Hello everyone, I am Aki Yamamoto, a 3rd year student at ICT. By the way, how much do you know about New Zealand? If you are reading this article, you are probably thinking of entering ICT in the future. In this article, I would like to introduce some interesting points about New Zealand based on my experience of traveling and staying there.

  First of all, when we think of New Zealand, we think of beautiful nature and wilderness. It is full of outdoor activity sites. If you like to get in touch with nature, you will find plenty to enjoy. I recently went on a family vacation in New Zealand for the summer. Our first destination was Lake Tekapo, a 3-hour drive from Christchurch. Photo 1 shows a mountain road I took along the way. It looks like a beautiful photo from a mineral water label, doesn't it? Next, Photo 2 shows Lake Tekapo, which was the main destination for that day. The water is a nice light blue! It was so beautiful that I forgot that the weather was cloudy.

  The next day, we went trekking on the Hooker Valley Track, the most iconic hiking trail in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Photo 3 shows Hooker Lake, located at the end of the hiking trail. I was surprised that you can see the glacier even in summer. It is incredibly beautiful, and the water's surface reflects so perfectly that you might not be able to tell which way is up or down.

  We also enjoyed a thrilling boat tour, speeding down the river on a high-speed jet boat. Additionally, we visited Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, where we marveled at the unique landscapes formed by volcanic activity. Photo 4 shows “Devil's Bath”, a lake created by volcanic activity that looks like a pool of slime. We experienced many other natural wonders as well.

  Now that you have probably gotten a better idea of what makes New Zealand so appealing. I would like to talk about my life in New Zealand from here. School hours are basically from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, which is not that busy. I am almost done with classes, having completed most of my course credits, and I am only taking engineering design classes now. As for the difficulty level of obtaining credit, I would say that it is almost the same as ICT. Furthermore, I think it is easier to pass the math course than the ICT course. At Otago Polytechnic, where 3rd year ICT students study abroad, 95% of the math content is a review of what we learned in ICT, and there is no new content in particular. This means that there is a lot of free time after school and on weekends. In my case, I play badminton with friends at the sports center, which students can use for free, and visit nearby sightseeing spots.

  Studying abroad is often thought of as challenging, but ICT's New Zealand study abroad program is an easygoing experience, so why not give it a go?

Aki Yamamoto

Hello, I am Haruki Ohta, a 3rd year student of ICT. I am currently studying abroad in New Zealand and enjoying the most wonderful life. Eight months have passed since April, and it is already December. Time really flies. I am so grateful to my parents for allowing me to enter ICT and study abroad in New Zealand. Thank you.

By the way, I ride a road bike in New Zealand. I didn't bring the bike from Japan, but bought a used bike in New Zealand for about 60,000 yen. It is for commuting and training. However, I had a certain assumption. "Dunedin is a city, so there are fewer mountains than Japan, it is flat, and a road bike is good." This was a big mistake. After buying a road bike, I was excited to explore the area around the school, but there were only steep slopes. My homestay is in an area with a series of steep slopes to the school, and there are many steep slopes with an average gradient of 14%, which is even difficult to walk on. You may be able to climb the slopes if you go on a mountain bike or electric bicycle, but road bikes require power because the gear ratio is small. Local people even push their bikes. In other words, it's "tough (I can't climb)". I completely regret it. When I commute, I ride while carrying a bag with my laptop and other items, which adds extra weight on top of the steep hills. To be honest, it's hell. But it is good for me and I think it is necessary to get stronger in competitions, so I haven't given up and ride almost every day without getting off my bike. After 8 months, I am now able to easily climb steep slopes (I think). I am happy that I have gotten a little stronger, but another problem has occurred. My thighs got too big and I can’t wear 90% of the pants I brought from Japan.

I've been riding road bikes in New Zealand since April, and there have been many good and difficult things. What I learned here is "There is no limit! Break through with determination!" I've always had a strong spirit of challenge and have done many things, and of course I did stupid and dangerous things. But until now, I was just challenging myself, or I would give up if I thought it was even a little difficult. Through my road bike experience, I have been able to push myself and go beyond my limits. I think this is something that is common everywhere. At first, I thought I was bad at data analysis and programming for AI research, which I have never done before, but I persevered and am now gradually becoming good at it.

