A day in my life here

Today I waked up at 7 hours and I decided that I must enjoy my first day here in the capital of New Zealand, so I decided to explore the zone. I went to Auckland Sky Tower, there I could appreciate a spectacular a nice views of the city from hundreds meters up

After doing a long touristic tour in the capital, I decided to take a plane to visit exotic places, places unpopulated and practically unknown to man. I went to the Mount Cook. It’s an amazing and unique place, I really love it. If you decide to go into New Zealand I recommend you to visit it. Not everybody can live this experience.

To conclude my first day, I choose a final destination to go. I went to one of the most beautiful beaches of the country, to Hahei Beach. I took some photos with my own camera, my eyes could not believe the beauty they were seeing. I really enjoyed my first day.

Why did I choose to go New Zealand for doing a gap year?
I think that there are many reasons for which I choose this destination at least ten reasons to justify my decision.

Discovering different cultures
To travel around the world is a great way to exploring many cultures from each part of the world, cultures that are very different from ours. These cultures allow you to see the world from a different point of view. Traveling teach us who to become into better persons with the people who is around you. This helps you to forge your personality.

Meeting new people
Travel may also be useful for many other things; you can meet new people, to do a lot of friends, to open yourself to the world. This is a really important thing in our lives, you must break your routine and do something new, and it is boring to live a repetitive life.

An adult lifestyle
Working on trips like these may help you to make and save a lot of money, which can be useful in the future. This introduces you to the world of work and autonomy. The work during this period of time during the trip can serve you as a base for your adult life. When you become an responsible adult with their own work and a family to support.

Discovering new places
One of the principals reasons why I decided to make this trip, it's because you can discover new places, places that you haven’t never seen before. In the time that I spend in New Zealand, I visited many touristic points; the Withe Island, the city of Raglan, the capital of the country Wellington, Auckland, The Bay of Plenty and many others places.

Sporting tradition
The sports are an important way to connect people from each part of the world. Sports help you physically, they make you stronger and you can earn more resistance. Also help’s you emotionally, as a person. Practicing sports allow you to make good friends. To practice any sport it’s to share the same passion with persons who practice the same sport. The country of New Zealand is basically recognized by their national rugby team, the “All Blacks”. In New Zealand, sports are very important principally rugby. All Blacks are very the greatest team in the entire world.

Strange and exotic food
This reason maybe is not the most important one but I’m sure that it is the most delicious one. New Zealand is one of the most producers of the world's tastiest fresh food. Food is based principally in a Pacific-style New Zealand cuisine using the abundant fresh meats, fish, vegetables and fruit in a creative manner. New Zealand cuisine draws inspiration from Europe and Asia. Lamb, pork and cervena (venison), salmon, crayfish (lobster), oysters, kina, squid, paua (abalone), scallops, tuatua and pipi (New Zealand shellfish), mussels, kumara (a native sweet potato) and kiwi. Those dishes make the food in New Zealand so special. The New Zealand industries of wine are very recognized around the world.

History
The history of a country could be an important reason to choose a destination to travel. The history shows you the past of the population and their origins. The past of a group of people is as important as the present and the future. Thanks to the history of a country you can understand better the people there.

Extreme Sports
Other reason why I choose the country of New Zealand as my destination is because I am great lover and a fan of extreme sports principally snowboarding, skiing and surfing. New Zealand is the perfect country to practice these sports. In winter the weather and the high mountains are suitable for practicing snowboard and skiing. In summer the weather and the beaches are very good for the practice of surf. This country has beautiful beaches with crystalline waters.

Increased self-confidence
Having to face up to new challenges alone is difficult for any of us at any age, but for students and young people the challenge can be so incredibly rewarding and it can build significant self-confidence. Those who take the challenge of moving abroad to study and accepting all the tests that decision can bring, end up coming out of the experience so much stronger.

Increased maturity
young people who set out alone to make a new life for themselves overseas, if only for a semester or a year, learn a great deal about the world, about themselves and about getting things done. This naturally leads to a rapid advancement in terms of gaining maturity, and this stands an individual in good stead for the immediate and long-term future.

New Zealand Map

New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific Ocean, between latitude 34'S and 47'S. The country runs roughly north-south with mountain ranges down much of its length. There are two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, with a third smaller island in the south, Stewart Island.

New Zealand’s position atop the grinding plates of the Pacific Rim of Fire has resulted in a unique landscape and an unrivalled variety of landforms. In a couple of days' drive, you can see everything from snow-topped mountain ranges to sandy beaches, lush rainforests, glaciers and fiords, and active volcanoes. These environments lend themselves to many outdoor pursuits such as skiing, diving, hiking, kayaking, horse riding and sailing.

My First Impression

     I'm fascinated with this country. I had a really good impression since the first day that I went in New Zealand. Here the people are very nice and friendly. Honestly I was very surprised; I did not think this was going to start as well.

     It is difficult to meet someone on the street without being greeted or gesture, or a demonstration that they have noticed your presence. Frequently I had to ask for an address in the city, no one refused to tell me where I had to go, or in one case the person who I asked to an address brought me with his own car to the place.

I have learned many things in this country; I learn about their culture, their history, their habits and many other things like the music that they listen, their typical food, the sports they practice, all kind of things that I could imagine.

     I do not regret having chosen this country, really worth the trip and I am very proud of myself. 

New Zealand Gap Year

If I must choose a destination for doing a gap year, definitely this place will be the country of New Zealand. The kind of gap year that I will like to do is not a volunteer trip, it will be a travel with friends to discover and explore this amazing country, and it will be a good adventure for me. New Zealand is a great country, there are mountains in which you can practice winter sports, and I love them. The beaches are beautiful, the weather is excellent.

If I have the chance to go, I think that I will stay at least two or three months there, it's a lot of time in other country and it is too far away from my home. It will be very difficult to change my lifestyle; I like too much my life here, in Uruguay. I think that I'm not ready to do this travel and to change my routine, but maybe in the future I'll be ready, who knows?

I think we will stay with my friends in a rented house in the capital or maybe in a cheap hotel.