Want to Make the Most of Study Abroad and Find Home Away from Home? Just Say Yes.

“Let’s try a salsa class downtown tonight!” 
“Want to join us for a road trip to hike Tongariro Crossing?”  
“It’s a game night. Want to join?”  

When you settle into your new home-away-from-home, it can be tempting to want to stick to your routine. This provides comfort and safety—and that can be helpful. It’s easy to head back from class and sink into the couch to finish up homework. Yet throughout my time in Auckland, New Zealand, so far from my home in Maine, I have also learned how helpful it can be to say yes and deviate from routine.  

Being somewhat introverted, I was nervous to go abroad. Would I make friends? Would I get too homesick? Would classes be hard? I tend to stick to my routine and regular activities for stability. However, when I touched down here, I decided it was my time to try new things.  

Challenge yourself to try new things 

First, I set a goal. When people asked me to tag along or try a new activity, I would aim to say yes. That is not to say I wouldn’t give myself time for valuable self-care or lazy days—I most certainly did. But after saying yes, I gained an abundance of new hobbies and activities that I would never have tried. This ranges from snorkeling among islands and and hiking (13 miles across a volcano) to learning salsa dancing and origami. 

What did I find as I tried these new things? That I am now more likely to pursue these things on my own as well. No one around to hang out? I’ll check out the local book club meeting or explore a new trail in the park.  

Getting out there: A path to independence 

From putting myself out there with these new experiences and deviating from my routine, I have also grown more independent and curious. This has allowed me to become more immersed in the city that I am living in and to meet so many new people—all by encouraging myself to say yes! 

Callehan L. | Franklin & Marshall College | University of Auckland, New Zealand | Spring 2026