To help our adjustment into Auckland, the IES Abroad program hosts a series of events in the week before the University of Auckland’s (UoA) orientation!
Dinner at Orbit 360° Dining in the Sky Tower
To kick off the program, we had dinner at the Sky Tower in the Orbit 360° Dining Floor—an amazing (and fancy) experience. While there, we had a three-course meal. I opted for a starter with watermelon, cheese, and tomato, a main with grilled chicken, and a dessert with raspberry sorbet and chocolate. Paired with the meal was a stunning view of Auckland as we sat at the highest point in the city. At the time, you could see the clear water, many sailboats, and even the Carlaw Park Student Village!
Orientation and Mission Bay
The next day, we had the IES Abroad program orientation where we learned about the important logistics concerning emergency contacts, health insurance, and classes and participated in fun activities such as writing letters to our future selves and guessing the meaning of common kiwi phrases. After orientation, we headed to Mission Bay (a beach about 4 miles away from campus) to have lunch at Portofino—a restaurant with tasty pasta and pizza dishes and a beautiful view of the beach.
Overnight Trip at Waiheke Island
Day 1: Exploring Oneroa
The highlight and main event of the IES Abroad orientation is the overnight trip to Waiheke Island! At Waiheke Island, we stayed on the Piritahi Marae, allowing us to learn more about Māori culture while participating in island activities. On the first day, we went to Oneroa Beach. At Oneroa, we could swim, kayak, and explore the town. Swimming was so refreshing as the water wasn’t too cold, clear, and quite blue! Also, the waves were minimal, so treading water was significantly easier! Instead of kayaking, my friend and I explored the town where ice cream shops, clothing stores, and cafés lined the main street. While there, my friend and I ran into Billy, a magician who performed two card tricks for us! Billy even shared his career aspirations of pursuing a postgraduate degree in geography and becoming an actor. After meeting Billy, we tried tea at Timmy Smith, a cute shop with stunning jewelry and delicious tea. At Timmy Smith, you can also make your own tea mix with various leaves—a perfect gift for tea lovers!
Day 2: Various Island Activities (Singing, Weaving, Snorkeling, Wine Tasting)
The second day on the Piritahi Marai was jam-packed with planned activities such as singing, weaving, snorkeling and catching sea urchins, and wine tasting!
In the morning, I learned the haka (a performance used to show strength and intimidate opponents) and hope hope (the hokey pokey). Apart from improving my singing and dancing, I also learned how to cut and weave flax leaves into a flower. Now I have some new room décor! Following singing and weaving, we went snorkeling, which was VERY difficult. For snorkeling, make sure you wear properly fitted goggles; although they provided various goggles, I chose a pair that did not fit well. All in all, I ended up drinking a lot more salt water than I would’ve liked to. However, in the end, I got to see some fish and collect sea urchins, an invasive species with no predators that disrupt the ecosystem. After snorkeling, we learned how to harvest the uni of a sea urchin, which is edible.
After a busy morning, we went wine tasting at a vineyard. Waiheke Island is famous for its vineyards and high-quality wine. I’m not the biggest fan of wine, but it was still a cool experience, especially since I can’t buy or drink wine yet in the U.S.
Overall, the first few days with the IES Abroad program were certainly eventful as I met the people in our program and explored new areas, creating memories for a lifetime.
![This photo shows the view from the Orbit 360 Dining Floor at the Sky Tower, featuring clear water outside and a dining table set with plates, napkins, and utensils inside.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_8556.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=cxb7WI2E)
![This photo shows what the buildings look like from the Sky Tower, showcasing several buildings and dispersed tree cover in Auckland.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_8560.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=V74ycgHV)
![Raspberry ice cream with a small block of chocolate cake topped with cut strawberries are on a white plate.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_8563.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=dfwwq49y)
![In this photo, there is a beach with sand, a seagull, and people. Near the sand is a row of trees. The sky is cloudy.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_8682.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=ystVU1zI)
![Oneroa Beach with six kayaks on the sand and many boats in the clear water is displayed. The sky has a few clouds. There are no people in the photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_8581.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=8vWFqi8j)
![Three people are shown. One is wearing a hat with a grey shirt. The middle person is wearing sunglasses on their head, a brown shirt, jean shorts, and black slides. The third person is wearing a headband with a red hat attached and a red shirt. The three pose for their selfie on the pavement with buildings and people in the background.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_8587.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=N4_wbofg)
![In this photo, a woman is wearing a black tank top, patterned skirt, and black slides and posing with a green weaved flower made from a long flax leaf.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_8598.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=m5Q3WqBL)
![In this photo, there are eleven people around a table with three trays filled with sea urchins. These people smile for the photo as they harvest the uni of the sea urchins.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_6468.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=qHj-PZ8R)
![In this photo, an outside space of a vineyard is shown. There are wooden stairs with trees and shrubs lining the steps. People are walking and sitting on bean bags and benches. The sky has no clouds.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_8610.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=i3fk2Fft)
![In this photo, two people pose for a selfie in an outdoor space at a vineyard. They both wear black sunglasses, black shirts, patterned skirts, and hold wine glasses in their hands. In the background, there are wooden steps, trees, shrubs, benches, bean bags, and people. The sky has a few clouds.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_gallery/public/2024-02/IMG_8612.jpg?h=d318f057&itok=FhRZ4me3)
![Lisa Penfield headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/blogger_profile/public/2023-12/Lisa%20Penfield.jpeg?h=e8a03ae7&itok=WHnMQL7T)
Lisa Penfield
At Tufts University I’m a Sustainable Solutions Fellow, a member of the Chinese Students Association, and a Volunteer Coordinator for the Food Rescue Collaborative. Outside of school, I enjoy running, baking, and learning to play frisbee!