The luggage story was just HORRENDOUS. So sorry you are going through that! In regard to this video, I feel like a lot of the reason as to why it's not uncommon to have a negative experience like what you had with accommodation is because, Kiwi people generally don't complain. I don't think that this is a good thing because what then happens is people simply accept a low standard all because of not having the confidence to simply say "okay this is not very good" or " hey this isn't how it was in the picture etc" I've noticed that if ever I'm at a restaurant with my kiwi friends, if something like my steak was not cooked to what I told them to or my meal didn't come with one of it's sides etc, if I do simply point it out to to the waiter, I'm looked at as if I am a monster lol. Also, when a person does actually complain in NZ, they are mocked for it by the workers or laughed at. I can understand why you guys didn't complain about the cabin as you would never go there again as you don't live in NZ. However, people who live here could complain a bit more I feel, instead of always smiling and faking the classic comment "yeah it was all good thanks" lol. Anyway, this is all my personal observations and opinions. I hope your luggage arrives to you soon and with no damage. Take care!
Couldn't agree more 😁 I have always spoken up and lost count of how many times I was chastised. We need to speak our truth in a polite way so businesses lift their game. Acquiescence is rife in this country
Totally Agree. Speak up for yourself, no one else is going to. If you're paying for the Service , you should expect the Service that you are paying for, because goodness knows we do ! 🇳🇿
Much of NZs Hotel accommodation is been used for emergency housing, so things would be somewhat neglected in these types of accommodation. Make a complaint to the council.
I know exactly what you meant about hearing your native accent again from people all around you. I have the same experience everytime I travel back to the region I grew up in. It just hits you suddenly listening to people on the streets and on a subconcious level something just feels right again, because you are no longer the only one who speaks like you. It's just a tiny spark of validation.
Reverse culture shock, i can relate. German citizen, i lived in The Coromandel for the past 5 years and just returned to Germany. It’s weird but familiar. And nostalgic. The price we pay for being at home and having friends in more than 1 country :)
I'm sorry, but this happens in Germany as well, and in Austria, where I'm from - and other countries, it's a global thing. Always (!) read the reviews, if you can from several websites. Never trust the site from the owner alone just because of the pictures! But if a place is unsanitary, like this place is, I'm pretty sure there is an authority in NZ where you could report this. Anyhow, thanks for your video :)
We haven't been back to NZ since 8 years 😔 and our son has never met his uncles and cousins. First, we wanted to travel in 2020 but covid came. Now, flights are way too expensive.... I can only hope that we don't have to wait too many more years. 🙏
Will be praying and hoping things change that you can travel back to NZ very soon. Stay strong, by the way is your husband maybe from NZ? I feel like you're from D, A, CH, or perhaps Liechtenstein or anywhere in the German-speaking world.
Don't they have reviews on line for places like the horror cabin you ended up with? Obviously the place itself is going to put its best foot forward in their ad. If you can place a review you should do it now so others will be fore warned.
Hi I am currently living in Australia, but born and raised in Napier, left when in my early 30s. Was looking at Videos on NZ as feeling little home sick, and I think I have seen you in Napier a few times back in the day as your Face looked familiar. Not sure where exactly from but most like 1 of us was a semi frequent customer of the work places 1 of us worked at when or just often at the night life clubs/bars when both where younger. Glad you enjoyed your visit to home city and country. Apart form the adnomination you stayed at first night.
All of that is completely normal at a campground here. Even if you rent a cabin, it’s understood that there’s nothing there if you don’t bring it yourself. But the false advertising is not ok!
That Holiday Park sounded like a holiday from hell, shame on them for not providing a quality accommodation,these people shouldn't be running a business like that,or any for that matter.
Great watch and so informative Antoinette. I'm a Kiwi and l was preening myself as you discussed the positives... but then you described the campground!! Now l feel a little embarrassed that those people are even allowed to operate. Anyway this was my intro to your channel so l hit the subscribe button so l can now follow you! 👍🏻💖🇳🇿
Hallo Antoinette, you speak a very fine und clearly English, the same English that I learnd in German school and I hear no acent in your voice! - I wish every English speaker would have such a clear und well understandable, fine English pronunciation!
So turns out that since 2014 when the latest naturalisation laws came into effect in Germany most parental citizenships can be retained by the children past the age of 22 forever IF they lived at least 8 years in Germany. Considering the laws will be ammended and loosened in 2023 I'd say not to worry giving your children NZ nationality and citizenship.
That was a wonderful video. It's so fascinating to listen to your word's and what experience you and your family made in New Zealand, especially you after such a long time away from your home. I can't imagine what kind of feelings you had. Hihi, even if the officers/staff at the airport would be friendly and talk to you, the people behind you would complain about it, because everyone is late and has not enough time. You have to deal with so many unfriendly passengers with all kind of reasons to complain about something and unfortunately, the politics of airports in Germany also not made for customer service. Welcome back!! 🍻🥂🍀
Thank you for this very interesting video. I emigrated from the UK to NZ some 62 years ago at the age of 31. Have visited the UK on only 4 occasions since then, and on the last two occasions found it very depressing. Referring to your bad experience with the cabin. I understand your reluctance to complain, but hope now that you are home in Germany you will visit their website and give a scathing report of your experience. Find out whether they are members of any related national associations and post your experience on those platforms, too. There is absolutely no justification in these times for such primitive accommodation.
Thank you for your honesty, I totally understand the culture shock you're talking about, it's the same feeling to me when I'm going to my homeland. I really hope you'll get back your stuff 💙
10:25 Also called „Katzenwäsche“ in German. 😁 Regarding the lost luggage: I‘ve heard this from so many people - it‘s a mess right now. But to end on a positive note, most of my friends got their luggage back, usually after 2-3 months when they didn’t expect it anymore.
