To someone coming to Massey, I would tell them to travel as much as they can while they are here. It is such a beautiful and safe country and they should take advantage of it, as not many countries are as safe to travel in these days.

I would also tell them that while the program here is amazing and very supportive, it is up to you to integrate into your community, and get to know the Kiwis.

I advise joining clubs, being intentional in the conversations you have with classmates, and studying in the library, as it is a social area and you are always going to meet a new face.

First off, the classes (called “papers” here) are set up very different. Most papers have a two hour lecture and a one hour tutorial, but both are on different days at different times. For example, I had a paper that was Monday nights from 4-6, and I had the option to go to a Thursday tutorial at 11am, or a Friday tutorial at 1pm.

The papers here also base grades off of fewer assignments (at least in humanities, I’m sure it’s different in science papers). For instance, for Organizational Communication, my final grade will be based off of two assignments each worth 30% of my grade, and my final exam will cover the last 40% of my grade.

My average week consists of one class per day, and working half days for my internship in the Student Mobility Office twice a week. I spend time with the friends I’ve made here, I spend time doing homework (but less time than I do in the U.S.), and I participate in club sports, the Christian Fellowship club, and the Alpine club. I also spend a lot of time traveling with other international students.

My biggest fear going abroad was that I wouldn’t find my place there, that I would feel like an outsider, and that I wouldn’t make friends quickly. However, those fears disappeared within the first week.

During orientation I befriended many international students and I made a conscious effort to seek out places on campus, like the Centre and the library, where I could not only study but have opportunities to make new friends.

I also am very fortunate to be the intern at Massey’s Student Exchange and Mobility Office, which created another network I was able to integrate into. Befriending my coworkers has definitely been a highlight of my time at Massey.

To all prospective travelers, don’t focus entirely on the South Island. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful places in the world, but travelers often don’t make as much effort to see the north island. And the north island has so much to offer!

Cape Reinga, the Bay of Islands, Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove in Coromandel, Tauranga, the Kaituna River, Taranaki, and Wellington, are all in the north island, and are all some of the most beautiful places in New Zealand.

Although there are many values that help to create a successful company, I believe hard work and passion are integral. A lot of other skills can be learnt over time, but working hard and having a love for what you do can make all the difference, especially when dealing with a diverse range of people such as international students.