I have been living in the La Pampa province of Argentina for almost four months now, on a Language Immersion Award Scholarship.

This award has given me the opportunity to live and study in Argentina for five months, to improve my Spanish and to learn more about another culture. A normal week for me at the moment includes school five days a week, Spanish lessons, film makeup classes, sewing classes, and lots and lots of food! Although I am participating in similar things that I would do at home, it has been interesting to see all the differences and it has meant I have learnt new skills that I would never be able to in New Zealand. Some things that I have had to get used to are eating at 10pm, surviving on less than six hours sleep a night, and the crazy driving! I have also had the opportunity to travel since I have been here, and have been to Buenos Aires with my host family. In the coming weeks, I will also be travelling south to the province of Neuquén, and then north to Mendoza. This experience has helped me to gain an understanding of what other people’s lives are like outside of New Zealand, and it has also made me realise how much of a bubble we have around our country. After attending a new school, living in a new neighbourhood, and being a part of a new community, I have learnt how lucky we are to be citizens of New Zealand, and I know now not to take what we have for granted. I have never been so proud to be a Kiwi as I am now. Along with learning more Spanish and more about another culture, this exchange has also helped me to understand lots of things about myself, which I feel now is even more valuble than the language. I can’t believe how fast the past few months have gone, I have less than six weeks left! Although it will be nice to come home and get back to normal life, I feel like I have finally started to settle in, and I have no idea how I will leave. I am so grateful for this opportunity I have been given, it has been a life changing experience that I am lucky to have taken part in.