Falling in Love with New Zealand on Day 1 💚

Just arrived in New Zealand — the first few days have been so packed! Every day has been about campus tours and study prep, mostly stuck in downtown Auckland. My initial impression? Clean, with a nice blend of city and nature… but it wasn’t quite what I had dreamed of yet. Finally, a free day to explore! 🌿 We headed to Ambury Farm nearby, then over to Māngere Domain. Now this felt like the New Zealand I imagined — fresh air, peaceful vibes, and Aucklanders just living their calm, happy lives. We even got lucky and caught a rainbow! 🌈 We were busy taking cool photos when a friendly local walked by and said, “What a nice day!” It hit me then — maybe they’re just used to all this beauty, fully immersed in it, going for a relaxed jog without a worry. It reminded me of what one teacher here told us: “People from China are always so busy.” That’s why they scheduled yoga for us — hoping we’d learn to slow down. So here’s my recommendation: Give yourself the chance to slow down in New Zealand — really soak in the nature around you 🍃 And give yourself the space to quiet your mind — and dive into your studies with focus 🧠📚 #AmburyFarm #MāngereDomain #NewZealand #AucklandDayTrips #UniversityOfAuckland #SlowDown #StudyAbroadNZ