Kia Ora! I had the most educational and exhilarating experience when I studied hospitality tourism during my 6-month semester at AUT, January through June 2010. My daily walk to Uni was about 10 minutes, and my flexible class schedule allowed me to complete a 400-hour internship at a local hotel. AUT is located right in the heart of Auckland, so after class there was always something fun to do close-by with my new kiwi mates. I even had the chance to travel extensively on the weekends and uni holidays, so having the city and its many resources at my fingertips helped so much. I never felt alone or hard-pressed to find something to do or someone to hang out with - class and the daily life I had was the perfect mix of study and fun.
I truly enjoyed learning in a foreign setting and seeing firsthand how different yet similar the American and Kiwi culture are to each other. My experience will forever stay with me; it formed memories and skills for both my personal and professional life that I will forever carry with me.
What would you improve about this program?
I think the only thing that could be changed was perhaps having more on-campus programs for abroad students to meet local students. I did meet many kiwis and other international students in my classes, but perhaps having some activities where everyone can come together would be effective (the Noho Marae weekend for example was awesome in submerging all students in meeting and having fun with each other). Perhaps a sponsored coffee hour or study groups could enhance student life even more!
