Soledad FILGUEIRA

Hi, I’m Sole from Buenos Aires and I'm studying English and getting Barista training at Canterbury College.

A few months ago a friend told me he wanted to come to New Zealand and this made me think about how much I wanted to travel and get away from the daily life of my city. There were many twists and turns, but finally I was presented with an opportunity to come and study here. After long talks with my friend I decided to get on the plane and undertake this great journey.

People might not realize why New Zealand, those two tiny islands on the map, is so wonderful.  I really did not know a lot about New Zealand before I came to this beautiful country.  But a few days before starting the paperwork I began doing a bit of research on the country and found that many people spoke wonders about this island country.

I believe that to travel is a unique experience in life and that when one has the opportunity in the palm of their hand they shouldn't let it go.  What you gain from a life of travels, nobody can take from you.

Personally, I hope to have many surprises on this trip, but what I will always remember is the
experience of living in another country, another culture, adapting every day to new things and growing as person.  I want to thank Canterbury College and all the people working within this school who really help me every day in what I need and who guide me to adapt in this country. One gets a bit lost when coming all the way from Argentina, but here the people are really nice and always willing to lend a helping hand.”

As for the course I have to be really honest, and without exaggerating I have to say it's unbelievable!  All day you’re speaking English, learning new things and practicing all those new things. In addition to studying with people from all over the world, which is even better because you exchange cultures, traditions, ways of saying things and you lean to really listen, which is the most difficult to learn. One can speak perfect English but you have to learn to listen very well because the tones are different and ways of speaking vary from person to person We as students are continually learning how to listen.

My advice to others is that if you have the chance to study abroad don’t waste it because it can be the opportunity of a lifetime and no one knows what the future holds because life changes, obligations change, you yourself will change, and if one has a chance like this they cannot let it go.

Being in New Zealand and Canterbury College has given me so much more than just an education and I will never forget it.

Greetings,
Sole