At first glance, road bikes may seem like just expensive bikes, but I think there is a lot to be gained from riding a road bike. It may be better to try something and put in a little effort. This is not just about road bikes, but rather it is about not being interested in anything or not trying anything because of prejudice.

I have been able to have a variety of experiences through this study abroad. It is rare to study abroad for a long period of time, such as a year, rather than a short period of time, and not everyone can experience it. I am truly grateful to my parents for allowing me to enter ICT and for giving me this valuable opportunity. I would like to live my life in New Zealand from now on, realizing that this is not something to be taken for granted and feeling grateful.

Haruki Ohta

Hello, I am Ryona Natsuki, a 3rd year student of ICT. I am currently studying at Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin, New Zealand. This study abroad program is for 3rd year students of our school, and students live in NZ for a year in a homestay. This time, I would like to talk about my homestay life, the daily events, and my tragedy in NZ.

First, I want to talk about “my homestay life in NZ”. My homestay is located about 40 minutes by car from the school. When I leave school, I take the bus, and I have to change buses. There are not many buses available, so I rarely go anywhere with my friends in the evening. However, because of this, I am able to take evening walks to the sea and spend time with my host family. My host family is like my real parents, and they are strict with me when I don't meet their standards, which allows me to continue living a fulfilling life. I am very grateful to my host family for providing me with healthy and delicious food in a lovely house.

Next, I will talk about “how I spend my time after school”. I have always loved volleyball and used to play with my friends at the Hakusanroku Campus. In NZ, there is a gymnasium located a five-minute walk from the campus where we play volleyball almost every day after school. Japanese anime, “Haikyu‼”, is the reason why many overseas students started playing volleyball. Because I love the anime myself, we get along well, and I have made quite a few friends through volleyball now. I also have friends who are studying Japanese because they want to live in Japan, and I sometimes teach them Japanese, which leads to mutual cultural exchange and an enjoyable time. Furthermore, my friends sometimes invite me to volleyball tournaments and club activities, so I have been able to interact with many people through volleyball, which is very fulfilling.

I enjoy playing volleyball at this gym called "Unipole".バレーボールを楽しむ体育館　Unipol

Finally, I want to talk about “the biggest tragedy of studying abroad”. I have made this mistake myself and there is nothing I can do about it. However, please read on as it is something that is often overlooked when studying abroad, and you will really regret it. There is limited insurance coverage for studying in NZ. In this situation, I am suffering from tooth decay. Cavities are not covered by insurance while studying here, and the cost of treatment is really high without insurance. Before I came to NZ, I did not have a dental check-up and enjoyed my last Japanese meal. Even though I brush my teeth daily, all my previous cavities were released at once when I arrived in NZ, and the tragedy began in May. My teeth hurt, and I had to go to the dentist where my host family advised me to have an examination. By doing so, I had to pay $275 (about ￥25,000) for a single tooth. I brushed my teeth within 5 minutes of every meal to avoid cavities so that I would never have to spend this extra money again. However, this was only the beginning. Before coming to NZ, I didn't take good care of my teeth, which led to more cavities and cost me around $3,000 (about ￥270,000) in dental treatment. I felt stupid and depressed about what I was doing. I want to make sure that this does not happen to anyone who reads this. Also, I will ensure that this does not happen to me again.

I hope to create more great memories by sharing experiences with my host family and friends during the rest of my stay until March of next year.

Ryona Natsuki

Hello, this is Kasumi Ozawa from Study Abroad Section. I would like to share with you about the visit of our valued partner from New Zealand.

On Friday, October 4th, 2024, with a pleasant autumn breeze, Ms. Kerrie Hodgson from Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand, with whom we have a long-standing partnership, visited ICT. The main purpose of her visit was to share information with the students who will be studying abroad next year and to meet the students directly in order to ensure that they have a fulfilling study abroad experience. Our relationship with Otago Polytechnic began in 2002, and Ms. Hodgson has served as a bridge between Otago Polytechnic and ICT from the beginning. We are very grateful to Ms. Hodgson, who has been a trusted partner to us, and we extended our warmest welcome to her.

