Working holiday in New Zealand

I went to Auckland Zoo with some of my classmates. This was the first time I spent a holiday with them. One of my classmates brought her friends from South America and introduced them to me, so I was able to make new friends. It was raining heavily in the morning, but the weather improved, and it finally became sunny in the afternoon. Although my flatmate said, "It’s terrible to go to the zoo in such bad weather," I truly enjoyed seeing a lot of animals. I was especially happy to see a kiwi, which is New Zealand's most famous animal and the namesake of the kiwi fruit. Unfortunately, I couldn't take a photo of the kiwi because the room it was in was kept dark, as sunlight negatively affects their biological systems.   I had a fruitful time.

Today, we had a party just for our class at the teacher's house. Actually, this plan came up 3 weeks ago, but it had been postponed due to the teacher's circumstances or the weather. We finally managed to have the party, and we were all so happy! During the party, we not only ate delicious food, but we also went to the beach near the house. Since it was sunny and the sky was so clear, we enjoyed the beautiful view. Taking photos of each other was fun! Fortunately, I've been getting used to building good relationships with my classmates. I must remember to appreciate the current environment, especially my wife's kind understanding. Although I’ve felt frustrated while struggling to improve my English speaking skills, I will continue to make an effort moving forward. Thank you for reading.

Is making decisions difficult for you? Today, I will discuss this point with my classmates. Choosing a subject to study and going to university: I think it is difficult because this selection can shape future job opportunities, and studying at a university requires a lot of money. When I was a high school student, I was troubled about which field to focus on. At that time, one of my science teachers told me about a university that had succeeded in the sciences. Since I was interested in biology, such as the mechanisms of cancer or iPS cells, I decided to pursue this path. I studied very hard and eventually enrolled in the university. This wouldn't have been possible without the financial support of my grandmother and father, for which I am deeply grateful.   Changing my career: It is absolutely difficult because changing my career brings a certain level of pressure. I have experienced this twice so far. Both times, the pressure was high, but I felt that I became tougher by ada...

Today, something happened that rekindled my motivation to learn English. I was talking with one of my classmates on our way to play badminton as an after-school activity. During the conversation, he shared his purpose for learning English: to be able to communicate with people from other countries. He mentioned that he wants to move up to a higher class by the time he graduates from the language school. I learned from him that he has been studying English every early morning and late at night for six months. The most surprising part is that he is 12 years older than me. Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit tired because I’ve been losing confidence in myself. Even though I scored reasonably well on the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test before, I’ve been struggling to speak smoothly with local New Zealanders. However, his passion and dedication inspired me, and today I was able to rekindle my motivation. I truly appreciate him for that. I will review all the handouts from previous classes. Tha...

The number of tourists coming to Japan has been increasing rapidly since the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. By the way, what are the problems caused by overtourism? I will consider this from three perspectives: economy, culture, and environment. First, regarding the economy: I believe that when more tourists visit a country, more money flows into it. Additionally, employment opportunities will increase as a result. However, this can also lead to rising prices for merchandise and increased pressure on employees.   Second, regarding culture: The positive aspect is that we get the opportunity to share our culture with people from other countries. On the other hand, we need to be mindful of the risk that first impressions of our culture could be negatively affected.   Third, regarding the environment: We might be able to collect more donations from visitors to help maintain natural habitats. However, the environment could also be damaged by the large number of people visiting....

I started the new afternoon session today. At the language school, we can freely choose one class from multiple options. Of course, the percentage of attendance so far is taken into consideration. Since I attended all the classes until last week, my application was accepted smoothly.   Anyway, I learned some new phrases today that I had forgotten or had never seen before. Today, I will write a short passage using the phrases I learned so that I can remember them well. The passage below is just fiction.   I was brought up in a small town in Saga Prefecture. My parents are English, so I grew up speaking both Japanese and English. A young English student lived near our home, and she often looked after me when my parents were away on business. I remember my father often told us off if he heard us speaking in English because he was studying Japanese. Usually, we would switch to Japanese for a few minutes and then carry on in English when he couldn’t hear us because it was easi...

I've been getting used to my new home and have had many conversations with the owner, mainly about rugby.  Through these talks, I’m learning casual phrases used in daily life. One example is "Up to you," which means the decision or responsibility is being given to the person being addressed. I had never heard or seen this phrase before. Even if it is just a small conversation, it gives me the chance to absorb a lot of new things, and I really appreciate the current environment. More than anything, I’m happy to have made a friend who loves rugby. I honestly feel like a lucky person! I will continue to keep appreciation for everything happening now in my mind. Thank you.

