Study Abroad in Auckland from Tulane University

I never liked the idea of going to a "city" university, and although Tulane is in New Orleans it still has a defined small campus atmosphere and I love it. Moving to University of Auckland for a semester made me nervous knowing that it was a much larger university (as far as student population) located right in central Auckland, but I have really enjoyed exploring the city and campus because it is so green everywhere, easy to get around by walking or taking the bus, and my study abroad program hosts a lot of events that have helped make this place feel like home. I love that I can take the bus to Mt Eden to watch the sunset, or to the beach to relax, or walk through the Domain to escape the city-feel. My classes, even though they are large lectures, are engaging and I love how connected I feel to all of my lecturers here despite the large number of students. It is also different not having regularly graded homework assignments like in the States, so having only a few larger heavily weighted assignments was definitely a slightly stressful adjustment. Coming to Auckland for study abroad allowed me to experience a new place and culture as well as getting to explore the beauty of New Zealand, and I have learned to appreciate all of the differences between places that I have been able to live throughout my life.