HUA VISITS HOBBITON WORDS Katie West I I PHOTOS Elaine Savage H arding's Australasia program (HUA) did not lack in breathtaking views and amazing experiences on their trip in fall 2017, as the students . cruised to the Bay ofislands, traveled to the Great Barrier Reef and explored amazing places like the Sydney Opera House and the Taj Mahal. In addition to their usual travels, the HUA group added one more trip to their program. For the first time since the program began, the fall 2017 group explored Hobbiton, a set from "The Lord of the Rings" movies in Auckland, New Zealand. The set depicted the rolling hills and quaint underground "hobbit holes" of the Shire, the homeland of several main characters. Dr. Jeffrey Hopper, dean of international programs, along with Pam Little, program director for HUA, decided to add Hobbiton to the trip. Hopper said it was an easy decision to make. "Each year, more and more HUA students went there on their own to see [Hobbiton]," Hopper said. "So many went that Pam Little and I just decided to include it in the HUA program." For some of the students, like sophomore Elaine Savage, this was a long-awaited trip. When Savage was in middle school, she watched "The Lord of the Rings" for the first time and did research on where the movie was filmed. "From the eighth grade, I had the dream to go to New Zealand and visit the place where they filmed the movies," Savage said. "So, this is all actually a dream come true for me. It was like stepping into a whole new world - the same feeling you get at Disney World or Harry Potter World." Initially, not everyone was as thrilled with the detour. Sophomore Loren Williams had never read the books or seen the movies. However, other students' excitement helped pique her interest. Once they made it to Hobbiton, Williams was glad they visited because she saw the magic of the location. "The hobbit holes were so colorful and small, and we learned just how much detail is put into making them look like a hobbit lives there," Williams said. Freshman Lindsey Bender found it very easy to fall in love with the beauty of not only Hobbiton, but New Zealand as well. "Anything you do in New Zealand and anywhere you go, you will be surrounded by breathtaking views and fall in love with what is around you," Bender said. "Being able to tour the set of such a prominent and amazing movie series made the sights extra special." I Harding University in Australasia (HUA) visits Hobbiton, a set from "The Lord of the Rings" in Auckland, New Zealand, on Sept. 19, 2017. This was the first year the group visited the movie set as a part of the program.// Photo courtesy of Elaine Savage HUA visits sites in New Zealand, Australia and India during each fall semester including Coronet Peak on Oct. 3, 2017. The fall 2017 group left on Sept. 15, 2017, and headed straight to Auckland, New Zealand, to see Hobbiton. // Photo courtesy of Elaine Savage The set for "The Lord of the Rings" in Auckland, New Zealand, draws tourists from around the globe, including HUA students who visited on Sept. 19, 2017. Students explored the detailed hobbit holes, lush gardens and enjoyed refreshments in the Green Dragon Inn. // Photo courtesy of Elaine Savage I C }>
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