A late night wander

Over the weeks of being at Auckland I have taken multiple little 'adventures' around the vibrate city and discovered many of it's quirks and found little pockets of beauty in the busy urban jungle. On one quite warm (and dry) evening I ventured out from my where I'd working hard on an assignment to grab some much needed fresh air and a warming hot chocolate from a cafe open late. After finishing, me and my friend rather foolishly ventured to the top of the domain where we stood under the Museum looking out across the city. A foolish but well-needed wander. At night the museum is lit up in the grandest way possible and provides a breath-taking backdrop for the city. The CBD on the other hand, whilst not as grand, twinkles in the distance before the view expands into a deep blue where the harbour extends out to sea. When standing there in the mix of all the lights, I felt something important: I was one amongst many. I was one person amongst over four million living in Auckland, I was one amongst thousands studying at the University of Auckland. The day I arrived I felt (as most study abroad students do) very alone and on my own, but standing there I realised there was a city full of people to make my year at Auckland the best yet. The university may have the best academic departments in NZ but what sets it a part from all the rest is the city it finds it's home in. A city that promotes community and friendliness. A place where dispite being as far away from home as possible I feel at home.