TEAN: Study Abroad in Wellington, New Zealand

Studying abroad in Wellington, New Zealand was the perfect fit for me for so many beautiful reasons. Going into studying abroad, I had very little idea where I wanted to go, and I am so glad I ended up in Wellington. The cool coffee capital culture of Wellington always seemed to amaze me. Wellington is the cultural capital of New Zealand and it shows, with many museums, live music bars, great coffee and restaurants and a bustling waterfront filled with many weekend markets. Living in Wellington never had a dull moment as there is so much to do in the city. Over the course of the semester, I attended a Diwali festival, a rugby game, and many concerts.
But New Zealand is much more than city life, the real fun comes from getting outside and exploring the completely gorgeous landscape. Almost every weekend, my friends and I would rent a car, for relatively cheap, and go "tramping", the kiwi term for hiking. As an avid outdoorsman, the scenery was one of the many reasons I chose New Zealand and I was not disappointed in the slightest. Every single trip was better than the last. A few highlights included staying in the famous Mueller Hut in Mount Cook National Park, a solo backpacking trip through the local forest range, and my own little hobbit pilgrimage to the fires of Mount Doom! Overall, planning and going on trips ranging from one day to two weeks were was my favorite part of my abroad experience.
Studying abroad with TEAN was also a great experience both before and during my time in New Zealand. Before arriving, there are so many different tasks that need to be completed including visas, class registration, housing, etc. But TEAN made it so easy. I was matched with one of their employees, who took me through all the various steps and eliminated so much hassle in the process. She answered the countless e-mails I sent to her very promptly and always had correct and timely information. While in New Zealand, TEAN's orientation helped us adjust to the initial culture shock of being abroad and was a good transition period that eased us into adjusting to living abroad. During the orientation, we learned to perform a Maori song and visited Milford sound, a highlight of my entire time abroad. Orientation also acted as a great time to create a network of students to visit in the other cities when making future travel plans! After arriving in Wellington, the TEAN students came together for three activities, a rugby game, a trip to Weta Workshop and a tour of a bird ecosanctuary. Overall, I would highly recommend studying abroad in Wellington, especially with TEAN. My only request to you if you do go is taking me with you!

New Zealand has always been a country I wanted to visit. After seeing pictures of sweeping, breathtaking landscapes and hearing of the wonderful people and culture, it was never a question of "if" I'll go, but "when". The decision I had to make was whether I would visit at some point later on in life for a couple of weeks fitting in as much of the sights as possible, or take a risk spending a full 5 months living so far away from home in the hopes of getting even more out of my time there. Boy, am I glad I picked the latter. Having the time to fully explore, live, and learn in the capital city of Wellington at Massey University was such a fantastic and positive experience. The city is bursting with vibrant art and culture with nothing more than a half hour walk away at most. You have the high-energy city experience while still being able to escape the bustle when needed with the suburbs just outside downtown. Wellington also serves as a great jumping off point to travel around the two islands to see even more stunning scenery with it being so centrally located. TEAN also did a phenomenal job ensuring that our transition went as smoothly as possible and providing us with the necessary resources to make the most of our experience there. If you're looking for a place to study that is so different and exciting yet able to be so completely welcoming serving as a home-away-from home, Wellington is your place.

The Education Abroad Network helped me realize my dream to study abroad and live in New Zealand. They are a steadfast network dedicated to helping students travel and study in new environments and the relationship that T.E.A.N. has with Victoria University of Wellington is strong. I felt safe, supported, and excited during my time in New Zealand. I loved the university and felt excited to go to classes and engage with my peers. Wellington is a gorgeous city and is full of students and international people. It is situated on the coast and is an easy access point to travel from. There is literally always something to do in Wellington and kiwis are really friendly people once you get to talking. One of my favorite memories was meeting a kiwi mother on a plane and talking to her for five minutes before she asked me hold her baby for her while she was in the bathroom! Kiwis (New Zealanders) are one of a kind, special people. You will be interested in courses, you will have time to travel, and you will feel beyond grateful for all the sights you will see! I would do anything to be back in New Zealand. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone! It's well worth the ride :)

I love to travel, and I hope that never changes. Coming to New Zealand has made me realize how much I love to travel for an extended period of time. Backpacking around is fun and all, and I love that too, but I loved meeting the people here, spending time with the Kiwi's learning the Maori Culture, taking classes, going to food stores, and being fully immersed in a culture the way that you can never experience in only a few days or weeks at a time.

