Welcome and Introduction

Hello and welcome to the first installment my travel log, Land of the Long White Cloud. For those of you who don't know me, I am a photojournalism student in my final year at the University of Missouri-Columbia. To start off my last year of university I will be studying abroad in New Zealand at the Auckland University of Technology.

This site will serve the dual purpose of keeping friends and family up to date on my whereabouts, as well as promoting study abroad programs on behalf of the wonderful people at the Institute of International Education who provided me with a Gilman Scholarship to help make this trip possible.

I would also like to thank the Evalee C. Schwarz foundation which helped me with additional funding for my travels. Both organizations have played a huge part in making this experience possible.

Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank my girlfriend Heather and my amazing parents Bruce and Tempe McGlaughlin who gave me the love, courage, and confidence to pursue my dreams no matter where they take me. I love you all so much, and wish wholeheartedly that you were here to share this with me.