6 months of friendship, growth, and natural beauty that changed my life Past Review
By Jessi Falvey (Truman State University) - abroad from 07/11/2016 to 11/11/2016 with
College Consortium for International Studies (CCIS): Auckland - Massey University
I learned so much. Most of this learning happening outside of the classroom. I learned how to look at the world from a more global perspective, and got to experience how another area of the planet feels about the USA. I gained too much to even talk about on here. It was completely worth while.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes I took were not very intense. I think there were much harder classes available, but I wanted to focus on traveling, so my academic experience was not that rigorous |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
New Zealand is really not that different from the USA, so the integration process was almost instant |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
In the entire five months that I spent in New Zealand, the only time I didn't feel safe was when an earthquake was happening. Crime rates are very low and petty theft almost never happens. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Words can describe how much I love New Zealand. I found this country to be full of laid back, caring, open minded people, in addition to the spectacular natural wonders that pictures can even come close to capturing. I made some of the best friends of my life there in a few short months, who I will stay in contact in for the rest of my life. I went in with no expectations, and left with my world changed. New Zealand is magical, and this land with always have a special place in my heart. I can't wait to go back! |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Cost of living in New Zealand is very high, and transportation is not cheap, so traveling could get expensive very quickly. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150.00 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Hold off on buying material stuff. It might seem tempting at first because you want to make your living space feel more like home, but the money you save from not buying more than your necessities can go towards unforgettable travel experiences. Also, in New Zealand and I'm assuming many other countries abroad, there are fresh food markets. These are so much cheaper than the supermarkets and your supporting local farmers by shopping there. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I would have know not to buy a round trip flight because my travel plans changed and I got an amazing opportunity to stay longer to travel around the country, so I have to cancel my return flight and buy another one. However, I know this does not save money, so there probably doesn't really apply to other students. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
