Student Stories

I made to many friends not only from New Zealand but from Italy, Germany, China, it's awesome to have that diversity.

I had the best time ever, me and my chilean friends enjoyed of being there, they're all so kind and lovely. I admire the Kiwi's attitude because they're always so respectful.

The international team of WGHS was the best, they were always really attentive and they helped us in everything we needed.

My host family was the best, I can't really tell how much I love them and how grateful I am for all what they did for me, I loved the kiwi live style.

And the activities we did were amazing, I did a lot of new things (things that I thought I never would do), like surfing, snorkeling, caving, kayaking, and so many others! My favorite activity was going to Cape Reinga, the road trip with the another international students was so fun I had a really great time.

I'm so grateful for everything that the international team, my host family and all the kiwi people did for me, I can't wait to come back.

They have a wide curriculum so many subjects to choose from. My English has really improved, and I feel more confident within myself.

The best thing about my time at Whangarei Girls' is the people I met!!! My host family were AMAZING! I will definitely come back to visit them again and I hope to see some of my Kiwi friends or family in Germany.

I am so happy that I can study at your school. I have tried so many new things in New Zealand. For example, fishing in a boat, patting a sheep and cow, feeding the ducks in Mair Park and playing with fireworks in the garden. Here it is so amazing that I can see many stars at night and smell the fresh air on the road. Maybe you will think they are normal things in life but they are so special for me because where I live is a concrete jungle. Hong Kong has lost many natural things, there are only cars, large buildings and crowds of people around you everyday. I have not seen a real sheep or cow before I come to New Zealand because there is no farming in Hong Kong. I was so excited when I first saw them in A&P show!

I want to say thank you to all the staff and girls from Lupton Hostel, they are so nice to me when I stayed at Lupton last year. Also, I want to say thank you to all the teachers who have helped me and taught me for these two years. Especially, Mrs. Nielsen and Mrs. Pishief, I am sorry that I always waste your time to ask many silly questions and I keep forgetting what you teach in class. I am so lucky to be a student in this school, thank you very much!

你好,我是羅德媛。今年十八歳,是來自香港的學生。當我中五畢業完成會考後, 便來了紐西蘭繼續升學。不經不覺己四個月了。

我就讀「Whangarei Girls´High School」十二班, 修讀了五科, 包括: 數學、物理、化學、生物 及 ESOL (英文)。這裏 , 還有很多科目可以選擇,例如 : 美術、設計、畫劇、音樂、食物興營養、地理、會計、經濟 等……

這邊的課堂亦很多元化,除了理論還提供了實踐的機會。當我們在學習上有任何問題,老師都會悉心教導 .在課堂外,我們也有很多活動,如社際比賽和水上運動會等。我們都會悉心打扮來參與活動,為社隊出一分力, 場面非常熱鬧和有趣。

同學們都很友善, 非常照顧及幫助外來的同學.令我們對學校都很有歸屬感。

當我放學後,我會回到學校的宿社吃茶點和上網。晩飯後,我便回到自己的房間内温習和做功課。在週末時,我們都會在宿社做一些勞作。例如用紙皮製作公仔、畫畫 等等……

在這裹的生活方式和香港有很大分別,我可以感受到不同的文化和生活體驗,以及精彩的校園生活。擴闊了我的眼界,為未來作更好的準備。

Eventually you end up having another home and lots of great memories to last a lifetime!

During this time I have gotten to know so many incredibly nice and open hearted people that made my exchange year the time of my life. The wide range of subjects that the school offers enabled me to realise what I am really interested in and allowed me to learn things that I never thought I could do. The international coordinators were very caring and help you to find your way into your new life very quickly.

An exchange year makes you grow. Not necessarily physically but mentally;) You learn to step out of your comfort zone and to see the world from a completely different angle. Whangarei Girls' High School stands for empowering tomorrows women and this I can only confirm. Go for it and have the time of your life!

It meant having the possibility of learning to sing in front of an audience of 200 people, I has meant discovering the beauty of art and drama, it has meant throwing myself into experiences and discovering passions that I didn't even know that I had.

New Zealand was for me the possibility to live in a wonderful place where walking in town takes you straight into the forest, where watching dolphins playing in the ocean is something pretty normal, where the sky is wider and the clouds are whiter and the air is purer.

It meant challenging myself and discovering to be strong, heaps more than I could ever imagine. It has meant finding myself deeply and radically changed, because when you choose such a rich experience like this the journey is much more inside of us than outside. Thanks to you all for making it so special.

It is difficult to integrate into a new country and a new culture, but everybody at school has made me feel at home. Of course it is quite a big change, wearing school uniforms and going to a girls' only school is something I didn't know from Germany.

I still feel like I have just arrived and want to learn so much more about the Kiwis and their culture. I am looking forward to some great trips with the other Internationals this month and I'm sure that one day I'll come back to Whangarei because it was one of the best experiences I'll probably ever get! Thank you Whangarei Girls' High School!

I came from winter to summer, from a co-educational school to a girls' high school, from German as my first language to speaking English all the time, and to a new host family. The first weeks were exciting and exhausting but I soon started to love my completely new and different life here. School, friends and of course my really nice host family, who I really want to thank for everything, helped me to become part of a real kiwi life. Speaking English wasn't a problem any more and I even started dreaming in English.

Now six months later, I am still the same girl apart from the fact that I have many new experiences every day, made lots of friends from all over the world and got to know a completely new culture. I have had a fantastic time at WGHS, I have experienced a real high school system for the first time in my life and got the opportunity to try new subjects such as Maori and Tourism. I really enjoyed my time here. Saying goodbye and leaving now is probably the hardest part of my whole exchange experience. After living here for six months I don't feel like a stranger or tourist anymore. I feel like a part of this beautiful country and even call New Zealand 'home'. During my exchange I have learnt a lot about a new country, culture and language but also I have learnt a lot about myself. I have come to love New Zealand – it will always be one of my favourite countries in the world and one day I'll definitely come back “home". Thank you for everything.

New Zealand is such a fascinating country with it's beautiful nature and open and friendly people and the Maori culture which is very impressive.

I'm so happy that I chose Whangarei Girls' High School – everything is so different compared to my school in Germany. To experience going to a girls' only school, wearing a school uniform and being able to choose subjects like OED and Drama was really interesting and I really enjoyed it! I'd like to say thanks to my host family who have made me feel at home from the very first day and they are just so lovely! And thanks to my Drama and Form class – we had so much fun.

Thank you so much for this awesome experience. I will miss you all so much! Coming to New Zealand was the best thing I've ever done and I will definitely come back!

From the first day on, people were friendly, interested and keen to help me whenever I needed it. I just want to thank all the people, students and teachers, who made my time here such a great one. Especially the subjects, Outdoor Education and Hospitality, together with their teachers are things I will terribly miss at my school back in Germany. I really hope that one day I might be able to come to New Zealand again and enjoy its beautiful nature and people.

New Zealand became a second home for me. It just took a couple of weeks until it was normal to wake up in a different room, to catch the school bus and to wear school uniform. I really enjoyed every single day at school! I love my friends and will miss them all heaps. Thanks guys for making my stay so amazing. I will miss as well all the fun subjects like Hospitality, Outdoor Education and Maori.

From the first day at school, people were helpful and friendly. New Zealand is wonderful country with a lot of opportunities to play hockey. I'm so happy that I could travel to this country. In this amazing 6 months I experienced more things then in my past 14 years in Germany!

So, for all new international students….stay as long as you can. Use every opportunity to see or try new things it just gets better:)