Why study abroad at Victoria University of Wellington?
Get inspired by the first-hand account of our study abroad student, Maria Howard, as she shares her experiences in New Zealand at Victoria University of Wellington. Maria, only two months into her study abroad journey, tells us about her awe-inspiring encounter with a wild whale and her personal growth through joining a whitewater kayaking club.
For Maria, studying abroad in New Zealand has been a great way to discover this unique country while in her final year at Georgetown University (Washington DC), majoring in Culture and Politics. Maria’s Study Abroad experience began at Victoria University of Wellington just two months ago. In this short space of time, Maria has packed her days with thrilling adventures, from whitewater kayaking to conquering the summit of Roy’s Peak in Wānaka in the South Island (to name a few!).
Maria was drawn to New Zealand’s accessibility as an English-speaking country with a rich and diverse culture set against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty.
“My heart had always been set on travelling to New Zealand, so when I began looking for a study abroad experience, New Zealand was my top choice. Where else can you visit a beach, a glacier, and a sound all in one day?”
She also imagined it was a safe bet, thinking:
“New Zealand is like Australia without the scary animals!”
Maria at the top of Queenstown Hill
Maria at the top of Queenstown Hill
Maria at Lake Pukaki in front of Mount Cook
Maria at Lake Pukaki in front of Mount Cook
Maria was drawn to Wellington due to its balance of city and nature, and its proximity to the South Island. She shares:
“I’m happy with my decision to study at Victoria University of Wellington. Wellington has great accessibility to the beaches and little hikes surrounding the city, as well as being a walkable city in general. I am happy in Wellington on a day-to-day basis.”
Within Wellington, Maria has been taking advantage of all the city has to offer, including attending the FIFA World Cup to cheer on the USA team, attending the Sunday Harbourside Market to stock up on fruits and vegetables for the week, and jumping into the cold harbour in winter (just for fun!). Maria also shares: “I follow a group on Facebook that keeps an eye on whale sightings near the city and recently there was a sighting in Evans Bay. My friends and I went to see and just as the sun had set, we saw the back of a whale in the distance. We stayed for another half hour just to make sure that’s what we were actually seeing. I was so excited to see a whale in the wild. It was one of the items on my New Zealand tick list.”
Maria has also been able to meet Kiwi students through her courses, with many opportunities coming from in-class discussions. While class sizes at Victoria University of Wellington have been comparable to those at Georgetown, the biggest difference has been having larger assignments less often, compared to continuous assessments throughout her Georgetown courses.
Outside of Wellington, Maria spent her mid-term break in a motor home for 13 days, travelling around the South Island and seeing as much as she could, including the most iconic spots—Queenstown, Milford Sound and Mount Cook.
When asked if Maria has any plans to return to Wellington and New Zealand in the future, she shares:
“Wellington is a city that’s worth being so far away from home. I don’t know if I’ll end up living here again, but I’ll definitely be back to visit.”
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