We've taken the liberty of including some testimonials from previous International students. So, in their own words, below are some of the experiences that previous students have had with us here on our beautiful island in New Zealand.
"When I arrived on Waiheke Island in July it was really cold. I felt like better returning to Germany again. I was not quite sure whether I should or should not like it.
But as soon as I joined my host family I felt a lot better. It was still a strange feeling and I was still thinking about my family in Germany.
Anyway I had a cool host brother, I met his cool girlfriend the day I arrived and had very nice host parents.
They all made me feel a lot better and more comfortable.
For school I had to wear a uniform. With this I was not quite happy about. But I think it actually was ok and I got used to it.
The first day at school I really was nervous but also excited about what's school is like on Waiheke.
As soon as I entered my first class I recognized how friendly New Zealand people are. They welcomed me and I met awesome people who I am still in contact with. They all made me feel so good and I spent a lot of time with my new friends.
In the beginning it was really hard for me to speak English fluently but chatting and talking with friends made it very easy for me to learn it!
By the time I really enjoyed going to school. After school I did some training either with my sea sports class or in the gym. I was so happy that I chose the sea sports class because we did a lot of cool activities (a tip for new international students: sea sports is a class you must choose). We did paddle boarding, sailing and waka ama. This was good fun! Sea sports was the subject I enjoyed most!
As I said I also worked out in the gym or met friends. After that I had dinner with my host family and skyped with my parents.
When the first term passed I really was a part of my host family! I enjoyed living with them! They were like my family from Germany living in New Zealand.
Unfortunately the time passed by too quickly. At the end of my second term all the international students had a cool school programme organized by Nikki within two weeks we did a lot of different activities, for example like visiting a theme park, travelling to Rangitito island, going to an underwater world, playing tennis, going to the Sky tower and doing the sky jump or sky walk (personally I preferred the sky jump which was good fun and an experience I will never forget) and having a lot of bbqs and beach parties.
All in all it was the best experience in my life! In the end I did not even want to return back to Germany. Unfortunately I had to! And I really miss all my friends on Waiheke."
- Julian from Germany
“My time on Waiheke was awesome. The Island is beautiful, although it is a small community it is close to the big city of Auckland, but there is also everything that you need on the Island. My host family was also awesome and friendly. The school is small but good, everybody is friendly and helps you to discover and understand the new culture. Altogether I can just say that is was an awesome time I will always remember. I am already planning to come back."
- Nils from Germany
“The sentence, 'On my first day I cried because I felt homesick and then after the three months I was crying because I had to go home', describes best my time in New Zealand. I stayed on Waiheke Island for three months and I can say that these months were the best in my life. I arrived there in January so it was wonderful warm. The flight was long but good and I was happy when I met my host parents. After a few days I felt like a family member. They were the perfect host parents for me. I enjoyed having two dogs and one cat. Every day I took the dogs for a walk.
I was in year 12 and so I had to wear a school uniform which I really liked. On my first school day I was excited. My school subjects were English, Music, Painting, PE and Sea Sports Academy. First in assembly I understood really less but over time I improved my English and in the end there was no problem anymore.
After the first lesson at school I knew that everyone in New Zealand is very friendly and that Waiheke High school is even funnier than my school in Germany. I made a lot of friends at school.
Also the Athletics and Beach Sports Day were awesome.
After school I did something with my friends or my family, went to the beach, do shopping or go horse riding.
Sometimes we had Sea Sports Practical after school which was so much fun. We did a lot of different activities like kayaking, snorkelling, paddle boarding, sailing, and doing a Raft Race or the Beach Burma. For three days we went to Great Barrier Island where we had a lot of fun and spent an amazing time together.
With my host parents I went to Christchurch to visit their family. I enjoyed spending time together with them and their friends. Now since I am back I keep thinking about my wonderful time, my second life, in New Zealand. I will never forget this wonderful time and come back as soon as possible. I still stay in contact with my host parents and friends and even teachers.
I know it was the best decision to go to Waiheke because the school is amazing, the island is beautiful and the people are awesome. “
- Hannah from Germany
