A Dream Come True - My Semester in New Zealan

Choosing to study abroad was one of the best decisions of my life. For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to live and travel to New Zealand. Thanks to TEAN I was able to fulfill my dream.

My study abroad experience would not have been the same without TEAN! They have provided me with one of the best experiences of my life. The programs orientations are amazing. One of the best parts about going abroad with TEAN to New Zealand is an included pre-semester trip to Fiji. After Fiji, TEAN has an in-country orientation in Auckland where they provide cultural and adventure activities to start the semester off with a bang! TEAN also offers mid-semester trips during holiday breaks which is extremely nice. I went on a 9-Day South Island Adventure with TEAN for my Spring Break and on the trip I met other TEAN students that were studying in Australia. The only thing I had in common with some of them was that TEAN brought us together and it was due to that binding fact that we became so close and still to this day (months later) we still communicate.
The TEAN staff is also extremely friendly and one of the best aspects about the program is that they are very person; they know who you are before you even meet them.

Palmerston North is a great place to study. It is a rural area; but there is so much to do around the area. There are a ton of hiking trails around the area, Wellington is only a 2 hour bus ride away, and Tongariro National Park is only bus ride to the north a bit.
Generally I'd hang around Palmerston North during the week days, taking advantage of the activities offered at Massey and within the town. Then during the weekend (after I made sure all my work was done during the week) I'd take off to Wellington (the capital city of New Zealand), which was a great point to meet other people from TEAN and go on trips to either the South Island, or somewhere on the North Island.
Another nice thing about TEAN is that they have in-country staff that always send out monthly updates telling us about different activities occurring throughout New Zealand, and they would plan some sort of activity two, or three times a semester. It was a great way to meet up and see how everyone was doing.

Overall, my experience in New Zealand was incredible and one of the best experiences of my life; however, it would not have been the same had it not been for TEAN.