Rayne Bradley has found her feet and grown wings after moving from provincial New Zealand to study in the big smoke.
Nine months ago, Rayne, who is from the small central King Country town of Taumarunui, was so homesick she was ready to give up on studying tourism in Hamilton.
At that stage, the 18-year-old had never spent more than a night away from family.
Now she proudly clasps her first-ever passport.
"I've never ever left New Zealand. I had to buy my passport, just for this."
What's the photo like?
"It's a beautiful photo," she giggles.
Then, "no, I was hot and sweaty, and I just came from, me and my family went out for the day and we went out to the park and I was so hot and sweaty .... but we love the photo anyway."
Rayne Bradley is off on an overseas internship after a year's tourism study Photo: Rayne Bradley
Rayne has, as she would say, "put on her big girl shoes" and secured an internship overseas.
"I just think it's six months of your life, just do it. Harden up ... push through."
Rayne can't wait for January to roll around because then she'll be off, but before then there's Christmas.
What do you hope Santa will bring?
"Hopefully some plane tickets," she says with a huge laugh.
Good luck Rayne, ka kite.