Oh my... we are Germans who have been living in NZ for over 20 years before going back to Germany. Coming back to NZ after 2 years only was exactly like you have experienced, including the accomodation. It was also like you describe. We too are not snobby people, but a good and clean bed is a MUST for any accomodation never mind the standard. Warmth too is a MUST HAVE. Germans are pretty spoilt when it comes to accomodation and heating in general and we were often seen as snobbish in New Zealand. And yet, coming back was so overwhelmingly amazing, we had tears in our eyes at touch-down, as migrants. Customs was amazing, they welcomed us back as if we belonged... and we do.
Kia ora Sister. I have thought about your luggage many times since I heard you say it had gone missing. !!! I FEEL YOUR DEEP SUFFERING. It is a shocking situation to even think about. So this video was a lovely surprise as well as really interesting. It is great that your kids get to see that you are just like the other 5 million of us down here. It is very sad to hear that you have become unfamiliar with and initially confused by typical Kiwi friendliness. I truly hope that Germans never completely knock the humanity, kindness, love, joy, unity, friendliness, and the laid back ways out of you. Tikanga Maori is really growing here, Unity and hospitality are developing onto our basic friendly attitudes. Respect among 2 overlapping cultures here is a developing part of our identity, helped by The Treaty. With greater use of te reo and much resolution through acknowledgement and settlements, the concepts of manaakitanga and kotahitanga are widely practised. I hope you observed, overall, the growing respect for tangata whenua after 5 years away. Greater hospitality is in the mix, even though our little country is going through some hard times. Please remember eye contact, smiling, saying hello,welcoming, patience, goodwill, respect, and compassion for everyone you meet... the way you used to. Then your Kiwi style will not be affected by the disconnection, inhumanity, negativity coldness, self-focus, rush and dehumanization that is more commonly experienced in other places like Germany. If people think friendliness is fake, that is their problem, but that is a sad way to live and to perceive happy, outward thinking people... That's just my thoughts when considering the evolution of human behaviours in various cultures. Regarding the disgusting accommodation in the Waikato: Firstly, Antoinette, I am sorry you ended up in that shit hole. I wish you could have stayed at my spare unit in Hamilton. Next time you come to NZ you MUST have a nice place provided for you, or lined up !!! I can offer a good clean environment with free food, blankets and heater free of charge!!!!!! We have put up lots of travellers in Hamilton! Don't forget! What you ended up with is unheard of in NZ, I thought!! Where was that disgusting place?? People unfamiliar with NZ may be more enlightened by understanding that our borders were shut for a long time while we worked on getting everyone vaccinated. This makes it more of a big deal for our airline staff to welcome people back here. Everyone in NZ knows how much pain there has been with our borders closed. We had zero tourists for a long time. They have only just started coming back very recently. Firstly our Aussie cousins, and now anyone can come. Yeehaa!!. Businesses are only just getting back on their feet after the truly crippling effects of lockdowns. Our seasonal and foreign workers left and are only just returning again. A 9 year long government had previously let a massive number of people into NZ. It was a truly popular destination for the English, fleeing South Africans, Indians, and many others. House prices skyrocketed. Then came the war and rising inflation. All areas need workers! Motel cleaners are definitely needed. Homelessness and financial hardship have hit hard. Our compassionate new government got homeless families out of cars and garages. These people then were moved off the streets and filled up the empty motels and holiday accommodation. In many cities, motels have largely been used for "emergency accommodation" for thousands of individuals and families. These hundreds of motels have become home to people who are on the lowest wrung of society. In them are issues with drugs, alcohol, and violence. Nevertheless, I wonder how much the disgusting Waikato accommodation cost? Who are these owners? I would love to pay them a visit and find out what their game is. Your experience was barely comprehensible! Besides, they are giving Waikato and even NZ a bad reputation. I have never ever stayed in NZ accommodation that is dirty. So I conclude that there are some issues leading to the staggering experience. The standards are not in line with normal paying travellers. Who are these owners??? I am so glad you touched the green grass and blue ocean, touched base with your extended family and who you are.
6 months in Israel , I almost cried when I got to eat nz real butter and MARMITE,. We craved both whilst away , and we got to eat the butter on the plane home ,. ,IT triggered us , Amazing ., Lovely to meet you , thanks for sharing , 👍
Kia Ora !! What a joy to hear Kiwi accent !!!! God, how I miss it. I left NZ in 2009 to join my wife in France and never came back (at least for now, but hope I will someday). I miss NZ so much.... Thanks for this video and all the reminiscing of Aotearoa. Take care.
I lived in Canada and now Australia and lived 10 years in Germany as I have German heritage. My relatives all live in Germany. When you get to know Germans they are so welcoming and friendly but the service people on transport, shops, airports, banks etc can be very intimidating and unfortunately at times just rude. Obviously not all but alot. I really struggled with that in Germany to the point I even had people tell me I was to friendly which for us here in Australia and New Zealand and even Canada is normal, to be friendly to people. We are just friendly people and smile to others even on thr streets to a stranger. When friends and family visit Australia and New Zealand they all agree that people here are much friendlier.
I have heard customs officers are not friendly in the U.S. but I haven't been there.Only been to Singapore ( not friendly) Ireland, Germany, Poland and England. Returning to Australia found them quite abrupt.
Kiwi returned this year after 7years Customs hospitalityfelt awkward because it was they ask every returning Kiwi how long are you here for how long have you been away Where have you been where are you staying in NZ all of us get the same questions, it’s a script and it is awkward The holiday parks campsites and motels are full of homeless and are not run (they’re not managed either) by native Kiwi’s Auckland’s inner city is full of homeless it literally brought me to tears This place while beautiful is not the New Zealand I left. Not at all
Where the heck did you stay in the Waikato????? I've stayed all over the place and never had that experience. Also, unfortunately there is no such thing as cheap accomodation here in NZ as everything is rather expensive, but you can get reasonably priced accom and it usually gives you everything you need.
