Working holiday in New Zealand

I went to Ponsonby for a job interview, and I noticed that the atmosphere there is calm and quiet compared to the CBD. I’ve gradually gotten used to introducing myself and explaining why I want to work there. I no longer feel nervous about doing it, thanks to the experience I’ve gained from applying to various places.

Some people say that studying abroad can dramatically change a person’s personality. However, I disagree with this idea. I believe that while we can adjust our behavior depending on each situation, our core personality, which we’ve developed since childhood, rarely changes. Additionally, I don’t think we need to force ourselves to change our personality. What’s most important when making new friends is finding people who understand and accept you as you are. Today, I saw the Sky Tower light up up close for the first time.

Today, I went to The Olympic Pools and Fitness Centre in Newmarket for the second time. The first time was just 2 days ago. For just 9 NZD as a student, we can use not only the pools but also a sauna room, steam room, and jet bath spa. This price is reasonable and helps me relax, especially since I can't take a bath at home. Japanese people are used to taking baths, so I've been wanting to do it for a while. Anyway, I enjoyed both swimming and taking a bath.

Actually, there were three holidays from Saturday to today. I wanted to take a short trip, but I chose to spend the time job hunting because the outcome will impact my decision to either stay here or return to Japan. I need to decide on this matter by November. So far, I have applied for a total of 200 jobs, so I will wait for their replies this week. I did my best.

I saw a double rainbow near Onehunga on my way home. Maybe something good will happen for me. I’ve done everything I can, so I’ll just believe in myself. At this point, I’m unsure whether to stay here longer or return to Japan—it depends on my job search situation. Either way, I’ll keep doing my best.

I visited Auckland CBD and Devonport to look for a job and no longer feel scared of handing out my CV. As of today, my situation is as follows: Number of applications: 140 Number of interviews: 6 Number of trials: 1 Number of jobs offered: 0 I ate Hoki fish and chips on my way home. It gave me the enegy for keep doing my best. Just keep moving forward.

It's been a long time since I felt truly relaxed. This is because I have been focusing a lot on looking for a job lately, and I haven not been able to afford time for other things. Although I am still struggling with it, I recently got some useful tips for job hunting from a friend’s experience. I will keep putting in the effort while keeping those in mind.

I have taken a business English course for a total of six weeks, and today was the last day. This class was both useful and meaningful because I learned specific vocabulary and phrases for business. In particular, today's presentation session was impressive. I gave a presentation about a new business in New Zealand with some of my classmates. I tried to speak without a script because I wanted to simulate a real-life situation. Although I sometimes blanked out, I managed to get through it. I was able to recognize my current level and clarify my challenges.

I am in the process of changing my visa from a student visa to a working holiday visa. It has been more than a month since I applied, and I understand that it is normally approved within two weeks, based on what my friends have said. Perhaps the immigration officers have a lot of tasks this week because summer is approaching. I acknowledge the situation, but I want any updates, even if it’s just a small one. This is because I have sometimes felt that the expiration date and the working hour restrictions of a student visa have affected my job search. I just have to wait.

As I wrote in the title, I must not rush anything. I think I have tried everything I can so far. I will remind myself of this if I start to feel frustrated about my current situation.

I have just six weeks left at language school, and time has passed so quickly. I've decided that my deadline for finding a job is mid-November, which means I have about one month left. If I can't find anything by then, I will go back to Japan in December. I'm not a child anymore, so I need to draw a clear line between continuing my working holiday and ending it.

I had my first trial job as a waiter at a restaurant today. It was a meaningful and fantastic experience because I had never worked in the food industry before. I got a glimpse of how the staff skillfully served food and cleaned tables. What impressed me the most was seeing people from different countries working together so seamlessly. After the trial, the owner offered me a staff meal. Although the chances of being hired might be low due to the number of existing waiters and the influx of trial employees, today's experience definitely broadened my perspective. My current job search situation is as follows: Number of applications: 66 Number of interviews: 6 Number of trials: 1 Number of jobs offered: 0

