Kiwis are pretty quiet, so you have to go out of your way to make friends with them. There's a big drinking/party culture, so if you're into that it's an option. I preferred to get outside and go tramping (hiking) and adventuring, so I joined my local church's tramping club. It's pretty easy to travel around New Zealand, but it can be expensive. Bookme.co.nz is a great option to get discounts on adventures like hang-gliding, kayaking, and ziplining. I would definitely recommend bringing lots of outdoor gear, since tramping is the best way to get to know people and see New Zealand's beautiful landscapes at the same time.

I learned so much while I was abroad and I am so thankful to have made the decision to go. I got to explore a really fascinating culture that on the surface didn't look too different from my own but surprised me in the subtle differences on many levels. I also was exposed to a new perspective of my own country as seen from abroad and it was eye-opening to see how other people viewed America.

From the get-go, TEAN made the 'getting there' process completely fool-proof. I was in constant contact with them finding out all the steps I needed to complete, and they basically handled everything for me in terms of sorting things out with Lincoln. The staff could not have been any better, were always friendly and helpful, and answered any and all questions I had.

The pre-semester trip to Fiji was truly a once in a lifetime experience, and the memories and friends I made there with the other TEANers will last me a lifetime. From snorkeling to hiking to the local village, all I have to do is think about it and i'm right back on the island with all my friends.

Orientation in Auckland was incredible, and we were able to not only develop our relationships with eachother, but also with the TEAN staff that accompanied us. This lasted througough the entire semester, and if we ever needed anything, we had only to call up one of the TEAN staff in NZ.

Licoln is a small ag school, very comparable to my home college, and I loved it. It isn't in the heart of a city, but rather just outside of Christchurch with one pub in town (the Famous Grouse is a must for some weekend drinking with mates!) and a short bus ride to Riccarton for shopping and the cinema. Or grab a bus into the city and spend a day wandering around, then go out to the pubs at night!

Farm Road flats were self-catered in a small community on campus, and I have no regrets about living there. It was a wonderful mix of international students from all over the world with heaps of kiwis as well, and everyone got along great. It was the convenience of living on campus with the independence of being on your own, and the grocery store was just a 15 minute walk from the flats for added ease. Classes were great, I loved all my professors and the library is incredible. Professors are willing to help with anything, and very personable. The study abroad offices were always helpful, and the international happy hours were always a fun time and a great way to meet some other international students!

If you're a city person looking for bars every night and big parties, Lincoln might not be the place for you, but if you are agricultural minded, or looking for a more low-key study abroad experience getting to know people and truly immersing yourself in a community in NZ, this could be the perfect fit. I would recommend TEAN every time to get you here, or to another uni in NZ, as they have so many to choose from and the pre-semester trips are always included!!

Studying abroad has definitely been the most exciting and rewarding experience of my life. The lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories that I have made are irreplaceable. I don’t think that I could have had a better experience anywhere else or with anyone else.

I knew that I wanted to study abroad in New Zealand since I was in high school, and the only question I had was how I was going to get there. Looking back on it now I feel that the best decision I made regarding my entire abroad experience was making the decision to go with TEAN as a provider. The people at TEAN are extremely friendly and helpful. They really attempt and get to know their students and help them feel comfortable as much as they can.
I attended the pre-semester trip to Fiji, which was absolutely amazing and a perfect way to meet the other program members. The nervousness and anxiety that I felt on the flight over was immediately replaced with excitement once we arrived at our resort and I met the other TEAN students. The pre-semester trip and the orientation in Auckland made the transition to New Zealand and being abroad for the first time much easier.

I was originally studying at the University of Canterbury until the February 22 earthquake struck Christchurch and we ere forced to transfer. TEAN did an amazing job with helping us switch schools and made the transfer to Massey University in Wellington much easier for us. The support that TEAN provided us during this stressful time was outstanding. The people at TEAN really helped us feel comfortable and took care if us during the process of moving.

My experiences in Wellington were also amazing. I loved the city of Wellington and living in the Cube apartments made for easy and quick access to campus as well as downtown Wellington and the beachfront. Wellington is an awesome city with a lot of culture and art. Although Massey Wellington is particularly suited for design, fashion, or art students, I found my business classes to be very interesting and academically challenging. I enjoyed my time in Christchurch but I am very glad that I ended up going to school in Wellington. It was an amazing place with friendly people and I doubt I will ever live in a city as unique as Wellington. I will never forget my experiences in New Zealand and cannot wait to go back!