Auckland's climate and higher rainfall is very different to many other parts of NZ. Here on the east coast of South Island, we often have drought conditions in summer with a low rainfall, not green at all. So many ppl think everything is the same as Auckland.
I understand that we tend to generalize. But I as a German living in Canada also had friendly encounters with German customs officers at the airport in Frankfurt. And also in Canada. Not so much in the USA 🤔.
No need to explain the accent thing. Many of us have lived/ live away from home for some time. I experience the same thing with regional German accents.
Poor price to quality ratio in accommodation, fresh attitudes (disrespectful, people acting too familiar), lack of professionalism, friendly but shallow conversations, anti-intellectualism, the casual dress (shopping in pajamas or barefoot). All things I think about when I return to NZ
anti-intellectualism, what social circles do you move in? Try attending some professors inaugural addresses at your nearest University, its a public event for an hour with drinks and nibbles after.
Everytime I come home, I never feel nervous because you are right, they are always nice! I remember when I went to the states, omg, they were so scary! I felt like a criminal.
Welcome back! Hey, you can do small talk with costums officers (or anybody else in Germany, really) if the line behind you is not long. You just need a big smile and an "opener" such as "what a weather - it's raining heavily outside" or something along those lines. They're people, too, you know :)
I am happy doing very well despite the luggage. I am glad your children experience NZ. My sister was going study abroad in NZ. I am not sure that happening, since the program is popular at her college. Also, watch NZ Family on TH-cam.
The customs officials in Canada and this was pre-covid used to always ask me, why are you here? And I'd always think I have a Canadian passport. I'm allowed to be here but I never said that because I didn't want any problems. I would usually just say business or a visit.
Hallo Antoinette, schön Dich/Euch wieder hier zu haben. Nicht so schön von Eurer schlechten Erfahrung mit der ersten Übernachtung dort in Auckland zu hören. Aber ich denke durch Euren langen Aufenthalt bei Euren Lieben in NZ habt Ihr das inzwischen längst (fast) vergessen, oder..? Euren Kindern scheint ja zumindest die Nähe zum Meer gut gefallen zu haben, sie sahen alle wirklich lebhaft und glücklich aus. Haben sie in diesem Monat in NZ sich auch kräftig den NZ slang angeeignet oder war die Zeit dafür doch noch zu kurz? Hoffentlich macht es den Kindern nicht so viel Stress sich wieder in ihr deutsches Leben zurück zu finden. Und hoffentlich werden sie sich noch lange an die schöne Zeit in Deiner Herzensheimat NZ zurück erinnern. Vielleicht dauert es bis zum nächsten Mal in NZ ja nicht mehr so lange..!
I haven't been back to NZ for about 17 years. We were planning to go pre-covid but of course that was put on hold. I'm not sure if I want to go back now though. From what people tell us it is like a completely different country now. Very sad as it was a lovely family friendly place before. Thank you for your video I found it very interesting. New subscriber here.
Yes, the casualness of Kiwis is both positive and negative. On one hand there’s the relaxed down to earthness . On the other hand it can be too relaxed and result in sloppy customer service and substandard quality. Keep in mind that customs and immigration staff are paid to be friendly Kiwis and they’re very good at it. Reverse culture shock when returning to NZ for me was seeing people in bare feet in the supermarket. The abundance of bright fresh fruit and veg and red meat in the supermarket. How quickly people accelerate when the lights turn green. You can’t leave your car windows down if you leave your car for 5 mins. How much free time people have . How often people change their jobs. Inviting the neighbours over for a barbie.
Same, Kiwi here in Perth,hearing the street accent again after being here for nearly twelve years,seems a bit cringe. I think it's because I don't hear it a lot here. But when I went home in 2020, the feeling of comfort took that negative aspect away completely,nothing like NZ ,home always.
You've come up in my recommendations from YT. Yes, NZ Always looks much greener when coming back from overseas, moreso for you in contrast from the season reversals as was with your Northern Hemisphere Summer to the NZ Mid Winter within days of arrival later. Am interested in anything international living, Who better than to follow a Kiwi doing it abroad. New Subscriber here, hi 🙂 I've a few vids to review before moving forward. Nice vid. Cheers from New Zealand. M 🇳🇿
A nz group online discussion recently suggested that NZ hotels could be a surer accommodation option. There were some cautionary tales of people who had stayed at Air BnB's and had been subjected to some extra charges for extra unnecessary cleaning etc after leaving places tidier than they had found them on arrival. Suggested advice included photographing/ videoing places on arrival/ leaving should you be blamed for whatever arises.
Interesting video! Yes, the german custim officers can be very serious, When I came back from South East Asia and encountered the non-smiling, non-greeting officer of my home country, I got my reverse culture shock. To your last example: experiencing a way lower accomodation standard than as advertised is shocking for everyone. What was the "reverse culture shock" here for you? Something like "I totally forgot that misleading advertisings are allowed in NZ!"?
I haven't been home for almost 4 years and never considered experiencing a reverse culture shock. Hoping to head back to nz early next year, lookingbforward to npticing these differences.
I lived in NZ for 12 years and flew in and out of Auckland countless times from Australia. I always looked forward to the deep blue ocean, the landfall approaching with that long white cloud poised over it. And yep then green green grass of home!
Hi, I live in NZ and have noticed how crappy accommodation has got, manly due to putting them up to house people in. They are paid a lot for this but there is no one checking the up keep on these places! I have no problem complaining but nothing is done when I have! we do put up with things in general though as a nation! Glad you got to come back home for a while!
The people who want to see your passport are from immigration, not customs. Everybody has to go through immigration if you arrive on an international flight.
The customs people are separate, they work at the locations where travellers are asked if they have something to declare or not. Customs only does spot checks on some people where they search their luggage for expensive goods that people tried to to import wihout paying customs duties.