Yesterday, I moved to my new home. The owner is a big rugby lover, just like me. Since yesterday, we've been watching the National Provincial Championship (NPC), New Zealand's domestic rugby league, together on TV. He also explained the rugby categories in New Zealand to me. The game we are watching is in the second-highest league, just below the national team level. The national team (All Blacks) Super Rugby teams National Provincial Championship (NPC) teams Heartland Championship teams I guess that Japan's League One is on the same level as the NPC, but I'm not sure. Anyway, every game gets us excited! In my personal opinion, Japan's League One has faster-paced rugby compared to New Zealand's NPC, but the NPC stands out in terms of each player's physical strength. I think which is more interesting depends on the person. I'm also learning casual English phrases through talking with him.   Thank you.

I visited Auckland Art Gallery as an after-school activity. I don't have much knowledge about art, but I enjoyed browsing the exhibitions. The gallery not only displays a lot of art but also has a unique structure and pathways, which kept us all engaged the whole time. Today is also the last day of my homestay. I felt like that time has passed so quickly since I moved to New Zealand. I'm really grateful to my host mother and brother. Although I misunderstood things quite a few times due to my poor listening and speaking skills, my host mother and I were able to express our appreciation for each other. The last early morning scenery from my homestay was so beautiful. I'll make an effort to communicate actively with my new flatmate at the new home.

The current class I’m taking includes students from seven countries: Vietnam, Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Chile, and Japan.  This allows me to learn about differences in accent, intonation, culture, and thought. Today, I talked with my classmates from some of these countries about how to say "hello" in each of their languages: Korean: Annyeonghaseyo Chinese: Ni hao Spanish: Hola Japanese: Konnichiwa Learning how to greet others in their native languages may seem small, but I believe that this simple action shows respect for each country. I hope to be able to introduce myself in each country’s language by the time this class ends. Additionally, I want to share aspects of Japanese culture and its positive attributes with people from various backgrounds. I also want to share the challenges my country faces and hear how others think about them. I'm not just studying the English language; I also want to broaden my knowledge and perspectives. This language school experience...

Lately, I've been spending more time thinking about the most important aspects of communication, especially since moving to New Zealand.  At this point, my answer is that kindly listening to others and greeting them with a smile are essential. Although these points are simple, they are necessary. I've also noticed that people who have many friends or who talk with various people are not always fluent in English or particularly knowledgeable about grammar.  It is possible to make friends, find a job, or enjoy after-school activities even without an extensive vocabulary. The key to building good relationships with other students and teachers is having an attitude of learning from others and not being afraid to let go of my own insecurities. For example, yesterday’s after-school activity, where we all enjoyed playing board games, gave us a chance to get to know each other better. As you know, it's beneficial to have various kinds of knowledge, but that alone is not enough. I...

I finished all my classes today, as always. As of today, I have only 3 days left to spend with my host family. When I first moved here, I was very nervous, wondering if I would really get along with my host family. But now, I've gotten used to the lifestyle and communication with them. Also, there's a lot to learn through the homestay experience. The day before yesterday, I talked to my host mother about what I’ve felt through this homestay. In particular, I noticed a significant difference between New Zealand and Japan regarding commitment to saving water and electricity. As I mentioned earlier in this blog, the time I can take a shower and the frequency of washing my clothes are quite limited to conserve water and electricity. Although saving these resources is important in Japan, the level of conservation here in New Zealand is more strict than what I’ve experienced before. This experience made me reflect on my daily life and ask myself, "Have we really been conserving ...

Today, I challenged myself to speak more actively in the afternoon conversation class. Although I made many mistakes regarding grammar and phrases, I was satisfied with my performance.  This is because there is a lot to learn from mistakes. For example, I couldn’t come up with a suitable phrase when I wanted to express that it is possible to slow down the rise in temperature if we appropriately address global warming. My teacher then taught me some useful phrases when I was struggling. Although I felt ashamed at the time, the time passed quickly. I was able to expand my vocabulary thanks to making that mistake. So, I will continue to challenge myself to improve my speaking skills quickly. It’s unnecessary to worry about what people around me think of my mistakes. Thank you for reading, as always, today!

Yesterday, I watched the rugby game between the All Blacks and Los Pumas. By the way, why did I start playing rugby in the first place? I’ll write about that today. When I enrolled in high school, I initially planned to continue to play soccer, just as I had during elementary and junior high school.  However, I was attractived to the rugby club, which practiced next to the soccer club. Perhaps one reason was that I felt like I had hit a glass ceiling with soccer at that time. Once I joined the rugby club, I genuinely committed myself to practicing rugby more and more. That decision has shaped my character today and expanded my relationships with many friends.  Furthermore, it opened up various opportunities, such as finding a new home and talking with people from New Zealand about rugby. If I had not experienced playing rugby, I wouldn't have been able to build relationships with so many people. I really appreciate rugby. Thank you, as always, for reading today.

