Last summer was my final homework-free summer vacation, so to make the most of it, I chose to visit one of my favorite countries—New Zealand. This journey was truly unforgettable, so I wanted to share it with everyone. I hope you all get the chance to visit too!

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1. Relaxed School Education

During this study abroad trip, I noticed how relaxed their education system is. Compared to academic subjects, they place greater importance on physical activity. Although they don’t have formal PE classes, teachers don’t allow students to stay inside during break time—they require everyone to go outside and exercise.

What stood out the most to me was that they don’t have a traditional sports field—just a large grassy area. Everyone plays soccer barefoot there, and many students even go to class without shoes!

After school, almost everyone joins a club or plays sports. Unlike in Taiwan, where kids go home to do homework and play video games (they don’t have homework there). Honestly, once I got back to my homestay, I barely even used my phone anymore 😂.

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2. A Warm and Welcoming Homestay

Another memorable part of the trip was my homestay family. My homestay parents trusted all the children, and my homestay brother and sister took great care of me. Every day we played games, chatted, and made our own breakfast together. I not only slept well every night, but also had a full lunch every day—mostly cold food, but it was much better than school lunches back home.

The homestay neighborhood had plenty of well-maintained playgrounds and facilities—everything was in perfect condition 👍.

Even now, I still keep in touch with my homestay brother and sister, and I really hope our friendship lasts a long, long time ❤.

This journey wouldn’t have been possible without Aunt Flora’s help and encouragement. She made so many of my firsts happen:
My first time leaving Asia,
my first time staying with a host family,
my first time flying on a plane alone,
and my first time being away from my parents for more than three weeks.

I hope I can go back there again someday!
(Shoutout to my parents for funding the trip 👍)

By chance, I chose to go on a study tour in New Zealand. At first, I didn’t know much about the country—my impression was just "beautiful mountains, clean water… and pretty boring." But with a mix of excitement and nerves, I stepped into this completely different land.
 

We landed in New Zealand around 7 p.m., and on the way to my host family’s home, I immediately felt a sense of culture shock. Coming from Taiwan, where nightlife is vibrant, it was surprising to see that most shops in New Zealand were already closed. I later found out that people here also go to bed much earlier.
 

School life here is also completely different from Taiwan. Although each class period in New Zealand is longer, their teaching style is more flexible and offers greater freedom. For example, the teacher might give you a few questions to think about or ask you to do your own research. Sometimes you even get to choose your own topic for a project. Most classes rely on your own thoughts and creativity, which is quite different from Taiwan, where we mostly copy what the teacher says. Classes here are more relaxed too—you might chat with your teacher or even sing songs during breaks. It felt really refreshing compared to the quiet and serious atmosphere in Taiwanese classrooms.

In English class, since we were preparing presentations, there were bean bags in the classroom where you could lie down and brainstorm your ideas. In such a free environment, I found that people here have more lively personalities. Every class has a different mix of classmates, and at first, I was nervous about making friends. I worried about my English, and whether I’d face racial discrimination. But once I got there, I realized that those concerns were rarely an issue. The school is very diverse, and people were always willing to help when I had questions. I met many new and different friends.
 

Learning how to get along with a host family was another big challenge. It was my first time staying with one, and at the beginning, I really didn’t know how to interact with them. I was too shy to ask questions and ended up just trying to read their expressions, which honestly made me really tired. But my homestay family was actually very nice. Later on, I found the courage to ask them lots of questions, and I made an effort to understand their lifestyle and habits. This process really helped us bond more deeply.
 

My favorite thing about New Zealand is the sky. What left the strongest impression on me during the month was the sky and the grass. There are no skyscrapers blocking your view—just open space. In some areas, you’ll even see cows and sheep everywhere. Living in this kind of environment, New Zealanders seem to have a natural calmness. It’s like they don’t feel pressured by time or schoolwork. They carry a peaceful attitude, believing that everything will work out eventually. Just looking at these views felt healing in itself.
 

In New Zealand, I faced many challenges, but I also encountered many wonderful people and moments. In the end, everything became part of a beautiful memory.

When my child was still in elementary school, I always hoped to give him the opportunity to study abroad—both to broaden his horizons and to help him build independence. Last summer, just as he was transitioning from 5th to 6th grade, his kindergarten friends and their parents were thinking along the same lines. That’s when we began planning their study tour.

We looked into several study abroad agencies and considered many countries. In the end, we chose New Zealand because of its comfortable environment, safety, and the fact that it's an English-speaking country that is very child-friendly. But New Zealand is such a big country—where exactly should we go?

Fortunately, my longtime friend Flora lives in New Zealand. I knew I could count on her. True to her warm and generous nature, she answered every question I had in great detail. For every concern I raised, she not only addressed it thoroughly but also brought up related issues I hadn’t even thought of. Her support truly eased my worries about sending my child abroad.

From choosing the school to arranging the homestay, Flora made the best recommendations based on our needs and concerns. All we had to do was prepare to send our child off with peace of mind.
 

This study tour to New Zealand included three boys. They were placed in different classes at school, and each of them was assigned a buddy to help them adjust. The teachers and classmates were all incredibly friendly. In this new environment, they made friends from all over the world, learned English, and experienced what it’s like to attend school in another country.
Every day, they were excited to go to class.

They were picked up and dropped off by their host family. Their host mother was exceptionally kind—after school she often took them to the park or to the supermarket. The host family’s daughter even taught them how to bake cookies. The level of care they received far exceeded our expectations. We are sincerely grateful to Flora for finding such a wonderful host family for them.
 