I am so happy you made it to NZ! Really enjoyed this video and waiting for part 2 :) fingers crossed so you get the luggage and I wish you have more nice trips to your motherland!
This video made me smile. Not teasing at all, but as someone who deals with different languages all the time your vowels got so much "thinner" in just one month, it really struck me.
I found that specifically HB is always green in winter and spring and turns yellow in summer 😅 So nice to see Napier, Te Mata Peak and Waimarama, my second home. Thanks for sharing.
Aussie here. What's funny is how Aussies and Kiwis can tell the difference between the different accents but people overseas often can't. Although, sometimes if it's a subtle Kiwi accent, it may take me a while to notice it.
I wish US border control was more friendly when I came back after 4 years. The officer said to us lift that thing up (meaning our 3 yr old daughter). I was angry that I was going to say "asshole he isn't a thing. She's a human being jackass." My husband saw this and said the equivalent of shut up in Swiss German and gave me that scary Swiss stare. My husband was coming through the US for the first time with all the greencard paperwork. My husband knew he could be denied entry just because the officer didn't like us. I do have to say it was Miami and not someplace like the border of US and Canada. 90% of the workers there weren't born in the US. A lot of the officers don't speak a proper English. If they do have proper sentence structure their accent is extremely thick. Before my husband got his Greencastle and before Covid I had to translate what the check in person said to my husband. I also transferred for the Germans or Swiss in front of us. I have no clue how the Germans and Swiss got through border control without a person helping them understand the accent. My culture shock in the US was wearing pajamas at Walmart. I said to my husband while in Walmart "OMG they really do wear pajamas here." My husband cracked up. I was also shocked at how shitty Walmart carts are. You're lucky if you find one where all 4 wheels turn. My husband is fascinated by Walmart for whatever reason. I guess it's because he didn't grow up with something like Walmart in Switzerland.
Can I ask you why do you think that the comment about the airport workers not being born in the US was neccessary? I was in the States twice (on travel visa), both times I was treated very poorly by fully American workers (translation for you: no foreign accent, "proper" skin colour, you get it, right?). For me it doesn't matter what colour, nationality etc etc the airport workers are, they just feel that power that they have over you and just use it, BECAUSE THEY CAN. They won't get reprimanded anyways. People who check your passport and visa, all the TSA agents - I have never met more rude airport staff than in the States. Once again - no matter what their colour, accent or whatever was. And even look at you - as a citizen you were afraid of saying something, you see what I am talking about? BTW, I work with Americans (basing on the company profile I would say that from all the social groups and from all over the States, we also have some employees in Latin America and Asia) and I will tell you - a lot of them cannot speak that properly, sorry, but SURPRISE, SURPRISE: not matter how thick their accent is or how they misuse grammar - I CAN UNDERSTAND THEM. Maybe the only "thick" thing is your husband who cannot understand English in different accents (I am being mean on purpose, my goal is not to offend you husband, but to show you the way you think). Take him to NJ, see if he'll understand the real Jersey accent, or somewhere deep south where the twang makes the words almost unrecognizable, especially for the European who probably learned RP british English. Not to mention Americans who don't understand british accents. Another thing - have you learned the German yet?Are you fluent? Has anybody complaint on your accent when you were in some Amt or wherever? Or do you think you don't have the accent? And yes, I am being mean, but comments like that makes my blood boil - hopefully it's just ignorance on your part and you can learn to do better.
@@PropertyOfK it's ingrained in us Americans. We hear people being pleasant from the time we are born. Cubans, Central Americans, and South Americans don't hear it from the time they are born. I had a classmate that came from Cuba (he was in the States for 6 months). He said "I don't understand why you people say hello to a complete stranger in the store. It's fake." I said "this isn't fake it's common curiosity and obviously you don't have common curiosity." To make him see my point I said "the stranger is a human being also. He deserves to be acknowledged. You don't know what kind of day the stranger is having and being acknowledged by a stranger might have made his day." A good chunk of border agents at MIA is from Cuba or Venezuela. You'll get Haitians, Jamaicans, and Bahamians sprinkled in. I only gave part of the story. After the border control we had to go to the back room to get entered into the computer. At the desks there were a Jamaican and 2 Bahamians. They were cracking jokes and being their typical Islander selves with people waiting. One guy noticed our 3 year old was complaining about being hungry so he went in back and grabbed a back of chips and took us next. I know chips isn't the healthiest thing, but it shut her up long enough for us to get out of there. You have to realize MIA is different than most International airports throughout the US. When you come through MIA you will realize that you were treated nicely where ever you were. Also you are a foreigner. Foreigners are treated differently. You know you might want to stay illegally in the greatest country on earth (I'm being sarcastic here. The US isn't the greatest country on earth. There is no such thing as the greatest country on earth). A foreigner who is married to an American and has an American child is treated like an American. My husband, daughter, and I flew right when Covid vaccines came out. Foreigners still weren't allowed in the US during this time. My husband didn't have his greencard during this flight yet. I found out since my husband and I were vaccinated that US citizens could bring their foreign spouse into the US. We flew into MIA again and got a Haitian border control agent. He was giving us the story my husband wasn't allowed in. We gave him the story that we were told by the US Embassy in Switzerland we were allowed in. He came back with that was only certain states that was allowing people in. Florida wasn't one of the states. We gave him our story of my family never met our then 2 year old daughter and I didn't know how much longer some family members had on earth. We said we were going to quarantine alone for 2 weeks before seeing anyone (this was true. We didn't want to make my family sick). We also said our daughter isn't going to go out to shops because she wasn't great about wearing a mask and to young to be vaccinated (this was true. We didn't want our child to get sick in the US. We know is would cost a lot of money if things went wrong). He said "I had kids that didn't see their family until they were older. Let me talk to my supervisor." The people in the next booth was 1 American, 3 American kids, and 1 foreign spouse. They were with a Spanish speaking border agent (I'm guessing by the dialect of Spanish used he was Cuban). The agent wouldn't hear about the kids not seeing family. He cut them off. The parents put up a giant fight because they heard we were being considered. It took us 2 hours to get through border control.
