Reverse Culture Shock - moving BACK to America.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
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This week Chantel and I from the TH-cam channel "Growing up without Borders", sat down and discussed our thoughts on reverse culture shock. Does his really happen? How can you have culture shock in a country you grew up in? These are questions we answer in this weeks video. If you liked this video, please subscribe for more content about what it is like living abroad as an American.
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I moved to New Zealand 4 years ago & I remember saying these exact words: "This country is ME, I feel like myself here, surrounded by other people who are fully themselves." I love this country!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Where did u move from? Love your name by the way 😜
@@Kiwiamericans I'm from South Africa. Interestingly, living outside of my home country has allowed me to make more sense of my childhood during the Apartheid years. I think I understand my home country better, now that there's a vast ocean between us.
> 12:26
I feel so proud that you both feel at home in our country, nau mai haere mai! 💕
Thank you so much for your hospitality!!
Immigrated to NZ from the States in 2004. An easy way I've come up with to explain the difference is ~ In the states, smoking tobacco is cheap & heath care is astronomical. In New Zealand smoking tobacco is astronomical & health care is free. The decision on where to grow old was mine to make & I made it!
Awesome name.. yankiwi!
I've never been to the US but it must be nice with friendly strangers talking to you.
. In New Zealand smoking tobacco is rare?
That would be why Covid-19 is low in NZ, not because of useless shut-downs The person who has been smoking for decades is a victim of the Covid.
@Jackie Hillson what state did you live in?
@@295g295 Adult smokers (15+) 11.6% (down from 18% in 2006/07)
- With higher smoking rates among men (12.2%) than women (11%)
I'm American and have lived in NZ for 20 years. Sadly, I really don't ever want to go back to the US even to visit.
Where in NZ do you live?
Went home to NZ after 6 years away, it took about 5 minutes at the pub to shake hands, slap people on the back, say cheers etc........ and then everything was just as it was 6 years before. 😀
Awesome! Where did you live for 6 years?
@@Kiwiamericans Aussie. Lived in Sydney, Melbourne, and WA, visited SA and QLD.
@@harrycurrie9664 Yeah .. but Oz is the same as NZ.
The only difference between us is your attempt to steal things that were invented by us aussies .. like the 'meringue'🙄
@@davidhuett3579 Did you know the Lamington was a NZ recipe too ? First published in the Wairarapa Times in 1869.
@@harrycurrie9664 Never!!
The lamington came from Queensland originally.
The simple fact is, NZ was once part of Australia until it detached and drifted off.
It was most likely ,that BOTH pavlova and Lamingtons were 'invented' .. by Australians .. before your departure.
I loved travelling the world, (pre covid of course) but coming home to little lovely New Zealand is like returning to your heart. When you go through customs and the officer sees your passport and says "Welcome home." That gets me every time.
Me too!
Same 💚 Every time! Have had some beautiful holidays in Europe or America/Mexico but coming home to New Zealand is like nothing else!
I’m guilty of been a bit pretentious when I was travelling- I’d hold my passport in a manner that anyone looking my way could see I was holding a New Zealand passport.
When working at Melbourne airport my colleagues asked why I’d mention I’m a Kiwi when serving my clients. My response was ‘No way did I want anyone to think l was an Aussie’!!
Definitely know what you mean by reverse culture shock, felt that the first time I had worked in Canada and returned to NZ. Everywhere in NZ looked cleaner and greener. Living in Australia too, their roadsides, gardens and public areas are a mess of weeds, but you come back to NZ, there are beautifully manicured gardens and roadsides everywhere you travel.
Like that Dave Dobyn song....welcome home bro🤙
The smell of the air as I got off the plane... home.
As an older guy, born in NZ and have travelled a small amount, I must tell how delighted I am the you are living in my country. Please stay here, you add to our culture and diversity.
That is very kind! Thanks for watching
And this guy is the reason I will live in NZ one day, there are not many places were the people will say “welcome, please stay in our country” most people say they don’t want newcomers. Thank you for your open heart and mind! Thank you for this video!
Omg, Bob, that is so sweet! I hope to meet people like you when I make my way to New Zealand😊
@@NCYogini This place is fantastic, my wife and I have driven nearly every road, explored places tourists never see, camped everywhere, you can sleep on the forest floor almost anywhere, in complete safety, as there are no predators, snakes, crocodiles or anything that can harm you. The scenery is only matched by stuff that is bigger, not better. Unique flora and fauna, the best coffee in the world.
@@bobpackard9527 What about wild pigs ?, they can harm you.
I remember coming back to New Zealand and the smell of home I got getting off the plane. Didn't expect it.
Returning by ship after being in Asia for 6 months and travelling down the East Coast of the Nth Island in Early December - The wall of smell is incredible ( clean & sweet ). It is something you are not expecting and when it hits you its astonishing of how intense it is. When you are living with it all the time you never relise it's there until you go away for a while and then come back. Nice Comment Kate
Smells.. that is soooo true. They can almost bring back vivid memories.
Arriving back in a stiff Wellington breeze after big, smelly and polluted Sao Paulo: I took deep breaths of clean air that reminded me of fresh cucumbers and watermelons. Nearly in tears.
I remember coming home and being in awe at how so green everything is. And yes the smell, the fresh air and the food. I also noticed that i sounded different to everyone. I was always told i have a thick kiwi accent but being home, thats not quite true 😂 ive picked up a bit of a twang
Yes... the first smell was freshly cut grass as we moved between Auckland international and domestic airports... aaahhh, so good. I lived in Asia for a year, where we compiled several volumes of ‘What the heck is that... The smells of Asia!’
I love your videos and am so pleased you can put into words things that I've felt for years. I was born and brought up in the UK, moved to NZ at 14. I have an identical twin sister who later moved away for many years (UK and Nigeria), and when she came back I found I was very closely related to a stranger. She was so stereotypically English and I feel as though I'm definitely Kiwi. When I took a trip back to the UK with my own little family, I found myself explaining differences away by saying I'm a Kiwi. Of course my children were born in NZ, but it was much deeper than that. I wanted to shake people out of their indifference to so many things. I loved it when we arrived back in NZ and the person processing my passport said "Welcome Home". I think because NZ is such a small island nation, we're more aware of the rest of the world.
