Sanya studied abroad in New Zealand

Sanya from Germany went on exchange to New Zealand.

Hi, I’m Sanya. I was 16 years old when I left Germany to spend six months on exchange in New Zealand. Standing at the airport, saying goodbye to my family, I felt excited and terrified at the same time. I had no idea that this decision would change me forever.

My Welcome Camp in Auckland

My journey began with a Welcome Camp in Auckland, and it couldn’t have been a better start. Surrounded by other exchange students from all over the world, I realized I wasn’t alone in feeling nervous. Together, we explored the city, shared our stories and slowly turned strangers into friends. That camp helped me arrive – not just in New Zealand, but in this new chapter of my life. It gave me confidence before I even met my host family.

Arriving in Christchurch

After the camp, I flew to Christchurch, the city that would become my home. From the first moment, it felt calm and welcoming. Parks, rivers, and open spaces gave me room to breathe and settle in. My host family welcomed me with warmth and patience, and soon their home felt like my home. At the dinner table, cultures blended, and I learned that belonging isn’t about where you’re from – it’s about how open you are.

School life

School life in Christchurch was completely different from in Germany. Teachers felt approachable, and learning felt more relaxed. I learned that confidence grows when you stop being afraid of making mistakes.

Discovering New Zealand and myself

One of the most unforgettable parts of my exchange were the many trips I got to experience. I traveled through New Zealand, discovering beaches, mountains, small towns, and breathtaking nature. Each trip showed me a new side of the country – and a new side of myself. I learned to adapt, to be independent, and to enjoy moments far outside my comfort zone. I found a lot of friends and found a second home in New Zealand. It was the perfect place for me.

When my six months came to an end and I returned to Germany, I wasn’t the same person who had left. I came back with confidence, independence, unforgettable memories, and friendships from all over the world. The world felt bigger – and so did my dreams. An exchange is more than just traveling. It’s about growing, learning, and discovering who you are. And for me, six months in New Zealand were the beginning of a lifelong journey.

Find out more

• Read more student stories from New Zealand
• Read more about a high school exchange in New Zealand
• See all our high school exchange destinations

Philipp chose to study in New Zealand

Kia Ora!* I’m Philipp, 16 years old, born and raised in Vienna, Austria. Currently, I’m on my exchange year in Auckland, New Zealand.

My journey to New Zealand

The flight was exhausting, almost 2 days, flying to the other side of the world takes its time. It was great not being alone on the airplane though. I was with Sophie and Almut, two girls also going on exchange to New Zealand from Austria. We had the same trip in front of us, and it was good having people to talk to and share thoughts with.

Because of the 12-hour time difference between New Zealand and Austria, I had a pretty bad jet lag. So, if you go, be prepared to have a few difficult nights after your arrival! 😊

My host families

After the long flight, I got picked up by my first host family. I was there only for the first week because my real host family was on vacation in Thailand. Nate, my host brother in this first host family, is my age and we get along really well. He took me to meet some of his friends, which was very fortunate since I'm still in good contact with them.

Now, my double placement Taichi from Japan, and I live with our proper host family. Our host parents are very accepting and interested in us. They always listen to us, and help us out. We like to watch movies, cook, go on walks, and go to the shopping mall together. We also go to the marketplace on weekends and go to some events from time to time. We also have our own space and privacy, which is also important if you're far from home, to have “alone-time”.

The first week

The first week, I was outdoors a lot. January in New Zealand is summer, and the weather here is perfect. Still, it was not easy to get used to the 30°C… I spent the first week learning about my new surroundings, for example, the bus station, grocery shop, and the beach.

School

School is going really well at the moment. The International Department is very well organized, and it's really easy to connect with other people. There are many international students in my school, even one from my home city in Austria! The majority are Japanese students though, because New Zealand is the closest English-speaking country to Japan.

We have to wear a school uniform here, which is common in New Zealand. For me, it didn't take long to get used to that, as everybody wears the same. Plus you don't have to spend so much time in the morning getting ready and picking out the right outfit. For me, that's about 30 minutes of more sleep, haha.

In New Zealand you're usually able to choose your subjects, so I chose English, Biology, Outdoor Education, Business Studies, Hospitality, and Drama. There were over 40 options; it was hard to choose. 😊

In every subject there are assessments. For example, in Business Studies, we have to create a product, and then work together on surveys, promotions, and much more. In Hospitality, we cook most of the time, which is very nice, because we don't have warm meals at lunch in our school. Drama is mostly about acting, a good option to get out of my comfort zone. It's not easy to speak different lines and act different roles in another language in front of other same-aged students, but it really helps my pronunciation and also helps me get more confident. Outdoor Education, where you go on different trips throughout the year, is something I really recommend. A lot of international students choose this class. In a few weeks, my classmates and I are going on a 3-day canoe trip on the Whanganui River on the South Island.

First trip outside Auckland

Last weekend, my local Coordinator took me and Taichi to Hamilton (about 2 hours away from Auckland). It was our first time out of the big city. We really enjoyed the trip, because a lot of other STS students from Sweden, Finland, Spain, Italy, and Austria were also there. I also Sophie and Almut again! We went to Hamilton Gardens, which was beautiful!

Planned trips

Sophie and I booked the 15-day Kiwiana Tours, which is a trip through the South Island of New Zealand. There are a lot of activities you can choose to join, for example swimming with dolphins, or cruising on a river with a jet boat. You can also go skydiving or bungee jumping (if you are not scared).

