My Experience of Study Abroad in New Zealand

by Madina Myrzakerova

Kia ora! (Maōri: hello/cheers/thank you) My name is Madina Myrzakerova. I’m an international student from Kazakhstan at MC double majoring in Biology and Chemistry. This year, after finals, I went home and had a long layover in Miami. That layover allowed me to explore Miami a bit and it was very fun. In Almaty, my hometown, I spent time with my family and ate a lot of food that I missed so much! However, my summer break ended on July 6th, when I arrived in New Zealand where I’m spending the first semester of my junior year at Massey University. I traveled to New Zealand through South Korea where I stayed with my friend in Incheon for a bit. So it’s been a month since I arrived in beautiful Aotearoa (Maōri name for New Zealand). And in this blog, I’ll share my experience of studying abroad in New Zealand. 

Even though I’m an international student at Maryville already, I wanted to study abroad as an exchange student to explore more countries. I started my application process in the fall semester my sophomore year and applied through the ISEP exchange program. Why New Zealand? I was always interested in wildlife and conservation, and New Zealand is a very interesting place for this. I also wanted to visit Aotearoa for a long time due to its natural beauty and fascinating wildlife (birds, specifically!). Here, I’m taking four classes: vertebrate zoology, ecology, ornithology, and inorganic chemistry. I enjoy all of my classes, but I especially enjoy ornithology class where we learn a lot about endemic New Zealand birds. In September, I’ll join my ornithology class as we go to the Cook strait to see seabirds. There is a lot to do outside of classes as well. There’s a huge recreation center with a gym, dance studio, and a lot of sports courts. I often go to play tennis with a friend I met here during orientation. Most of the people I know here, I met during orientation which was divided into halls (residential) orientation by the accommodation office, and the international orientation held by the University. 

There are a lot of clubs and student-led organizations about which I learned during the club's day on campus. I joined Massey Student Wildlife and Conservation Club (MSWCC). With MSWCC, I volunteer at the Green Corridor program that helps to remove invasive species and return native species in Manawatu, Wildbase Recovery center that helps injured birds to recover and be released into the wild, and a Bird’s rescue center as well. I will also go to the Ruahine Whio protectors program that will be happening later in August to volunteer with whio, an endemic endangered species of ducks in New Zealand. Wildbase Recovery center occasionally gets patients like rurus and keas, and I would be extremely lucky to be able to take care of these incredible animals. And they have resident animals like kākāriki, kākā, and tuatara, all of which are endemic to New Zealand. 

An interesting thing that I still have a hard time with is left-hand traffic. Before coming here, I didn’t know that Kiwis (New Zealanders call themselves that) drive on the left-hand side, even though it was intuitive due to UK influence. I thought it would not be a problem since I didn’t plan to drive here anyway. But I noticed a fun thing: when crossing a road I look to the right side first because I’m so used to this, then I remember that there's left-hand traffic in New Zealand but I’m still confused from which side a car will come. People here are used to the left-sided way, so they walk the way they drive: on the left side. And I, being from a country with right-hand traffic, walk on the right side and often have to move to not annoy Kiwis :) 

It’s only been a month, but I really enjoyed my time at Massey University. I’m looking forward to traveling and exploring more and more during the next four months as well. I created a long list of places that I want to visit in New Zealand on both South and North Islands, and, hopefully, I get to visit them all. 

Picture 1. Golfing day during residential orientation week. Orlando country club, Palmerston North, New Zealand; July 8th, 2025. 

Picture 2. Going out with other ISEP exchange students. Palmerston North, New Zealand; July 6th, 2025. With Jakob, Aya, David, Derrick, Vojtěch, and Akki. 

Picture 3. Visiting Aviary and the Wildbase Recovery Center prior to volunteer induction. Palmerston North, New Zealand; July 12th, 2025. With Ada, an exchange student from UT Chattanooga, and Loretta, a first-year vet student at Massey from the USA. 

Picture 4. Female kākāriki (an endemic species of parrots in New Zealand), a resident in the Wildbase recovery center, for whom volunteers take care of. Palmerston North, New Zealand; July 26th, 2025.