That’s the best feeling isn’t it, when you’ve been away from home for a while and you get to customs and they say, Welcome Home. That never gets old and I love hearing it every single time
Sheila - thanks for watching and sharing your story. You bring up another interesting point in regards to feeling like your sister is a stranger. I am going to think on that one. When I am with my family I feel like I can understand where they are coming from since I grew up with them in their culture but then I feel like they don't really understand me. Glad you feel at home in NZ!
You might find the book Third Culture Kids by Ruth Van Reken & David Pollack helpful to understand & finding the language to articulate your experience.
It's interesting to me as a Kiwi that when I travel overseas, which has been often and so far to about 45 countries including the US several times, and people proudly show me scenery they love, I often feel bad because I have to act to pretend that I find it as beautiful as they do. in all my travels I can only really say that only a few natural places outside of NZ have really impressed me, The Himilayas, The Grand Canyon, The Copper Canyon in Mexico and the sheer size of the Pacific Ocean when I sailed from Panama to New Zealand. (Oh and just the general appeal of small islands in the Pacific) There are of course many beautiful places all over the world but NZ is something special i can't explain. It's just beautiful everywhere.
Keith -- that is so well said and exactly. When we moved back to the midwest for 2 years everything - sunsets, beaches etc looked ok. My kids were not impressed. They have been spoiled living in NZ. You sailed from Panama to NZ??
@@Kiwiamericans Yes but on a ship from England to NZ via Panama. It was my last journey on my "Big OE". Do you know that term?...Big Overseas Experience that many young Kiwis did and still do I suppose. I went around the globe westwards to Australia and entirely on the surface (except I had to fly over Burma/Myanmar) and from Christchurch to Sydney. I went on via Asia, and Europe and then on a Soviet (this was 1976) cruise ship on a cheap line voyage to position themselves for the southern cruising season. It was great fun to go through the canal with a lot of young Kiwis in the night under a huge lit up red funnel emblazoned with the yellow hammer and sickle giving stick to American canal guards where everything was emblazoned with Stars and Stripes (1976 US Bi-centenary year and the canal was still US territory) you can probably imagine what that was like! Anyway I truly know how big the world is and how small we are. (people that is) and PS You are very welcome here.
It's interesting that you got the "oh aren't you so glad you're back here?" question when you returned to the USA on the presumption that everything is always better there. My wife worked as an MD in Seattle for a year (we're Aussies) and towards the end of her contract there, she got asked several times "Aren't you going to be sad to go back to Australia now that you've seen our standard of living here?" She looked at them like..... "Wtf? Are you serious?" 😂
Oh really??? That is so interesting. Did you experience culture shock going back to Australia?
@@Kiwiamericans For me no, as I was continually drawing down my holiday balance and visiting her in Seattle every couple of months (for a few weeks at a time) then returning to Australia. For her there was a mild reverse-culture shock on returning which might have been worse if she'd stayed there longer than a year. Although there were wiser, more travelled Americans we met there, dealing with really weird misconceptions was not at all uncommon and was something she found difficult, to the point of just having to change the conversation sometimes. Like the lady who told her our standard of living must be really poor because she'd watched Aussie lifestyle shows on cable TV, but had never seen a granite bench top in a kitchen. The lady was totally unconvinced when she replied "just because you didn't see one on a TV show doesn't mean we don't have them" so she just had to move the conversation on!
hahaha its always funny how aussies got to make there point of view about everything and this video has nothing to do with Australia classic
@@dtmanaiadm hey there are so many kiwis living here that sometimes I get confused and think NZ is just another Australian state! 😂
@@dutchroll hahaha true that brother i live on the GC gday mate
My experience of reverse culture shock was 6 1/2 years in Japan. Came home to NZ and would go to the supermarket and have the young teller asking "How was your day?" and "What have you been up to today?" and chatting away. In Japan, I went to shops almost daily for years and most of the time, people never said anything to me other than the stock standard stuff like "Thank you, that will be 1,000 yen." "Thank you, your change is XX yen". So I kept thinking in NZ "I don't know you!" But of course, now I am back in the groove and chatting about all sorts at the checkout again. Really enjoy that ability NZers have to chat to strangers - have seen it in the US too.
Thanks for sharing
I moved here from the US almost 30 years ago... Never went back...
Hello 👋 fantastic my brother ur welcome here I am wanting to move to America end up i stayed yes Ric have everything here thats important
So good to hear you ladies. You are such great advocates for New Zealand XX
So thankful to be here!
When I finally landed in Portland, OR, I felt like I had come home, and if I never end up moving there permanently, I'll feel homesick for there for the rest of my life.
I also get what you mean about reverse culture-shock and I suspect Mark Twain was in the same ball-park when he said: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime..."
Love Portland! Great quote and so true.. thanks for sharing
Lol, just read your comment after posting mine, and I had quoted the very same from Mark Twain!!!! Sorry, I didn’t mean to copy!!!!
I guess it was just so perfect to what they were saying!!!
And it is. so very true
I'm an NZer, travel and work in the USA, and I can generally tell within a short time if an American I meet has travelled outside their country. It changes people, a lot and most of them are changed forever. Everyone should travel, and ideally work and live somewhere other than their place of origin.
kiwi guy from Auckland and Northland left nz for 28 years lived in western Australia for all that time went home for a funeral first thing i noticed how green nz was and beautiful much better looking than brown desert dust Iron ore country where live in now
We also live in WA came from far north NZ .....its two different worlds..
Feel so blessed to have had a childhood in NZ
Totally relate to this video. I was born in NZ but raised in the states when I was 1 1/2 year old in 1989. I use to think I was an American until I seen my birth certificate when I was 7 years old. I been here in NZ 12 years now and completely agree with your assessment and how I felt when I went for a visit in 2016 back to LA. Things were definitely different and I was a different person from who moved away from LA.
I recently had a dream which turned into a nightmare. I was having a dream of travelling back to LA for a holiday with a friend and on the day we were leaving my friend managed to catch his flight back but I missed my flight and was panicking about being stuck in LA. Woke myself up from my nightmare and checked around me that was still in my room here in Otara. 😂😂😂
This was my late night wedding editing conversation to listen to. I'm honoured you speak of us kiwis and New Zealand in this way. Humbled and proud - thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Yeah I moved to NZ 10 years ago and I was born in England. I definitely see New Zealand as my home now and had my kids here and everytime I go home, it reminds me not to take NZ for granted. It's so much better here! The food, people are less racist here... I didn't realise how racist Brits are till I moved here and had my hubby call me out on things 😅 but yeah I get a culture shock every time I visit England... It's just so different... Bad different and I get homesick and want to come back to kiwiland 😅
Hi there
Thanks for sharing your experience and for watching. I generally go to the states for a month every year and then I am ready to come back to NZ.