In new zealand I became an adventurer, I bungee jumped, horse trekked, white&black water rafted, rock climbed, kayaked, biked, swam, and splunked (caving). 5 hour hikes became the normal everyday. I hiked across beaches, valleys, and forests through caves and rivers, over mountains, down ravines, through rain, snow, and sunshine. New Zealand turned me into an adventurer. It make me say 'yes' to experiencing new things, trying new foods, and talking to new people. So on my last week in new Zealand when a friend asked me to go on a 5 hour hike, I did it mostly barefoot, and when I found the most perfect patch of moss along the hike, I laid on it and felt like frodo waiting for gandelf to walk by and have a chat. I have never felt more like a Kiwi, than I had at that moment. It explains their relaxed nature, and love for the outdoors, with just a tweak of 'Tolkien' hidden in the magical-ness of the image.

Wellington was the most amazing host city! It was so cultured, and the perfect size to explore and navigate. It is nestled right in a harbour, and is the most unique city I have ever been to! If you have a love for coffee and cafes like I do, Wellington is the perfect place for you! Not to mention it was an ideal location for traveling the rest of the country. And I was so glad I had TEAN encouraging me to make the most of my time abroad! They were amazing at communicating with me and handled everything and anything you could ever imagine!

One of my favorite memories is a road trip my housemates and I went on to go hiking on the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk track. Everything about the weekend was great- stopping in little towns to explore, hiking around a picturesque lake with light snowfall, and really getting to know my roommates. It was a time that I can look back on as a way to remember that adventure is the best way to learn and grow. The experiences to have abroad are truly life changing and I wouldn't have changed anything I encountered during my time studying in New Zealand. Being able to travel is invaluable and college is the best time to do it! I've always believed that there is nothing better than getting college credits for traveling and learning about a new culture, and I still stand by that statement.

All my best friends went to Europe and a lot of them questioned why I chose New Zealand. However, two seconds in Fiji and I knew I had made the right choice. 73 college students on an island all about to spend the next six months together there really is no easier way to make friends! None of which would have been possible without TEAN. Prior to even stepping foot in New Zealand The Education Abroad Network reassures you 100% that they will be there to help you as much as you need it throughout your semester. Even someone who considers them self as independent it would reassuring to know that 10,000 miles away from home there was help if I needed it.

My abroad experience will absolutely have a lasting impact on my life. Choosing to study abroad in New Zealand with The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) was one of the best decisions of my life. The staff is incredibly helpful and supportive; they made the transition into kiwi life a breeze. I always heard that New Zealand had the reputation of being the extreme sports capital of the world, and that was intimidating. After spending 5 and a half months in this amazing country, I can honestly say that New Zealanders live up to this rep. From the laid-back outgoing people to the endless opportunities for adventure, New Zealand knows how to go extreme. TEAN prepared us from the beginning by pushing us right into this aspect of kiwi culture. We went zorbing down a massive hill and had an intense trip white water rafting. TEAN's preparation inspired me to keep the thrill alive. Following my orientation, I spent the next months hiking, bungee jumping, paragliding, and much more. I explored all that Wellington and New Zealand had to offer. If you want to explore the world and adventure through some of the most beautiful places, New Zealand is the destination for you! If you want a staff that is supportive 100% of the time, TEAN is the program for you!! Thank you TEAN for giving me a trip I will never forget.

It is hard to put into just a few sentences what a great impact my experience in New Zealand through the Education Abroad Network had on my life. The people I met, places I traveled, and experiences I gained were absolutely incredible.
The staff at the TEAN office were extremely helpful from the beginning. They were always available and willing to help with every step of the process from acquiring a visa, to selecting classes to take the university, and even with packing tips.
My abroad journey began with an orientation in Auckland followed by an amazing trip to Fiji. Throughout orientation we learned about New Zealand culture and started to get a feel of what it was like to become a member of their society.
I could not be happier with my decision to study at Victoria University in Wellington. Wellington is the coolest little capital with mountains, city, and water all wrapped into one. There were always new places to eat, shop, and explore.
Studying at the university was also a great experience. I was placed into classes full of Kiwi students, allowing me to make other friends besides other international students. I learned about New Zealand history and the country's larger position in the world and it was truly an eye opening experience.
I would not trade my experience in Wellington New Zealand for anything in the world. I learned so much throughout the whole process and now hope to be able to travel to more beautiful countries in the future.