A Brit in The Boonies is a fortnightly column published in New Zealand's "Malvern News" and reveals how immigrants see New Zealand and how New Zealand sees immigrants. They are Helen Leggatt's observations of everyday life with all the cock-ups and successes, misunderstandings and steep learning curves that go with it. From housing to hoons and jam to jandals, even the mundane can be a hurdle for a Brit in the Boonies!
So says the title of this great and very well written an observed blog. Its good to get a view from the South Island and Helen lives in Canterbury in the foothills of the Southern Alps, the main city of the region is Christchurch.
Have a read its very easy to think of New Zealand in terms of Auckland. If you live in a UK city you will be blown away by the south island. It is beautiful rugged and hugely under populated. It is probably more of a place where a "new life" can really be achieved. Auckland is after all a city like all cities and I still work in the same business as I did in the UK. So to call this blog Our New Life feels a bit fraudulent. I have to say in mt defense, beware! Any move to any country away from home no matter how "English" it may appear is a wrench, a culture shock and can lead to personal and financial disaster or at the very least, lots of tears!
2 comments:
You comment - Any move to any country away from home no matter how "English" it may appear is a wrench, a culture shock and can lead to personal and financial disaster or at the very least, lots of tears - is just so true.
I left New Zealand and moved to Canada. That was 6 years ago and I HATE it here. I hate the freezing cold winters and the smoggy sweltering summers. The racism in employing anyone with a foreign accent is really bad - who cares that my english is perfect.
I want to come back home to NZ. But then I wont be able to get a job because all the foreigners have taken them.
I hate Canada. I dont like NZ much either - otherwise I wouldnt have left.
Think maybe I might settle for Australia.
I'm really sorry that you are having a hard time. Your comment about "all the foreigners" having taken the jobs actually hits the nail on the head. We are all just foreigners in other people countries and it doesn't matter how hard you try you always will be. I'll always be a POM to New Zealanders and you will always be a kiwi to everyone you meet. Thing is that's the other persons problem not yours. And often the inability to settle isn't the fault of the country or it inhabitants its ours!
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