I went to Sylvia Park Shopping Mall in the morning, and then I visited Rangitoto Island by ferry. I had planned to go only to Rangitoto Island today, but I missed the morning ferry because I didn’t know that it was necessary to buy a specific ticket at the counter, rather than using an IC transportation card. I had no choice but to change my schedule at the last minute, but I still managed to enjoy both places. In particular, the nature on Rangitoto Island gave me a relaxing time and the energy to get through the day. Cost Ferry (Round Trip: Auckland Central to Rangitoto): 58 NZD

I got a massage because I have been feeling exhausted lately. This was my first time getting one since I moved to New Zealand. The place was a little far from my home, but it helped me relieve the accumulation of fatigue. I've come to appreciate the number of hospitals, convenience stores, and other facilities in Tokyo. The number and opening hours of most facilities, even in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, are quite limited compared to Tokyo. I sometimes felt pressure from Tokyo's crowds, but I was also helped by the abundance of facilities. Everything I experience here is meaningful.

I feel that a lot of things are out of my control right now. I have applied for a large number of jobs, but I haven't received replies from most of them. Additionally, my application to change my visa from a student visa to a working holiday visa has not been approved, even though it’s been more than a month since I submitted it. I want to move forward as soon as possible because I feel that the working hours restriction of a student visa could affect my chances of getting a job. I know I shouldn’t rush things, but I've been feeling conflicted lately. I hope I’m not on the wrong path.   Recently, I found a plant that looks like an ear of rice, and it reminded me that the seasons in New Zealand has been gradually changing.

Yesterday, I slightly changed my route home and walked around Parnell Station. I had never known there was such a beautiful area in Parnell before. I saw a stylish public telephone and many old-fashioned restaurants and shops. I was also impressed by Holy Trinity Cathedral—the large space inside and the art on the stained-glass windows captivated me. I felt very happy, as I had been wanting to visit a church here in New Zealand.

Yesterday, I went running to the top of Mount Eden because I hadn’t been able to exercise at all due to my poor health. It had been a week since I last ran. I was a little tired, but I felt refreshed, and my mind became much clearer. As I thought, even a little exercise helped me get rid of the bad stuff from my body.

Today, I took a reading test in my morning class. Although I only scored 6 out of 20, I wasn’t disappointed because I clearly identified my current challenge. My scores in both the grammar and writing tests I took two weeks ago were around 70 percent, showing steady improvement in those skills. The important thing is to understand where I am now and review the phrases I couldn’t understand. When I was a student, I used to be affected by immediate scores, but not anymore. Maybe this change is because of my recent experiences. In any case, I’ll keep moving forward.

I changed the way I review things to learn, especially words and phrases, since last Friday. Until last Thursday, I had been rewriting them in my notebook using just letters, but I struggled to memorize them smoothly. I decided to change my method to creating PowerPoint slides using images because I had read a research paper beforehand that revealed linking vocabulary to images is the best way to stabilize memory in our brains. So, I started trying it with PowerPoint. I am not sure how efficient this method is, but I think it is a worthwhile approach.

I am now staying on Waiheke Island, which I reached directly from downtown by ferry. There are even fewer people here than in the city, so it has been very quiet everywhere I've walked since this morning. Lately, I’ve been rushing everything—looking for a job, studying English, and thinking about my future. There’s no confirmed answer regarding my working holiday. Sometimes, this uncertainty gives me strength, but other times, it weighs on me. I would not be experiencing this situation if I hadn't taken on the challenge of a working holiday.

Yesterday, I went to Western Springs Park with my classmates. I finally recovered from being sick and had a really enjoyable time. We saw many pukeko taking care of their chicks, and watching the mothers and their young ones eating grass was heartwarming. The parks here in New Zealand are well-organized and kept very clean—perhaps even cleaner than those in Japan.

I believe that AI will definitely become a problem for schools and universities within five years because we will face the following two challenges: The way of studying 1. Students may no longer feel the need for traditional schooling. With AI, students will be able to learn the same content currently explained in textbooks, making it possible to acquire knowledge through AI tools alone. 2. We will be able to study anywhere, at any time. This flexibility will challenge the traditional classroom model, as students may prefer self-directed learning with AI over attending physical schools.   The demand for administrative staff This will decrease dramatically. Tasks like managing students' learning progress or creating a large number of documents for school operations will be handled by AI, reducing the need for human officers in these roles. However, we will need more school counselors. While AI can teach students accurately and quickly, it cannot address their emotional needs. As AI ...