I think the racism has got worse. I lived in England decades ago and barely recognise it as the same country. It really seems as though UK and Europe have become much more racist but it could be that l've grown up and am more aware of it now.
@@nikiTricoteuse yeah I think it's a different sort of racism too. Americans are mostly racist towards Black people and the Brits are mostly racist towards middle eastern people from what I remember. It's been like 9 years since I was home so it could be different now, I didn't know it was that bad till I started looking back and comparing it to New Zealand. Everywhere is a bit racist but the UK don't really want to change which is the biggest problem
@@mamakitty6549 Racism is such a sad thing! I think it was easier for me to understand when it was based on ignorance and on fear due to that ignorance. No excuses left nowadays. I don't think America just limits its racism to POC, although they cop a lot more but they've been bashing Mexicans for years, @labelling Muslims as terrorists since 911 and bashing Asians since Trump blamed China for Covid-19.
Mate of mine moved back to the US from NZ and some people asked if NZ has trees! LOL!
Unfortunately - I believe that :(
they were probably refering to easter island (rapa nui)
that's because some citys don't even have grass.. or barely.. to me that sounds like the apocalypse I couldn't do it
I luuuuuv your long straight roads, if nothing else. 😂😂😂 Took Aotearoa for granted, but after visiting a few countries for short periods of time, and granted, enjoying the changes in landscape, shopping experiences, driving culture, food, etc, it’s only when I look out the window when we are about 10 minutes from landing in Auckland, that I become overcome by the beauty of my homeland, its greenness, the different shades of blue/green of the ocean below, the hills, and of course the friendliness of the homefolk once we get outside of the airport and say kia ora and people smile back. Oh, and of course, breathe that Kiwi air - no way could I live any place else, long straight highways offered or whatever. Thank you for being so generous in your praises of our little ol’ Slice of heaven.
Well said! Thanks for watching.
I think that moving to a new country gives you a chance to be exactly who you want to be, with no expectations and no "history" to have to live up to. I often find when I visit Canada (I've been in NZ seven years now) that people expect me to be the way I was before. It's like - if I always drank Coke for 17 years at home, but then decided I wanted Pepsi, all the people that knew me for those 17 years would say "But you always drink Coke! Why are you drinking Pepsi?" and there would be a weird push-back. The growing into yourself that happens in travel and living in other countries wasn't seen by those people, so they expect the old you. So, I don't always like going back because I know I'm going to face some of that.
Hi I'm a Kiwi from Lower Hutt and I live in Vancouver for the last 20 years. My wife and I go to NZ every summer. Love your show.
Awesome.. thanks for watching!!!
CDN, eh?
Way da be!
🇨🇦🇳🇿
👍🏻😻
Which summer are your talking about? The Antipodean Summer or the Northern Summer? Not that it matters, the summers of the south are the best...
My family was part of an immigrant wave that came from Britain to New Zealand in 1960. Of course, we experienced culture shock -- my mother particularly missed close family ties. Mum and Dad had lots of British friends who were in the same boat. Many Brits unfortunately developed a reputation for being 'whingeing Poms'; something that mortified my parents who were really grateful for the opportunity that New Zealand afforded us. These were the kind of Poms who had to find fault in everything. Many of them packed up and went 'home'. Only to experience the very thing you're describing in this vid. A dislocation. Some of those who returned to New Zealand (who decided New Zealand wasn't such a crappy place after all!) described turning up at the door of a relative only to feel as if nothing had changed, and they'd just got back from a trip to Marks and Sparks.
I thought you would have mentioned the convenience of the metric system.
i went to new Zealand in the late 60s .then, in the 70s i traveled all over the world ,including Norway Austria Switzerland etc . New Z ealand is by far the most
beautiful country i have seen. mountains lakes glaciers, fiords etc . no doubt
I think so - but certainly haven't been everywhere :)
Kiwis are known to love to travel. I have not been to 100 countries for sure but have been to Australia, the USA, Canada, England, France and Hong kong. I do love visiting other countries but I have never wanted to live anywhere else. New Zealand just is home.
Thanks for watching Anna!
Mainly lived in the US (moved close to a dozen times, but still in the US), but I did live in the Czech Republic for just over two years. I remember having significant reverse culture shock when I returned home to the US. Here's a few that still remain poignant, even though its been almost ten years now.
First, everything is bigger in the US. Roads, traffic lights, cars, houses, portion sizes, people (waistlines), etc. Europe is just more compact and in general smaller. Not a bad thing, in fact its probably a good thing, but definitely a big difference between the two places.
Second, American food is overly sweet, especially our desserts. I initially thought Czech desserts were so plain when I first went there. Then as my palate adjusted, I grew to really appreciate and love the different kinds of treats. When I moved back to the US and had a doughnut for the first time in awhile, I couldn't even finish half of it, it was too much.
Third, and something I do like, Americans are much chattier and open to strangers. I love hitting up a conversation with random people. Even after two years of getting used to the more reserved European manner in public, I definitely missed the openness of Americans. I still remember striking up a conversation with a guy from New York in the Atlanta airport and he and I talked for over an hour. Don't even remember his name, but it was fun to get to know someone new. From what you guys said, seems like Kiwi's are also open to conversations with strangers. That's a plus in my book. I'll add it to the growing list of reasons why I want to move there.
Thanks again for your videos. I always enjoy them.
Hubba bubba
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Nz is very chatty.. I would say more than Americans overall because of the pace of life here.
@@Kiwiamericans Americans generally chatty as well in NZ.
Similar to Kiwis to some extent.
Bread and milk in the US is so sweet... ugh
So NZ has the best of both, chatty friendly people and less sugary food ;-)
Kia ora ladies you both look Amazing. Love watching the comparison of countries. Going to watch the yachting
Thanks for watching
I've had the exact same experience. I'm glad you like it here.
Thanks for watching
On the lighter side of reverse culture shock, the first time I went back to the states after moving to NZ I was totally freaked out by the light switches. They looked like little penises sticking out of the walls. :P
I also remember that my first trip overseas, after I'd only lived in NZ a little over a year, I was away for 5 weeks and when I went to the airport and saw the Air NZ plane with the koru on the tail I just felt this huuuuge wave of relief and homecoming wash over me. I've lived here over 15 years now and cannot imagine going back (aside from visits).
