by Fletcher Ferguson

Highlights

Making new lifelong friends

This experience allowed me to make new friends from all over the world. Every single day I would be having fun with my new friends, exploring and partying. Now I have friends in Austria, Australia, Spain, England, Germany, Wales, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, Syria and Bulgaria. These are friendships and connections that I will have for life, giving me a chance to travel to their country and meet them again.

Travelling

On my exchange, I chose classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This allowed me to travel from Friday to Monday. I made the most of this by travelling to many different states around America. This trip was great, and the exchange gave me an excuse to travel and see the world before I begin a full-time job next year.

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Biggest Challenges

Finding a place to live

In finding a place to live, living on campus was too expensive ($2240 per month NZD). So I explored other options. I ended up sharing a room in a house off campus with a buddy from Waikato. This cut our costs in half. I recommend doing this if you prioritise spending money on travel as opposed to living on campus. Just one thing to do if you choose this option is to virtually meet your roommates before moving in. You do not want to spend four months living with people you don’t like.

Finances

America is expensive for New Zealanders due to the exchange rate. Ensure you can afford this with accurate budgeting.

Transportation

Transportation in America is difficult without a car. If you want to travel a lot, it is cheaper to buy a car. I ended up spending a lot on rental cars and Uber. Although this is a lower risk, I cannot recoup those costs as opposed to buying a car.

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Learnings & Future Impact

Learnings and future impact for me is all about broadening my horizons and realising there is a whole world outside of New Zealand. Travelling is so valuable not just in experience but in how it makes you think. For me, it made me realise how grateful I am to have what I have in New Zealand. When I return to New Zealand, I will have a newfound appreciation for my country, friends and family there. 

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Travel Tips

Travel Essentials

The main travel essential is finances. Ensure you can afford it. Ensure you can make the most out of your 4 months here as you never know when you will get this opportunity again. 

Another travel essential is a positive attitude and courage. This is a huge step outside your comfort zone and you will face challenges. Treat things as a learning experience and you will enjoy it more. 

Surviving the Long Haul Flight

In surviving the long-haul flights… book an aisle seat. This allows for more legroom and the opportunity to go for a walk or the bathroom whenever you want.

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Final Remarks

Do it. You won’t regret it.