Today, I went to Eden Park to watch the rugby game between the All Blacks and Argentina. It was so much fun!! I have been wanting to hear New Zealand's national anthem and watch a game in person ever since I saw the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand on TV.  One of my dreams come true today. I will be able to sleep well tonight.

I joined an activity held by the language school after classes today.  We walked around the school and visited some secret spots that even many Auckland locals might not know about.  The teacher kindly explained New Zealand's history to us.  I found the background of why New Zealand women have become so strong particularly interesting.  I'm not writing down the details because I don't want to risk making a mistake about the history—it's a sensitive topic. 

It was a bit cloudy and cold today. I needed to wear a jacket throughout the day. But my heart is always warm, and I had a fruitful time talking with my friends. Recently, I have gradually started having deeper conversations with them, not just introducing ourselves. For example, today, one of them asked me how much the earthquake that happened about two weeks ago in Japan has affected daily life there. When he asked me about it, I really appreciated that he had an interest in Japan's current situation. At the same time, I felt that I must learn more about other countries' economies, societies, natural disasters, education systems, and so on. It's not just about introducing myself smoothly; having an interest in various topics and expressing my opinions are also essential when communicating with people from other countries. Although this is a small thing, its accumulation can lead to deeper communication. There are many things to learn beyond just the English language. I wi...

Today, I learned some tips for speaking English from my teacher. He mentioned that there is one important point regarding this matter. It's to divide a sentence into units of meaning. For example, "Would you like to go to Iceland for a holiday?" can be divided as follows: Would you like to go to Iceland for a holiday The teacher said we should read one meaning unit at a time, and we should link all the words within one phrase, not read each word separately. When reading "Would you like to," we should not separate it into "Would," "you," "like," "to." In other words, paying attention to chunks is important.   My wife, who has experience living abroad, also mentioned the same point earlier.  She advised me not to read quickly, but to read while thinking about where to separate the sentence. I will continue to practice my speaking skills while keeping the above point in mind from now on.   Thank you for reading.

It was sunny and the sky was very clear today! I felt comfortable throughout the day thanks to the good weather. By the way, I have decided to do two things this week.  The first is to greet everyone with a smile. I will keep in mind, "Greeting is always from me," because I believe it's not better to be passive everywhere. Although I can't speak English fluently yet, greeting someone is very easy. When I greet someone with a smile, they usually respond kindly. Also, the class can start smoothly by greeting each other beforehand.   The second is to express my opinions actively. Yesterday and today, I tried to share my opinions first when the teacher asked us something. I was a bit nervous and tense due to my poor English-speaking skills, but I managed to express my thoughts. Through this experience, I gained a bit of confidence in myself. I will try to continue doing the same thing from tomorrow onward. Thank you.

I've recently noticed many differences between Japan and New Zealand. Today, I will write down the details. Saving water and electricity Not only my host family but also most people in New Zealand focus on saving water and electricity. My host mother mentioned earlier that they need to conserve these resources because the number of water treatment facilities and electricity generators is quite limited. For example, clothes and towels are washed only once a week, and showers are kept within 10 minutes. In my opinion, the commitment to saving water and electricity in New Zealand is stronger than in Japan.   Public facilities While vending machines are everywhere in Japan, I haven't seen them at all in New Zealand. I've come to appreciate how convenient it is in Japan to get a drink anytime, anywhere.   Park conditions In Japan, most park grounds are covered with dirt. However, in New Zealand, they are covered with grass. From a safety perspective, grass is much better than ...

Today, I went to Smales Farm Market and Takapuna Beach. Smales Farm Market is held monthly, and one of the teachers at the language school highly recommended that we visit. There were many shops offering a wide variety of products, from food to furniture. You could have a lot of fun even just browsing. I bought a cheese garlic bread there. Not only was it delicious, but it also gave me the energy to get through the afternoon. https://smalesfarm.co.nz/markets/   In the afternoon, I visited Takapuna Beach and relaxed while enjoying the beautiful view. Actually, I’ve been feeling a bit tired lately because I’ve been struggling to get used to homestay and the language school. I also feel like I’ve hit a glass ceiling in my English studies. As my wife said before I left Japan, I mustn’t be too hard on myself.   I will keep telling my self, "Take everything easy." Since moving to New Zealand, I’ve felt tested in how I manage my emotions. I’ll keep my wife’s advice in mind from ...

