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Sumner Summer

A person smiling warmly, with long brown hair against a neutral background. This alt text was added with Al; accuracy may vary.
Kayla Petersen
 October 5, 2015
Sitting on a grassy cliff, person gazes at the ocean, overcast sky. This alt text was added with Al; accuracy may vary.
If there were one spot that I could always find peace and relax, it would be on the bench that overlooks the ocean on a cliff at Taylor’s Mistake in Sumner. The Port Hills twist and curve throughout the landscape and I can see for miles out into the big refreshing clear turquoise blue water. I close my eyes and I can smell the fragrant bright purple and yellow flowers with a hint of salt in the air. I could sit in this spot for hours as the sun cascades the hills. My thoughts wander and escape into the sea breeze leaving me feel refreshed and awake. A faint hint of color from a rainbow makes its way through the sky over playful little seals that splash in the water. Flowers line my path down the hill and friendly hellos from Kiwis make the day a little brighter. A stop at the local fish and chips restaurant fills my hungry belly with sweet and salty tastes of the sea. The beach leads me to a cove filled with hidden waterways and tiny mollusks that adhere to the heaps of rocks. In the distance I see dogs running around and their owners taking strolls with close friends and family in just a typical day. There’s nothing like digging my feat in the sand and sitting down with a good book to read. Somehow I found myself, in such a place, alone and without a schedule. It is here that I find myself feeling more in good company than anywhere else. Sure, my new friends may have been seagulls bantering with each other next to me or a kind old man telling me stories of times long ago. However, these moments are the ones I seek to find in any place that I adventure and are the moments I am most thankful for. I make my way home on the quiet metro bus filled with a mix of people in all different walks of life and with different stories. The bus stops, I get out, and I smile.

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A person smiling warmly, with long brown hair against a neutral background. This alt text was added with Al; accuracy may vary.

Kayla Petersen

I am a sophomore at Miami University in Ohio. I major in nutrition and have a concentration in Dietetics. "Home" is wherever I feel happy, and for that I find my home in many places. After undergrad I plan on taking part in a Dietetic Intership that will last about a year and then take the RD exam to become a Registered Dietitian. I am apart of the Miami tribe, and hope to give back and work with the tribe after I become a Registered Dietitian. I am hoping that my experience in New Zealand will help lead me to better understand how culture plays a role in people's health and diet.The Maori tribe plays a crucial role in being able to research and compare the different revitalization efforts from the Miami tribe.

Program:
Destination:
Home University:
Miami University
Major:
Nutrition
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