Very interesting. Reminds me of the old saying: "you never step into the same river twice."
I experienced reverse culture shock after I moved back to NZ after 5 years in London. When I lived there I used to moan (as everybody did) about how awful the Tube was - dirty, slow, overcrowded etc. But when I got back to NZ and found myself having to wait on the side of the road again, in the rain, for a bus that may or may not come, and then only once every half hour or so and may still just sail straight past you if it's already full - I took back all my complaints about the tube! Also, the first time I visited a supermarket back in NZ I and the checkout operator commented on a product I was buying and proceeded to ask me what I thought of it, then tell me all about what she thought, comparing it to other brands, and wasn't it nice outside and was I going to get out and enjoy it ? etc etc - turning it into a full blown conversation - I was really quite confused and taken aback. Until I remembered where I was - that never happens in London and I'd completely forgotten what it can be like!
Oh man you bring up a good point! When you spent significant time in 2 places you forget or it does not come natural to do something or understand a cultural norm. Sooo interesting
Awwww
When you go back you feel like you've woken up! Travel truly broadens the mind.
I lived and worked in the US and one of my workmates asked me if NZ is near Switzerland, another asked if it is close to Canada. Really? do they teach geography there? 😂 i did experience culture shock (not reverse) when I was there. Airport security/TSA(?) personnel yell/are rude. They are terrible! And in general, I noticed americans are loud and I found it shocking.
Yes we are loud for sure! Thanks for watching
Sadly, too many of my countrymen are woefully ignorant of history, geography, sociology and political science. It's flipping embarrassing. You can't fix stupid.Witness the "election" of Donald Trump, who lost the popular vote by 3.5 million. Morons constitute about half of our population.
Our neighbours - the Dutch - also have a wonderful "Zeeland" 😄 It's not that new, though.
I went from NZ to London for two years when I was 21 and returned, it was so hard to settle back into NZ, it felt too quiet and didn’t feel I fitted in with my friends anymore, I moved cities and eventually settled back in but it wasn’t easy.
I went there for a month only and I got that quietness too.. I also only got the jetlag after I got home.. so it was like a whole other thing coming home.. I'm glad you managed to settle in again
One of the big things, I think, is expectation. When you move to another country you expect things to be different, so you're not so surprised when things are. But when you move back "home" you don't expect difference, or people just don't think about it at all. Which is why reverse culture shock is often far worse than when you first moved.
And that's the thing: the people back home *have* been living their lives for the last X years without you. You *and* they are not the same people - even when they're stuck in the same place doing the same thing. That's why you'll get a lot of "welcome back!" lunches/dinners ... annnnnnd then no one gives a rat's arse beyond that.
That is an excellent point and sooo true!
I'm a new zealander living in australia. I've been here 20 years and enjoy everything australia has to offer my family and I. I love how you guys recounted your experience of returning back to your country of birth and the subtle and not so subtle changes, culture differences you noticed. I found listening to you both educational, open and honest of your guys views and opinions. I am a firm believer in communication and through it being able to communicate the vast and subtle differences, nuainces, of all cultures in what is now becoming the melting pot of my beloved country new zealand. I am not saying it's the best country in the world, just how much I love it. Thank you.
Wow this was a really interesting one Tara, and seeing Chantel from Growing up without Borders was so interesting. I seem to have missed some videos of yours soz girlfriend! I have to say that originally I am from Scotland. My family immigrated here in 1977. It was a brave move by my parents who were approx 27 & 28 with 2 kids travelling the entire other side of the globe and took approx 4 days to get here back then. Brave not only by how far we travelled but knowing no one here in terms of friends or family was a bold step. There have been visits back to Scotlland and each time it's always a direct confirmation that there will never be a move back to Scotland to live and that the right choices were made. Now pretty much all our closest relatives have visited and want to live here. It's so funny because my cousin and his wife love NZ so much without having even been here but other members have, that they support the All Blacks 100% and even their youngest daughter got a Southern Cross + a silver fern tatooed on her!
Hey girl.. so interesting! I live this story. We too moved here knowing nobody.. it is a brave move. Thanks for watching
This is such a cool story! I love reading people’s experiences of moving to NZ, and although we’re not perfect I’m so proud to be a kiwi 🥰
GO THE MIGHTY ALL BLACKS😎
that's quite cool.. I wish I knew my scottish part better
Kia Ora, I remember the 1st time we returned from NZ (2010), we had been on holiday for 5 weeks and our port of entry to the US was LAX. The first person we encountered was a surly, dismissive TSA person who was I hope was just having a bad day. My immediate thought was to turn around and book flight back to NZ. While we were fairly sure we wanted to move to NZ before, that rude, surly, attitude was all the reminder we needed and it certainly reaffirmed my desire to get the hell out of Dodge!
Oh man.. I so relate! Last time I was in the states our first entry to the US was LAX and it was like we were in a calm peaceful world until the doors opened and people were yelling and pushing us.. I almost turned around.
LAX is the absolute worst... even the customs guy in China who was holding some sort of enormous machine gun managed to crack a smile, but LAX they were horrendous
I've worked in travel for many years and I can assure you that US customs staff do not have a sense of humour that I am aware of. I have encountered a few that I'm pretty sure had their personality surgically removed.
LAX has a horrible reputation world wide. When i lived in northern Cal I actively booked to avoid landing there, but as it a major hub sometimes just couldn't avoid it. Every experience was dreadful. My mum, who been practically everywhere, taken one of the first over backpacker trip overland from London to India over land in early 60s, slept on the khyber pass, had rats run over her in accommodation in India, was reduced to tears by a staff member when she asked for help getting her boarding pass reprinted for onward travel. If you travel into the West coast of the US use either San Francisco or one of the other airports like Seattle or Portland, their staff are professional and polite.
Isn't their demeanour purposeful though? I was there years ago- before September 11. The woman was just straight forward in her manor, but I know this is how they are meant to be. I was courteous and she straight stamped me a 6 month visa. My intention was just a month. Loved to stay longer.
I had a train pass and whilst travelling, struck up conversations with people. I had a chat to the Native American man giving a talk about the Adobe dwellings past in the mountains passing by. I was interested and he was great. I was honoured to be asked to share dinner with this American family travelling on the train too!
