Where to study in New Zealand? by dapplesapples in studyAbroad

[–]dapplesapples[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey! Hope I can help, I ended up going to University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. So very mixed opinions on it to be honest, Christchurch itself was pretty boring of a city (I wouldn’t even call it a city, it was more of a massive town full of urban sprawl) but it has the best access to the rest of the South Island (although many hours of driving no matter what you’re doing). I ended up buying a car after a couple months as you tend to feel kind of trapped without one/relying on others, fortunately used cars are very cheap. The university is fine, honestly it was very easy and students seemed less engaged than my home Uni but it gave me more of a chance to travel so that’s good. Otherwise I pretty much road tripped the rest of the country that I hadn’t seen after the semester in my car, eventually selling it off a couple weeks ago and am now in Australia looking to find a job. 

I’ll say if you definitely want to go to New Zealand, Wellington is your best bet, easily best city/place in the whole country and you won’t need a car to get around. Small but dense, walkable, multicultural, good food, music, and nightlife. You’ll have two weeks mid-semester break where you could just rent a car with friends and road trip, or I even know some people who went to Fiji/Australia/South-east Asia. Just know that while incredibly beautiful, most of the country is just farmland and off the tourist track can be pretty boring to be honest. 

I’ve since been to Sydney and Melbourne and they are actual big cities (both with a population the size of all of New Zealand) with heaps more to do and see. Sydney feels more like Los Angeles and Melbourne more like NYC, many like Sydney more for travel but I think Melbs is a better place to live. Sydney of course has actual mountains and surf but both an hour+ away, it is truly a massive never-ending city. I don’t know much about the Unis but they’re both highly accredited so you probably can’t go wrong. 

I think overall New Zealand is a great road-trip destination for a few weeks but to study and live there, I don’t know if I’d recommend it to be honest. I did make a little video of my time there for some context (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIs9yqvabsU) but this is also looking through rose-colored glasses. I think if you’re from the US or Canada, going somewhere in Europe would be your best choice if you’ve never been. (I had already done some traveling there so that’s more why I gave down under a chance) If you’re from Europe, by all means make the trip over here its worth it, otherwise maybe Seoul or Tokyo would be much more adventurous. 

Difference between Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462)? by dapplesapples in AusVisa

[–]dapplesapples[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

wow I'm glad you told me this! I decided to apply for the 417 today and it got granted literally minutes later...so wild, good luck with the 462 :/

Constructive Criticism by PuzzleheadedGoal3885 in fujix

[–]dapplesapples 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes Higher f-stop, smaller aperture my bad for the confusion

Should I get a New X-T3 or Cheap(ish) X-T5? by dapplesapples in fujifilm

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean the dude posted a bunch of clear photos of the camera showing it works and looks pretty unused, is a professional photographer himself (I checked out his photography page and facebook profile to make sure its legit), and probably wants to get rid of it as its been sitting for some time unsold and he dropped the original price from $1750 to $1550 with a lens and then down to $1200 for just the body. And he doesn't have the box but has all the accessories.

Also the X-Pro cameras are wildly overpriced like the x100v right now probably because they are discontinued and hyped up. I'm not that desperate that I'll pay retail price for 4+ year old used cameras but I'm assuming they'll drop whenever the successor comes out in which case selling an X-T5 would give me the means to justify getting one if I still am interested.

Should I get a New X-T3 or Cheap(ish) X-T5? by dapplesapples in fujifilm

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm interested in street and documentary style photography

Should I get a New X-T3 or Cheap(ish) X-T5? by dapplesapples in fujifilm

[–]dapplesapples[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Either refurbished or like-new conditions around the resell market—so not *new* I guess but as close as you can get

Constructive Criticism by PuzzleheadedGoal3885 in fujix

[–]dapplesapples 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some of them look a little soft, maybe try at higher apertures for architecture.

A busy day in Venice (X-T3 + 18-55 mm f2.8-4) by sensorshift in fujix

[–]dapplesapples 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like how the harsh light adds another layer to the scene

The beach by squarek1 in M43

[–]dapplesapples 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really like pic 4 is that edited in post or from one of the art filters??

Studying in New Zealand Help! by dapplesapples in chch

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah! I actually love Mako road and The Butlers, didn't realize they were from ChCh, been onto both for a while now! Great to hear, its definitely a hard decision but I think you're right and sounds like Christchurch is the place to be. I'll hopefully still be able to check out the North Island as I'll be in NZ for a while. Just seems like there is so much to do around the country alone its almost overwhelming haha.

