Thomas Belleville

Etudiant à l'ENSGSI de Nancy, je souhaitais partir dans un pays anglophone améliorer mes compétences linguistiques, élargir mon horizon de connaissances et appréhender une nouvelle culture.

La Nouvelle-Zélande m'a toujours attiré en particulier la qualité et la diversité de ses paysages.

Mais partir aux antipodes signifie laisser sa famille et ses amis pendant une longue durée. Ce que j'appréhendais le plus était en particulier la solitude que je pourrais alors ressentir.

Par l'intermédiaire d'un témoignage laissé par une étudiante sur un forum internet, j'ai connu l'organisme "Student Down Under" qui propose des placements en entreprise ou à l'université des étudiants intéressés par une expérience "overseas". Le contact avec cet organisme a été très rapide : j'ai eu les réponses à mes questions par email en moins de deux jours.

Ce qui m`a attiré est la localisation de Student Down Under directement en Nouvelle-Zélande et son implantation proche des entreprises. Le sérieux de mes interlocuteurs et leur côté professionnel m'ont définitivement décidé à m'engager.

Mon arrivée s'est passée en douceur. J'ai été accueilli par l'un des responsables de Student Down Under à l'aéroport. Le premier soir a eu lieu une petite fête pour l'arrivée des nouveaux étudiants qui rejoignaient alors le groupe ce qui était très convivial. Ce que j'ai particulièrement aimé au cours de mon stage est la double vie, au travail avec les nouveaux "workmates" et en dehors avec les autres étudiants qui sont aussi en stage en Nouvelle-Zélande. Ceci donne un petit côté réconfortant.

 

Si vous voulez plus de renseignements, n'hésitez pas à lire mon article paru dans le journal régional de Bourgogne "Le Bien Public" en cliquant ici.

Arnoud van Walchren - Internship Hospitality

"Please, just let me go Kite surfing"

How is your experience with SDU?
Ronald and Marcel it was great, thanks for this life time experience!

Heleen Loohuis - Study English and Social Science

"The weather is so much better than in my rainy Holland, and the people in New Zealand are really nice, helpful and relaxed with their funny accent."

I studied English and Social Science at the University of Auckland. I choose to go to New Zealand because I wanted to improve my English skills, and to see this beautiful country. My whole experience was amazing! I made a lot of international friends, loved the country and my accommodation was perfect! For 5 months I lived in Parnell Student Village, an accommodation next to the Auckland Domain. The location is awesome, the Domain is beautiful and therefore the 20 minutes walk to University is a great pleasure.

How is your experience with SDU?
Well-organized, hard-working and reliable people who can help you with every little aspect of a study- or internship abroad experience.

Hilco Hiemstra - Internship Building Engineering

"My internship met 100% of my expectations. I have my own projects and I think that's one of the best things to learn: how it goes in the real world"
 

My flight went without any problems. From Amsterdam I flew to Shanghai, here I had to wait 3 hours and after that I flew directly to Auckland. Total flight- time was approximately 23 hours. My arrival in New Zealand was well organized. I was picked up by Marcel and after a drink he brought me to my accommodation. He was also the one who introduced me to the company my first day. Besides my internship I am enjoying the country. In New Zealand, every weekend is a small holiday. Just move out the city and enjoy the outdoor life and the beautiful environment of the country! After my internship I will even go and visit the Cook Islands or Fuji, still doubting hahaha...

How is your experience with SDU?
Average... No, just joking ;) It is perfect!!! I am even allowed to come back for my graduate assignment!

Anniek Duits - Internship Integrated Safety & Security Management

"My advice for new students is simply to go to New Zealand! The culture is great, the people are nice and the country is sooo beautiful!"
 

I had visited Australia twice, and I simply loved the culture, people and nature. I heard that the culture of New Zealand was comparable to that of Australia, but that the country was even more beautiful! I definitely wanted to go to New Zealand, and this was the best opportunity. I could combine my internship with travelling through New Zealand. Everywhere you go the nature is so different, you will be amazed on every journey you take! I did a security internship at a big museum in Auckland and it was great: all the aspects of my study where handled and I learned a lot.

How is your experience with SDU?
Very good! During the arrangement of my internship I had contact with several internship companies, but my feeling with SDU was already the best. Contact via the email was quick, clear and very helpful. The questions were answered very professional, what gave me a good feeling. Even after the arrangement of the internship they stayed in the background by organizing dinners and activities. My parents were very happy with everything SDU did for me, they were worried the most in the beginning.