What inspired you to travel abroad?
I just finished my program in college and I couldn't wait to travel and try new things. I think working somewhere is the best way to take in another place and to be able to connect with the community. I was inspired by the experiences of friends and past trainees.
I had been on many group trips with school and with my dance group, but I really wanted the experience of spending a long period of time in another country. I was also looking forward to the challenge of traveling somewhere alone!
Why did you choose International Rural Exchange Canada?
A past trainee made a presentation about his time in New Zealand on my lunch break in college. It looked pretty awesome! I knew I wanted to go somewhere over the winter, and it's a bonus that this meant summer in the Southern hemisphere.
IRE matched me up with the perfect job! I really wanted to go through an organization so they could help with a placement and a working travel visa. There was also peace of mind knowing that I would have support and advice if I came across any problems so far from home.
What was your favorite part about New Zealand?
My situation was a bit different because I was working for a company instead of on a farm. I lived in Christchurch on my own so it was awesome to have some independence in the city, especially being from a rural area in Canada.
I loved being so close to the beach and being able to explore the museums and botanical gardens in the city. There are so many absolutely amazing natural places in New Zealand and they are so close together. It's easy to feel comfortable with a familiar language and a very similar culture to Canada.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I saw so many beautiful things but the best part about my experience was the other trainees I met. I was really lucky to be staying close to 2 other people from Manitoba that I met in New Zealand. We still see each other back home nearly 3 years later.
I laugh now that I barely spent any time with kiwis (New Zealanders) outside of work. I spent every weekend traveling with great friends from Switzerland, Brazil, Germany, Austria, Scotland, and so many more places. The experiences we had together made for an extraordinary trip!
Taking a hike along Lake Benmore
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The organization in New Zealand planned different outings for the trainees so we could meet each other on the weekends. A highlight was weekly pub night that rotated through different towns where we could all get together.
I knew I had support with the staff in New Zealand if I had any problems. I also had regular contact with the staff in Canada. We had Facebook groups to get in contact with other trainees. I was also provided with information about things like buying a vehicle and setting up a bank account.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I had about a month of travel planned in the North Island and Australia at the end of my work placement. I had a road trip planned on the North Island, and I was going to visit a friend in Australia. Because of the work I was doing, I never had more than 2 or 3 days off in a row on my weekends to make really far trips.
I even changed the date of my return flight to make more time for travel. Unfortunately, this got canceled because I returned home right at the end of my work placement due to the pandemic. I hope I can go back and finish that off one day!
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
In New Zealand, I was testing soil moisture. Nearly every single crop on the South Island is irrigated so we measured moisture for each crop and helped predict when it would need to be irrigated again. I worked Monday-Friday and had the same weekly rotation of farms. Occasionally because of holidays, weather, or to get an extra day off I would condense the rotation and work longer days.
I would drive 10 minutes from my accommodation to our office in Christchurch and usually start the day around 7am. I picked up my maps, data sheets, testing equipment, and work vehicle and would drive 30 minutes to an hour to my first farm of the day. I spent the day on my own driving to testing locations. I usually went to 3-7 different farms and tested at a total of 20-30 sites. I was on lots of dairy farms but also spent time on sheep pastures, grain fields, vegetable farms, walnut groves, and vineyards.
I would stop in a field for my lunch break and I usually got back to the office in Christchurch anywhere from 3-6pm. The days varied based on weather, and where animals and irrigators were placed. Like most jobs, we had a quiet season and also very busy days when the weather was dry or crops were finishing.
Heading to a backcountry hut overnight
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
It was great to have a vehicle to get around in my free time. There are so many beautiful drives in New Zealand! I spent a lot of time hiking, camping, and at the beach with friends. My boss lent me a bike and I got to check out some mountain bike trails in Christchurch.
On some weekends, we would make a longer trip 4-6 hours away to Nelson, Queenstown, or Milford Sound. On quieter weekends we would visit trainees at their farms and get together for a bonfire or BBQ. I had a chance to go skiing at a local mountain at the very end of their season when I arrived, and we did part of a Great Walk on a weekend in Abel Tasman National Park.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I stayed in a "Granny Hut" or tiny house in the city. It was in the backyard of a friend of my boss and she often rented it to international students. It had 2 rooms- one had a bed, couch, and a kitchenette with a fridge, sink, toaster oven, and hot plate.
The other was a small bathroom with a shower. I was welcome to use the washing machine and kitchen in the big house. It was great to have my own cozy space close to work and a grocery store. My landlady was lovely. I even had Christmas dinner with her family!
What is one thing every future participant should know about Farm Work in New Zealand before their program begins?
It's hard to know exactly what to expect until you get to a new country and start working. I was definitely challenged to try new things, and realized I can do much more than I think I can.
Things that I was worried about, such as driving on the opposite side of the road, became so easy by the end of my time in New Zealand. There are so many people that are happy to help you with any questions or problems. From my landlady, my boss, co workers, and other trainees, the people were great!
Would you recommend International Rural Exchange Canada to others?
I would definitely recommend my program to others. It was so important to have support through finding a position and accommodations to sorting out my work visa. It made me feel way better to have someone to go to if I had any problems so far away from home.
I never would have met so many friends without the planned activities in New Zealand! The program has lots of countries to choose from and a variety of different jobs on and off of farms. I wasn't expecting to be matched with such a specific placement!
Testing soil on a dairy farm with great views of the mountains
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Gaining a new perspective of the world is so important. There are so many places and people outside of Canada! Learning about different cultures, countries, and histories gives me a different outlook on many situations.
There are also so many beautiful parts of the world that are so different from home. I am so grateful to take in these things, and then be able to come home and have a new appreciation of where I'm from as well. It's also amazing to relate to people and situations so far from home.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I've been home for a couple years, but the time abroad has inspired me to continue to travel. I gained valuable lessons about travel and gained confidence to take in more places on my own.
Overcoming challenges gives me confidence in everyday life, and I know I can do way more than I think I'm capable of. I had great experiences and met many new friends from all over the world that I still talk to today. All of the great experiences have motivated me to continue trying new things and seeing new places.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
It's hard to untangle the ethics and sustainability of travel. I think spending a long period in one place allows you to really take in and learn about a new country. I love to have lots of time to do exciting things, plus time to relax and reflect on my time.
You see all of the regular places and people and all of the popular tourist spots. Making connections with people and the community is very important to me and working abroad is the best way for me to see the whole perspective of another place.
