''It's my first time on a beach in six months. It's been -10C in the United States, so it's great to be back for a Dunedin summer,'' she said on Thursday.
''I've been really missing Dunedin and family and friends. I think the first thing I did when I got back was have a Jimmy's pie. They don't have pies in America; there's no such thing.
Miss Morris-Clarke (23) has been living in Upper West Side in Manhattan, New York, since July, when she won a $3000 a year scholarship to study musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
She moved to the United States after playing the lead role in Dunedin Operatic's New Zealand premiere of Dusty in April this year.
''Dunedin Operatic helped me a lot. There are some very talented people in Dunedin.''
Miss Morris-Clarke has been singing since she was a toddler, but did not perform publicly until she started tuition with veteran Dunedin singing teacher Gladys Hope.
She later graduated from the University of Otago with a bachelor of arts degree in theatre studies.
''It's been really amazing in New York, but it's really intense work. I've never worked so hard in my life. We're learning singing, tap-dancing, jazz, ballet, acting ... I'm the first Kiwi to ever do the integrated programme.
"They love having me there, although I have to speak in an American accent. They reckon I do a full southern accent, from Georgia,'' she said.
''The hardest bit to get used to is American culture. New Zealand and American culture is very different. New Zealanders have a very chilled sense of humour, whereas Americans are really nice, but they're very in your face and smiley and not so relaxed.
''The course finishes in October and then I hope to get a performance visa to stay there. I'm doing really well at the moment and am in the top group at school. I feel like I've got a good chance of making a career of it,'' she said.
''The ultimate goal for me would be to go on Broadway in a musical.''
Miss Morris-Clarke returns New York to continue her studies at AMDA this week.