@@PropertyOfK I'm also going to go here. You don't know me at all. You don't know what I think makes a person American. Americans (born and raised) come in many different colors. I believe Native Americans are more American than any European, Asian, African, Australian, and South American. Native Americans are far far far far darker than me. You're just an idiot that thinks all Americans are racist. Being racist is so far from the truth with me. I've experienced going through MIA border control more than you have. I grew up near MIA and traveled to the islands a lot as a kid. Before Miami was completely changed into an area where you can only speak Spanish in some areas it was full of Islanders. They treated citizens with respect. They never called children a thing. Nowadays even citizens are treated like shit sometimes.
We just got back from our trip, too. The passport control man said 'Welcome home Louise' and I really did burst into tears. I was also surprised about how no-one growled at my kids simply for being inquisitive kids, but answered questions and showed them things patiently. The kids got to cuddle and feed lambs, and the lambs came in the house, unthinkable here. My daughter Ellen discovered L&P (Ellen pee) and thought that was hilarious!
The security guards at Hamburg airport are very obnoxious. They address you as if you're a criminal. I'm surprised that you still haven't heard anything about your missing luggage. You must browbeat the airport or airline constantly, otherwise they might think you're not bothered. As for that accommodation, doesn't New Zealand have minimum standards and regular checks? I would certainly write a very critical comment on Trust Pilot and TripAdvisor. It was an utter scam for the company to use a decent looking cabin in the advertising. I used to experience a mini version of a reverse culture shock every time I returned to England while I was living in Germany. The very first thing I noticed was how shabby England looked compared to Germany. It still does! Maybe King Charles will finally urge the highways people to fix potholes. In Australia there is a significant number of people who want to get rid of the monarchy and have a republic. Is this mood also reflected in New Zealand?
NZ has the Treaty of Waitangi signed in 1840 (3 years into Queen Victoria's reign)between Maori and the British Crown. If the Crown's role is changed/ removed it could make local matters awkward.
A reverse culture shock for me when coming back to NZ after some time in the Netherlands was seeing so many people with dark hair. You don't necessarily notice it in Europe but when you come back you realize that so many Europeans are blond while the majority of Kiwi's have darker tones.
![[Live] ศึกมหึมันส์มวยไทยสังเวียนเดือด เวทีมวยชั่วคราวสวนสยาม | จันทร์ 30 กันยายน 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pM1k6f7JXUc/mqdefault.jpg)
Do you want a roof on your cabin? Yes? Ok that will be a 100$ extra per day... 🤣
The luggage story was just HORRENDOUS. So sorry you are going through that! In regard to this video, I feel like a lot of the reason as to why it's not uncommon to have a negative experience like what you had with accommodation is because, Kiwi people generally don't complain. I don't think that this is a good thing because what then happens is people simply accept a low standard all because of not having the confidence to simply say "okay this is not very good" or " hey this isn't how it was in the picture etc" I've noticed that if ever I'm at a restaurant with my kiwi friends, if something like my steak was not cooked to what I told them to or my meal didn't come with one of it's sides etc, if I do simply point it out to to the waiter, I'm looked at as if I am a monster lol. Also, when a person does actually complain in NZ, they are mocked for it by the workers or laughed at. I can understand why you guys didn't complain about the cabin as you would never go there again as you don't live in NZ. However, people who live here could complain a bit more I feel, instead of always smiling and faking the classic comment "yeah it was all good thanks" lol. Anyway, this is all my personal observations and opinions. I hope your luggage arrives to you soon and with no damage. Take care!
Couldn't agree more 😁 I have always spoken up and lost count of how many times I was chastised. We need to speak our truth in a polite way so businesses lift their game. Acquiescence is rife in this country
Totally Agree.
Speak up for yourself, no one else is going to.
If you're paying for the Service , you should expect the
Service that you are paying for, because goodness knows we do ! 🇳🇿
Much of NZs Hotel accommodation is been used for emergency housing, so things would be somewhat neglected in these types of accommodation.
Make a complaint to the council.
I know exactly what you meant about hearing your native accent again from people all around you. I have the same experience everytime I travel back to the region I grew up in. It just hits you suddenly listening to people on the streets and on a subconcious level something just feels right again, because you are no longer the only one who speaks like you. It's just a tiny spark of validation.
Reverse culture shock, i can relate.
German citizen, i lived in The Coromandel for the past 5 years and just returned to Germany. It’s weird but familiar. And nostalgic. The price we pay for being at home and having friends in more than 1 country :)
I'm sorry, but this happens in Germany as well, and in Austria, where I'm from - and other countries, it's a global thing. Always (!) read the reviews, if you can from several websites. Never trust the site from the owner alone just because of the pictures! But if a place is unsanitary, like this place is, I'm pretty sure there is an authority in NZ where you could report this.
Anyhow, thanks for your video :)
Tell us! We need to avoid this place , Rough is one thing , unhygienic is another , sorry for this experience , thankyou for your example of grace , ❤
We haven't been back to NZ since 8 years 😔 and our son has never met his uncles and cousins. First, we wanted to travel in 2020 but covid came. Now, flights are way too expensive.... I can only hope that we don't have to wait too many more years. 🙏
Oh and I used to work for mpi at Auckland airport 😍
I dearly hope you can manage to go back soon...being away from home for so long surely hurts a lot! Keeping my fingers crossed!
Will be praying and hoping things change that you can travel back to NZ very soon. Stay strong, by the way is your husband maybe from NZ? I feel like you're from D, A, CH, or perhaps Liechtenstein or anywhere in the German-speaking world.
