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Sanya studied abroad in New Zealand

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.

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Philipp chose to study in New Zealand

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 🙂

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Louisa pojechała na wymianę do Nowej Zelandii

Louisa pojechała na wymianę do Nowej Zelandii

Louisa z Austrii była na wymianie w Nowej Zelandii.

Cześć! Jestem Louisa i pochodzę z Austrii. Spędziłam semestr za granicą, w Auckland, w Nowej Zelandii. To była najlepsza rzecz jaką do tej pory miałam przyjemność zrobić w życiu. Udało mi się poznać nowe kultury, style życia i języki oraz nawiązać mnóstwo nowych przyjaźni.

Kiedy przybyłam do Nowej Zelandii

Moja przygoda rozpoczęła się 20 stycznia w mroźny dzień na lotnisku Wiedeń-Schwechat. Po dwudziestopięciogodzinnym locie i dwóch międzylądowaniach we Frankfurcie i Singapurze, wylądowałam wreszcie na drugim końcu świata, w Auckland w Nowej Zelandii – 17 890 km stąd!

Przyjechałam latem, bo poza dwunastogodzinną różnicą czasu, również pory roku są odwrotne do tych w Europie. Pierwsze kilka dni z STS spędziłam w Auckland, gdzie zwiedziliśmy Sky Tower i Muzeum Pamięci Wojennej w Auckland. Po Dniach Powitalnych każdy pojechał do swoich rodzin goszczących, a ja musiałam rozstać się z moją ostatnią przyjaciółką z Austrii.

Moje rodziny goszczące

Podczas mojego pobytu mieszkałem u dwóch rodzin goszczących. Najpierw spotkałem rodzinę, która przeprowadziła się z RPA do Nowej Zelandii około piętnaście temu i której korzenie sięgają Indii. W skład mojej drugiej rodziny goszczącej wchodzili: włoska mama, maoryski tata i ich dwóch małych synów, Giacomo i Nikau. W trakcie mojego pobytu w Nowej Zelandii mieszkałam z trzema różnymi współlokatorkami: Miką z Japonii, Touch z Tajlandii i Isabel z Norwegii.

Moja szkoła

Uczęszczałem do Avondale College, jednej z największych szkół średnich w Nowej Zelandii, liczącej około 2800 uczniów, gdzie noszono bardzo ładne czarno-białe mundurki szkolne. Szkoła oferuje szeroki wachlarz przedmiotów oraz prowadzi wiele różnych drużyn sportowych, grup tanecznych, chórów i innych aktywności. Oprócz „normalnych przedmiotów” uczęszczałam również na zajęcia z tańca, zdrowia i edukacji na świeżym powietrzu. Edukacja na świeżym powietrzu jest specjalność Nowej Zelandii. Zajęcia obejmują mnóstwo aktywności, od wspinaczki po nurkowanie, a ich celem jest przygotowanie uczniów do pracy w branży turystycznej. Organizowano liczne festiwale, by poznać i celebrować różnorodne kultury, a także różne wydarzenia, jak Talent Quest, gdzie uczniowie zbierali się podczas przerwy obiadowej.

Dlaczego Nowa Zelandia

Jednym z ważnych powodów, dla których wybrałam Nową Zelandię (Aotearoa), jest moje zainteresowanie unikalną kulturą Maorysów. O wpływie i znaczeniu kultury Maorysów w kraju świadczy hymn narodowy oraz znaki drogowe napisane w języku angielskim i maoryskim. Jest to widoczne także w szkole, poprzez maoryskie wyróżnienia na apelach, różne „maoryskie” przedmioty szkolne i szkolne motto „Kohia ngā Taikākā”. „Haka”, tradycyjny taniec tańczony również podczas meczów „All Blacks”, narodowej drużyny rugby, jest znany i lubiany na całym świecie.

Oczywiście, miałam także czas na odkrywanie pięknej flory i fauny Nowej Zelandii podczas licznych pieszych wędrówek, wycieczek i wizyt na plażach. Kolejną atrakcją była wizyta w miejscach kręcenia filmów z trylogii „Hobbita” i „Władcy Pierścieni”.

I wreszcie…

Życzliwość „Kiwis” na pewno na zawsze pozostanie w moim sercu, podobnie jak zdobyta przeze mnie niezależność. Nigdy nie zapomnę tego czasu i już nie mogę się doczekać kolejnej wizyty w czasie świąt Bożego Narodzenia. Ale teraz delektuję się czasem z rodziną w Austrii i… ciemnym chlebem!

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