Age: 24

What work did you do while on the program?

I spent my first three weeks on Great Barrier Island working at a hostel in exchange for my accommodation. It was just incredible. The people, the natural beauty, the lack of electricity - we powered up the generator in the morning to do laundry for about two hours and again at night for a few hours. I chopped firewood for the fire that heated the water for showers, and we filled the washing machines with buckets. Paradise! I then caught up with the ski season in Queenstown and spent the winter working at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski areas, in the Guest Services office. I’d never skied or snowboarded before, so the free lessons for staff were enormously helpful! The mountain staff was an instant community of great friends, mostly backpackers from all over the world. If you go to New Zealand with an open mind you’ll have no trouble finding work!

What was your accommodation?

I primarily stayed in hostels whilst traveling. They’re cheap, clean and NOT bed factories. Almost every hostel was a transformed old house or small cottage - everything from fire stations and old hotels to old farmhouses. I flatted in Queenstown with a couple of chefs and a couple of snowmakers from work. Campsites are also easy to find, cheap, and usually set in some incredible places!

Did you travel while you were there?

Yes. I went traveling before I looked for work and saw the whole of the North Island and the whole of the South Island. I bought a car with a girl I met in Auckland. The freedom it granted us to go where we wished at a moment’s notice and really get off the beaten path was awesome!

What is your top tip for future participants?

Visit a sheep farm, camp on the seashore, take a midnight swim in the ocean, learn about the Maori culture, GO TO A RUGBY GAME, go on one of the great walks, enjoy the wildlife, embrace Hokey Pokey ice cream. Most importantly go with an open mind, talk to the locals, get off the beaten path, and don’t think that Auckland is “New Zealand.” Get out of the city and into the heart of what makes New Zealand magical.

What do you miss about your host country?

I miss absolutely everything. The colorful slang, the lovely demeanor of the people, being constantly surrounded by amazing scenery, the cozy pubs, the incredible friends I made in Queenstown, and being just a couple hours from the ocean...from anywhere in the country.

What did you miss about the USA?

Plain, white tortilla chips and spicy, authentic Mexican food.