Simon Hird  / /  Geography  / /  University of Auckland  / /  NZ

London Heathrow

This all feels very surreal.

Over the last two years study abroad has been the goal, the next big thing, the last thing written in my diary, the thing my conversations always seem to touch upon, so much chat it almost felt mundane.

Now it’s finally here I can’t really fathom that it is real.

But this is happening… I am going to New Zealand… for an entire year.

Writing it down helps – the excitement is kicking in again.

The hardest bit up until now hasn’t been choosing where to go, or writing all those personal statements and applications, or applying for a visa, or accommodation, or choosing what to pack – it’s been saying goodbye and loosening my grip on my life in the UK.

Saying goodbye to friends and family is the worst. But that’s good. Sometimes you need something like this too realise how much it all matters. And anyway they all know that you are doing something pretty special.

My flight leaves in an hour or so (11:25 am), with a brief layover in Singapore. In total I think it is about 24 hours of flying/connection time and I am due to arrive in Auckland tomorrow at 22:20 local time (11:20 UK Time). From there I will be picked up by the uni and dropped off at Carlaw Park Student Village, the second year halls that I will be staying at for this semester at least. I will probably do a blog post on accommodation at some point, so keep an eye out for that if you are looking for some guidance.

I guess that is it for now. I will post another one up in a couple of weeks once I am somewhat settled in to life at Auckland.

Simon

🤘 🖖