I can’t believe that in just two days, I will be back in Pennsylvania. I’ve had such an incredible experience in New Zealand, and as sad as I am to leave this beautiful country, it’ll be nice to go home and see my family.
Throughout the semester, it’s been so interesting to meet people from different backgrounds and to experience daily life in another country. As far as cultures go, New Zealand is pretty similar to the USA – for example, we still speak English here. However, there are many subtle differences between the cultures and attitudes of New Zealand and the USA.
The most fascinating part of this cultural experience was meeting people from so many different backgrounds. I met people from all over the world. One of my flatmates was from the UK, while another was a native Kiwi. During some of my backpacking trips, I met people from all over the world – New Zealand, Australia, Germany, France, Argentina, Canada… It was so insightful talking to these individuals about their backgrounds and noticing the similarities and differences between us. I even noticed differences between myself and other Americans, such as the way I pronounce or phrase things in speech. Overall, I have had the most wonderful experience of my life in New Zealand and would love to come back some day.