Friends together
02 Jul 2020
Food and friends, universal ingredients for fun – and better together. Year 12 students Justin Yin and Hanson Xie were among around a dozen international students from College who headed to St Andrew’s College last Friday 26 June for a pot luck dinner with international students from Christchurch’s independent schools.
With a stash of food kindly provided by the Dining Hall and some steamed buns courtesy of Justin’s mother, the students enjoyed spending time with their peers from StAC, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School and St Margaret’s College.
International students come from all over the world to study in New Zealand, but adjusting to life down under can be tough – and while they are keen to make friends and get involved in all aspects of New Zealand life, it is also important to catch up, share their experiences and hang out with each other.
“It’s good to be able to socialise with students from other schools. We’re all in a similar situation and get togethers like this can help give us a sense of belonging, which is important,” says Justin. “Everything feels really different at the start, and more experienced international students need to guide and mentor younger students.”