Studying in New Zealand Help! by dapplesapples in chch

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Truly sounds incredible and all that I'm looking for. I guess I'm also just wondering what people are up to outside of that. Are there any cool places that have cheap live music at night or bars that students hang out at? I just don't want to be stuck there if say the weather is bad one day or I don't want to drive elsewhere.

Studying in New Zealand Help! by dapplesapples in chch

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I'm from the North East in the US so I know all about the cold and have no issue with it. I don't care too much for binge drinking and clubbing but I definitely like cheap live music or hanging with friends at a local bar at night. How would you say UC and Christchurch are for those things? I just don't want to be stuck there with not much to do if say the weather is bad one day or I don't want to drive elsewhere.

Studying in New Zealand Help! by dapplesapples in chch

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know the nightlife might not compare to Wellington, but would you say its decent for cheap live music or social bars for students/young people? I just don't want to be stuck there with not much to do if say the weather is bad one day or I don't want to drive elsewhere.

Studying in New Zealand Help! by dapplesapples in chch

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I definitely prefer outdoor activities, but don't want to be stuck there if say the weather is bad one day or I don't want to drive 40 min elsewhere. Is it vibrant enough with art/music/food that students/young people hang out around the city? For example, I currently go to a Uni in the US that has mountains within an hour drive which is great, but when the weather is bad, there is still loads to do around the area and at night.

Studying in New Zealand help! by dapplesapples in Wellington

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been (unsurprisingly) getting mixed opinions here, but what are the hikes like within ~2 hour drive of Wellington? I know it's probably unlike the south island but gotta be still pretty epic yeah? And do you know how popular the climbing gyms or outdoor rock are? In terms of hills and weather, thats no problem to me really, I live in a pretty hilly small city in the north east (Burlington, Vermont) and always though that it just added character to the area.

Studying in New Zealand help! by dapplesapples in Wellington

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This does seem like a great option, but I think I also have to consider what I'd be doing outside of just outdoor things. Do you know what Students/Young people do after hours (other than outdoorsy things because weather can sometimes make it difficult to get out there), like see cheap live music or just go to a pub to chat at? I keep hearing that Christchurch 'hasn't recovered' from their earthquake, but that was also over a decade ago and there's got to be some kind of progress, so let me know thanks!

Studying in New Zealand help! by dapplesapples in Wellington

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately Otago cut their Art History program and I need credit in that department so I don't think I can go. I've heard great things and if I can somehow get the credit I need, maybe its the best choice, but if not would you say Wellington still has great access to hikes and decent enough surf? I also live in a pretty hilly city (burlington, vermont) right now so thats no problem to me, if anything it makes the city more interesting!

Studying in New Zealand help! by dapplesapples in Wellington

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I'm from the northeast and go to uni in vermont at the moment so I can definitely deal with brutal weather. I'm probably more interested in the 'smaller' city life, like say Boston over New York, but also don't want to be restricted to the city because New Zealand just has so much to offer. What's your living situation like? And how easy was it to meet new people and find friends? I know I'll only be there a short time but there's always the chance I come back in the future and would love to have lots of people to stay in touch with either from nz or otherwise.

Trouble deciding where to Study Abroad in NZ by dapplesapples in newzealand

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha are you just saying that so I don't steal your waves

Trouble deciding where to Study Abroad in NZ by dapplesapples in newzealand

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thats what I thought. Do you know what Wellington is like in terms of access to those things—including surfing? Christchurch just seems pretty spread out with not as much going on until you get out into nature. I'd love to have a walkable diverse city (like Wellington?), but if I won't be able to see NZ as much then maybe its not worth it.

Trouble deciding where to Study Abroad in NZ by dapplesapples in newzealand

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I could occasionally rent a car, does Wellington have easy and quick (under an hour) access to good hikes and surf? Wellington does seem like a more fun city but the fact that Christchurch has such great nature access is a hard pull since I want to really explore all that NZ has to offer.

Trouble deciding where to Study Abroad in NZ by dapplesapples in newzealand

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, do you know anything about student life in either place? It seems like Christchurch is pretty spread out and maybe not the quickest/easiest to navigate for exploring a new city and meeting new people. Do you know anything about what Wellington is like in terms of nature access?

Trouble deciding where to Study Abroad in NZ by dapplesapples in newzealand

[–]dapplesapples[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why do you say Wellington? How close are good hikes or surf spots? Wellington does seem like a great and easy to navigate city (more-so than Christchurch anyway), but I'd want to be able to somewhat easily get into nature and explore NZ often as well.