If there was one downside to this New Zealand study tour, it was simply that the experience was too short. Just as they were getting used to the environment, it was time to leave. But we believe this will be one of the most unforgettable and treasured memories of their childhood. And really, that’s the true meaning of travel—it leaves you with moments you can cherish forever. If there’s ever another chance, we’d love to give them this priceless gift again

I’ve always wanted my child to study abroad—not just to improve his language skills, but also to nurture his independence. Last summer, Jyun-Kai and three of his close friends went on a two-week study tour in New Zealand. This experience not only helped them learn English but also exposed them to different cultures and broadened their horizons. It was undoubtedly a meaningful journey that had a lasting impact on their personal growth.
 

First of all, schools in New Zealand are very welcoming, and both the teachers and students were warm and friendly. The children truly enjoyed their learning experience there. The four kids were placed in different classes, which gave them the chance to make friends from various countries and to learn and grow in a multicultural environment. This arrangement also greatly helped them develop their social skills.

Secondly, the host mother and her daughter were incredibly kind. After school, the host family’s daughter would take the kids to the supermarket, play with them at the park, and teach them how to bake cookies. Their care and attentiveness made the children feel the warmth of home, even while in a foreign country. Through these daily interactions, the children also learned how to get along with others. The host family even took photos of the children’s daily life and shared them with us, which gave us, as parents, a great sense of comfort and reassurance.
 

We believe this study tour will leave a lasting impression in their hearts and become a cherished memory in their journey of growing up. The only pity is that the time was too short. Just as the children were beginning to adapt to the new environment, the trip was already coming to an end, which felt a little regretful. Perhaps in the future, we can consider extending the duration of the program to give the children more time to explore and learn, and to truly immerse themselves in local life.

An arrangement like this would not only deepen their understanding of the language but also give them a richer cultural exchange experience.

We are sincerely grateful to Flora for thoughtfully arranging the school and finding the host family. Before the trip, we had many worries and questions, and she patiently addressed every concern and gave us helpful advice and arrangements. Thanks to her, we felt completely at ease sending our children out to explore the world.

In today's globalized world, cross-cultural exchange not only broadens horizons but also fosters personal character development and learning abilities. Last year, Lai Kai-Che, along with his kindergarten friends Lee Cheng-Yun and Lai Jyun-Kai, embarked on a two-week study exchange in New Zealand. This enriching and unforgettable experience not only improved their language skills but also deepened their understanding of diverse cultures and inspired them to embrace learning challenges with a more positive attitude.
 

This was their first time fully immersing themselves in a foreign education system. Each of the three students attended a local school and studied alongside children from various backgrounds. Throughout this journey, they learned to adapt to different teaching methods, developed independent thinking, and honed their problem-solving skills. Lai Kai-Che particularly noted that the school’s curriculum in New Zealand was diverse and creative. In addition to traditional subjects like language and math, students also explored nature and practical life skills, which greatly expanded his learning perspective.
 

More importantly, this experience taught them how to connect with people from different cultural backgrounds. Lee Cheng-Yun shared that interacting with local students helped him better understand the importance of respect and inclusiveness. He realized that language is not just a communication tool—it is also a bridge to understanding each other's cultures. Lai Jyun-Kai felt that although their English proficiency was not as strong as the local students’, they made constant efforts to express themselves. This courage and persistence have had a lasting impact on his learning journey.
 

The New Zealand experience brought academic progress and significant personal growth. During their time abroad, the three boys built self-confidence, learned how to face challenges, and came to see learning not merely as the accumulation of knowledge but as a mindset of openness and a willingness to take on new experiences.
 

In conclusion, this educational journey in New Zealand was undoubtedly a pivotal moment in the lives of Lai Kai-Che, Lee Cheng-Yun, and Lai Jyun-Kai. It not only fueled their passion for learning but also filled them with confidence and hope for the future. This invaluable experience will have a profound impact on their growth and learning paths ahead. I sincerely encourage them to carry this optimistic and courageous spirit into the future and to bravely embrace every new challenge they encounter.

The roar of the airplane echoes in my ears. Watching the bustling crowds at the airport, I can hardly believe it—I’ve already spent a whole month in New Zealand. It feels surreal as I pick up my suitcase and walk toward the boarding gate...
 

Click here to read the full study abroad journal.

I think spending a month studying in New Zealand is truly worthwhile, because in Taiwan I can only speak Chinese. But in New Zealand, I get to use English to communicate with international students. The environment in New Zealand is also better than in Taiwan—there’s no litter or cigarette butts on the roads, and people really care about keeping things clean.

Coming to New Zealand this time has been such a rewarding experience, because I got to experience life in New Zealand and attend a public primary school. School here feels very relaxed, since most of the time we’re just playing. People here really value leisure time, so there are lots of sports and parks.

There are also many fresh vegetables and meats. Since I can’t eat beef, I’ve been eating lamb instead—and the lamb here is really rich and delicious. I highly recommend it!

It’s such a pity that we can only stay here for a month. I really wish we could stay in New Zealand forever—not only is the air fresh, but there are also so many great facilities for sports and exercise.

Thank you to Flora and the school for taking such good care of us during our ten-day stay in Hamilton. Although Jeremy only attended school for a week, we could truly feel the love and care from everyone there. On his last day, he received a card filled with heartfelt messages from his teacher and classmates—it really moved us.
 

The kind-hearted people of New Zealand and the country’s excellent public safety also reassured my husband, who works in Taipei, allowing him to feel at ease while Jeremy and I traveled together.
 

Flora was incredibly thoughtful throughout the entire journey—from the initial arrangements before departure to the moment we returned home. We are truly grateful. Jeremy already says that he definitely wants to come back to this warm and welcoming place.