Submitted by Emma Morandi on the 2024 Winter HOSP program in Australia and New Zealand…
After a short plane ride, we made it to New Zealand! I was surprised to learn there are more differences from Australia to New Zealand than I expected. The geography is mostly mountains, farm land and beautiful sights. We got to have an awesome experience with the locals of Napier. Outside of our hotel, a food truck festival took place. We got to try some really tasty food such as seafood paella, crapes, and donuts. We sat on the lawn of the town square with the locals and listened to live music. This band wrote all their own music and it was amazing to relax and listen to their great songs. The locals are very friendly and have a huge sense of community. Many people were dancing and children were running around playing all night. We got to watch a beautiful sunset after. The next morning, in the same area, they hosted a farmers market. I got some amazing coffee and a croissant. The vendors were very friendly and I loved getting to meet locals.(Submitted on January 30, 2024)
