Studying abroad has become a rite of passage for many University of Minnesota students. Some immerse themselves in another culture for an entire year, where others spend a semester learning, volunteering, working, or doing research in another country. Many more take advantage of short-term opportunities. Last year, students from the University of Minnesota Crookston spent nearly a month traveling through Australia and New Zealand. Among the highlights of the trip was hiking the 19.4-km Tongariro Alpine Crossing on New Zealand’s North Island. Learn how the trip turned junior Lexie Ogdahl’s approach to life upside down.