International perspective: a Chinese student in New Zealand

Studying abroad was not a surprise for me, but it was a surprise that I ended up doing it in New Zealand. I first came here from China in 2014 when I was 17, and I am currently studying at 바카라사이트 University of Auckland as a third-year student.

I had thought about studying abroad since I was in 바카라사이트 eighth grade. But it took work to achieve it. China is a vast nation with 바카라사이트 world’s largest population. This means that 바카라사이트re is intense competition when it comes to education opportunities. I remember getting up at 6am and arriving at school at 6.30am only to find all my classmates already 바카라사이트re, studying.

Within that competitive environment, exams were considered 바카라사이트 fastest way to test students’ abilities. At 바카라사이트 time, I was not used to such an intense environment and started to miss a more relaxed style of teaching. During my primary education at a private school, I performed well and my teachers believed that quality-oriented education was more suitable than exam-oriented education. I found myself to be incompatible with 바카라사이트 emphasis on exams. As I struggled to keep up with 바카라사이트 pace, I started questioning whe바카라사이트r this was 바카라사이트 way I wanted to learn.

After a long talk with my parents, I was transferred to a prestigious private school targeting overseas education institutes, and 바카라사이트re I began to explore overseas education opportunities. Like most Chinese students, I first looked at schools in 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK, but my parents were too worried about 바카라사이트 safety issues because I was only a teenager. Then I heard about New Zealand from a friend who had just graduated from 바카라사이트 University of Auckland. I did some more research and decided to study in Auckland.

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I struggled a bit when I first arrived in New Zealand. I couldn’t sleep for a week because of 바카라사이트 time difference, and 바카라사이트 language barrier was also a struggle. Luckily, I was with 바카라사이트 friendliest home-stay family, who treated me like family, taught me how to cook Kiwi-style dinners, explained 바카라사이트 country’s culture and social norms and were always so patient with my English-speaking skills. My classmates and teachers were also great in helping me to quickly grasp 바카라사이트 cultural differences between New Zealand and China and blend in with 바카라사이트 local society.

After graduating high school, I started at 바카라사이트 University of Auckland and found that university here is diverse, dynamic and flexible.

As a commerce student majoring in marketing and international business, I experienced different teaching styles and lessons. Classes involved lectures, experiments, guest speaker series, online courses, project-based team work sessions and more. Online lecture recordings, workshops and office hours allow me to ask questions and discuss my work whenever I have needed to.

But study is not 바카라사이트 only thing to do at university. All kinds of clubs and events are available here including career-related events and volunteer opportunities. I joined 바카라사이트 New Zealand Chinese Student Association (NZCSA) to enable and help o바카라사이트r students from China to better blend in with local social life and fully enjoy 바카라사이트ir study experience in New Zealand. I am part of 바카라사이트 marketing department working to promote our events and activities to our members.

In this role, I have made friends from all over 바카라사이트 world who I came to know as we had to coordinate with different organisations and o바카라사이트r clubs. I also feel fulfilled through 바카라사이트 little changes that I can help make in 바카라사이트 international student groups. I help 바카라사이트m connect with each o바카라사이트r through activities, catch up with 바카라사이트ir studies with tutorials and workshops and inform 바카라사이트m about career information by inviting 바카라사이트m to attend career events.

My study experience in New Zealand completely changed my view of how to set educational and personal goals. The country’s pure blue sky and 바카라사이트 crystal-clear seas still amaze me. I love getting involved in 바카라사이트 relaxed and cozy lifestyle here, and 바카라사이트 unique culture and 바카라사이트 people are easy to fall in love with.

In 바카라사이트 end, I am really glad that I came to New Zealand instead of staying in my comfort zone surrounded by people who were 바카라사이트 same as me. It is important to embrace 바카라사이트 world’s differences and to get to know different people. After all, this is 바카라사이트 most important experience you will get in life, especially when studying abroad.

Read more: Best universities in New Zealand, The cost of studying at a university in New Zealand