Hello, I’m Ruuna Nakazawa, a 3rd-year student. I’ve shared my life in New Zealand through this ICT journal before. After that, I spent fulfilling days with my warm host family, but on 15th March, we left Dunedin and returned to Japan the next day. Today, I would like to share my reflections on my last days in New Zealand and this past year.

In March, the celebrations and procedures required for returning to Japan increased, and I had more opportunities to feel that my stay in New Zealand was coming to an end. At the farewell party held at Otago Polytechnic ten days before our departure, we received completion certificates, presented our memories and life in New Zealand in front of our host families, and enjoyed food together. I felt a bit embarrassed during the presentation, but it was a good opportunity to look back on my life and memories over the past year. Additionally, some of my friends shared funny episodes with their host families, which created a warm and joyful atmosphere. On the way back home, my host father bought me delicious gelato, and that also made me happy to spend time with my host family.

There was also a graduation ceremony for all the graduates of Otago Polytechnic, and we participated in it wearing academic gowns. During the parade, the graduates walked to the hall located in the city center, I felt inspired by the atmosphere of the whole city celebrating the graduates. The ceremony was held at a gorgeous city hall, and Māori traditional dancing was performed. It became one of my most memorable events in New Zealand.

On the day we left Dunedin, my host mother and father came to see me off, even though it was early in the morning. I had expected to say goodbye with a cheerful feeling because I had been a little excited about returning to Japan. However, when I hugged my host parents before getting on the bus, many memories with them came to mind, and a few tears fell unexpectedly. Even after saying goodbye, while on the bus heading to the airport, I reminisced about various memories and shed a few more tears. I think the tears came not only from the sadness of not being able to see them for a while but also from a sense of regret—feeling that I should have shown more appreciation and made my host family happier.

Because I felt that my actions toward achieving my ideal study-abroad experience were not enough, I had thought that my self-evaluation for this year would be low. However, regardless of that, I realized from those tears that living in an environment completely different from Japan had become my “normal,” my everyday life—and that I had grown enough to feel sad about leaving it. I think these changes in what feels normal to me represent how much I’ve grown compared to who I was before going to New Zealand.

Based on these reflections, I now feel that I would like to try studying abroad again someday. In the sense of jumping into a new environment, I will soon begin a new life in Kanazawa. While improving and maintaining my English so that I can go abroad again in the future, I hope to continue growing by learning and experiencing new things.

Ruuna Nakazawa

Graduation Parade卒業式の日のパレードの様

In the city, wearing an academic gownアカデミックガウンを着て街中で撮影

Chocolate given by my host family on the day of departure出発当日にホストファミリーからもらったチョコレート