Hi guys!
So it’s November 4, I ended classes two weeks ago and I’ve had one final… It doesn’t really feel like the end of my time here in New Zealand but my flight home is in just two weeks! Until then, I have to take two more finals and will be travelling to Wellington, Rotorua, and Auckland. It’s amazing how quickly 5 months can pass and how much you can do in that time. However, even still, there is still so much of New Zealand that I have yet to explore. Trust me I have no regrets about this because it just gives me an excuse to come back and visit this amazing place. I definitely feel like the kiwi life is for me and if I could, I would move to New Zealand in a heartbeat.
As much fun as I have had here, hiking (or tramping as they call it here), trying delicious foods, meeting new people, taking in the natural beauty, and going out of my comfort zone, there is a part of me that is also excited to go home. It will be nice to see my family again, be in the same time zone as them, and not have to worry about calling them at 3am…
Arriving in New Zealand in the middle of the winter was quite a shock for me. As a Florida girl, I don’t really experience any season except for summer.. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to come when I did because I was finally able to see snow and see just how beautiful the changing of the seasons really is. There was a tree in front of my flat that was covered in icicles in the winter but now has blooming blossoms!
Seeing some of my friends leave Dunedin has really hit me, and makes me wonder if and when I will se them again. The good news is, a lot of the students I have met here are from the U.S so if we ever did want to meet up, it wouldn’t be too much of an issue. However, I might have a more difficult time reuniting with the kiwis I’ve met. Flights to New Zealand are definitely not cheap and as I said before, the time difference can sometimes make things difficult. I’m sure that we will find a way to see each other again. If I have learned anything during my time here, other than the information from classes, it’s that kiwis are very interested in American culture and many of them want to come visit. I’m hoping they do because it would be really disappointing if my first and last time was seeing them here in New Zealand.
