Why did you choose this program?
I wanted to see a part of the world that I would not otherwise see, and Vic has a great education programme. "Who decides to go to New Zealand" is a big question in the States, and I wanted that answer to be me! A big part was also just that the February start worked best with my schedule and the primary language is English. Boring reasons, but still valid.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
My university guaranteed housing and some finances, my programme guaranteed orientation and a couple of day-trips as well as support. I organised my classes, internship, day-to-day, food, friends, and other travel. That said, the support that the IFSA programme offered was constant and appreciated.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Don't assume that a lot more information will be available upon your arrival, and reach out to people ahead of time! It's better to overcommit and drop things than undercommit and not have the opportunity to do something you love. Never say no! There are soooo many opportunities and you never know how something might change your outlook.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
3-4 classes – about 7-10 hours of class. The rest is entirely up to the participant, but I interned a couple days a week, went to choir rehearsal, went to Mass on Sundays, went to the markets, rented a car and took day trips, and did a lot of work for my remote job in the States. I didn't find homework too difficult, and it rarely got in the way of adventuring.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I was probably most nervous that I would have "wasted" a semester, and I was nervous about not taking full advantage of the opportunities. Though I wish I had done more, I tried to do something interesting every day. I also really put myself out there when trying to go for jobs, internships, etc in order to think that I had done my best in making my mark.
I was also a bit nervous about solo travelling and ended up loving it.
I was also a bit nervous about solo travelling and ended up loving it.