by Tiffany Macfarlane | 16 March 2017  Congratulations!  You’ve made the decision to Study in another country… in this instance it’s the fair shores of New Zealand. A small country of around 4 million people boasting some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.  So beautiful in fact that Peter Jackson just had to use our country as the backdrop for his Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies.  But it doesn’t stop there, NZ is the preferred destination for many commercial investments, we are recognised for our superior dairy and meat products and most importantly, Education is in our top five list of major exports. (Statistics NZ website, June 2016) Auckland is a melting pot of nationalities, we have so many different cultures in this city and that’s what makes it as interesting and colourful as it is.  On the whole, Kiwis (New Zealanders) are very welcoming, down to earth, easy going people and our reputation precedes us for newcomers who have heard that Kiwis are very friendly people.  Well it’s true and we pride ourselves on that.  On your first day of study at Nzie our main purpose is to make you feel welcome and at home in your new country.  It’s okay, we understand that you’re probably very confused, disorientated, jet lagged and sometimes homesick.  We would be exactly the same if we were to travel to your country for the first time.  But isn’t this all part of the excitement of your journey?!?!  Your motivation and commitment to study in NZ has provided you with a lifetime experience we hope you’ll never forget. It never ceases to amaze me just how quickly our new students make friends.  One day a Student will  be asking me where they can find long term accommodation and the next day they’re telling me they’re moving in with a classmate next week!  Truly amazing and such a wonderful thing to observe.  It reminds me of when you’re a little kid in the playground and you just walk up to another kid and say “wanna play?”  and from there a friendship is immediately formed and the fun starts!  Well our students are no different, friendships are quickly formed and homesickness and jet lag is soon forgotten. The most important piece of advice I could give to new students and newcomers to NZ is to give yourself time.  Don’t try and accomplish everything in the first week, sure take steps to start settling in and sorting your affairs but don’t burden yourself with getting everything done straight away.  This isn’t realistic and will cause you undue stress and pressure.  Get your bearings, find your feet, take deep breaths, talk to people, ask questions and discover your surroundings.  Then you will have a clear direction where to go next.  Everyone at NZIE whether they are a tutor, in the admissions team, part of student services, whoever, we are all here for the same purpose and that is to make your time with us as memorable and successful as we can.  So, embrace and enjoy :0)    

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