@@fraeuleinsommer75 thank you so very much! ♥️ One day it'll happen 😊
@@B.A.B.G. thank you so much! Yes my husband is the kiwi and I'm the German 😄
Don't they have reviews on line for places like the horror cabin you ended up with? Obviously the place itself is going to put its best foot forward in their ad. If you can place a review you should do it now so others will be fore warned.
Hi I am currently living in Australia, but born and raised in Napier, left when in my early 30s. Was looking at Videos on NZ as feeling little home sick, and I think I have seen you in Napier a few times back in the day as your Face looked familiar. Not sure where exactly from but most like 1 of us was a semi frequent customer of the work places 1 of us worked at when or just often at the night life clubs/bars when both where younger. Glad you enjoyed your visit to home city and country. Apart form the adnomination you stayed at first night.
All of that is completely normal at a campground here. Even if you rent a cabin, it’s understood that there’s nothing there if you don’t bring it yourself. But the false advertising is not ok!
NZ, people are nice and it looks nice, but nothing is sturdy…
That Holiday Park sounded like a holiday from hell, shame on them for not providing a quality accommodation,these people shouldn't be running a business like that,or any for that matter.
A) Southern Germany was spared the same drought the other parts experienced.
B) Wasn't it WINTER in NZ ???😀
Great watch and so informative Antoinette. I'm a Kiwi and l was preening myself as you discussed the positives... but then you described the campground!! Now l feel a little embarrassed that those people are even allowed to operate. Anyway this was my intro to your channel so l hit the subscribe button so l can now follow you! 👍🏻💖🇳🇿
Hallo Antoinette, you speak a very fine und clearly English, the same English that I learnd in German school and I hear no acent in your voice! - I wish every English speaker would have such a clear und well understandable, fine English pronunciation!
Willkommen daheim 🙂 Ich hoffe, die Lufthansa bringt Euch Euer Gepäck bald zurück, ist ja super nervig! 🙄🙄
So turns out that since 2014 when the latest naturalisation laws came into effect in Germany most parental citizenships can be retained by the children past the age of 22 forever IF they lived at least 8 years in Germany.
Considering the laws will be ammended and loosened in 2023 I'd say not to worry giving your children NZ nationality and citizenship.
That was a wonderful video.
It's so fascinating to listen to your word's and what experience you and your family made in New Zealand, especially you after such a long time away from your home.
I can't imagine what kind of feelings you had.
Hihi, even if the officers/staff at the airport would be friendly and talk to you, the people behind you would complain about it, because everyone is late and has not enough time. You have to deal with so many unfriendly passengers with all kind of reasons to complain about something and unfortunately, the politics of airports in Germany also not made for customer service.
Welcome back!! 🍻🥂🍀
Thank you for this very interesting video. I emigrated from the UK to NZ some 62 years ago at the age of 31. Have visited the UK on only 4 occasions since then, and on the last two occasions found it very depressing.
Referring to your bad experience with the cabin. I understand your reluctance to complain, but hope now that you are home in Germany you will visit their website and give a scathing report of your experience. Find out whether they are members of any related national associations and post your experience on those platforms, too. There is absolutely no justification in these times for such primitive accommodation.
Thank you for your honesty, I totally understand the culture shock you're talking about, it's the same feeling to me when I'm going to my homeland. I really hope you'll get back your stuff 💙
It's an expat phenomenon that upon return to one's country of origin after more than a decade abroad, it takes two years to readjust and feel at home.
10:25 Also called „Katzenwäsche“ in German. 😁
Regarding the lost luggage: I‘ve heard this from so many people - it‘s a mess right now. But to end on a positive note, most of my friends got their luggage back, usually after 2-3 months when they didn’t expect it anymore.
God defend NZ!
Oh my... we are Germans who have been living in NZ for over 20 years before going back to Germany. Coming back to NZ after 2 years only was exactly like you have experienced, including the accomodation. It was also like you describe. We too are not snobby people, but a good and clean bed is a MUST for any accomodation never mind the standard. Warmth too is a MUST HAVE. Germans are pretty spoilt when it comes to accomodation and heating in general and we were often seen as snobbish in New Zealand. And yet, coming back was so overwhelmingly amazing, we had tears in our eyes at touch-down, as migrants. Customs was amazing, they welcomed us back as if we belonged... and we do.
Kia ora Sister.
I have thought about your luggage many times since I heard you say it had gone missing. !!!
I FEEL YOUR DEEP SUFFERING. It is a shocking situation to even think about.
So this video was a lovely surprise as well as really interesting.
It is great that your kids get to see that you are just like the other 5 million of us down here.
It is very sad to hear that you have become unfamiliar with and initially confused by typical Kiwi friendliness.
I truly hope that Germans never completely knock the humanity, kindness, love, joy, unity, friendliness, and the laid back ways out of you.
Tikanga Maori is really growing here, Unity and hospitality are developing onto our basic friendly attitudes. Respect among 2 overlapping cultures here is a developing part of our identity, helped by The Treaty.
With greater use of te reo and much resolution through acknowledgement and settlements, the concepts of manaakitanga and kotahitanga are widely practised. I hope you observed, overall, the growing respect for tangata whenua after 5 years away.
Greater hospitality is in the mix, even though our little country is going through some hard times. Please remember eye contact, smiling, saying hello,welcoming, patience, goodwill, respect, and compassion for everyone you meet... the way you used to. Then your Kiwi style will not be affected by the disconnection, inhumanity, negativity coldness, self-focus, rush and dehumanization that is more commonly experienced in other places like Germany.
If people think friendliness is fake, that is their problem, but that is a sad way to live and to perceive happy, outward thinking people... That's just my thoughts when considering the evolution of human behaviours in various cultures.
Regarding the disgusting accommodation in the Waikato:
Firstly, Antoinette, I am sorry you ended up in that shit hole. I wish you could have stayed at my spare unit in Hamilton.
