I am very excited to study abroad in New Zealand, but I’m not going to lie; I have been pretty nervous about it.  I have never been out of the country or flown alone before, so both of those are new experiences for me.  To top it all off, one of my flights on the way to New Zealand was delayed, which made me worried I would be late to New Zealand.

This trip is also a very quick turn around for me.  My flight was two days after my last final at UA, so the day after I packed up my dorm and headed home, I packed for my study abroad trip.  So, I really only had one day to pack my bags and make sure I had everything I needed before I flew out.  That was pretty stressful because I had to focus on studying for finals instead of focusing on going abroad in less than a week.

Despite this, I am writing this in the airport as I wait during my layover on the way to New Zealand, and I feel pretty excited.  Because it is my first time abroad, I do not have many expectations for New Zealand, but I know it will be a once in a lifetime experience.  Everyone I have told about my trip has said to me that New Zealand is on their bucket list of places to go to, and I am really grateful that I have this opportunity.  I also cannot wait to experience and learn about a new country. My excitement definitely outweighs my nervousness, and I am so glad I decided to study abroad.