Study Abroad Auckland

Everyone is so nice and kind here, especially to strangers! I'm from the southern USA, and at least the way I was raised, you are polite to others (I have actually shocked a fellow student when a server was trying to get his attention, and since I didn't know him and wasn't in the mood to call him "Dude" I got his attention with "sir" as I was taught to as a child, which made him look at me with wide eyes (not the bad kind)). Here in New Zealand it's like everyone has been given "nice-and-kind" shots. I am an antisocial introvert with social anxiety, so asking people questions that I think are stupid really takes a lot out of me, especially things that are known generally by people here. However, when I work up the courage to ask my questions, the people are really understanding and make it seem like it wasn't as stupid as it sounded to me in my head to ask about. It has actually boosted my courage, and has me doing things and going outside of my normal comfort zone. I always wanted to try skiing, and was able to do that, even though I didn't get more than one day on the slopes due to weather, but the second day I tried (the sound of steel on icy snow might just stick with me) and when I went to cancel my lesson that I signed up for the instructors I talked with were very understanding and gentle with me (I might have been on the verge of tears due to having gotten stuck at the top of a slope with no apparent way down without falling), making jokes and trying to get me to cheer up and have a good experience instead of a bad one. Also when I was stuck some students who were there on a school trip for snowboarding gave me advice on how to get down the slope since I was visibly terrified, and when I mentioned that I was scared of falling again since I did it three times the day before they said at least it was only three and not like 30 times so I should be proud of myself.
There are more instances like these, where people are willing to help and be kind to someone, and that has made my trip so far very enjoyable and will continue making my trip enjoyable and a trip I will never forget.