Dan Carter has arrived at French club Perpignan as arguably world rugby's best player who at aged 26 has spent five years starring for the All Blacks and accruing 877 Test points.

But the modest Kiwi playmaker has admitted to feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect of fitting into an environment that has certainly taken him out of his comfort zone.

"It's been a whirlwind few days, from being with my family I guess (the All Blacks), to come into an environment where I have to start again," Carter told SkySports on Friday.

"I feel like a little kid starting school, meeting new players, having to learn names, sorting out the house.

"Even simple things like buying groceries are not easy here but I'm really enjoying it, I love the place. I'll stick at it and hopefully it'll get easier."

Carter will make his debut for Perpignan in their must-win home European Cup clash against English giants Leicester on Sunday.

The 26-year-old, winner of 58 All Blacks caps since his debut in 2003, has signed a seven-month contract with Perpignan worth a reported 34,600 euros a game.

It is a "sabbatical" the New Zealand Rugby Union agreed to in the knowledge that Carter would return to their fold, and the outside-half acknowledged that the shortness of the contract had put off many clubs.

"I'm re-signed with the NZRU until 2011, so after this stint I'll go and play another two-and-a-half years back in New Zealand," Carter said.

"But further down the line in my career, after 2011, who knows? Maybe I'll return to these shores or maybe the UK - I'm still not sure yet.

"I really wanted to carry on playing for the All Blacks, and only had the chance to play for 6-7 months," he added of his current contract.

"So, not that many French clubs were interested as I suppose I could've been more of a distraction than anything.

"But a couple of clubs were interested. Toulon were one of them and I had a lot of friends, Tana (Umaga) and Jerry (Collins), there."

Carter added that Perpignan's participation in the European Cup, the highest profile club competition on the continent that offers up international Test-standard fare on a regular basis, was also a big draw.

"The fact there are three games left in the European Cup was a big draw card with Perpignan," the Leeston-born player said.

"The European Cup is a tournament I've watched and admired from New Zealand. I wanted to play rugby at the highest level and, with the European Cup, club rugby doesn't get any higher than that."

Perpignan lost last weekend 38-27 away to Leicester.

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