My wonderful time abroad!

Studying abroad this semester at AUT in New Zealand has been an incredible experience! I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to come to this beautiful country filled with such compassionate people. I was a little nervous traveling so far from home for such a long period of time, but right way I felt welcomed into the AUT community. The faculty put in extra effort to make all the international students feel as though we belong here. One of my favorite parts about AUT was the International Student Noho Marae Weekend where students from all over the world were immersed into the Maori culture and learned the true meaning of whānau. Not only was the weekend full of fun, culture, and kindness, but it also provided me with a unique outlook on New Zealand, which allowed me to truly appreciate the significance of New Zealand for the Maori people during all my travels. I have met some wonderful people here and felt nothing but supported my entire time, so thank you AUT for allowing me to have an amazing five months in this spectacular country! I will be back!