[Andy&Carol]

Hi, I'm Ryan, son of Andy & Carol.

We think we'll be in NZ next year and I'm looking forward to a different lifestyle and hopefully going to uni in Auckland or Christchurch depending on where Dad gets a job. I'm going to study Computer Science.

I wondered if there's anybody about my age (19) that I can correspond with, especially already in NZ, and maybe had some experience of the uni system.

My first thought when Mum & Dad mentioned moving to NZ was 'Oh great, a stepping stone to Australia' but that's a long way off yet.

I love all kinds of music and live gigs.

Cheers, Ryan

[andbarrel]

hi Ryan, I'm Rachel, daughter of lockstock... Gilly and Simon. They're moving to Hamilton 5th Jan and I'm following in March. I have just finished uni here in the uk training to be a midwife but because my mums a teacher she may have some idea about the uni system out there. where are you from originally? even if you're just a contact out there, it would be useful. my brother did computer science at oxford a few years ago. when are you moving?

Rachel

[katandbob]

I'll ask my son Jason - hes only 17, I doubt he will post as the last time someone took offence at his post, but you could PM me and I will get him to reply.

He has found it very hard since we moved, his 19yr old brother returned to the UK after 5mths, and they are now estranged, he hasn't got a driving licence (we live in the sticks but he will be allowed to do his test in December)and is at Polytec, the other students are 18+ so he can't hang out with them as they are in the bars....but he woundn't go back to the UK, we asked him the other day - he intends doing his apprenticeship here then working in Aus for a few years & see the world.

Kat

[akp713]

Hey Ryan, I'm Austen, I'm 22 and I just finished university here in the States, but I spent a semester at the University of Auckland last year and I'm returning the U of Auckland in February 2008 to do a graduate diploma in teaching. I found that university in NZ was quite easy in comparison to the states, much less writing anyway. Most first and second year liberal arts courses require 2000-2500 words of writing per course, plus the final exam. I should note I was a history major, though I also took a course in education. If you have any specific questions about university life or residence halls, etc., just ask, or PM me.

As for the distance to Australia, it is a bit of a flight, but I spent 3 weeks there and it is possible to do it relatively cheaply as long as you stay in backbackers (hostels.) For live music, Auckland would definitely be better than Christchurch, but it gets packed, when U2 came last November every hostel in the city got booked up. But for live gigs by local groups that's no problem, but again Auckland has a lot more pubs and clubs, Wednesday was live music night at all the pubs. Keep in mind my Kiwi mates didn't drink as much as the Brits and Americans I knew so the pub scene is probably different than you'd be used to back in the UK. The exception to that was 18 year old first-year students.

As for the life-style change, it may be more for you coming from the UK than it was for me, but I found it similar in many ways to the US. Everyone drives everywhere, there's little public transport, and there are malls everywhere. I guess the biggest changes had to do with businesses closing at 5PM sharp and young people, including university age people, walking around barefoot a lot and wearing board shorts even in the winter. Oh and coming from the US what really stood out to me was how THIN everyone is. Maori people sadly have an obesity epidemic, but pakehas (whites) are all stick thin. Anyway, those are some of my observations, PM me or post if you want to talk more.