Arcadia New Zealand

The semester is finally wrapping up, and my time here in Aotearoa is also coming to an end. The last week of lectures and tutorials will occur next week, with a longer few weeks of final exams to round out the semester. Fortunately, I have one final exam on Thursday, and the other two are online. Consequently, in the few weeks before I return to the U.S., I will most likely be free to do some more adventuring, which appears to be what many other Arcadia members are doing with the rest of their time here. It has been one of the greatest experiences I have ever had, and I have participated in so many new things that I never imagined before coming. There are many opportunities to get involved on campus, especially if you know where to find them. The best way I found events on campus was through their general events page, which lists what’s on Facebook and Eventbrite. Campus-wide events are few for non-STEM major-related ones, and it is often easier to participate in those run by clubs. Additionally, clubs often have weekly meetups and other special events in conjunction with some benefits like discounts at certain stores or shops. A big thing when planning before arrival was imagining what I would need. Keeping the amount of things brought into the country and maximizing space for souvenirs is recommendable. In terms of clothing, a good rule of thumb would be to bring outfits that can be interchanged with one another. In other words, multi-use items, including a few nicer outfits for going out or a nice dinner. Definitely bring workout clothes, hiking boots, rainproof gear, a backpack (tote, hiking backpack), and comfortable outfits for studying when midterms and finals come around. I would definitely recommend bringing quite a few pairs of long socks alongside your shorter/ankle socks, as you will need them for tramping/hiking and when it gets colder. In Auckland, the weather got quite chillier as we approached winter. It felt like a brisk Fall day when it was coldest. Our semester started off much sunnier than usual, so having a lot of sunscreen on hand was important. I would definitely recommend bringing breathable clothing, like sportswear, and layerable. In a few minutes, the weather can go from downright unbearably hot with the sun blazing to a straight downpour. Consequently, it is a good idea to think of what to wear in threes for sunny weather, windy, and rainy. I always bring my rainjacket even when it is sunny just in case. Furthermore, a few helpful apps are 2 Degrees, AT Mobile (AT HOP card account and route planning), UoA Kāhu, Authy (authentication for signing in), and any budgeting one that works for you. For the AT Mobile app, you can sign in and get a tertiary discount as a student so that you don’t have to pay full price to take the bus or train. The app shows your balance and has a journey planner portion, which can be quite helpful to plan how you can get to certain activities. The 2 Degrees app is only if you decide to keep the SIM card from Arcadia as the mobile provider where you can set up monthly payments for a certain amount of gigabytes, calls, and texts. A few other things I found helpful when considering what to bring or what I would need to buy once I got here was that a bedding and kitchen pack are provided for you. The main thing about the bedding set is that, at first, the sheets felt quite scratchy, but over time, they became quite comfortable. If you are more sensitive to certain sensations, I would definitely also look into getting a throw and duvet cover for a single king that works with your needs. It is also helpful to get or bring a few pillowcases. For the most part, the larger items like major cooking supplies and bedding will be provided. Therefore, it comes down to your needs, including budgeting and what you want to do while you’re here. On that note, my final suggestion is for anyone interested in studying abroad here in Auckland or even Wellington. Before I arrived, I did a more cursory overview of New Zealand. Now that I have been here and seen how many things one can do, I would have researched far more if I could go back in time. My Instagram feed is filled with posts on places to go, events in Auckland, and even on the South Island. Putting a few hours into looking at these posts or scouring the internet to gather a list of places and events to participate in would be a good use of time in preparation for arrival. It can get incredibly hectic and stressful to figure out what to do, especially if you’re like me and enjoy planning far in advance so that you can make the most of your time here. To end this last post, I recommend that anyone interested in Aotearoa, New Zealand, take the risk and study abroad here. There is so much to discover and learn about in another country, so why not do it in a place many people have not visited or have on their bucket list? Europe and Asia are incredibly popular attractions, but the landscape and experiences you will have here can not be fully replicated. It has been a fantastic journey, especially being able to share it with these posts. Hopefully, they have been helpful and entertaining to read to help anyone deciding to study here or those in the process of figuring it all out. Signing off for the last time, I want to say one last thank you for taking the time to read these posts and coming along on this once-in-a-lifetime journey!