Story Location: New Zealand

It was the middle of May 2014—three months after being accepted to study in Christchurch, NZ and two months before I was set to embark on my journey down south—when I realized a devastating fact about the city I was set for. In February of 2011, Christchurch, NZ was shaken by a 6.3 magnitude Earthquake…

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I’m a lazy introvert. My idea of a good time used to be sitting in my room watching TV. Don’t get me wrong, there are many good things about it, but it felt kind of empty. This habit persisted through my college years, and even into the beginning of my abroad experience. I traveled most…

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My experience studying abroad in Auckland New Zealand was completely different than what I expected. I went in to the experience very timid and feeling unsure about my decision. Study abroad is very popular at my university, but most people go to a few cities in Europe with a large group of fellow students. I…

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[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH0lf5my0u0[/embed] Andrew Jdaydani is a student at Vassar College and studied abroad with IFSA-Butler at the University of Otago in 2014.

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It’s the 16th of February. Day one off of the plane, I look around and things are already different from what I know at home. The Kiwi accents, people driving on the left side of the road, warm weather in February..it’s a whole new world to me. I get dropped off at my flat and…

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“Step outside your comfort zone” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot, from trying new food to public speaking to (especially) studying abroad. Before I studied abroad, I thought I had stretched my comfort zone till there wasn’t much room to step outside of it anymore. I’d done it all: ballroom dancing classes,…

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[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpDRhuTMagQ&feature=youtu.be[/embed] Daniel Solway is a student at Kenyon College and studied abroad with IFSA at the University of Otago in 2012.

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In the weeks and months leading up to my departure for New Zealand, where I spent the Fall 2013 semester, I rarely considered any of the traveling I would do while I was abroad. I figured I’d leave the country hopping and non-stop touring to my friends in Europe who could knock out the Lennon…

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[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4firSRk7c[/embed] Rachel Gerwig is a student at Butler University and studied abroad with IFSA-Butler at Victoria University of Wellington in 2012.

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[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM0rgcENsDQ[/embed] Briana Quintanilla is a student at St. Martin’s University and studied abroad with IFSA-Butler at the University of Auckland in 2013.

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