I t was very sunny today! Although it was very cold this morning, it gradually got warmer as time passed. Today, I visited the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The museum features exhibitions about Maori culture, past wars, and Auckland's history. I was particularly attracted to the tools that the Maori used in daily life and in battle. How did they create these tools at that time? Why did they often incorporate unique facial art on their tools? These questions kept coming to mind as I observed the exhibits.    Additionally, I have recently felt more strongly how important and necessary my wife is to me. Lately, I often find myself wanting to return to Japan. However, I will continue to do my best, always appreciating my wife. Thank you for reading.

I have finished the second week today. I am gradually getting used to the language school and homestay. Today, I challenged myself to make latte art as one of the activities after school. The one on the above is made by the teacher, and the one on the below is mine. If I opened my own cafe, it would close right away... I found that becoming a barista requires not only a lot of knowledge but also sensitive skills.  However, I spent a fruitful time with new friends.   Although I was very nervous until moving to Auckland, I have been actively challenging myself in everything now. I feel that the more I challenge myself, the more opportunities I can friends and study English, cultures, and habits. I will not force myself to always be perfect, but I will continue to have an interest in various things.   I saw a rainbow on my way home.  Very lucky!!

I found that accents and intonations are very different depending on the country. I can understand what Southeast Asian people say a little better than those from other countries because I worked at an international exchange organization inviting students and working officers from Southeast Asian countries. I assume that more or less original accents and intonations are included based on each country when someone speaks English. It is inevitable because English is not the mother language for all of us. Listening to various English accents is meaningful for cooperating with people from other countries for work in the future. Therefore, I want to take advantage of the current situation and improve my listening skills.   Also... It is sunny today!!! Very comfortable just walking outside!   Thank you for reading my blog.

In the afternoon session, we played a different game than yesterday's. The procedure was as follows: Each student received a card describing a situation where someone felt bothered or frustrated. We had to read the card and then explain it briefly to the other students in our own words, without just reading the sentences. After that, we discussed possible solutions in our teams. I found this task very challenging because I had to quickly find alternative ways to express the ideas from the card using my own words. Additionally, my grammar and phrasing suffered because I was struggling to explain clearly. As a result, they said to me, "I did not understand what you said." I couldn't express what I wanted to say at all. I will review today's tasks and continue to practice my speaking skills as always.   Thank you.

I have just finished today's class. In the afternoon session, we conducted a game. The procedure is as below; Write down all the letters of the alphabet on a piece of paper. List something useful or a waste of time using each alphabetic letter. When designated by the teacher, the team says only one word or phrase starting with one of the alphabetic letters. It was not only very fun, but also meaningful and useful for me because I needed to output using various knowledge to participate. My current mission is to improve my English speaking skill. I had a fruitful time because the task required me to talk with other students quickly. I'll try to express my ideas quickly tomorrow, just as I did today.   The scenery is near my home.

  I joined an activity held by the language school officer today. The activity was a table tennis tournament. I reached the semi-final match but could not win the game. Although I could not be the champion, I spent a fruitful time and made new friends there. My brain is now so clear thanks to the exercise.  I will study hard today because I rested many times last week.   Thank you for reading my blog.

I went to the central city of Auckland today.  I was happy to see some fields with rugby posts, and they inspired my enthusiasm for rugby.  However, I have already decided not to play it in New Zealand because I know that rugby is not only a fantastic sport but also a dangerous one. I realized that even small parks are covered with grass in New Zealand, while most fields are made of dirt in Japan.  Grass decreases the risk of children getting injured while playing sports.

I went to Cornwall Park today. There are a lot of sheep and cows there, so I was relaxed to see them. In particular, sheep are one of the animals I desired to see.   In New Zealand, there are many places that are close to the central city. Also, I do not see tall buildings at all if I go a little far from the city. I had a nice holiday thanks to the nature in New Zealand.   Thank you.

I finished the first week in New Zealand. I was very nervous before my class in a language school started. But, I am gradually getting used to the rules and atmosphere.   I still have only a few friends at school, but they are very kind. When I put myself in a new environment, I struggle to get used to the atmosphere.  So, I am not shocked by this situation.   One of my friends said, "I made a lot of friends because I like talking to people," when I mentioned, "It has been hard to make many friends because this is still the first week." I realized my theme again through the conversation with him. I will take a rest this weekend and will try to actively talk to more people.   Thank you. 

I needed to find my next home because my homestay will end by August 24th. Today, I found a new place to live and will be sharing the room with the owner. The rent is a bit higher than average, but it includes all bills.  I had a gut feeling that living here would bring good things.  Additionally, the fact that he is a rugby football enthusiast may have also influenced my decision.   Anyway, I'm really relieved to have found my next place to live.  I can't predict what will happen after tomorrow, but I keep telling myself, "Let's try anyway."   The scene makes me feel relaxed because I was feeling down during the first half of this week.