I found a deeply interesting TED video. I think everyone has experienced stage fright at least once in their life. There are two points in the video that really resonated with me. Practicing a lot, weeks in advance, helps build confidence and reduces anxiety. You didn't overcome stage fright, you adapted to it.  The science of stage fright (and how to overcome it) Heart racing, palms sweating, labored breathing? No, you're not having a heart attack -- it's stage fright! If speaking in public makes you feel like you're fighting for your life,… www.ted.com   When I worked at a pharmaceutical company, I gave a presentation to a doctor without enough preparation. Needless to say, I was nervous on the day and failed to deliver it properly. Eventually, my senior colleague stepped in to support me. After the discussion with the doctor, he pointed out my approach to the task. I really appreciated his advice because it has shaped my current attitude toward work.

I've been coughing and had a stuffy and runny nose until yesterday. My wife always supported me when I was living in Japan, but now I have no choice but to recover from illness on my own here in New Zealand. Although I know it’s common sense, I’ve come to appreciate my wife even more. Anyway, I will focus on resting and recovering as soon as possible.

I will finish language school at the end of November. I have to decide whether to stay here or go back to Japan by the end of this month because of my flat's contract. I have been wondering which choice is better for me. The working holiday constantly makes me think about what to do next. I've experienced things I couldn't do in Japan.

Actually, I had been sick from Friday until this morning. My throat was itchy, and I had been coughing frequently since yesterday. This was the first time I experienced such a bad condition. It reminded me that my health is the top priority and there's no need to rush things, including job hunting, because there are many things beyond my control here in New Zealand. I've taken pride in myself lately, but for now, I'll focus on recovering from my illness first.

I visited Parnell Farmer's Market and Winter Garden today. Originally, I had planned to join a walking tour called Auckland Community Connection Day, but I canceled it because the weather forecast predicted rain. I might have been feeling tired due to the continuous interviews and their disappointing outcomes. However, thanks to the experience, I’ve been able to clarify my vision more than before.

In New Zealand, Daylight Saving Time (DST) began on September 29th, when the clocks were moved forward by one hour. The aim is to extend the amount of daylight available for work and leisure. Although the total hours in a day remain 24, activities are adjusted to make better use of the extra daylight in the evening. I’ve heard of this system before, but I’ve never experienced it since it isn't applied in Japan. I’m very interested in how it works. For example, I took two photos near my house at 7:15 PM while running, and it was still light outside. Each experience in New Zealand gives me new realizations and knowledge.

Last week, I saw cherry blossoms at Albert Park in Auckland City. Many people from various nationalities visited to admire them. I was very happy to see that so many people were interested. One of my friends had even gotten a tattoo on her arm because she loves cherry blossoms so much. By the way, the nickname of the Japan national rugby team is the "Brave Blossoms," which I really love. Spring is coming soon, as it has been feeling warmer and warmer recently.

The Current Status of My Job Search: Number of applications: 57 Number of interviews I was able to move forward to: 4 Number of positions I was able to secure: 0 Although this is the reality of a working holiday, I am not disappointed in myself. Instead, I have been able to identify the skills I need to improve for the future. My path forward is clearer than ever before. Being in New Zealand gives me the chance to absorb many new perspectives and become stronger. Since moving here, none of my time has been wasted. I will continue to move forward and try my best. 

I have just finished my third job interview for an online student counselor position. All of the questions were general and simple, but I felt that my preparation was not enough to fully understand the job description. In particular, the question below was challenging for me: Have you already seen the job description? What training do you need to start this role? Of course, I checked the company's website, but my thinking did not reach the point he mentioned. It was a new realization for me that I could suggest job training. I have never been asked about this before. I have experienced many challenges lately, and I believe that each incident makes me stronger and tougher. I will take a little rest today. Thank you for reading, as always.