Eleven-year old Sang Ah Park arrived in New Zealand just last week.
And today the youngster from Korea begins her first day at Whangarei Intermediate School.
She and guardian Keumran Sutton were two of the many people at Bethells Uniforms on Monday, doing last-minute shopping for that much-maligned outfit, the school uniform.
But
Sang Ah didn't seem to mind the uniform too much.
She didn't have to wear one in Korea, and - with limited English - said she thought the white regulation polo shirt was "good".
What did strike Sang Ah as unusual was the new Whangarei Intermediate School uniform featuring shorts for both boys and girls, which wouldn't happen in Korea.
Mrs Sutton and Sang Ah were headed to the school after their shopping trip for Sang Ah to see where she will be going this morning.
Sang Ah was looking forward to starting intermediate school and "having fun".
And also making friends, she said.
Mrs Sutton is good friends with Sang Ah's mother in Korea, so is her guardian during her time in Whangarei.
Mrs Sutton - who is herself Korean but has lived in Whangarei for 10 years - said Sang Ah initially came to New Zealand five years ago as a six-year-old and attended Onerahi Primary for a month. She enjoyed her time there so much she couldn't wait until she could return to New Zealand by herself.
She is at Whangarei Intermediate for at least a term and is keen to try the activities available and also get stuck into her favourite subject, maths.
Sang Ah is keen to return to New Zealand to finish high school, Mrs Sutton says, but will probably finish middle school in Korea (the equivalent of a three-year intermediate school in New Zealand) before deciding further educational options.
Mrs Sutton's hopes for Sang Ah at intermediate are that she has fun and improves her English.
"She hopefully gets some really good friends," Mrs Sutton said.
