Consultant Sanne during her internship in New Zealand!

Hey! Where are you from? Where do you study/live/work?

Hi! My name is Sanne and I was born and raised in Ermelo. I studied in Enschede, then I went to Auckland, and now I live back in Ermelo. Recently, I started working as a consultant for Abroad Internships in Utrecht and I’m really enjoying it there!

What was the first thing you thought when you arrived in New Zealand?

Let’s start off on the right foot. One of my first thoughts when I got off the plane was: “Shit, I forgot my pants.” Of course, I was wearing pants, but during the flight I changed from jeans into sweatpants. So unfortunately, one pair either flew back to Hong Kong or ended up in the trash in Auckland.

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and New Zealand?

The most shocking difference might literally be the shocks. In New Zealand, there are many earthquakes that have shaped the landscape. Also, Auckland is situated on about 50 volcanoes, which makes hiking and especially cycling very different from the Netherlands. But wow, the mountains are beautiful, and it’s amazing when, after a huge climb on your bike, you suddenly overlook the city center while being on the other side of town.

What did your typical workday look like?

In the morning, I left the house around nine o’clock, walked about ten steps straight ahead, turned right into the shed, went upstairs, and I was at work. I lived with my boyfriend in a host family, and my host dad was also my boss. In a sunny attic with a view of the palm trees in the garden, I did my work as a Marketing Intern. Around one o’clock, we went back to the kitchen for lunch with fresh bread that I usually baked that morning. After that, I worked until around five. Before dinner, I went for a walk with my boyfriend and the dog through the park behind the house. In the evening, we ate with the host family and the other working students who were there, and that completed the day!

How was the working atmosphere at your internship company?

The workdays in Auckland were very nice and relaxed. Since the company only consisted of my host dad and Anna who did the administration, there was a lot of room to find out what I wanted to do myself. It took a bit of getting used to at first, but after about two weeks, I was already taking on all sorts of tasks. Really fun!

Did you ever feel homesick? How did you deal with it?

Strangely enough, no. Homesickness was something I was worried about, but in the end, I didn’t experience it at all. It probably helped that my boyfriend was with me and that the time difference is so big. During most of the day in New Zealand, it’s nighttime in the Netherlands. Waiting for messages or calls makes no sense then, so you naturally do other things! And there’s so much to do and see that you forget you actually wanted to send a message to your mom ;)

Did you feel at home in New Zealand? Why (not)?

Yes, very much! I think that was because of the people there. Everyone is so open and curious. Many people also come from other countries and have settled in New Zealand because it’s so much nicer there. More nature, less hustle and bustle, less stress. That feeling is everywhere, and it’s wonderful to immerse yourself in it. And yes, it rains quite a bit there, so that also feels like home haha.

Give us tips about who you should befriend abroad. The Russians? The Irish? The Chileans?

You should make friends with everyone! People come from everywhere to enjoy the Land of the Long White Cloud, and everyone has their own story. Having a host family was really great because we quickly got to know real Kiwis (New Zealanders). The students are also fun to meet, but also strike up a conversation with the locals. I once talked to a guy working in a shop. From a question about a pair of pants they sold, we ended up in a conversation about studies, future plans, and travel. That was so fun!

Describe the people of New Zealand in three words.

Helpful, open, curious.

Was there a typical local dish you REALLY couldn’t eat (or really liked)?

Hokey Pokey Ice Cream! It’s really something from New Zealand. I miss it so much! It’s very tasty vanilla ice cream with honeycomb toffee. Besides that, our host mum and dad were amazing cooks, so we enjoyed every dish.

What did you learn from your experience abroad? Was it the beloved community you liked? The cheap cocktails? The beautiful nature? Or was your experience less than expected? Details, we want details!

I think it’s pretty clear by now that I’m crazy about Kiwis. Also, I’ve completely fallen in love with New Zealand’s nature. The beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula (but in Onemana, not necessarily near Cathedral Cove), the mountains all over the island, all the greenery everywhere... It’s all equally beautiful. But what probably stayed with me the most is the open and curious mentality of the people and their willingness to help. Now back home, I try to look at people more often with a “Kiwi perspective.” If a woman is struggling with a shopping bag, I help carry it... If a student wants to go abroad for such an amazing experience, I want to support that because my internship was almost certainly 100% my inspiration to come work at Abroad Internships.