After long flights and a 7-hour layover, it was around 4:30 p.m. when I got on my shuttle from Dunedin Airport to the city. It was cloudy and rainy with a bit of haze, but the air was fresh, like a tropical winter, where animals (especially birds) would thrive.
Once my shuttle dropped me off, I was greeted by the nicest people at the University of Otago Uni Flats. They handed me my flat keys and showed me to my place, a cozy house on Cumberland Street. That’s where I met my Kiwi Host, Marc, who’s Filipino and loves rock climbing and physical fitness. We became friends quickly, and after just one day in Dunedin, I already felt welcomed.
The next day, I went to visit Ryan, another international student from Minnesota who lived just a block away. That’s where I met more international students and the coolest Kiwi Host, Giancarlo, who treated me like one of his flatmates. I had a lot of fun learning about Kiwi culture, as well as Canadian and Japanese culture, through my new friends Mathias and Aoi. They were both incredibly kind and welcomed me into their flat, just like Giancarlo did.
After a long night of getting to know one another, Giancarlo, Mathias, Aoi, Tommy, and the rest of the flat all went out with me to find a place to eat. Walking down Great King Street and onto George Street, we saw a band playing for the All Blacks rugby team, a very cool introduction to local pride and energy.
One thing that stood out to me was how much Asian culture is present in Dunedin; you really can’t miss it. We ended up eating at Mum’s Chicken, and it was delicious. Afterward, I headed home, excited to explore more of Otago’s campus the next day.
That morning, I made myself breakfast and was surprised by how much better the food quality was here. Later, I walked around campus, then grabbed lunch near my flat on Howe Street, once again, amazing quality, with way fewer preservatives (lol). On my way back, I noticed a lot of churches in the area, including a Chinese church. It made me appreciate how inclusive and diverse the Dunedin community is.
Later that day, I visited the beautiful Otago campus again and spent time hanging out at Giancarlo’s flat. We watched movies all night and made a late trip to Night ‘n Day, the 24-hour convenience store. By the time I walked home, the city was quiet, the wind and my footsteps were the only things I could hear.
Photo Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11yNcJqYyZda4B4BmgXO-QpQEa3Jm99bt?usp=drive_link