Next time you come to NZ you MUST have a nice place provided for you, or lined up !!! I can offer a good clean environment with free food, blankets and heater free of charge!!!!!! We have put up lots of travellers in Hamilton! Don't forget!
What you ended up with is unheard of in NZ, I thought!! Where was that disgusting place??
People unfamiliar with NZ may be more enlightened by understanding that our borders were shut for a long time while we worked on getting everyone vaccinated. This makes it more of a big deal for our airline staff to welcome people back here. Everyone in NZ knows how much pain there has been with our borders closed.
We had zero tourists for a long time. They have only just started coming back very recently. Firstly our Aussie cousins, and now anyone can come. Yeehaa!!.
Businesses are only just getting back on their feet after the truly crippling effects of lockdowns. Our seasonal and foreign workers left and are only just returning again.
A 9 year long government had previously let a massive number of people into NZ. It was a truly popular destination for the English, fleeing South Africans, Indians, and many others.
House prices skyrocketed.
Then came the war and rising inflation. All areas need workers! Motel cleaners are definitely needed. Homelessness and financial hardship have hit hard. Our compassionate new government got homeless families out of cars and garages. These people then were moved off the streets and filled up the empty motels and holiday accommodation. In many cities, motels have largely been used for "emergency accommodation" for thousands of individuals and families.
These hundreds of motels have become home to people who are on the lowest wrung of society. In them are issues with drugs, alcohol, and violence.
Nevertheless, I wonder how much the disgusting Waikato accommodation cost? Who are these owners?
I would love to pay them a visit and find out what their game is. Your experience was barely comprehensible! Besides, they are giving Waikato and even NZ a bad reputation.
I have never ever stayed in NZ accommodation that is dirty. So I conclude that there are some issues leading to the staggering experience. The standards are not in line with normal paying travellers. Who are these owners???
I am so glad you touched the green grass and blue ocean, touched base with your extended family and who you are.
6 months in Israel , I almost cried when I got to eat nz real butter and MARMITE,. We craved both whilst away , and we got to eat the butter on the plane home ,. ,IT triggered us , Amazing ., Lovely to meet you , thanks for sharing , 👍
Kia Ora !! What a joy to hear Kiwi accent !!!! God, how I miss it. I left NZ in 2009 to join my wife in France and never came back (at least for now, but hope I will someday). I miss NZ so much.... Thanks for this video and all the reminiscing of Aotearoa. Take care.
I lived in Canada and now Australia and lived 10 years in Germany as I have German heritage. My relatives all live in Germany. When you get to know Germans they are so welcoming and friendly but the service people on transport, shops, airports, banks etc can be very intimidating and unfortunately at times just rude. Obviously not all but alot. I really struggled with that in Germany to the point I even had people tell me I was to friendly which for us here in Australia and New Zealand and even Canada is normal, to be friendly to people. We are just friendly people and smile to others even on thr streets to a stranger. When friends and family visit Australia and New Zealand they all agree that people here are much friendlier.
I have heard customs officers are not friendly in the U.S. but I haven't been there.Only been to Singapore ( not friendly) Ireland, Germany, Poland and England. Returning to Australia found them quite abrupt.
I'm curious what accent do your children have in English? Did they not pick up your accent?
Kiwi returned this year after 7years
Customs hospitalityfelt awkward because it was they ask every returning Kiwi how long are you here for how long have you been away Where have you been where are you staying in NZ
all of us get the same questions, it’s a script and it is awkward
The holiday parks campsites and motels are full of homeless and are not run (they’re not managed either) by native Kiwi’s
Auckland’s inner city is full of homeless it literally brought me to tears
This place while beautiful is not the New Zealand I left. Not at all
Where the heck did you stay in the Waikato????? I've stayed all over the place and never had that experience. Also, unfortunately there is no such thing as cheap accomodation here in NZ as everything is rather expensive, but you can get reasonably priced accom and it usually gives you everything you need.
That camping ground wasn't cultural, that was a hole, sounds like you got ripped off. A back packers place would have been heaps better
Auckland's climate and higher rainfall is very different to many other parts of NZ. Here on the east coast of South Island, we often have drought conditions in summer with a low rainfall, not green at all. So many ppl think everything is the same as Auckland.
So you haven't heard about the housing affordablility crisis in NZ?
I understand that we tend to generalize. But I as a German living in Canada also had friendly encounters with German customs officers at the airport in Frankfurt. And also in Canada. Not so much in the USA 🤔.
Always read the reviews for accommodation before booking.
No need to explain the accent thing. Many of us have lived/ live away from home for some time. I experience the same thing with regional German accents.
Poor price to quality ratio in accommodation, fresh attitudes (disrespectful, people acting too familiar), lack of professionalism, friendly but shallow conversations, anti-intellectualism, the casual dress (shopping in pajamas or barefoot).
All things I think about when I return to NZ
anti-intellectualism, what social circles do you move in?
Try attending some professors inaugural addresses at your nearest University, its a public event for an hour with drinks and nibbles after.
Wait until you have lived away from NZ 31 years, like I have.I wonder what you will feel.
Everytime I come home, I never feel nervous because you are right, they are always nice! I remember when I went to the states, omg, they were so scary! I felt like a criminal.
Welcome back! Hey, you can do small talk with costums officers (or anybody else in Germany, really) if the line behind you is not long. You just need a big smile and an "opener" such as "what a weather - it's raining heavily outside" or something along those lines. They're people, too, you know :)
if all New Zeland' people are nice like you...I want to go there! Un besito from Spain
We are mostly nice but az in every country there is your bad bunch
good as :-) whereabouts in the Bay you from? I am from Taradale.
NZ is one of the most beautyful country's in the world
I hope you left reviews of the nasty cabin on the places you found it.
I am happy doing very well despite the luggage. I am glad your children experience NZ. My sister was going study abroad in NZ. I am not sure that happening, since the program is popular at her college. Also, watch NZ Family on TH-cam.
