Hello everyone!
I live in apartment which is really near Queen St. and the school. I have a flatmate who is from Japan. Sometimes we cook together and practice our English conversation.
In Taiwan, I live with my family, and I don't need to do anything beacuse my mother does everything for me. However, now I have to do everything for myself. It's a different kind of life!
Previously, I lived in a homestay. My first homestay was with a Kiwi family and I had my own room. I like Kiwi food and I like having BBQs in the garden. I could only spend 6 minutes each day in the shower! It was not very good for me.
My second homestay was with a Chinese family. They were very friendly, we ate the noodles on the first day. They said it was to welcome me. This homestay gave me lunch everyday and my lunch box was close to 1KG, I think I will become heavy soon.
I love New Zealand, I love Auckland. The weather is sometimes terrible.
Text by Chih yu ming, a student at Languages International
Photo of Languages International Christchurch homestay family by Kurt Langer
22 January 2010
Home Sweet Home
21 January 2010
Cultural Differences: Part 4 of 4 (Germany and New Zealand)
I came to New Zealand for only three weeks. First, I stayed in Auckland for two weeks and then I'm going to Queenstown for for one week. I lived in two different homestays during this time. The reasons for my choices are two different things, too. I will see the country and I will improve my English. As well I will have a holiday. So my days starts at 7am every day. Then I go to school to 1pm. After this I start my sightseeing. By the end of the first week, I realised I had too many wishes. I was really tired. I didn't see many differences, but I will try to describe the things.
Some New Zealand people are really friendly. When you stop on the road they ask: "Is everthing okay? Lost your way?". In Germany that is untypical. The people are direct, friendly and not shy.
Another difference is the bus situation in a big city. I lived in Mission Bay and the bus goes here very often. But in other parts buses are rare. I think this is like a small city in Germany, but not for the biggest city in a country!
I can't describe the difference between eating. The food is a little bit different. My homestay family didn't give me any advice about living there, so I can't describe the different between German and Kiwi families. I think many things are the same. For example: Eating together, sitting at the table and waiting of everyone to finish, not smoking without asking. Next week I'll probably cook for my homestay family. I will cook a typical German recipe.
By a German student at Languages International
Photo of Languages International Christchurch homestay family by Kurt Langer
20 January 2010
Cultural Differences: Part 3 of 4
I have just arrived in New Zealand, and I have already seen the cultural difference in the food... I think that it is very interesting to travel because you can have an open mind, and that's why I decided to come to New Zealand. New Zealand isn't near my country, and i want learn its traditions. I have seen many different nationalities and listened to many different languages. I think that it's a rich country and that it must conserved its riches.
Text by Rebecca's pre intermediate class at Languages International
Photo of traditional New Zealand pavlova by Marco Veringa
19 January 2010
Cultural Differences: Part 2 of 4
I came to New Zealand to study English. It was a new experience to see people driving on the left side. Before crossing the street, I always look on the wrong side of the road. When pedestrians cross the street, the car drivers never stop. Most
Kiwi people aren't very fashionable.
When people say "cheers", they never look you in the eyes.
I live in an apartment with my daughter. It takes only 5 minutes on foot to get to school. I go to school for 4 hours every day and have 2 hours homework. Auckland is a beautiful, green city. From the Sky Tower you have a good view of the city. In the evening you can see the sunset.
Text by Renato, a student at Languages International
Photo by mad1how
18 January 2010
Cultural Differences: Part 1 of 4 (Korea and New Zealand)
Hi! I'm Emily. I'm from Korea. Nice to meet you. ^^ If you come to New Zealand, you will experience cultural differences. So, I'm going to explain some "cultural differences" for you.
I think you should come to New Zealand to see the beautiful views and to meet Kiwi people. It is a wonderful country, but culturally, it is a little different, so be careful! If you do not know anything about New Zealand culture, I will teach you. Don't worry!
First of all, you don't have to take off your shoes. In my country (Korea), we must take off our shoes, but in New Zealand it's ok to leave them on. If you are invited to your Kiwi friend's house you should bring some food (a bottle of wine, a cake, some flowers...) and if you want to smoke you must ask the hostess.
In my country,we should bow to our friends' parents. In New Zealand, we shouldn't bow to our Kiwi friends' parents.
You should make time to have dessert. You should try to smile. (Beacuse in my country people don't smile because they are really busy working.)
This is probably enough advice for you. Remember!! Enjoy your time in New Zealand. You must come to New Zealand to meet me and enjoy your life. Thank you for reading my article. Good luck !! ^^
Text by a Korean student at Languages International
Photo by dotbenjamin
16 January 2010
Home Sweet Home
I have lived in my homestay for 2 weeks. My homestay is located in Greenlane near Cornwall park. I go to school by bus and go home by train. I usually spend about 25 minutes on the bus and about 15 minutes on the train. My homestay is 20 minutes from the train station on foot.
My homestay mom is from England. She is just 24 years old. She is very kind and cheerful, so I like her. My homestay father is from Malaysia. He works in construction so I'm not familiar with him, but he is pleasant.
And there is one baby. She is just 15 months old. She is very lovely and adorable, but sometimes she is a troublemaker! She spills her drink on the floor and shouts and cries very loudly. Sometimes, she hides her mom's possessions. Later, her Mom finds her possessions in the fridge! My homestay mother is always telling her "get out of my fridge!!" There is another homestay student, who is also from Korea, and she is very helpful.
Dinner is not western style. We usually eat rice. I don't have any problems about the food. The house is very old, but I like my homestay and homestay family :-)
Text by Rebecca's Pre-Intermediate class at Languages International
Photo of Cornwall Park by Sandy Austin
15 January 2010
Tiritiri Matangi - tossed by the wind
Tiritiri Matangi is a bird sanctuary which is really worth visiting. In the language of the Maori its name means "tossed by the wind". This awesome island is located north of Auckland. It's reachable by ferry in 75 minutes. Pay attention, the ferry leaves once a day from Wednesday to Sunday and you have to book it beforehand.
When we arrived last Sunday we were welcomed by incredibly beautiful sounds of various kinds of birds. A volunteer guide introduced us to the philosophy of Tiritiri. The island used to be farmland for the Maori. After that period it was designated to an open sanctuary. However, the island wasn't able to re-vegetate itself, that's why they founded a students' programme to plant new trees and bring the native bush back.
There are different walking paths you can choose to discover the magic and beauty of this island. You will pass some feeding stations where you will see a wide range of endangered and utterly rare birds. If you'd like to take a picture of them you have to have a quick sense of reaction. But as we like to point out nothing is impossible!
Some birds we saw were for example the Stitchbird (Hihi), the Saddleback, the Rifleman (flying egg), the Pukeko and also the Takahe, which impressed us by its tremendous size and cheekiness. We would highly recommend this day trip to anyone who is interested in nature experiences and adventure.
Text by Simone and Julia, students at Languages International
Photo by Sandy Austin
14 January 2010
America's Cup
Sailing is one of the most popular sports in NZ, especially in Auckland where the biggest harbour in the southern hemisphere is located, so it`s a must to go on a sailing trip.
Languages International offered in the Social Programme a trip with one of the most powerful sailing yachts ever built, an Americas`s Cup boat. It was an amazing experience to sail with such a high-tech yacht. We were not only guests we bacame hands-on crew members. We could steer the boat, grind the winches and help the supervising crew.
If you have the opportunity to go on such a trip, do it!
Text by Martin and Patrick from HD`s CAE class
Photo by Lynda W1
