IEP

I personally always wanted to go overseas to make this special experience of living on one`s own in a different country after graduating from High School.

In the American Institute for Foreign Study I found an absolutely reliable and professional travel agency which supported me a lot in my intentions of working and travelling abroad.

After a reasonable time of preparation I finally started my journey on July 27 in 2015 when I left Germany to fly to Auckland, New Zealand. (To be honest I actually do not know why I chose New Zealand to go to but in hindsight I definitely do not regret my decision!)

On the first days abroad the IEP Team Auckland welcomed and introduced us to life in New Zealand which was a great launch. Within my first three months I took part in an Internship program organized by AIFS and New Zealand Internships.

While I was working at a hostel and the tourism office Tamaki Maori Village in Rotorua I had the possibility to get an insight in such tourism companies and how they work. It also gave me the chance to get used to New Zealand life style pretty quick and therefore made it a very good first time.

Afterwards I was offered a job at a Marketing company in Auckland where I acquired a great deal of speaking and listening skills due to continuous contact to all kind of English speaking costumers.

During the end of summer and autumn I also worked on the unbelievable strawberry farm in a suburb of Auckland. I had such an amazing time working and living there and alongside the tourism office Tamaki it was the best job I have ever done.

However, even the best times have to end and I left the farm to finally start travelling New Zealand for a month. I explored the whole country with Kiwi Experience, met some more amazing people and experienced this country`s pure beauty day by day.

At the end of May I arrived in Christchurch where my journey through New Zealand finished. It had already been 10 months since I left Germany but even though this was kind of a farewell it was not time to say good bye yet. Because straight after I went to Australia where I spent some of the best weeks in my entire life.

Surfing at the Gold Coast, sailing through the Withsunday Islands, driving on the world`s largest sand island, diving at the Great Barrier Reef, camping in the outback and exploring the Great Ocean Road with friends from all over the world. These are memories for life.

To make a few closing remarks I strongly believe that going abroad is a lesson and an experience for life which is definitely worth doing! Furthermore I would also like to thank Peter Pans Adventure Travel. These guys absolutely know how to have an amazing time and give you the chance to experience a different culture really easily; means no worries at all mate ;)

Skydiving in Taupo was a real highlight for me. I met so many cool people on the Kiwi Experience bus, and made a pact with one girls to skydive with her. That was in Paihia. By the time we got to Taupo, our emotions had already felt like a roller coaster ride. It was exhilarating, scary, fun, and a real triumph. I can't believe I did it, and I can't imagine doing it anywhere else for the first time. Being in this unique time of my life, meeting new people, and having new adventures was what I set out to do, but actually skydiving was something else and really encapsulated my time there. I just went for it, and had the time of my life!

My name is Darwin, I'm 21 and I live in Germany,

Two of my friends told me lots of stories about the beautiful New Zealand and the peaceful people. I decided to leave my home to find out more about my true self by travelling. Just two weeks after I finished school I began travelling in New Zealand. My adventure began. I made heaps of experiences which trained my mind and soon I realized how easy life can be. The start is usually always not really easy whatever you plan to do. The same applies logically for travelling. But do not see just the problems. When you take the first step you will find out that you are not alone on your way. There will always be helpful people. During my journey I wasn't a big fan of working in the industry like fruit quality control, packing, vineyard work ... blablabla these are important experiences, yes, and especially when you want to and have to earn money it's important too, but I just can say try also WWOOFing. It's up to you what you want, but when you work as a WWOOFer you will get in contact with real kiwis and are able to learn so much from then. On my journey I lived together with artists, engineers and farmers. They taught me heaps about New Zealands history, lifestyle, about nature and life and more. I learned new things like do pottery and how an airplane is constructed.

I had how we call it "good times" and "bad times" and I knew next to my journey I had always a helpful community from IEP which gave me support in difficult situations.

At last I just want to give you a profound advice which I got on my journey. Try not to get in rush like you have to see all the "famous attractions" and have to do all the "exciting activities". That's not important. You will get enough exciting moments. You don't have to see everything. That's not the point of travelling. The point is that you be open enough for that what your journey is going to give you. Realize that you are not alone on your path. You will get new friendships, new skills, new perspectives and more. Just try to enjoy it and follow your feelings.
I wish you a great journey!
Your Darwin

Going through IEP to New Zealand was a great decision. I made good friends and once we had all settled in different parts of the country it was so nice to have people you knew dotted around the island.
Once finishing my job in Hawkes Bay, I had decided to move onto Christchurch area and start to explore the South Island.
I lived with the family I worked for and just decided to spent my last night packing and relaxing as the family were out and about.
I heard the door go and went into the kitchen to my surprise it was filled with food and wine. They had cancelled their evenings to have a going away party for me.
The fire was lit out on the deck and I was given such thoughtful and lovely presents to say farewell. It was a top evening, laughing and talking and just enjoying ourselves.
I had only lived with them 2 months and I was so touched. The reason I decided to share this story, although it is short is that New Zealand people are some of the kindest people I have ever met. I thought I had a lucky experience but most other backpackers had similar ones to me.
They really got me involved in their lives and I felt like a member of the family.
They came to visit me in Christchurch when I was there and we keep in touch through Facebook.
I cant wait for them to come and visit me in the UK, living with them really made my trip!

Lots of stuff happened in New Zealand with me. I made wonderful experiences, met new friends, had adventures experiences, moment in which I cried and laughed. I never ever wonna have missed the time.
I visited the Waitomo caves, flew around with a plane, drove boat, went fishing and so much more. I will keep all that in my memory, but one memory is burned especially into my mind.
This one moment when I climbed up the mountain, so tired and exhausted and turned around. I turned around to see this wonderful scenery, to have this wonderful view and it was breath taking. I just set down and enjoyed the moment. I listened to my own body, I listened to the nature and tried to absorb all the surroundings. I calmed totally down and just felt peaceful. At one with my body, soul and the nature, as if everything finally fit together. I can't really describe it better, you just have to climb up there by yourself and live the experience...