Recommendations

If you're thinking about going to New Zealand for your high school exchange, do it! For me, it was the best decision. There are many countries to go to if you want to improve your English skills, but no country with so much culture and this stunning nature. For me, New Zealand will always have a special place in my heart.

*) “Kia Ora” means “Hello” in Māori. Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand.

If you want to follow my journey, or have any questions about exchange in New Zealand, feel free to follow me on Instagram: 0185jp.mmw 🙂

Find out more

• Read more student stories from New Zealand
• Read more about a high school exchange in New Zealand
• See all our high school exchange destinations

Louisa lähti vaihtoon Uuteen-Seelantiin

Itävaltalainen Louisa oli vaihto-oppilaana Uudessa-Seelannissa.

Hei! Olen Louisa Itävallasta. Vietin lukukauden ulkomailla Aucklandissa, Uudessa-Seelannissa. Se oli parasta, mitä olen elämässäni tähän mennessä tehnyt. Pääsin tutustumaan uusiin kulttuureihin, elämäntapoihin ja kieliin, ja sain lukemattomia uusia ystäviä.

Saapuminen Uuteen-Seelantiin

Muistan vieläkin hyvin, kun seikkailuni alkoi 20. tammikuuta Wien-Schwechatissa talvisäässä. Lentomatka kesti kaksikymmentäviisi tuntia ja välilaskuja oli kaksi Frankfurtissa ja Singaporessa. Lopulta laskeuduin maailman toiselle laidalle, Aucklandin kaupunkiin Uudessa-Seelannissa – 17 890 kilometrin päähän!

Saavuin kesällä, koska kahdentoista tunnin aikaeron lisäksi vuodenajat ovat päinvastaiset kuin Euroopassa. Vietin ensimmäiset päivät STS:n kanssa Aucklandissa, jossa vierailimme Sky Towerissa ja Auckland War Memorial Museumissa. Tervetulopäivien jälkeen kaikki matkustivat isäntäperheisiinsä, ja minun piti hyvästellä viimeinen itävaltalainen ystäväni.

Isäntäperheet

Asuin oleskeluni aikana kahdessa isäntäperheessä. Ensin asuin perheessä, joka oli muuttanut Uuteen-Seelantiin Etelä-Afrikasta noin puolitoista vuosikymmentä sitten ja jonka juuret olivat Intiassa. Toiseen isäntäperheeseeni kuuluivat italialainen äiti, māoritaustainen isä ja heidän kaksi pientä poikaansa Giacomo ja Nikau. Minulla oli Uudessa-Seelannissa kolme vaihto-oppilaskaveria isäntäperheissä: Mika Japanista, Touch Thaimaasta ja Isabel Norjasta.

Kouluni

Kävin Avondale Collegea, yhtä Uuden-Seelannin suurimmista lukioista, jossa on noin 2800 oppilasta. Koulupuku oli mustavalkoinen ja erittäin hieno. Lukio tarjoaa laajan valikoiman oppiaineita, ja siellä on paljon urheilujoukkueita, tanssiryhmiä, kuoroja ja muuta toimintaa. Tavallisten aineiden lisäksi opiskelin myös tanssia, terveystietoa ja Outdoor Educationia. Outdoor Education on Uuden-Seelannin oma oppiaine. Se sisältää aktiviteetteja kiipeilystä sukeltamiseen, ja sen tarkoituksena on valmistaa opiskelijoita matkailualan töihin. Usein järjestettiin festivaaleja, joilla tutustuttiin eri kulttuureihin, sekä erilaisia tilaisuuksia, kuten Talent Quest, johon oppilaat kokoontuivat lounastauolla.

Miksi Uusi-Seelanti

Tärkeä syy siihen, miksi valitsin Uuden-Seelannin (Aotearoa) vaihtomaakseni, on kiinnostukseni ainutlaatuista māorikulttuuria kohtaan. Māorikulttuurin vaikutus ja merkitys maalle näkyy kansallislaulussa ja katukylteissä, jotka ovat sekä englanniksi että māoriksi. Se näkyy myös koulussa, kuten koulun kokoontumisten māoripalkinnoissa, erilaisissa māorioppiaineissa ja koulun motossa ”Kohia ngā Taikākā”. ”Haka” on perinteinen tanssi, jota tanssitaan myös rugbymaajoukkueen All Blacks -otteluissa. Se tunnetaan kaikkialla maailmassa.

Minulla oli tietysti aikaa tutustua myös Uuden-Seelannin kauniiseen luontoon lukuisilla vaelluksilla, retkillä ja rantakäynneillä. Toinen kohokohta oli vierailu Hobitti- ja Taru sormusten herrasta -trilogioiden kuvauspaikoilla.

Mietteitä lopuksi

”Kiwien” ystävällisyys jää varmasti sydämeeni, mutta tärkeää oli myös oma itsenäistymiseni. En koskaan unohda tätä aikaa, ja odotan jo innolla, että pääsen käymään Uudessa-Seelannissa uudelleen joululoman aikana. Mutta nyt nautin perheeni kanssa olemisesta Itävallassa ja… ruisleivästä!

Lue lisää

• Lue lisää opiskelijoiden tarinoita Uudesta-Seelannista
• Lue lisää lukiovaihdosta Uudessa-Seelannissa
• Katso kaikki lukiovaihtokohteemm