This goes out to anyone considering New Zealand;
Go for it! Trust me, this will be one of the most incredible experiences of your life. From the beautiful nature to the unforgettable people, New Zealand does not disappoint. Wellington is a beautiful small city filled with quirky points while still being nestled between seas and mountains. It is the perfect launching point for any adventures you are going to have, and trust me when I say there will be many. Please don't miss any opportunity to go.

Studying abroad with TEAN at Victoria University of Wellington has by far been the best decision I have ever made. The staff were extremely supported all the way through with occasional meetups with fun events. What truly made the experience was the bonds I made with my other TEAN and study abroad students. Everyone was up for anything and were just genuine good people who were looking to explore New Zealand. Wellington was perfect because you could be within the city or up in the hills or taking the ferry down to the South Island. Always something to do along Cuba Street, Courtenay Place, or just within the University Hall community. Each of the houses vary by design, but add to the charm of Wellington. The city is so unique with tons of hidden gems to stumble upon. Wellington has a special place in my heart.

My experience with TEAN was extremely helpful and supportive. The people I met in the program became some of my best friends. The TEAN orientation for New Zealand, which brought together students from all of the New Zealand universities, was a huge highlight for me and gave me access to locations throughout New Zealand. Meeting people from all of the New Zealand universities gave me friends to stay with across New Zealand, and I ended up exploring the country with close friends I made there. Once we were moved in at our universities, TEAN was very good at being supportive to us and provided several memorable outings. The outings were really fun and allowed me to do activities and see places that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Overall, the TEAN staff and fellow students in my program were crucial to my wonderful experience abroad in New Zealand.

I could not have picked a better program for me in choosing to study abroad in Wellington, New Zealand through TEAN. The program administration answered all questions I had beforehand, and was easy to reach once I got there. I also really enjoyed the orientation in Queenstown (where we got to see Milford Sound), and the sponsored events in my host city. The city itself had a great mix of urban and rural activities, there was always something to do. I definitely recommend checking out the farmer's market and the local chocolate factory! Victoria University had all the courses I needed for my major and I found the classes to be very interesting. It was easy to get involved through their club fairs and student hub events. I also found the locals as well as the overall culture to be very welcoming/ tolerant.

Studying at Vic was a great experience! While never overwhelmed I was adequately challenge d and able to learn a lot about New Zealand in both a historical and modern context. My classes consisted mainly of local students and thus, were a great connection to an authentic experience. Wellington itself is a colorful and exciting city with countless restaurants, cafes, shops and museums despite being easily walkable. Located near the center of the country, it is the perfect home base for exploring the rest of New Zealand! I can attribute my comfort throughout this experience to TEAN for being so friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help in virtually any way possible. Orientation was in perfect place to introduce us to the country and TEAN's involvement continued to be useful past that first week.

My overall educational experience at VUW was really amazing - the teachers were all incredibly accomplished and easily accessible and the classes themselves were interesting. In addition, the administrations of both VUW and TEAN were absolutely amazing. Everyone with whom I spoke was kind, knowledgable, and very willing to help. TEAN did a fantastic job of preparing me for the specific program, so I really had all the information I needed. The only thing is that I wish I had known how amazing the food was going to be in Wellington, because I would have budgeted more money per week to eating out.
In terms of opportunities, both TEAN and VUW provided experiences to interact with the culture. For example, during TEAN's orientation in Queenstown, the staff there had made arrangements for a professor from the University of Otago to come and teach us all about Maori culture. VUW offered many different events also related to Maori culture and discussion about it. Wellington itself is also a diverse and culturally rich city, with tons of different museums and cultural immersion opportunities. I felt very strongly that both TEAN and VUW encouraged participating in those opportunities, and I spent most of my off days doing so.
I loved TEAN, VUW, and Wellington and would recommend the program, the university, and the city to absolutely anyone.

My experience abroad was incredible. I met so many people and made some of my best friends abroad. Every experience was new and exciting. I learned more then I could have possibly imagined and wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I was able to discover so much much about myself and really put myself to the test leaving behind everyone I know and loved. This experience left me with a feeling of great accomplishment and Im already planning my next trip back!

There's a quote that overlooks where The Boatshed sits along Wellington Harbor. "It's true you can't live here by chance. You have to do and be, not simply watch or even describe. This is the city of action. The world headquarters of the verb-" - Lauris Edmon.

I got to do it, I got to 'be' and 'do' because of ISA. Even if you're a shelled-up introvert like me, you will be given the chance to experience New Zealand in a way that you may never have had if going in alone.

I was safe, but was exposed to adventurous wonder. I stood on my own, but never had to fear of being alone in a time of need. My ISA program pulled out all the stops to make sure that I had the best experience while abroad. Whanau, as it's called in Maori. Family. That's what we were in our own little way. Whether it was a white water rafting excursion or getting a question answered about how to adjust to the new courses in New Zealand, there was a network of support that was neither distant nor smothering.

So, have fun, whether it's becoming a turmeric latte regular at Fidel's and picking up a new book at the Pegasus Book Shop, or if it's bungee jumping in Queenstown during break. Take advantage of the program. You won't regret it.