What an American International student can expect in Christchurch?
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 by admin
I’m a student currently living in rural Missouri, US. I’m planning on studying abroad at the University of Canterbury next year for either a semester or for the entire NZ academic year. Now, I’m planning to work on classes in Speech-Language Therapy there, and I’m going to try to do a homestay so I can learn more about the kind of life that people in NZ live. What kinds of things can I expect? I’ve never left the country, and have barely left Missouri actually. What is NZ like? 
I live in Christchurch, and we do have indoor heating, it snows here in Winter, this year it has snowed 5 times, of course we have indoor heating!
Also, things are more expencive than in the US, wool, which is produced here by the tonn a day! Is more expencive than in the US.
New Zealand is much more laid back than the US, less traffic, less people – less everything really!
There is a REALLY high percent of Asians in Christchurch, at my old school 3/4 of the kids were asian, not all of them could speak english, I think that is what annoys people.
Christchurch is a lovely city, beautiful gardens, interesting attractions, nice people, great weather (we acctually feel EVERY season), good shopping lol.
Theres so many places in Christchurch to live, every area is different! The university is in an area called Ilam, which is fairly nice, not city like, more a suberb. We have friends who are living at the uni, they just got married (they are indian).
You shouldnt have any worries about coming here, I would be more worried about going to the US. Its just Auckland (North Island) where you get gang violence. People say Christchruch has that at night, and I do believe them (long story, but friends of ours whet to have dinner once, and walked by this religious guy need the cathedral, when they came back, he had been killed). Anyway, dont let it put you off, thats only in the city centre, late at night.
Its a big way, but its really nice here. Have a good trip, if you need more info or pics, I would be happy to do so.
Also Queenstown is really lovely, wayyy to over-priced, you wont may any less than $100 000 000NZD for a basic house. Theres university of Otago down there.
Hope you have a great trip….Good Luck
February 24th, 2010 at 3:47 am
I am a student in Illinois, and I spent 6 weeks in Christchurch over the summer. Feel free to contact me with any questions or to see pictures.
Christchurch is a very English city.. the food is good, the people are nice and very much more relaxed than in the US. I stayed with a family. You will notice they do not have indoor heating or air conditioning. There are some little things you will notice with accents.
Prices of things are despite what people say, quite similar to in the US. Things will cost more in NZ dollars, but the exchange rate is greatly in your favor.. (See http://www.xe.com) its a currency converter.
Seriously… I have so much information on Christchurch feel free to ask.
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February 24th, 2010 at 4:35 am
I live in Christchurch, and we do have indoor heating, it snows here in Winter, this year it has snowed 5 times, of course we have indoor heating!
Also, things are more expencive than in the US, wool, which is produced here by the tonn a day! Is more expencive than in the US.
New Zealand is much more laid back than the US, less traffic, less people – less everything really!
There is a REALLY high percent of Asians in Christchurch, at my old school 3/4 of the kids were asian, not all of them could speak english, I think that is what annoys people.
Christchurch is a lovely city, beautiful gardens, interesting attractions, nice people, great weather (we acctually feel EVERY season), good shopping lol.
Theres so many places in Christchurch to live, every area is different! The university is in an area called Ilam, which is fairly nice, not city like, more a suberb. We have friends who are living at the uni, they just got married (they are indian).
You shouldnt have any worries about coming here, I would be more worried about going to the US. Its just Auckland (North Island) where you get gang violence. People say Christchruch has that at night, and I do believe them (long story, but friends of ours whet to have dinner once, and walked by this religious guy need the cathedral, when they came back, he had been killed). Anyway, dont let it put you off, thats only in the city centre, late at night.
Its a big way, but its really nice here. Have a good trip, if you need more info or pics, I would be happy to do so.
Also Queenstown is really lovely, wayyy to over-priced, you wont may any less than $100 000 000NZD for a basic house. Theres university of Otago down there.
Hope you have a great trip….Good Luck
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I live in Christchurch
February 24th, 2010 at 4:40 am
One of my favourite cities you’ll love it!!
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February 24th, 2010 at 4:53 am
you’ll probably enjoy christchurch. i think aucklands better though.
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live in new zealand
February 24th, 2010 at 5:15 am
The food is fantastic everywhere in NZ, so rich, so watch out you might put on a few kilo’s. Try all the foods, even if they sound different to you put give it ago, you won’t regret it. Try traditional activities get involved with the culture you’ll love it. Violence happens everywhere in the world, but safety in numbers right, majority of us are friendly as. The air is cleaner and fresher too. Hope you get use to the accent, not that we have one, everyone else does.
Enjoy your stay in Aotearoa.
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February 24th, 2010 at 5:21 am
NZ is one of the safest countries in the world and Ide say its VERY different than the USA…NZ is a developed country so we have everything here despite being so far away from other countries.Ive been to the USA and I noticed that the people wern’t as laid back as Kiwis are and the food was bad! (Sorry,plain and super-sized!).
The North and South Island are quite different,2 big differences are the fact that the NI is more multi-cultural (full of Asians, Indians,Islanders etc) and the SI has a lot of scenery (gorgeous Mountains,landscapes etc).Christchurch is a great city,not to big,not to small…If you’re here for a whole year,be sure to visit the NI-go somewhere like Rotorua to experience out Native Culture called "Maori".Rotorua is full of tourist attractions.
In whatever you do just go for it and have fun while your here!!!
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