Auckland

I’m back in the states and still jetlagged. I’ve been reflecting on my time abroad and I have no regrets. In many ways, being abroad felt like I was gone for years, but now that I am back, it feels as though I left for New Zealand yesterday. It was such a short time period that was packed with so much experience that when I think back on everything, I find it hard to believe that it all was possible in a span of five months.

Here are some lessons I learned and some advice I would give anyone going abroad.

1. It is impossible to see everything while you are abroad. It’s always going to feel like there is more to see or that other people are getting to see more of the country than you are. While this may be the case, it doesn’t matter what you see, it matters who you see it with. I found that my best trips were not about how much was packed into a day or how amazing the activity, but were made in the little details like cooking a breakfast with friends. The company makes the trip, no matter what you are seeing.
2. If you are constantly challenging yourself then you are doing it right. The confidence you gain traveling abroad comes from forcing yourself to live outside of your comfort zone. This is already happening for you by living in another country, but it just increases with your experiences. For me, I tried to push myself by getting my dive certification and running a half marathon.
3. Take opportunities that are presented to you, especially if you wouldn’t normally do this. If someone asks you to do something, go for it. Join a club that does something you’ve always wanted to try.
4. Ask locals “what is something I must do while I’m here?” It’s a great way to find out what the best things in the area are. Also, this question can give you some ideas of things to do that go beyond what is shown on Trip Advisor.
5. Make a list of what you are willing to spend a lot of money on. This is something I wish I had planned for before I left. At the beginning of the semester, I quickly figured out what my “must dos” in the country were and the activities I was willing to pay for. This helped with budgeting, but I could have worked out a plan earlier so I could maximize what I bought.
6. Lastly, no matter what your major, you can go abroad if you work to make it happen! I am a biomedical engineering major and was told it would be very hard to study abroad, but I was determined to go so I kept working toward making it a reality. It is possible for any engineering major to spend a semester abroad and not fall behind.

New Zealand is truly an amazing country. Auckland is now a place that feels like home to me and I know one day I am going to return.

The moment I set foot on campus and saw the study abroad table at the campus activities fair, I knew I wanted to spend a semester of my college time abroad. I marched straight to my study abroad office to learn about where I could go and what I could study. After talking to my friends and family for months about it, I decided where to go. While they thought I’d be just across the Atlantic Ocean in Europe or down in South America, in fact, I’d chosen Auckland—almost all the way across the globe. Everything about Auckland—the nature, the culture, the food, the people!—called my name, and with the support of my advisors and parents, my dream of studying abroad was finally coming true.

For the longest time, my adventure has been weeks and months away. When I took my last final, I was nine weeks away from my flight. At the beginning of June, I had still over a month to wait. And a few days ago when I celebrated the fourth of July, a week was still left until I said goodbye to the US. for five months. But now, the days are in the single digits. Maybe I’m impatient, but I think it’s the exhilaration of traveling abroad and my readiness to experience new things that have heightened my pre-travel excitement.

I’m looking forward to my first few weeks in Auckland the most. It’s when I’ll get to discover the city, figure out my studies, and meet everyone for the first time. I can’t wait to sit in a lecture in the various anthropology and environmental science classes I’ve enrolled in at the university. All of the classes I'm taking have local components to them, so I’m eager to learn how global topics I already know about are applied to the Pacific environment and communities. I'm also looking forward to seeing how studying in New Zealand is different from being a college student in the United States; I know it will more likely take some adjusting, but I'm looking forward to it!

I’m keen to explore everything that Auckland and the rest of New Zealand have to offer. At home, I follow basketball and hockey games, but I’m hoping to learn about netball and rugby—maybe even go to an All Blacks game if I can! I love the environment, so I hope I can visit beaches near Auckland and see New Zealand wildlife when I’m not studying. As an avid hiker and camper, I’m excited to see the natural beauties and unique environments of the area. 

Coming back to the present, the first challenge ahead of me is probably the most nerve-wracking part of my trip: the 17-hour plane ride to Sydney and the following trip to Auckland, a short three hours! I do have a lot of experience traveling internationally, but this is the first time I’ll be taking such a long flight and without my family. Even though this can be worrisome at times, I am excited to go on this adventure! I hope this trip will strengthen my independence and help me grow as a person. 

Happy travels,

Isabelle