The porter man, I hadn't realised, I was meant to tip him, but I just carried my travel luggage. He was friendly with smiles at first. I hadn't got him to help me with anything- but I just didn't realise.
I tipped as you should generally and I said to the bar guy to give this to the porter. I was generous all round. My American friend said to me what the going rate was, back in San Francisco, but I gave more. I hope he got it, but he sure turned into a grumpy, rude young fella!
I lived in South Korea for a year, coming home was a ‘thank god’ moment. Living in Asia was an amazing experience but it was HARD! I think for many Kiwis, the more we travel, the more we appreciate home... (I’ve traveled to around 40 countries), it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty bloody good!
Thanks for sharing and watching.
I've always lived in New Zealand but have traveled a bit. Was in Fiji and then Tonga in 2019 and although it is 'nice' because it was different and a fantastic experience, i was still very excited to come back home.
It really made me appreciate how good we have it here in this country. In comparison, we're so clean and people(most) actually care about keeping our country 'clean'. We have what i would call, Freedom, compared to many other countries and i just absolutely love it.
Proud as to be a Kiwi 💕🇳🇿
I spent 9 months in London an traveled to Europe also to Sweden and Hongkong.
Every time I came back to Auckland the drive from the airport gives me that, "Im Home" feeling,
the Green of the grass and the Blue of the sky, something about the light I don't know but yeah, home.
Totally agree - thanks for watching
My son met a wonderful American girl who was here in Australia on a study tour for 6 months and a romance blossomed and so she stayed for another six months but then had to go home. Talking with her when she was here it became clear that most citizens in the USA do not pay much attention to the rest of the world other than where they are fighting a war. They don't even pay that much attention to other parts of their country. Their world is that area immediately around them and the fact they are living in the best country in the world. Their whole view is inward. Out in the rest of the world, it's different and if you are from Australia and New Zealand it's especially different because we are way down in the southern hemisphere at the end of the world but we are connected to Britain and Europe and other places due to hundreds of years of immigration. Then came television and our exposure to American culture so our vision was much more open to the rest of the developed world and what was going on. As we were both British colonies our government and public institutions were modeled on theirs. Our cultures were more laid back and less intense as we both had small populations that relied heavily on the agricultural sector for national income but now its resources and tourism. Now back to the son, he decided he loved the American girl and moved to the USA to marry her and live there and he has had a lot to learn, as for his now-wife, she has described the exact same reverse culture shock but she did not feel it until she went back to visit her family in Georgia. They both live in LA which is a bit less structured than most other states in the USA. It's amazing what watching 30 or so years of American TV can teach you about a country, Americans didn't have that advantage.
Thats awesome that both your families enjoy and love NZ and its cultures to make you feel welcome and settled in this country,
Thanks for watching
I have only traveled to australia but I definitely came back to New Zealand appreciating home. Xxxx
Is that a promise, you'll go home? (Tongue in cheek!)
I travel to the US from NZ a lot. I appreciate the way in which US citizen's will just chat with someone they don't know. Especially in Texas. US citizen's, generally, are the most polite people I've met. But - I feel like things are over hyped there. All cultures are sensitive but it's important to poke fun at yourselves (more than just SNL). They need to question big things more. Patriotism. Religion. The Declaration of Independence... For an outsider seeing children recite a pledge each day in school is just freaky and a little bit 1984.
I wish the US would take care of the mentally unwell more. Most homeless have mental health issues. They need care and support. It's hard seeing humans eating from dumpsters.
I think it's unfair that the US is burdened with a lot of peacekeeping costs involved with foreign conflicts. (When it is just peacekeeping/defending).
On a more day to day level NZ could learn a lot from the US when it comes to service. Yes the US is a bit over done with chain stores. Variety is the spice of life. At the end of the day I really enjoy both countries.
Yup - thanks for sharing your experiences.
Travel broadens the mind
It sounds like you are living your best life, being your authentic self here in NZ
Tina - yes I think so too. I have really found my voice.
It's not culture shock, it's an awakening that you've been forcefed koolaid all your lives.
As an Australian I could move back home at anytime and feel as comfortable as the day I left, like many other citizens from other countries.
Thank you for sharing! I experienced the reverse culture shock when I moved back to my home town of Blenheim after 22 years away. First I lived in Auckland fir 12 years, then Melbourne for 10 years. I was shocked by the racism and general conservatism by the community!
hmm interesting - I guess that is not a surprise.
Love watching and following you both . Honest , down to earth opinions based on experience. 👌
Doug - thanks for watching!
Travel is the best way to open the mind, I traveled overseas ended up living in Israel for 8 years, had two of my three children over there, met so many people from all walks of life, was the absolute best time. So happy to come back to NZ but was hard reconnecting with friends, especially ones who hadn’t traveled.
The richness in life is not so much the big fancy house or latest car etc but the culture. NZ has a culture of welcome, come in ...you want a cup of tea or coffee? I think that people aren't so much interested in what you have but what you have in connection with them socially. I am from the rural life of NZ but have lived in Australia for the past 30 years. Spent two years in England and really enjoyed it there but have to say that NZ really has the best welcoming culture as in come into my house. Hopefully Kiwi's still don't use other people for their own advantage as to what I see happens here in Australia.
Yes so welcoming - that has been my experience!
One of my biggest shocks when I travelled to the US was (on the whole) the poor qulaity of the food. I was genuinely surprised. Also trying to find veggie or vegan option. UK pretty much every restaurnt, bar, coffee shop even in tiny village has veggie and vegan options. You sund like NZ makes you happy
Yes we so look forward to the food when we go back but are quite disappointed. Thanks for watching!
This is a great video. I'm moving back to nz at the end of the year after living in west australia for 14 years. I'm absolutely gagging to get back home but I have a fear of the unknown kind of, and you're positive perspectives and thoughts on nz are very comforting and I'm constantly reminding myself I'm doing the right thing
That is awesome - you will love it here!
I came back from living in London and I found NZ so green. Green everywhere.
Yes so green all the tme!
I had the light bulb moment when I realised New Zealand is green because it RAINS!!! Land of the long white cloud raining on us. Wouldn't change a thing. :)
@@carolkrishnan7842 I hate when people here in the UK say "for fuck's sake! It's raining again! grrrr ..."
I want to wring their neck: "we just had a drought last summer, and you're complaining about getting some more of that precious life-giving substance that keeps us, and all other plants and animals, alive?!!!"
