Fun if you know where to find it!

I studied at the University of Auckland for their second semester, and overall I think I just learned how to live on my own a lot better.

As I wasn't part of a study abroad program, when I came to Auckland I was immediately left to my own devices, and it was up to me to sort everything out. My first grocery shopping trip resulted in me buying a lot of expensive canned and pre-packaged goods, but now I'm buying enough fruits and vegetables to go with my Tim Tams and to make my mom think I'm at least trying to be healthy.

While I think UoA definitely leaves everything more "up to you" when figuring things out, I think the independence has helped me grow a lot as a person. I've gotten a much better hand on my time management, organization skills, and cooking skills since I've arrived... as well as being more capable of navigating new social/administrative situations on my own.

As for exploring the rest of New Zealand, I ended up doing a hop-on hop-off bus tour of the South Island during the mid-semester break -- easily one of the best, most unforgettable experiences I've ever had.