Otago Polytechnic has campuses in Oakland, Cromwell, and Dunedin, and our 3rd year students are enjoying their study abroad experience in Dunedin, where their headquarters are located. Twenty-one students will be studying abroad next year, and as preparations begin, they are thinking about the life that awaits them in New Zealand. Meeting and talking with Ms. Hodgson must have made their ideas about study abroad more realistic. Ms. Hodgson greeted the students, introduced them to Otago Polytechnic, and told them about New Zealand and Dunedin. The students' eyes seemed to light up when she told them that they could see wild penguins, fur seals, and albatrosses in Otago Bay. I think seeing wildlife and feeling beautiful nature is one of the things that students want to do in Dunedin. I am sure that her important message, “‘Don't be afraid to try things and be proactive’ is the key of studying abroad”, has reached the hearts of the students.

The students moved to the cafeteria for lunch and to have smaller conversations with Ms. Hodgson. Only a few students actively asked questions, which I thought was an issue for the future. The key to a successful study abroad experience is to express their thoughts and feelings to the fullest extent, without hesitation. I hope that the students will make use of what they thought and felt during her visit in their preparation for and during their study abroad.

昼食を取りながら２年生と会話をするホッジスン氏

We admire Ms. Hodgson as “She is more Japanese than Japanese”. We have a lot of trust in her because of her sincere hospitality and dedication to our program. We hope that she will continue to act as a bridge between our two schools and enhance our partnership.

Kasumi Ozawa

Hello, I'm Tenzing Deguchi, currently studying abroad in Dunedin, New Zealand, during my 3rd year in ICT. I'm really enjoying my time here, especially with all the sports and music activities I do with my friends. But without a doubt, the best memory of my study abroad experience so far has been the ski trip to Queenstown.

Early in the morning on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024, the teachers and students gathered on campus, and we took a bus about 160 km to Wanaka. On the bus, we had a blast singing karaoke, using a speaker we brought along to play music. On the way, we stopped to eat New Zealand’s famous meat pies and played in a park before getting back on the bus. After a while, we arrived at “Puzzling World”. Puzzling World is like an optical illusion museum, with a lot of art that plays tricks on your eyes. There were rooms and mazes we could actually walk into and interact with. It was so much fun watching my normally tall friend suddenly appear short!

At the Mexican restaurantメキシカンレストランにて

Our accommodation was nearby, with six of us in one room. After unpacking, we immediately headed to Lake Wanaka, which was right in front of us. Since we’re a group of energetic boys, it didn’t take long for an impromptu shoving match to start by the water, which got super intense and fun. In the end, Natsuki lost and had to return with wet clothes and shoes. That night, we had Mexican food and stopped by a supermarket to grab snacks and dessert (ice cream, of course).

On the second day, we went to Cardrona Alpine Resort—this was the main highlight of the trip. We've had a lot of fun skiing and snowboarding during our stay at Hakusanroku Campus, but everyone agreed that this was our best skiing experience yet. New Zealand doesn’t get as much snow as Japan, so the ski resorts are at higher altitudes, and most of the snow is artificial. The snow was light and powdery, and while there were a lot of people, the breathtaking scenery more than made up for it. We skied under a bright blue sky, with stunning mountains stretching out to the horizon. Since there weren’t any trees on the slopes, we could ski anywhere we wanted, which really ignited our sense of adventure. However, amidst all the excitement, one of my friends lost his phone. We tried using Snapchat’s location feature, but it wasn’t helpful, and he was devastated as he hadn’t seen his phone in two hours. Thankfully, one of the ski shops had it—apparently, a kind tourist had found and handed it in. That night, we made burgers for dinner, went to the supermarket again, and played card games before going to bed.

On the last day, we headed down to Queenstown to ride the luge carts, which are like go-karts that race downhill. Before that, we stopped at a famous local McDonald's for a bite. I couldn’t finish my Big Mac, so I took it to-go. Feeling all excited, I was carrying the Big Mac and fooling around when I tripped and broke my front tooth. At that moment, my mind went blank, and I had this terrible vision of living out the rest of my life with a goofy smile and no chance of finding love, which really brought my mood down. During the luge ride, I was the only one who crashed my cart into a wall and got thrown out, which made me feel even more clumsy and sad. But then we went bungee jumping, and it was so thrilling that I completely forgot about everything. I was the first to jump, and although I was a bit scared at first, once I was strapped into the harness, I got excited and just went for it. It felt like flying through the sky, and it was the best feeling ever. On the bus ride back, I slept, and before I knew it, we were back at school.

It was hands down the most fun I’ve had during my time in New Zealand.