How I Got to NZ
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How I Got to NZ
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I applied to the teaching program at the University of Waikato through Canteach. I was accepted in early December and left Canada in January of 2005. I anticipate finishing the program in November, just one month after the teaching programs here in Ontario would have started. The credential I am earning can be recognized in Canada with some paperwork and an exam. About my year: Some General Comments on my Application I have detailed notes on all the steps, the processes and few difficulties, which I will make available by email upon request. Some more general tips and comments: * Send off your application as early as possible. Seriously. I learned about the program in October and thought I had plenty of time, but it took me two weeks to get transcripts from my undergrad school, another two or three for the school to give me an interview, and then everything shut down for two weeks for Christmas just when it was crunch time and I started freaking out about getting everything done. You might not think a day or two matters and you can just handle whatever it is later, but trust me when I tell you to resist that urge and do it all early. I did get everything done in time, but sitting there stressing about getting your visa in time when the High Commission is closed for Christmas and there is nothing you can do about it helps nobody, annoys your family and is just pointlessly not fun. * At the earliest opportunity, invest in half a dozen passport-sized photos. It is cheaper and more convenient to buy more at once time than one or two here and there. I needed several for the application itself, but also a few for the student visa people. It doesn't hurt to have a few extra handy. * Have a contact person at home whose mailing address you can use and who can handle any personal details for you. Right before I left, I gave my mother a package which included the following: copies of my admission offer, a photocopy of my passport, a contact list that included the name and phone number of my recruiter and the International Office at the school, a letter authorizing her to pick up any mail requiring i.d. or signature on my behalf, a list of emails of friends and family in case there was some kind of dire accident and they had to be notified, a form authorizing her to act on my behalf come tax time, a binder will all my recent bills in case she had to settle up any, a list of any valuables I planned to take with me along with their value, contact information for the storage facility where I had stashed my stuff, and a complete itinerary for the trip. * Read every single link, file, paper or suggestion you are sent and then verify any information you are unsure about. The school website for example had several inaccuracies that had not yet been updated, and the residence forms never entirely made it clear that a temporary per-night option was available. And the cost-of-living information they provided turned out to be a bit off. Also, it was also a rude surprise to learn that the loan company my recruiter used was not yet set up to handle my application, but it turned out that a read of the fine print on his website might have alerted me sooner that this step was still in progress. * Budget and be prepared for small unexpected costs that add up. I spent nearly $40 on passport-sized photographs for example, and another $30 to have my mail forwarded to my mother when I gave up my apartment. Other expected but annoying small expenses included a case for my dvds, extra refills of my asthma prescriptions and a power adaptor for my laptop computer. Also be prepared to spend money in the first week. Sunscreen is expensive and my first bottle set me back $20. I also spent on convenience foods while I was in temporary accommodation so that I would not have groceries to transport when I moved. In hindsight I should not have done that. It was harder than I thought to secure permanent accommodation as I had no phone to liaise with people. Had I known how long I would be in that temporary room, I would have planned my food a bit better. * Do not waste packing space on sheets and towels. They are inexpensive to buy here and you never know what you might or might not need. I wound up with a fully furnished place where all of that was provided, so I was kind of regretting the packing space I took up with towels (I had not brought my own sheets, at least). Also, I probably could have done without the bathrobe. * In other packing notes, trust me when I tell you, you'll want long-sleeve pajamas. In the winter, it gets cold at night and the houses here are not heated. You'll also want to bring a few light-weight long-sleeve type things you can layer for daytime use. It tends to go from cold to hot to cold again. As far as shoes, a pair of Teva-type things are essential. Mine are comfy enough for light hiking, and they can get wet. * Multi-function devices are useful. I was able to buy a used laptop computer and rip music off of my cd's onto it, thus negating the need to take any with me. The laptop can also play dvds and handle any school work, plus be used to keep a journal and website while away. If there is time for the group to hook up pre-departure, you might consider pooling your resources and swapping dvd or cd lists to make sure nobody brings duplicates.
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