IES Abroad Christchurch

I had the time of my life in New Zealand. Adventures beyond my wildest dreams. The location was absolutely perfect, nestled between the Southern Alps and the Sea, Christchurch was an ideal place to be for an adventure seeker. It was a short bus ride to daily hikes, and a really good location for other South Island travels.
The program director, Eunice, is beyond words sweet and knowledgeable. She was my NZ mom and made the experience much more culturally and academically enriching.
IES also sets up a break trip to Rarotonga, a tiny little dot of an island in the middle of the Pacific, nestled between Fiji and Tahiti. It was an incredible price for the absolute trip of a lifetime!

I would recommend IES Christchurch 100% to any student looking for an adventurous time in an English speaking country.

The best part of studying abroad in New Zealand was being able to see a variety of landscapes all in close proximity to each other. Glaciers, volcanoes, mountains, and oceans were all just hours away. IES was an extremely great way for me to meet the people who are now some of my best friends. IES's orientation allowed me to get to know people, make friends, and feel at home within just a few days.

I brought everything I needed, except for a good pair of Ked-like shoes to wear comfortably around campus. I ended up purchasing a $5 pair at Kmart, as did many students. I also wish I brought more sweaters, because it randomly rains for short periods of time almost daily. It is best to remember to pack a rain jacket and hiking boots, because you will use them constantly. Also, remember to pack a warm hoodie and jacket for when it gets chilly at the end of the semester.

My trip abroad made me realise that I want to move abroad to practice occupational therapy as soon as I graduate. While in New Zealand, I shadowed occupational therapists in multiple settings, which showed me that I can practice anywhere. My time abroad also showed me that I can live independently, even when I am completely across the world from my friends and family. I can't wait to live abroad after graduation. My experience is an unforgettable one that has made me a better person.

I spent the fall semester of my junior year in Christchurch, and I regard it as one of the best experiences of my life. The social climate and way of life is laid back and foreigners are welcomed with genuine friendliness. Kiwis are extremely hospitable and outgoing people; I found getting to know them really enriched my experience, in learning their perspectives. The country itself is spectacular, with countless outdoor opportunities, such as as climbing, hiking, kayaking, etc. In terms of the program itself, I found that IES had wonderful on-site staff, and the field trips and programs they organized were all very valuable and a lot of fun. It was good to have a base group of friends and people with which to approach so many new experiences. The country as a whole felt very safe, and was easy to travel throughout. I would go back in a heartbeat.

I loved hiking in the New Zealand countryside. A friend and I did the Abel Tasman Great Walk, a five day hike on the northern tip of the South Island. Essentially, we were hiking for five days in one of the most beautiful environments I have ever seen. The people in New Zealand were very friendly and I never felt unsafe. It was the best semester of my college career.

Though the city has been inconvenienced by the earthquakes, that doesn't mean that Christchurch isn't a place to go to. In fact, it may be the best option to go to within New Zealand. Situated on the eastern coast in the middle of the south island, you're within driving distance to so many magical places. Arthur's Pass, Mt. Cook, Dunedin, Lake Tekapo, and many other places are all within a reasonable distance from the University of Canterbury. Places like Auckland or Otago are a bit removed from other places and take longer to get anywhere. Besides, the south island is 100x more scenic than the northern island!

Regarding the IES program, I would say it's an amazing thing to do if it's an option for you. The program leader here in Christchurch is wonderful - extremely helpful and caring for you. She is always looking out for you and will help in any way she can - she even helped pick classes for a few stressed IES-ers! I'm pretty confident in saying that she's more than welcome at my family's holiday dinner (that's how great she is!). Having our coordinator with my group was invaluable. Scheduled trips and going out to eat at different places is extremely helpful (especially when you first arrive). Though it might not seem like a big deal, a good or bad coordinator for an overseas program can have an impact on how you see the country & how you spend your time abroad.

Why go to a program? Why not just study abroad on your own? For starters, when you immediately arrive with your IES group, you have an immediate group of friends that you can rely on. They're going through the same experiences you are and they can help you (and you'll help them) during your time abroad. That isn't to say that they're the only friends you meet though! You'll meet people outside of IES and make friends with tons of Kiwis. However, should something happen, or you need a place to go for a weekend, or you want a traveling buddy, IES has you covered. I have all of my group's contact information (which is incredibly handy) so getting in touch with someone when you needed it wasn't an issue.

Overall, I've had a blast. Christchurch is awesome. New Zealand is awesome. Being able to be a part of the IES family and meet so many people is awesome. Kiwis are awesome people. If you want to have an awesome experience too, definitely look into coming to Christchurch with IES Abroad!

I went to Christchurch in order to become familiar with a different culture and to study Biology. I was not disappointed in either of these goals. I lived in student housing surrounded by students from all over the world and studied with mostly Kiwis. Through community volunteering experiences I was able to get connected with the citizens of Christchurch and to learn about the culture of New Zealand.

I also had many opportunities to travel the country through program sponsored field trips (which were great!), a week long field course for a class, and lots of independent travel. The country is simply breath taking and the people you meet along the way are always friendly. We had a lot of great fun camping and hiking in the mountains and on the beaches.

Christchurch is a beautiful city and IES has great on-site support staff are always available.