IFSA University of Canterbury Partnership

I had an amazing time during my semester abroad in Christchurch which wouldn't have been possible without the awesome IFSA staff. Before leaving they handled all correspondence with the University of Canterbury, took care of my housing, and let me know what to pack and what to expect as I arrived. They met me at the airport and during my first few days in the country they gave a wonderful orientation to Kiwi culture. I got a little taste of adventure with outdoor activities, tried some classic Kiwi foods (like Marmite!), and learned about New Zealand's indigenous peoples when we stayed on a Marae. By the end of these few days I felt less like a tourist and was ready to just live in my new home. Throughout the semester the IFSA team held events that took us around parts of Christchurch I might not have seen without them. We also had weekly meeting which was a wonderful way to be reminded that I was not alone in the country and to get recommendations on what to see and do both around Christchurch and the whole South Island. Because of the confidence instilled in me by having friendly faces who helped support me abroad, I was able to really get outside of my comfort zone and try many new things and meet many new individuals! I cannot wait until I return to New Zealand. If it weren't for IFSA I wouldn't have planted such strong roots there!

My time abroad in New Zealand was life-changing! I had a blast meeting many new friends from all over the US and across the world. The friends that I made abroad were from New Zealand, Australia, the US, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Sweden, and so many other places around the world! We often cooked meals together, traveled together, and studied together. My time abroad was a bond never experienced before. IFSA was an amazing program to study abroad with. A lot of my other friends didn't have the opportunities that I had to engage with Maori and Kiwi culture while abroad. I was able to face some of my greatest fears with IFSA, like heights through a ropes course at Adrenalin Forest after volunteering to replant native NZ bush, water with white water rafting and plenty of kayaking adventures, and heights again through hikes and bush walks around New Zealand. I also got a chance to give back to the community through a unique course that I took abroad, Strengthening the Community (aka Christchurch 101). If you ever have the opportunity to take that course, I highly recommend it! I was able to be involved with the Christchurch community directly through volunteering at the local community garden and one of the primary schools nearby campus. Also, the class was taught by an alumnus of my home university, which was a crazy fact! Overall, my time abroad in New Zealand can never be topped by another other trips because of the wonderful community in IFSA and the generous hospitality of the Kiwis. I hope to move to Christchurch to further help with earthquake designing after receiving my degree. Also, I've been on the search for Pad Thai in America that is as good as the Pad Thai in New Zealand and I have been unsuccessful. So if you're a Thai food enthusiast, I definitely recommend going to New Zealand!

Being a college student is hard. There is no doubt about it. Finding the magic balance of academics, socializing, and self-care is even harder. By going abroad with IFSA I was given new responsibilities - I had to cook for myself for the first time (no meal plan anymore!) - and challenges to overcome. If any of these new stumbling blocks tripped me up, IFSA was there to give me a hand. If you are struggling with a course, your advisor on the ground will help you to find the resources that you need to succeed. IFSA also has a great program for bringing together the students that go through them. An excellent orientation and lots of dinners and cultural excursions help you to get a feeling for your host country and grow closer with the other American students. The shear beauty of New Zealand forced me to break away from the mundane tasks of student life and enjoy the amazing country that I was living in. Ilam Gardens, a botanical garden right off of University of Canterbury campus, was one of my favorite places to spend a sunny afternoon with a book. Overall, with the help of IFSA I was able to find more time to go with the flow and smell the flowers, a very welcomed break from the rush of school back in the states.