Signing up for a study abroad was a no brainer for me as I thought it was the perfect opportunity to immerse myself in a different country’s culture, it was just the location I didn’t exactly know where I wanted to go. With that being said, I decided to go for a leap and spend two weeks during Winter break at the farthest place I could: New Zealand. I knew it was the perfect location since I wondered when I would have the chance to go to the beautiful, yet very far islands of New Zealand. Only a 17 hour flight to Sydney and another 3 hours to Auckland, I have landed with the rest of my business program. I felt fully equipped as me and fellow TAMU students navigated through the town since we have been researching the culture and customs of this place months before arriving. I was blown away by how surreal the views of the tall business buildings and marine life came together so gracefully. I didn’t expect how naturally pretty the landscape and culture New Zealand had to offer. I was surprised to see the Deloitte, PwC, and EY international buildings since the city is not that big. I was hoping that by studying abroad, I would be able to first-hand see how businesses as a whole operate in a different country, comparing it to the fast-paced movements the United States has. With this experience, I want to incorporate the importance of international business to diversify my skill set and ideas.
For the past 5 days, I have noticed some of the differences between New Zealand and the US which were not that drastic. Some may say that Americans are quite cold and not very inviting (like in the Northern part), while the kiwis (New Zealand citizens) were very kind and welcoming into their country. Staying in hostels have enriched us in the many different cultures of other backpackers on their background and experiences abroad. Additionally, New Zealand emphasizes its reverence to its Māori roots, preserving what then was colonized by the Brits. Differently in the US, our country is a melting pot of various cultures that have come together rather than just one predominant indigenous culture.
Overall, I cannot wait to further learn and experience all New Zealand has to offer with tourism and professionalism.
