So it’s the night before I leave for New Zealand! I am literally counting down the minutes until I get on my flight. I never thought the day would come, but when I woke up this morning it hit me: I’ll be leaving the country (for 5 months) for the first time without my family. I remember thinking back a couple weeks ago thinking that I still had so much time to hang out with family and friends before I left and now its just a matter of hours before I catch my first of many flights to the other side of the world! Time really just flies by.
While I am super pumped to see what adventure awaits me, I’m also a bit nervous and anxious. I don’t really know what to expect! I’m travelling from sunny South Florida to Dunedin, where it is currently the middle of winter. I think I packed shirts, shoes, and sweaters that I could never wear here!
I have everything ready to go, yet I keep checking and re-checking my bags to make sure I have it all, especially my visa and passport. Every time I travel I always have a feeling I’m going to leave something extremely important. Thankfully, I’ll be travelling with two friends, Marissa and Savanna, who I’m sure will be great travel companions and will keep me on top of things, making sure I don’t leave anything behind.
We have a long flight ahead of us – about 16 hours – but I’m sure it’ll be worth it as soon as we step off the plane. From the stunning landscapes and mountain ranges to the relaxed and easygoing lifestyle (so I’ve heard), New Zealand is sure to impress and I just can’t wait to get there! There are going to be so many new people to meet, places to see and cities (and even other countries) to explore, and cool foods to eat! Sure, new places take some time to get used to, but that’s the first step to going abroad. Even at the University of Otago, which is about 22,000 students – a much larger population than that of Rollins – will start to feel like home after just a few weeks. With the help of Kiwi hosts and our TEAN advisors, I really hope to make the most out of this experience, both academically and socially. I hope to find out more about myself as well as my friends while enjoying every moment of this once in a lifetime experience.
Here’s to hoping we make great memories and lasting friendships! This really will be the journey of a lifetime.