I am a kiwi currently living in melbourne australia and been here for 8years now but will always call NZ home definitely missing the sound of the birds while going for a walk and the summer sound of secadas on a beautiful day. Very different here not much green just brown dry from the sun which is sad. But definitely miss the kiwi way and the people much friendlier less arrogant. Laidback culture the NZ way.
I have only visited AUS a few times but that is my experience as well. I really have no desire to live there.
Has COVID and border closures stopped your plans of having vacations or visits to the USA? I know my NZ wife says she can taste the freshness of NZ food when we return from visiting USA based family
Yes we canceled a trip which is hard but thankful to be here.
I’m curious, did your reverse culture shock contribute to your returning to NZ?
Wow great question!! We never intended to move back to nz .. we were settled back in the USA. A couple of crazy opportunities fell into place and we just felt that we were meant to come back. It was hard to leave again. I guess I did not realize how miserable I actually was until I moved back to NZ the second time.
I can’t remember who said this but I read it somewhere that to travel abroad is a journey within.
Yes it is!!!
I often get reverse culture shock coming back to Auckland after a holiday in the South Island.
I’ve been saying ever since 1991 that if I couldn’t live in New Zealand. If I could choose to live anywhere I would choose to live in Canada 🇨🇦. For exactly the same reasons as Chantelle gave it feels more like home and has a few American twists but the people are very similar to New Zealander’s.
Yes Canada 🇨🇦 has a strong kiwi feel to it but sooo cold.
@@Kiwiamericans not all the time. I was in Canada 🇨🇦 during July. It was 24 degrees C.
We experienced culture shock when we went back to Philippines. There were lots small stalls in the Manila were I grew up that weren't there before. The traffic was still there. The buildings in Manila weren't unique as in Auckland because buildings in Manila were just gray in color and rectangle. New Zealand feels like home for me
Thanks for watching and sharing your story Alyssa!
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. We are lucky to live in this wonderful little country. It is my belief that when you add up the strong economy, low crime, low corruption, beautiful scenery it is the best place in the world to live in
Totally agree! Thanks for watching
I can totally relate to what you ladies say. Returning to my homecountry i felt like a stranger in a strangeland...
When you live in another country, you learn different ways of thinking and doing things. A different perspective. Some things better than where you come from, some things worse. Makes you think why you do certain things in your own country. I think everyone should live in a foreign country for a few years at least once in their life. The world would be a much better place. You Iearn so much. You can even apply new things you learn to your home country.
Totally agree!!
I look at the American culture and your expectations are higher because you have different ideals. Kiwi's like little places like a batch at the beach. When I left the mainland of the North Island to live on an Island off the coast of NZ, I realized that I could never go back to my home town or the city. My pace of life is much more peaceful. I might leave the Island twice a year, and I can't wait to get home and chill. We have no traffic lights and we are surrounded by beautiful beaches and vineyards, scenic walks, hot pools. Living off the Land and going fishing. We even get to watch the America's Cup on the water. I worked for a family from New York and I asked why this Island? The husband replied, My Children love it here. They are grown now and still come home to chill.
Oh nice sounds amazing.. thanks for sharing
I really enjoy hearing your perspective. I am an ex-pat kiwi living in Australia and can relate to moving and being a different person.
I haven't lived overseas for a long time, nor in many different countries. However, I have lived in 3 different countries over the space of about 4 years or so. There are things I like and dislike about all of the places I've lived and worked, including my home of NZ. BUT when I walk through those carved Maori gates at Auckland international airport I literally breath a sigh of relief, and when the border staff say "welcome Home" I almost want to cry! So I've never really felt reverse culture shock in general, I love being back in NZ, but when I come back I get frustrated with NZ's cost of living (now that i've seen how far money can go in some countries and pay scale for the same jobs elsewhere!), and lack of big, more 'active' cities and I head off in search of that again wanting to experience something new. Then I miss NZ's policies, rights, freedoms and familiar culture and sense of humour and find myself pining to come back again - kind of like now :'( haha
Thanks for sharing! Yes there is no perfect place and there are definite disadvantages to NZ...but not many :)
You ladies are absolutely right, I have only been in Australia 15 years every time I would go back to n.z they always say welcome home, it made you feel really good, here in Australia we get called mozzies Wellcome to our country take care God bless you's and your family 💯💕💯💕💯💕💯
Here's something I've observed that might be a bit of an eye-opener regarding Kiwis: In my experience (as a 28yo Kiwi), Kiwis generally possess a hybrid of the reclusive European and outgoing North American public manners. Which is to say, we have the 'keep to yourself and don't talk to anyone' mentality of Europe, but if someone talks to us, the North American openness and politeness kicks in and demands that we chat with them like they're an old friend (though I'd actually say it probably originates from Scottish culture). I know it mystifies many Kiwis as to why visitors always think we're so friendly, because amongst ourselves we have little reason (such as needing directions) to actually engage with one another and thus we mostly go about minding our own business and have little occasion to see the openness.
Now, that's not to say that Kiwis won't take the initiative and volunteer to excessively help someone that appears in need (whether it's a roadside breakdown, a misplaced wallet at the supermarket checkout, or someone who merely looks lost), because we absolutely will and that's one of the ways that Kiwis recognise the openness (and generosity) that others attribute to us. But otherwise, Kiwis will generally keep to themselves in public unless they need something really badly (if it's not urgent, I'll sooner go into every store and ask shopkeepers for directions before bothering someone on the street, and as a shopkeeper I can attest that many others are the same) or something about the situation requires conversation for the sake of manners (such as an embarrassed mother on a bus trying to shush her screaming child, which might provoke an assuring comment and ensuing conversation about how children can be such a handful). We generally won't, however, randomly talk to strangers on the bus just for the sake of conversation or make idle comments about things to start one, though a lonely old lady might and of course we'll happily respond with openness.
So I suppose what I'm trying to say is that, by and large, the openness of Kiwis is largely reciprocal to the openness (or distress) of another, rather than existing of itself like would be the case in North America. But rather than arising from a disinterest in or detachment from strangers like I feel is the case in much of Europe, for Kiwis it's more about being polite and respecting that people probably don't want to be bothered by strangers when going about their business. And, hence, once someone solicits a conversation or appears in need of one, we happily open up and chat warmly or help freely. Of course, other Kiwis may disagree with me, but for the time being I remain convinced that Kiwis are typified by being both reclusive and open towards strangers according to the demands of the situation.
