The University of Auckland

My biggest piece of advice is to get in touch with another student from your university who already went on exchange to your new university. They have been in the same boat as you and most definitely have some great recommendations on what you need to do and where you need to go.

If your university provides experience reports, I really recommend reading them as it provides an ease of mind of what to expect when you get there and what to look forward to.

If you are going overseas, I would most definitely make sure that you are aware of the deadlines, especially housing ones. Often this is the trickiest step and sometimes accommodation is scarce, and you definitely do not want to arrive in a new country with nowhere to stay. Apart from that, make sure you dive in headfirst and join as much as you can to meet new people and places.

As I have to take 30ECTS/60 credits, I am taking four classes at the University of Auckland. I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off, so I am usually spending my days playing volleyball or going out to a new area to explore.

I have two classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and they are differently structured than back home. Nonetheless, it is still exciting to go and learn more about areas that I am genuinely interested in.

The Study Abroad association at Auckland University also has a few events each week. Either to a place like Waiheke Island or Rangitoto. This is a great place to explore your surroundings and meet new people. I usually try to go on most trips- so far, they have been amazing.

My biggest fear is actually so trivial because, at the end of the day, all of the exchange students are confronted with the same circumstances and all of us just want to make friends. I know that making friends is not that hard in a group of open-minded and welcoming students, but it always plays a role in your fear before you go on your trip abroad.

I think, when you start university anywhere, that is a thought that goes around in your head. As I said before, just be yourself, open and kind, and join clubs and societies to make sure you get the most out of your time abroad. Don't be afraid to try new things, oftentimes you'll enjoy yourself and you'll meet the greatest people while doing it.

Coming from Europe, I thought that New Zealand winters were similar to our autumns. Although it is not nearly as cold here during the winter as back home, it is still cold. If the wind comes from the South, it is freezing, and you can tell. The amount of times I almost got blown away is more than I'd like to admit. Nonetheless, there have not been days where I couldn't walk to class because it was "too cold". In fact, some people still wear shorts. I'd not like to follow suit, though!

The weather is very unpredictable. The weather app is almost always wrong! It'll say it's sunny, but it'll actually be raining like crazy. We hiked up Rangitoto in the rain and once we got to the top, it was so overcast we couldn't see an awful lot. When we were heading down, it was dry and blue skies! My biggest tip is to be patient and take your time. The weather changes quickly and sometimes waiting a minute will make the world of a difference. That being said, be prepared to buy a few umbrellas during your stay here! ;)

Auckland is relaxed and vibrant and everyone is really friendly and willing to help. I can't wait to see what else New Zealand has to offer! If you have the chance, I would recommend going on exchange and exploring the stunning scenery in New Zealand!

In some ways, New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world to make theatre. While sustaining a career is always difficult, there aren’t many barriers if you want to put a team together, get programmed by an affordable theatre, and put on a show. From New Zealand’s rural background we get the concept of the ‘number 8 wire’ mentality – we are flexible, and can do great things with not very much.

As an ex-British colony in the South Pacific, we have been exposed to a range of different theatrical cultures and traditions – and have also developed our own. New Zealand makes incredibly strong local theatre - you will learn about some of the unique New Zealand and Pacific approaches to theatre, and get to see some of it!

As my Ph.D. was on New Zealand Theatre’s Overseas Experience, I was determined that I would also get to travel as part of it! I received some funding to go to London in 2015 to see a New Zealand show (Generation of Z – about a zombie apocalypse!) that was playing there at the time and also interview some artists.

I love going to different countries and sampling their theatre – what they are performing can give you a lot of clues into the psyche of a particular place! I’d be very keen to hear what visitors coming here make of ours.

There’s lots to be proud about. I love it in class when students make discoveries about what they are capable of as performers. I’m always proud when I see students come through the Drama program and go on to get work on TV and stage. I’m probably proudest when I see them making or writing their own work and getting it staged!

For the 2017 Auckland Fringe I challenged the Devising Group to make an interactive choose-your-own adventure theatre story. We called it “Are You Sure?”.

Audiences began in a huge concrete silo at Wynyard Quarter by the harbor (a must visit destination if you’re coming to Auckland!) where they meet three characters who are part of a rebel group called the seekers. The audience chooses to follow one of these characters, and they are taken on various missions around the location and local streets.

There are surprises and double-crosses, and it ends with a Kayak chase on the water! But the trick was that because the outcome is determined by the choices the audience make during the show, none of our endings were ever exactly the same! It was highly demanding on our actors who had to be ready for anything, but they pulled it off brilliantly.