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Talk to a Student – Find Out What it is Really Like to Live and Study in New Zealand.
Saturday, 10 July 2010
American students who want to know what it is like to live and study in New Zealand can now talk to students who have already taken the plunge. Those wanting to get the low-down on everything from the best adventure sports to what apartments are like can contact Will, April, Morgan, Greg, Joshua, Kim or Robert.
You can talk to any of theses students and more by visiting the Ask a Question section of our Learn More Stress Less site or you could leave a message on our facebook page
Will Bowen is doing a PhD in engineering at Canterbury University. Will graduated from the University of Vermont and originally planned to be in New Zealand for a year completing his PhD. Those plans changed when he was offered career-enhancing job in one of the best surfing regions in New Zealand. Considering studying engineering, surfing, and snowboarding were the things that attracted Will to New Zealand, and now he has a job as well, Will is a happy man.
April Perry and her husband Lane had a great life in the Midwest. They had a nice house, good jobs and were very involved in the community. But at 25 they thought “there must be more to life than this.” According to April, “New Zealand was already at the top of our "wish list" for countries to live in based on its beauty, attention to the outdoors, and low-key lifestyle, but once we found out that it was going to be more affordable to pack up and move across the world to pursue our PhDs than it would be to commute down the street... that sealed the deal for us”.
April and Lane have lived in New Zealand since August 2008, and say they couldn’t be happier with their studies, location, and where life is leading them. Here is how April describes New Zealand, “it has everything beautiful and amazing from all other countries smashed into one place. In New Zealand, cruising and kayaking through the fiords feels just like Norway and Sweden, the vineyards have a similar feeling to Italy, the mountains are like Washington State, the green rolling hills are like Ireland. I catch myself saying all the time – ‘this looks/feels like... XYZ’ (random place in the world), and I think that's what makes NZ so appealing. It has so many amazing things all in one place that you usually have to travel all around the world to see”.
Greg Betzel is completing a PhD in medical physics in New Zealand but it was a quote from a New Zealand immigration website that he taped to his wall while he was waiting for entry into university that was the inspiration to move to New Zealand. And what was that quote; "Where else in the world can you surf in the morning and ski in the afternoon?"
Greg says that in New Zealand, he has found a stimulating and satisfying work-life balance, where the adventures can be just as intense as university study; where culture and landscape are equally dynamic, and provide a never-ending source of discovery and exploration.
Joshua Blackstock is a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar from Arkansas doing a masters in geology at Canterbury University looking at the chemistry of rain and snow. Joshua has traveled extensively throughout New Zealand as part of his geology program and as a result he has a good sense of what the country as a whole is like. And, like so many other students who have chosen to study in New Zealand, Joshua says it has been one of the best experiences of his life. He is very happy to share that experience with anyone whether through pictures, videos, email or just talking on the phone.
Robert Gerard studied structural engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and after graduating in 2007 he headed to New Zealand to do a Masters in Fire Engineering.
Here’s what Robert says about his experience in New Zealand, “For nearly a year and a half I enjoyed meeting some of the friendliest, most hospitable people I have ever met, travelled through some of the most beautiful landscapes I had ever seen, and received an education that has landed me a job as a Fire Specialist at a prestigious international engineering firm that has offices all over the world. New Zealand helped to develop my self-confidence – to really define who I am. For the first time I had to pave my own way in a new environment. In the beginning, even going out for groceries and navigating brand new streets while watching for cars coming from the opposite direction was an adventure. Slowly but surely, I became more confident which led to a level of courage and adventure that I never thought possible. My experience in New Zealand helped to define the person I am going to be the rest of my life.
Morgan Howe was just 16 years old when she left her prestigious Southern California school which she had attended her entire school life for a term in New Zealand. Morgan says, “one thing that really struck me about New Zealand was just how much green there was around me. That sounds so weird, but coming from a giant city like Los Angeles, which is situated right in the middle of a desert, it always amazed me how much amazing, beautiful nature there was all around me".
Kimberly Iona embarked on a Study Abroad program to New Zealand while she was a student at Chapman University. While in New Zealand Kim studied Political Science, Islamic Religion, and Te Reo Maori (Maori Language)
Kim says. “New Zealand was always my destination of choice for studying abroad. I was pulled toward this country because of its Maori culture being so similar to my Hawaiian descent. What I didn’t expect though was all the different types of cultures that co-existed in New Zealand which afforded me the opportunity to really appreciate cultural diversity. New Zealand offered me the chance to grow as a young Hawaiian woman and be conscious of the part I will play in this world”.
Kim is still amazed that there are more sheep than people in New Zealand! Kim now lives in Hawaii.
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