So, you can imagine my horror when they placed my suitcase, containing six boxes of Jaffa Cakes and two big boxes of Yorkshire Tea (lol, “Northern lass” priorities), on the X-ray scanner. So, when it asked if we were bringing in any food, I happily ticked the “no” box. ![]() Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking either. It was probably because it was my first time travelling alone, but I thought the form was solely about hand luggage. I'm not sure why I struggled so much with this form. New Zealand is very strict when it comes to this, and if you're found lying you can get a steep fine. While on my last plane, the staff gave out welcome forms that we had to fill out to declare what we were bringing into the country. There were so many, with lots of different requirements, and I spent most of my time being completely lost and calling the immigration office up to 5,000 times a day, begging for help. So, when I was preparing to go on exchange, I was overwhelmed by the prospect of applying for a visa. Being from the UK, I was mostly used to visiting Europe, so visas are a concept I’d never had to face before. Wellington airport provided my first exposure to culture shock. Not having a clue what to do in a foreign airport Here are just a handful of the hilarious (and cringe) culture shock moments I experienced on my own exchange trip to New Zealand. ![]() If you’re currently on a study exchange or year abroad and this happens to you, remember that it’s incredibly common and not a reason to panic. What if I'd done my visa wrong? What if they didn't let me in the country? What if this entire time they don't actually speak English, and I wouldn't be able to understand anyone? I think it's safe to say this was my first instance of culture shock.Ĭulture shock *clears throat* can be defined as the feeling of disorientation you experience when you’re suddenly surrounded by a new, and unfamiliar culture. I couldn't just call up the family to have a quick chat due to the time difference. What the hell had I just done? I couldn't just nip back home now if I ended up hating New Zealand. The moment we touched down at Wellington airport, my exhilaration and anticipation suddenly turned to nerves. I had spent the flight completely fangirling over New Zealand, a country I had been dreaming about for over a year. I remember clear as day, being sat on my final plane from Sydney to Wellington after travelling for almost 30 hours, when the prospect of living in a foreign country for an entire year hit me. QS MBA Events in Middle East and Africa.QS Master's Events in Middle East and Africa.QS World University Rankings by Subject.
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