Wow interesting point - I think I agree with you in that kiwis engage when necessary but otherwise quite self-sufficient!
@@Kiwiamericans Tara, listening to you today I started thinking about an issue that I was missing.
Americans from across the 50-states are much different.
West Coast people from WA, OR and CA are what do you say..more hippy like! LOL chatty, openminded, free spirits.
People from the Midwest like WI are more stoic and conservative. You remind of my daughter in Madison the way you talk, and the experiences you had in the US. And I realize the America you grew up in is a much different America than where I lived in WA.
People from New York are detestable a-holes.
So to be comparing Kiwis to a generalized American is kinda silly.
And frankly my experience working all over the US, and being back in NZ, WA,OR and CA people are much more friendly than Kiwi's. I'm finding that the old Kiwi myth that Kiwi's are friendly to be just that - a myth.
Enjoyed your show today and this comment section is - lets say, revealing! LOL
Be nice if you could get more subscribers (another disadvantage of NZ. Not enough people to buy your wares. A TH-cam like yours in the US would get 100K subscribers easily -allowing you to make some cash for your efforts.)
Take care.
Nice explanation. Thanks.
Hi there, I have never left NZ in my 60yrs so wouldn't know about this reverse culture shock. I have an American friend living in Bend Oregon that I share your vids with...she just wants out of the USA. Your vids are a breath of fresh air and thank you for your kind words about our beautiful safe Country.
That feeling you get when you seat back on that air nz plane at lax and you “feel like you are home” do you know what I mean??
That is oh, so true... every single time. Just reading your comment made me exhale that breath, as if I were actually taking my seat 😂
Oh man do I! When I left for NZ the first time.. alone with 4 kids.. the trouble I had at LAX was horrible.. I arrived at airnz gate and they were so kind. I must have looked really stressed.
Yup, I felt like that when I boarded a QANTAS flight at LAX after a few weeks travelling from visiting Florida on internal US airlines! Best coffee I had the whole time while in the US was on the Qantas flight home.
Totally agree with traveling being an agent of change in midset. I was luck enough to travel in college and able to experience other religions and cultures. I almost feel out of place in Oklahoma, because most of the people here are very intolerant to anything different. You try and explain to them the beauty of what is out there and they are like ummm no this is how it is 🙄.
yep unfortunately that is my experience as well. I don't think it is "wrong" that someone does not want to travel as it is not in their DNA but you do miss out on a lot of growth.
Great insight you guys have, from actually living and experiencing other countries. Thanks for the insight, Mean travels.
Thanks for watching
I moved from nz to the us straight after high school for college and then onto Europe when I finished. The one thing I always noticed was that people were always in a rush to get everywhere lol or things always had to be bigger and better or prettier and fancier. I missed just walking to the shop in bare feet haha and the go at your own pace vibe of home. All in all I loved my travels as it did make me appreciate home and the simplicity of nz life. Loved coming home after years and the same dairy owner is there, same fish n chip shop owners etc I get why kiwis are humble now because we dont try and keep up with the Jones's and out do each other everyday. Love home and am amazed at how good we got it.
I remember bringing my UK fiance home to NZ to get married after 3-4 years abroad. It was the best thing I ever did, because I would never have settled in the UK otherwise. It was like I'd gone away and come back, and nothing and no one at home had changed. I had changed. That said about 10 years later we moved back here with our kids, and that became the new best thing I ever did.
Awesome.. thanks for sharing!
I'm Dutch, and worked in the U.S for a year. It was a good experience, and i met a lot of nice people. However i remember how a lot of people just assumed i had to be greatfull being able to live in the U.S 😅. P.S. I do think you can't just say 'People in Europe ...are like this or that '. Italians & Germans (for example) have more cultural differences then say Americans and Kiwis.
I moved from NZ to Australia for 3 and a half years in the past, to meet a savings goal (a common thing for Kiwi's to do, as their wages are higher). I was stunned at the racism, absolutely stunned and was happy to return to NZ where I've stayed ever since, other than backpacking trips to Europe.
I have been to 39 countries and every single time I get on the plane to come home my first thought was there is no place like Australia, why would you live anywhere else, maybe New Zealand.
When you go back to the US how do you cope with having to use cash and cheques rather than in NZ Eftpos being the main form of payment? I watched another TH-cam channel where to by registration for a motorbike the person had to go in person and queue up to buy, rather than doing it online and using direct bank transfer.
I haven't had a cheque book for about 15 years and very rarely carry cash.
Ian - you have touched on the biggest frustration when I moved back to the US. Even having to function living overseas and companies sending me checks to my parents address. It is soooo frustrating and inconvenient.
@@KiwiamericansI received a cheque from my British bank for £15 it wasn't worth while processing, but they would not pay the money direct to out NZ account.
I have made a direct bank transfer to a US organisation from NZ so these things can be done.
Its that old travel saying "Those who have been, can't explain it... Those who haven't been, can't understand it"
I call it "Shaken out of your tree" that is why You can not fit back in to where you came from so youv'e put roots down at a another location. Nau mai haere mai
I have watched you two ladies on your own channels for some time and you are both great, however now Great times Great together = awesome. Your positive comments on my home country are a pleasure to listen to and I think NZ is a better place for you both being here.
Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words!
American culture is taking over New Zealand slowly but surely, Alot of Californians move here and they have big hearts but no common sense and it's bringing harmful ideas into places that have generally lived in harmony, good video girls👍
Interesting.. like what ideas? Just to be clear I’m from Wisconsin
@@Kiwiamericans have you seen the Movie Ford Fairlane?,I've got a woke Californian teacher at my sons school, he's obsessed by pointing out the race of people when the kids themselves couldn't give a flying flip,i used to go to the same school myself and everyone just got along,we were all just friends, his first order of business is to explore grievances, this isn't Festivus,it's all about how woke he is,our communities were very integrated but clowns like this are tearing down decades of decency, for what?,brainwashing kids to be like him?,totally unnecessary and really corrosive, sorry to rant and rave but I'm over these negative teachers 🙂
I hope you get to drive in Australia to compare the roads down under with the US.
I so agree with you ladies I myself have been around the world a traveled I live in Wellington nz
Been to America but not Canada which I'd love to visit.
Thanks for watching!
Ive known this to happen with many overseas friends. You have grown and the people at home haven't.
