Hey guys,
It's officially two months since I've been here! This week is the start of the teaching recess which is basically spring break and it lasts for two whole weeks. Classes so far are going really well, and I feel like I'm not doing that much to be honest. I've had two tests before break started along with a couple papers and quizzes due, but that's it so far.
I'm confident that I've mastered the different ways to get around the city and all of the different transportation types, so I figured it would be a good topic for the week. When I first got here, I just walked everywhere I could because I didn't get my bus card yet. The bus systems here are called Busit and Intercity. For Busit, I recommend getting a student bus card because it's cheaper than paying out of pocket every time you want to ride the bus. If you pay out of pocket, it's $3.30, but with the student bus card, it's $1.70, so it helps. Busit is the transportation system of just getting around Hamilton. The bus I usually take is called the Orbiter Clockwise and Anticlockwise, and this bus takes you in a circle around the city. If I want to go to the mall, the grocery store, or a place to eat, I will take this bus. The only other bus I've taken is bus 13, and that one takes you to the transportation center to get onto another connecting bus or the center of the city. Overall the bus system is really straight forward and easy to understand, and the buses run every 15-20 minutes.
The Intercity buses are the ones that take you outside of Hamilton. You would just have to go to the transport center in Hamilton and get on a connecting Intercity bus to where ever you want to go. You do have to purchase tickets for the Intercity buses in advanced online.
Another way of getting around is Uber. Of course Ubering is more expensive than just taking the bus, however the buses stop running at around 6:30 on the weekdays. If you want to go to town at night, you're going to have to Uber there and back.
The last way to get around is of course having local friends who own a car. I feel like this is the most convenient way to get around at all hours because the carpark is a lot closer than the bus stops. I've been lucky here to have made a couple friends who have cars, so going on trips and getting around has been a lot easier than if I always had to take the bus or Uber.
Another option you have for side trips would be to rent a car. I'm currently in the south island in Queenstown, and for the week me and 5 people split a car rental. We will be renting another car in the north island for study week in October to travel the north island more freely.
Overall getting around has not been a struggle whatsoever. I would highly recommend getting the app "Transit" on your phone before coming here because it gives you every time for every bus for every location of the day and it's been extremely helpful for me!
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