The dream came true Perhaps everyone has some place on the earth, which he or she would like to visit. For 18 year old student of The First Private Gymnasium in Hradec Kralove, Eva Sedlackova, such place was unbelievably remote New Zealand. Under the influence of pictures and films she imagined it as a paradise - coloured country with beautiful nature, singing birds, giant trees, sea with whales, snow-capped mountains, bright sun and mysterious natives. One day the possibility appeared in the form of the competition for students of English offering study trips to New Zealand organised by Mr Čížek. She carefully prepared the replies and the essay and it paid off. She won the first prize – 3 months stay at KAVANAGH COLLEGE in Dunedin, homestay included. She had to find 36.000 Czech Crowns for the air-ticket, to obtain the visa and then only to look forward to New Zealand. She opted for the term from September till December. New Zealand did not fall short of the expectations. In one word, it was marvellous – the school, the host family, the sightseeing, in short everything. Her English was already very good, so she quickly adapted to classes. She even didn’t need an ESOL programme. At the beginning New Zealand English was a bit of a shock for her, but she got used to local accent soon. At school proper English was spoken. The education system is quite different there, more like at the university. The student chooses 6 obligatory subjects of study each year. For example in form 7 he or she chooses from Religious Studies, English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics, History, Geography, Physical Education, Economics, Accounting, Music, Design Technology, Graphics, Computing, Home Economics, Workshop Technology, Art (Printmaking, Painting and Photography), Art History, Text Information Management, Drama, Maori, French, German, Classical Studies and Life Skills. Each student has an individual time-table, it means different classmates for each lesson. The school year is divided into 4 Terms and starts on the 1st February and ends on 7 th December. Apart from summer holidays they are short breaks after each Term. The students wear school uniform. There are some 1000 boys and girls aged 11 – 18 years at the school, 150 are international students. New Zealand students pay the annual fee NZD 400,-. Annual fee for international students is NZD 8.500,-. The classes are small, maximum 20 students. Excellent teaching is supported by facilities and equipment to give students confidence. Students are very well trained in chosen subjects, but their general knowledge is lower compared to students in Czech Republic. The school is very well equipped. Students have at their disposal 150 computers in computer laboratory, workshops metal and wood, biology lab, chemistry lab, electronics lab, physics lab, photography darkrooms, lecture theatre, performing arts centre, music facilities, library, full size gymnasium, fitness centre and film studio. As a catholic school it has also its own chapel. The sports practised at school are athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, golf, netball, rowing, rugby, skiing, soccer, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and water polo. Eva has chosen her favourite subjects – Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English and Art. The drawing during art classes was her favourite. The school arranges homestay for international students. Eva lived with Mrs McInally. “My family was excellent” tells Eva. “Children of my host were already grown up and Mrs McInally had time for me. On weekends we often made trips by car. We have been to tourist centre in the mountains Wanaka. They have 3D maze and Puzzle World, which is difficult to describe. I liked also the Lake Hawea in Southern Alps and Moeraki Boulders, huge round stones that lie on the sea shore near Dunedin. Their origin is not quite clear. Probably they were formed by gradual accumulation of lime salts around a small centre with the help of the surf million of years ago. I also went on a bus trip to The North Island. I stood in astonishment in front of giant kauri trees in Waipoua Forest in Northland. I saw geysers, bubbling mud and Maori culture in Rotorua. It took me a while to get used to the sulphur smell. I climbed the area of lava fields at Tama Lakes under the active volcano Mt. Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park. I saw dolphins from the ferry during crossing of Cook Strait from Wellington. New Zealand is famous for its birds. In the first place there is the kiwi, national bird and also nickname for New Zealanders. I saw him in the nocturnal house. He is rather rare in the open.
Unforgettable was the encounter with the mountain parrot kea. We slept in a mountain hut and suddenly we heard queer noises at the roof. We went to see, what the matter is and we found a kea looking at us. He is about 30 cm high with menacing curved beak. He is very inquisitive with no respect for people. At Taiaroa Head near Dunedin I saw at close distance Royal Albatrosses, which are commonly nestling only on remote islands in the arctic seas. These huge sea birds with the wings span up to 3 metres have here their colony here, the only one on inhabited mainland. I have so many impressions from New Zealand, that it is difficult to put something first. Already the flight to New Zealand was the great experience. It lasted about 24 hours. I had to spend the night at Christchurch to catch the morning bus to Dunedin. I feared, how I will manage, but they were very helpful already at the airport. They found me a vacancy in Backpackers and everything was surprisingly easy. The sea was a great fascination for me as for everyone from landlocked country. I was lucky to stay at the seaside. I was able to make the most of the Pacific Ocean. I could not even resist having a swim even though the sea was cold in early spring. Sea shells and other found souvenirs finally hardly squeezed into my luggage. After weighing it at the airport it was 15 kg over the limit! However I was lucky. The kind officer at the airport didn’t charge me extra NZD 300,-. He probably guessed that the luggage is full of souvenirs, which are a must from a trip like this. Such are New Zealanders, very nice, hospitable and friendly. In New Zealand I liked the easy lifestyle and a lot of free space. Even at tourist spots I could find places, where I could be alone, enjoy the nature in peace and think about my life. I think that such a stay as mine broadens immensely our horizons, it enables us to look at things differently. One can then better appreciate what we have or have not at home. Definitely I would recommend overseas experience to every young man and woman. I’d like to go back to New Zealand one day. There are hospitable people there, who I would like to meet again.” For study in New Zealand visit www.novyzeland.info