I ’ve been making the Wellington Harbourside Market a regular part of my Sundays for about a month now, and it’s become my go-to spot for fresh produce and local treats. I usually grab my favorites like broccoli, cucumbers, apples, and oranges. But recently I found a new favorite fruit, red kiwis, which are amazing and taste like a mix of pineapple and raspberries. The first week, I got a jar of manuka honey. I use it almost every day and still have a lot left. I have found m

I spent a day at the Wellington Zoo. There was a really wide range of animals around the zoo. I saw larger animals such as giraffes, lions, tigers, and snow leopards, along with sun bears and a few red pandas. There were also birds like the native kea, penguins, and even ostriches. The primate section had a lot going on, with chimpanzees, gibbons, tamarins, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and two types of lemurs, ring-tailed and black-and-white ruffed. There were also small

After getting settled in Wellington, classes officially started at VUW. I have in-person classes on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Pipitea campus, which is about a 25 minute walk from my apartment. It’s actually a really nice way to start the day. The mornings are usually pretty cool and sometimes cold, but the walk is a good way to wake up. One thing I’ve already noticed is that my schedule is very different from what I’m used to at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Most clas

I arrived in Wellington from Queenstown, got picked up by an arranged shuttle from the university, and headed straight to check into the dorms and start figuring everything out. The first couple of days were very chaotic, between moving in, getting my room set up, and walking around the city to get a feel for it. My family and I spent a lot of time around Cuba Street and Willis Street, just exploring and getting familiar with where things are. Also did the essential supply ru

I just got to Wellington for my study abroad, but before settling in, I spent a week traveling around New Zealand with my family. We landed in Auckland, slept, and left the next morning. Drove down to Rotorua, stopping at Mount Eden for views and Blue Springs along the way. Swimming in Lake Tikitapu and sunset at Hannah’s Bay were highlights. The next day, we went to Waiotapu Geothermal Area (geysers and hot pools) and did the Rainbow Mountain walk. Then back to Auckland for