How awesome was New Zealand?
Ethan: It was THIS awesome! (Ethan opening his arms widely).
NZ was the best country I ever visited by far! It was mind-blowing. I think that if I was a good photographer, I could have made postcard of every shot I took.
Unlike other countries where you have to travel from one spot to another, in New Zealand the journey is what you enjoy.
But for me it was more than that. Taking a gap year was my way to look for myself, and I did find it thanks to all the various experience that I got: people, work, activities… I got what I needed out of New Zealand, not necessarily what I wanted out of it.
What did you forget to pack when leaving home?
Ethan: I actually packed too much. I packed so much camping gear that I used two nights only. It was a mistake but if I have to pick one thing, it would be my suit. I did not need to have any dressed clothes here in New Zealand.
Can you describe what is a Starter Pack?
Ethan: It was a core part of my working holiday. Their orientation and organisation tought me all about my gap year, gave me all I needed to be on my way, and then supported me along the way.
In short, it was my lifeline along my trip. If I ever felt I needed something or some help of any kind, I knew I could call my contact.
After a week I realised how “screwed” I would have been without them. Thanks to them, I was very comfortable with starting my trip, finding a job, living here and travelling the country.
What was the best thing that your agency did for you?
Ethan: Having only one contact was great! I talked to one person that I knew and knew me all the time. I talked to others that were just dropped off somewhere and that was it. No personal contact and always speaking to different people. For me, having one person going through the whole process and even staying with us at the bank, for instance, was the best thing.
Also, I’d say that the fact that their services include no fluff was good. All that was provided was actually useful.
You travelled around New Zealand with a Hop On Hop Off bus, how was it?
Ethan: I was kind of lost when arriving and they recommended it to me and it was really the best choice for me.
Most people I met were thanks to this bus. When staying in the cities I met a few people but not much. However, I really hit it off with people on the bus. There were so many different types of people. As I said, I was lost when arriving and you pointed me in the best direction possible.
Actually, all people that I am going to stay with in Europe now (Ethan is going to travel around Europe before going back to the USA) I met them on Stray. It was awesome. Despite what I thought, I felt not too forced to buy activities either. I only chose to do what I wanted. At the end, I did see all I wanted to see as I was not confined to what they stopped at. I hopped off often.
Tell me about one place that you really loved?
Ethan: After a long week in Auckland, I loved Raglan and its unique rolling Dr Seuss like hills. It was not the most impressive place, but it was really what I thought about when I was sitting at uni at home. When I arrived there I realised that I got what I wanted from this trip. I met a guy from the Netherlands and ended up WWOOFing at the Karori Lodge for 2 months in total. It was the coolest place ever. I hitchhiked to work every day – a thing that I never did before.
Before I came to New Zealand, I was on the Internet all the time, Without Internet there I used it only 30 minutes a week, and it was a great break. It changed my lifestyle and was a real 180 from the US.