Laura is a journalism graduate from the UK. Naturally she loves writing and blogging, but she also have a soft spot for snowboarding, hiking and video games. Now she's had a taste of doing a gap year abroad, travelling now trumps that list.
Why did you pick this program?
First of all, Working Holiday Starter made a pretty good first impression with its website providing a lot of free information on doing a gap year in New Zealand that I couldn't find anywhere else. Also, when I first contacted them with questions before purchasing their Starter Pack, they replied super quickly. Because they are a New Zealand-based company and smaller than some of the huge international companies, I guessed that it would be more personal and at least they would know what they are talking about when it comes to New Zealand. I was right. Go me!
The services had exactly what I needed for preparing work, travel and living in New Zealand – I especially wanted this peace of mind as a first-time backpacker. Plus, there was a few extra services that were nice having like free Skytower entry and discount on travel. All that was awesome value for money, as it was also the more affordable option when I was making comparisons with other programs.
What was the hardest part about going abroad?
It was very obvious before I left that the hardest part would be being away from my family and friends for a long time. Those guys have been a constant my whole life. I really thought I'd be terribly homesick when I first came abroad, but the best cure for homesickness is to keep busy and have fun, which I have had no lack of since being in New Zealand.
There's always Skype and Whatsapp to keep in touch with people back home. And I know my friends and family will be there when I go home soon. This trip has been worth that small sacrifice.
Tell us about an experience you had that you could not have had at home.
Meeting people from all over the world is freakin' interesting! Not only do you learn about New Zealand culture, but New Zealand is so popular with backpackers that you learn about different cultures and countries from the people you become friends with.
For Christmas, my flatmates and I had a Christmas mash-up incorporating traditions from France, Ukraine, Finland, England and New Zealand! As you can imagine, it was the weirdest Christmas food ever! I know this will be the most unique Christmas of my life, so this particular experience really stands out to me.
Oh yeah, then there's the really obvious reason that New Zealand is a stunning country with incredible adventure activities. I don't get that back at home.
What made this trip meaningful to you, or how did this trip change your perceptions or future path?
This time abroad has made me realize what I want to do with my life and what I value most. Even after I graduated from university, I wasn't 100% sure of what to do next. Starting a career after university is the norm back home, but it wasn't the best idea for me to commit to something straight away. Taking a year to myself gave me the time and life experience needed to figure things out!
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Travelling alone to the other side of the world was a pretty scary thing for me, but there was no need to be as nervous as I was. Everything went so smoothly, from the airport transfer to setting up a New Zealand bank account. My contact from Working Holiday Starter, Robin, assisted with all the paperwork and gave really valuable advice that actually defined how awesome my trip was. It helped me get a job in Queenstown for the winter season, so I could get my snowboarding fix. He also told me about the hop on hop off bus, which I had the best time doing.
The orientation sessions I did when I first got to Auckland, NZ were made more enjoyable by doing them in quiet bars and cafes around Auckland. Plus, I did my job workshop with the stunning view from the Skytower cafe.