Watching the americas cup 3.3 can't wait😮😮😮
This is real,
When i was in Japan i was there for a while and when i moved back i remember the first meal my mum cooked and i still remember with disappointment that there was no rice
Yes so true! Thanks for sharing and watching!
lol "no rice"
Rice is bread and butter here
@@fluffymuff5519 The meal was dried pork chops and mashed potatoes and peas :).Was over 20 years ago but I still remember how gutted I was haha. Loved Curry rice. Gyudon and all the other meals that Host mum cooked So yummy.
@@catastrophobia I love Japanese culture, the cleanliness and hospitality embedded in their culture is something to admire
My past with the US is ugly. I was wrongly persecuted and have PTSD as a result of my experiences. After clearing my name, I got the opportunity to live abroad. I have lived in Spain the past eight years. For love and family, I have tried to return to the US on three different occasions. Each time has ended in abject failure. It turns out that failure isn't due to my history with the US but reverse culture shock. I have seen video after video detailing reverse culture shock experiences. They have much in common with how I feel. I haven't seen a case, however, where someone was gone for as long as I was and was able to return to the US permanently. Does a case exist? If so, please refer me to it.
Travel to different cultures (when you spend time there) gives perspective
I am a Wellingtonian, currently living in Japan, been here 8 years already, and I love it here. I rmb the talk when I first arrived, on an English teaching programme, (JET Programme) and they talked about culture shock, “you’ll have a few months of the ‘honeymoon phase’ and then suddenly (around winter time) your enjoyment of this place will drop dramatically and you’ll probably want to go home every day and you’ll hate it here.”
I can honestly say that I never experienced that “drop” and “desire to leave and go back home.” I put it down to “expectation” and “adaptability” (for me personally). At the beginning I just reminded myself every day, “you’re not in NZ anymore. See what new and interesting things you can learn today.” Now 8 years deep, I’m still learning new things about this country every day, I still really love it here, and I’m fortunate to have met the love of my life here (a handsome, sweet and super open-minded Japanese man).
However, one thing that I AM sure of (have been my entire life) is that I want to raise a family in NZ. No better place, IMO. After being in the education system in Japan all these years (no offense to the Japanese) but it’s not a system that I would want to put my children through 😅 but I do enjoy teaching here still.
Over the 8 years I have come back to Wellywood about 5 times (for weddings/Christmas/New Years) and I have felt myself able to adapt back to kiwi life pretty smoothly (for two/three weeks though) but we’ll see what I’m saying when we move back to live. Soon. Reverse culture shock might really kick my butt, then 🤣
Thanks for the video though ladies. I really enjoyed it.
Yeah that was my experience as well.. I never had the drop or want to go home phase when I arrived in NZ.. never have. I did experience it when I went back to the states 💁♀️
I agree with you regarding the lack of culture shock thing. I'm an Australian living in South Korea, teaching English here. I've been here for 2 1/2 years and I've never experienced home sickness either. It's not that I don't love Australia (most of it). I just like it here in South Korea. I like teaching my kids - it's fun and rewarding, my kids are learning and their English levels are improving, and I just enjoy the culture. And I think it's mostly about attitude, the attitude you have when you arrive, the attitude that is open in terms of expectations. I think I arrived with no expectations other than I was hoping to like it here and I wanted to learn about the culture here.
You’ll miss the food in Japan.... sooooo good!
@@fransmith3255 I taught in S Korea for a year... couldn’t wait to leave. I found living in the pollution really hard, we were sick all the time, there was a lot of sexual harassment from the men and our boss was nuts, she ruined a lot of things for us. It took a while to enjoy the food but now I love it. I was there in 2001 though so I’m sure things are easier with technology and stuff. When we were there we couldn’t get a cellphone with English display
@@erinwilliams4911 Hehe, that was 20 years ago, and I understand that it was, indeed, very difficult. I work for Government Schools here, so there are guarantees in that. I do love the food - SOOO much more healthy than western food. I never thought weird looking green stuff could taste so delicious!! :-)) Much has changed here and is continually changing here. South Korea still has their culture, but they are slowly embracing more open and accepting values here. I have found one or two examples of narrow-mindedness, but I've found it pretty rare these days. You do have to come here with an open mind, though too, and accept that this is a different country with it's own unique style. Sexual harassment happens everywhere, unfortunately, but I've seen none of that. I think South Korea still might have a long way to go with respect to private companies, but in Government Schools I've found the culture quite equal among the sexes. There are female vice-principals (There probably are female principals too, but I haven't met one in my few schools - but that's the same in the west - most schools still have male principals), and females are treated well in the schools that I teach at. I bought my cellphone in South Korea - a Samsung phone too - and it has no problem with English. I think that family values are still very different to western society, but workplaces are changing. I love it here! :-))
Hi Ladies... Your in that natural phase of being in the 'Third Country'.. Not quite all in the country you're in..Not quite in the country you left... We were long term ex pats. Coming from the UK. Then living in the Netherlands for 30 yrs..Now retired in Portugal...Once you leave your homeland and expand your experiences you become citizens of that mysterious land. The third country
Yes I have read third culture kids!
Left London age 29 in 1983 and lived in Brisbane until nine years ago now Sunshine Coast. I’d loved to have been brought up on the coast, but I wasn’t. I can’t change being brought up in the East End of London and why should I, I made wonderful friends had memorable experiences and it made me who I am today. I love revisiting the UK but it’s always nice to come home, I could never live there again and no, not just because of the weather 😬 so in truth I guess it is a bit of a culture shock going back, it’s not quite how I remember it nor how people in general are different to what I remember but I’ve been away 38 years now perhaps it’s me who has changed.
David - so interesting! Thanks for sharing...
Very powerful
Powerful
Left NZ IN 1984
Over years come back for few weeks but stay for few days
I am a foreigner in NZ
And often a foreigner in USA and other countries
My NZ family only know me as 20 year old 40 years ago.
Wow! Thanks for watching
Being the tourist in your home land.
From watching your earlier videos to watching this one, it’s been insightful to see how your perspectives have changed, and your reflections of your time spent in NZ, wonderful. Very thankful to be from NZ.
So very kind! Thanks for watching
Your talk is very interesting, I’m doing a research right now on how identity can shape by the space and time. If you are interested to evaluate your case, read about Bonny author she investigates and indicate how we are shaped and have multiple identities. Anyway, I’m having same scenario 😅