Story Location: New Zealand
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Want to Make the Most of Study Abroad and Find Home Away from Home? Just Say Yes.
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鈥淟et鈥檚 try a salsa class downtown tonight!鈥 鈥淲ant to join us for a road trip to hike Tongariro Crossing?鈥 鈥淚t鈥檚 a game night. Want to join?鈥 When you settle into your new home-away-from-home, it can be tempting to want to stick to your routine. This provides comfort and safety鈥攁nd that can be helpful. It鈥檚 easy to head back from class and sink into the couch to finish up homework. Yet throughout my…
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Exploring聽the聽New Zealand聽Outdoors聽Through a M膩ori Lens
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In New Zealand, indigenous M膩ori culture is well-integrated into everyday life. That鈥檚 part of what drew me to study abroad here. I wanted to experience a non-Western way of learning, explore a diverse array of landscapes, and live in a country where indigenous knowledge and culture are included and respected. Learning about my new home through language Here, Te reo M膩ori, M膩ori language, is part of everyday conversation and accompanies English words…
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How M膩ori Language Showed Me the Best of New Zealand
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Aotearoa means land of the long white cloud in Te Reo M膩ori, the language spoken by the indigenous M膩ori (mau-ree) in New Zealand for the last 700 years. It鈥檚 called this because when the first M膩ori explorers, Kupe and Kuram膩r艒tini, found these islands, they saw a giant cloud over it, signaling a new land. This…
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Study Abroad in New Zealand: Exploring Middle Earth
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Cheers to a semester of beautiful people and places. I am keen to go back to the place I called home for nearly five months. I feel fortunate to have been able to study and play in the majestic landscape of Aotearoa (New Zealand). One of the most important things I took away from studying…
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Q&A: Life at the University of Otago
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Interested in University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand? Spring 2023 alum Gracie Mathis has you covered! Watch her info-packed Q&A to learn about student life, where to see tiny penguins, can鈥檛 miss hikes, the best jazz night, how to meet locals, and more! https://youtu.be/LiGs0gWgt-Q Gracie M. | University of Puget Sound |聽IFSA University of…
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My Time in Aotearoa and the Legend of M膩ui
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If there鈥檚 anything I learned in New Zealand, it was the importance of telling and listening to people鈥檚 stories. In Aotearoa (another name for New Zealand, meaning 鈥渓and of the long white cloud鈥), indigenous M膩ori have legends that have been passed down faithfully from generation to generation. To honor my short time on their land,…
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Exercising Trust While Abroad
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Moving away from your family, friends, home country, and familiarity for a semester abroad is an inherently nerve-wracking experience. When I left my life in the United States and embarked on a semester abroad at the University of Otago in New Zealand, I experienced a wide range of emotions. I was simultaneously incredibly excited for…
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A STEM Student Finds Perspective and Support in New Zealand
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Studying in New Zealand at University of Otago has helped me focus on my major鈥攅xercise sports science鈥攁nd realize my studies are part of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) umbrella. Since I have been here, I have had time to focus on the science portion of my degree and discover all the amazing support…
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Abroad in New Zealand as a Gay Student
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When I left the United States to study abroad in New Zealand, many questions ran through my head: Will I make friends? Will I get along with my flatmates? Will the courses be difficult? But I was most anxious about my sexuality.鈥疻ill I be able to express myself freely? Will I feel safe walking alone?…
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Pack for a Semester in One Bag. Here’s How.
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You鈥檙e studying abroad! For me, my study abroad experience was my first time leaving the country. I had many questions on my mind: how to best travel on a budget, how to deal with homesickness, how to apply for scholarships or insurance abroad, how to get around in a foreign country, and so many more. If you are like me, you may have a similar abundance…
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