Hello, I’m Ruuna Nakazawa, a 3rd year student at ICT. Right now, it's the middle of winter in New Zealand, and it’s as cold as in January in Japan. Because of that, warm outerwear like a down jacket is essential when going outside. Today, I’d like to share a bit about my daily life here in New Zealand.

I’m staying with a host family that includes a host mother, a host father, and two host sisters who are around my age. When I first arrived, there were also two other housemates, but one of them recently returned to her home country. I had a lot in common with her, and even though we only spent a short time together, we became very close. I don’t talk with my host family extensively every day, but they all have a great sense of humor, and simply spending time together in the living room often brings lots of laughter. There's also a large dog at home, and I often play with it.

 

The house is located on a hill, and from the living room I can enjoy a wide view that includes the sea. One night, when the aurora appeared, I was able to watch the beautiful display right from the balcony. The house also has an electric piano and a garage with a dance floor, creating the perfect environment for me to fully enjoy my hobbies—playing the piano and dancing.

I have fewer classes here than I did during my 1st and 2nd years, and there are more holidays as well, so I now have more free time. Thanks to that, I’ve been able to spend plenty of time on my hobbies like piano, dance, and drawing. Speaking of dance, I’ve joined a dance club at Otago Polytechnic and take weekly lessons to improve my skills. I’m also taking an online course about AI, using my free time to deepen my interests.

One unique feature of New Zealand is its rich natural environment, and I’ve been going on hikes regularly to experience it. Dunedin has many well-maintained walking tracks managed by the local government, and I choose where to go by checking the city’s website. Each location offers different scenery and plants that I wouldn’t find in Japan, which makes each hike fascinating. As a dog lover, I also enjoy encountering dogs out on their walks.

While I’ve been enjoying these peaceful and fulfilling days, I also face some challenges. One of them is my English ability, especially speaking. Although I’ve gotten used to being surrounded by English, I still lack the confidence to actively start conversations on my own.

Now that a third of my study abroad experience has passed, I want to continue making the most of this warm host family environment and the free time I have, taking on new challenges little by little, and continuing to grow as a person.

Ruuna Nakazawa