My absolute favorite part of my time at GW has been my involvement with the club ultimate frisbee program (go Hippos!) - so, of course, that was the hardest thing to say goodbye to when I left to go abroad. GW frisbee has given me a community on campus, many genuine friendships, and an outlet to not think about school or work for at least a couple hours every week. Knowing how valuable frisbee has been in my college experience, I knew I wanted to incorporate it into my time at the University of Auckland. Before I even got on a plane to New Auckland (UoA), I was investigating the university and city frisbee scene.
A few weeks before I arrived in New Zealand, I emailed the UoA club ultimate frisbee program leadership - the email address for which I found by looking up the club online first. I basically just said that I really wanted to play with them and asked if that would be possible. From the beginning, they were so welcoming and responsive! I was told I would be able to play with them and they continually answered the many questions I had about what that would entail. By the first week of the semester, I was a member of the program and attending the Monday/Saturday practices. Being a part of the frisbee program at UoA has been awesome! I’ve met other students, learned more about Auckland just by having to get to/from the practice fields, and been able to add frisbee - something I love to do - into my routine here. Playing with the school also opened me up to the greater frisbee community in Auckland. As such, I’ve been meeting and connecting with people in the city that are not currently students. This has all helped me to feel more settled and like I’m not just visiting Auckland, but understanding what it’s like to really live here.
Going abroad is certainly about new experiences and trying new things, but that doesn’t mean you have to abandon all that you already are. Playing frisbee has given me a chance to be adventurous and meet people, all while doing something I already knew I enjoyed. Whatever your interests may be, it is worth exploring how you can incorporate them into your time abroad as you look into the various programs that GW offers.
Joanna Greenberg
GW Exchange - University of Auckland
Fall 2024
Columbian College of Arts & Sciences
Environmental and Sustainability Science Major