, the crew slogged down to Christchurch, Timaru, and finally to home sweet home at 560 Castle.
O-Week was another great success, with a rousing powhiri from the Selwynites of 2008 to welcome both the first years and their parents; added to this duty it was also the last haka that the boys of 2008 were to do together, so personally it meant a lot to me and it was pretty evident by the power of this haka. O-Week was enjoyed by everyone with odd sleeping hours, parties, tradition, initiation to the university, and even for a few lucky health sci's an English diagnostic test.
The first year out of College is a huge year, the change is more dramatic than any progression through secondary school- to be fair any hostel in Dunedin will treat each person on their own merits, and you can have a fantastic experience even if you don't make your first choice. A lot of my friends have told me a lot about their awesome 2008 after initial disappointment at missing out on their preferred hostel, but Selwyn is most definitely the best place to be immersed in another culture; another way of life.
People often ask Selwynites why they would return to the hostel, why do they think Selwyn is so good? It's hard to answer, because it's not in the facts, the size of the rooms, the food or the quality of the services; there is just a special energy at a place where some of the most talented young Kiwi's come together and are free to explore a most unique culture within a culture. The tradition, the years of previous Selwynites, and the legends that come with it. This is the life blood of the place.
We are now settling into a semblance of order with class having started, and Nevill Cup and Cameron Shield teams forming. Keep checking back for a regular update on the state and life of the college, but better yet come visit if you ever have opportunity and experience it for yourself. With a sweet bunch of new Selwynites, the college is in good stead for 2009.
All Guns Blazing
As the title may suggest, Selwyn College and the new members of the fold are now right back in the thick of the scarfie lifestyle. The year started off for the returners of 2009, as well as many exies, with the BBQ tour of NZ which is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated events in the calendar before O-Week even starts.
The rough idea is that the SCSA committee organizes a BBQ in each major venue, or where an ex-resident is handy to host one, between Auckland and Selwyn College in Dunedin. The first years are then invited from each prospective area to come along to these meet and greet do's, and get a bit of a taste of the Selwyn lifestyle and meet the people they are to spend the next pivotal year of their life with. They were a rip-roaring success- returners and exies provide the service of their presence and good spirits to the freshers, and conveniently enjoy an 8 day trip down our beautiful country. This years itinerary included 2 days spent in the Malborough sounds at Sport's Representative Freya Morrison's bach, which was enjoyed by all the roadie crew and provided a MUCH needed rest after 4 consecutive North Island BBQ's. Then from Picton, the crew slogged down to Christchurch, Timaru, and finally to home sweet home at 560 Castle.
O-Week was another great success, with a rousing powhiri from the Selwynites of 2008 to welcome both the first years and their parents; added to this duty it was also the last haka that the boys of 2008 were to do together, so personally it meant a lot to me and it was pretty evident by the power of this haka. O-Week was enjoyed by everyone with odd sleeping hours, parties, tradition, initiation to the university, and even for a few lucky health sci's an English diagnostic test.
The first year out of College is a huge year, the change is more dramatic than any progression through secondary school- to be fair any hostel in Dunedin will treat each person on their own merits, and you can have a fantastic experience even if you don't make your first choice. A lot of my friends have told me a lot about their awesome 2008 after initial disappointment at missing out on their preferred hostel, but Selwyn is most definitely the best place to be immersed in another culture; another way of life.
People often ask Selwynites why they would return to the hostel, why do they think Selwyn is so good? It's hard to answer, because it's not in the facts, the size of the rooms, the food or the quality of the services; there is just a special energy at a place where some of the most talented young Kiwi's come together and are free to explore a most unique culture within a culture. The tradition, the years of previous Selwynites, and the legends that come with it. This is the life blood of the place.
We are now settling into a semblance of order with class having started, and Nevill Cup and Cameron Shield teams forming. Keep checking back for a regular update on the state and life of the college, but better yet come visit if you ever have opportunity and experience it for yourself. With a sweet bunch of new Selwynites, the college is in good stead for 2009.
The rough idea is that the SCSA committee organizes a BBQ in each major venue, or where an ex-resident is handy to host one, between Auckland and Selwyn College in Dunedin. The first years are then invited from each prospective area to come along to these meet and greet do's, and get a bit of a taste of the Selwyn lifestyle and meet the people they are to spend the next pivotal year of their life with. They were a rip-roaring success- returners and exies provide the service of their presence and good spirits to the freshers, and conveniently enjoy an 8 day trip down our beautiful country. This years itinerary included 2 days spent in the Malborough sounds at Sport's Representative Freya Morrison's bach, which was enjoyed by all the roadie crew and provided a MUCH needed rest after 4 consecutive North Island BBQ's. Then from Picton, the crew slogged down to Christchurch, Timaru, and finally to home sweet home at 560 Castle.
O-Week was another great success, with a rousing powhiri from the Selwynites of 2008 to welcome both the first years and their parents; added to this duty it was also the last haka that the boys of 2008 were to do together, so personally it meant a lot to me and it was pretty evident by the power of this haka. O-Week was enjoyed by everyone with odd sleeping hours, parties, tradition, initiation to the university, and even for a few lucky health sci's an English diagnostic test.
The first year out of College is a huge year, the change is more dramatic than any progression through secondary school- to be fair any hostel in Dunedin will treat each person on their own merits, and you can have a fantastic experience even if you don't make your first choice. A lot of my friends have told me a lot about their awesome 2008 after initial disappointment at missing out on their preferred hostel, but Selwyn is most definitely the best place to be immersed in another culture; another way of life.
People often ask Selwynites why they would return to the hostel, why do they think Selwyn is so good? It's hard to answer, because it's not in the facts, the size of the rooms, the food or the quality of the services; there is just a special energy at a place where some of the most talented young Kiwi's come together and are free to explore a most unique culture within a culture. The tradition, the years of previous Selwynites, and the legends that come with it. This is the life blood of the place.
We are now settling into a semblance of order with class having started, and Nevill Cup and Cameron Shield teams forming. Keep checking back for a regular update on the state and life of the college, but better yet come visit if you ever have opportunity and experience it for yourself. With a sweet bunch of new Selwynites, the college is in good stead for 2009.