How was the customer service usually in NZ?
Nice to see you again here in Germany! Welcome back! 😉
The customs officials in Canada and this was pre-covid used to always ask me, why are you here? And I'd always think I have a Canadian passport. I'm allowed to be here but I never said that because I didn't want any problems. I would usually just say business or a visit.
I would say none of your business! But my country never asks that to citizens
Ohhh no!!! You would’ve booked into a place where they rent most of it out to emergency housing! You poor thing!
ich würde eher in NZ leben wollen ;-)
Blankets extra what lolll
Hallo Antoinette,
schön Dich/Euch wieder hier zu haben. Nicht so schön von Eurer schlechten Erfahrung mit der ersten Übernachtung dort in Auckland zu hören. Aber ich denke durch Euren langen Aufenthalt bei Euren Lieben in NZ habt Ihr das inzwischen längst (fast) vergessen, oder..?
Euren Kindern scheint ja zumindest die Nähe zum Meer gut gefallen zu haben, sie sahen alle wirklich lebhaft und glücklich aus. Haben sie in diesem Monat in NZ sich auch kräftig den NZ slang angeeignet oder war die Zeit dafür doch noch zu kurz? Hoffentlich macht es den Kindern nicht so viel Stress sich wieder in ihr deutsches Leben zurück zu finden. Und hoffentlich werden sie sich noch lange an die schöne Zeit in Deiner Herzensheimat NZ zurück erinnern. Vielleicht dauert es bis zum nächsten Mal in NZ ja nicht mehr so lange..!
I haven't been back to NZ for about 17 years. We were planning to go pre-covid but of course that was put on hold. I'm not sure if I want to go back now though. From what people tell us it is like a completely different country now. Very sad as it was a lovely family friendly place before. Thank you for your video I found it very interesting. New subscriber here.
Umm nz is wayyy nicer than Europe
As someone whose always lived here, the cost of living is insane and a lot of things have definitely gone downhill. It is sad.
Thank you for your support ☺️
New Zealand is lost
Yes, the casualness of Kiwis is both positive and negative.
On one hand there’s the relaxed down to earthness . On the other hand it can be too relaxed and result in sloppy customer service and substandard quality.
Keep in mind that customs and immigration staff are paid to be friendly Kiwis and they’re very good at it.
Reverse culture shock when returning to NZ for me was seeing people in bare feet in the supermarket. The abundance of bright fresh fruit and veg and red meat in the supermarket. How quickly people accelerate when the lights turn green. You can’t leave your car windows down if you leave your car for 5 mins.
How much free time people have .
How often people change their jobs.
Inviting the neighbours over for a barbie.
NZ is the best place I've ever been to... no comparison except Australia.. kind of ...except green and nicer climate than oz
Same, Kiwi here in Perth,hearing the street accent again after being here for nearly twelve years,seems a bit cringe. I think it's because I don't hear it a lot here. But when I went home in 2020, the feeling of comfort took that negative aspect away completely,nothing like NZ ,home always.
You've come up in my recommendations from YT.
Yes, NZ Always looks much greener when coming back
from overseas, moreso for you in contrast from the
season reversals as was with your Northern Hemisphere Summer
to the NZ Mid Winter within days of arrival later.
Am interested in anything international living,
Who better than to follow a Kiwi doing it abroad.
New Subscriber here, hi 🙂 I've a few vids to
review before moving forward. Nice vid.
Cheers from New Zealand. M 🇳🇿
A nz group online discussion recently suggested that NZ hotels could be a surer accommodation option. There were some cautionary tales of people who had stayed at Air BnB's and had been subjected to some extra charges for extra unnecessary cleaning etc after leaving places tidier than they had found them on arrival. Suggested advice included photographing/ videoing places on arrival/ leaving should you be blamed for whatever arises.
Interesting video! Yes, the german custim officers can be very serious, When I came back from South East Asia and encountered the non-smiling, non-greeting officer of my home country, I got my reverse culture shock. To your last example: experiencing a way lower accomodation standard than as advertised is shocking for everyone. What was the "reverse culture shock" here for you? Something like "I totally forgot that misleading advertisings are allowed in NZ!"?
I lived in NZ, currently in Germany and will go to NZ again. curious how that‘s going to be…
I‘m from europe though.
Yeah, many of our holiday parks are pretty substandard, especially the budget ones.
I haven't been home for almost 4 years and never considered experiencing a reverse culture shock. Hoping to head back to nz early next year, lookingbforward to npticing these differences.
Those little heaters with a fan you plug into a electric outlet: Heizlüfter in German. We have 'em.
Hahahahaha hahaha. That will teach you for going cheap at that 'holiday park'
Sounds like a pig island thing 😁😂😂
I lived in NZ for 12 years and flew in and out of Auckland countless times from Australia. I always looked forward to the deep blue ocean, the landfall approaching with that long white cloud poised over it. And yep then green green grass of home!
Hi, I live in NZ and have noticed how crappy accommodation has got, manly due to putting them up to house people in. They are paid a lot for this but there is no one checking the up keep on these places! I have no problem complaining but nothing is done when I have! we do put up with things in general though as a nation! Glad you got to come back home for a while!
You are braver than we would be staying at that cabin! Oof! That’s such good info to know. Fingers still crossed re: your bags.
The people who want to see your passport are from immigration, not customs. Everybody has to go through immigration if you arrive on an international flight.
The customs people are separate, they work at the locations where travellers are asked if they have something to declare or not. Customs only does spot checks on some people where they search their luggage for expensive goods that people tried to to import wihout paying customs duties.
"Welcome home!". Two simple words, yet so powerful and genuinely human. Beautiful. 😊
We have similar camping grounds all over NZ now, the cost of housing for many people is so high they live where you stayed full time sadly.
I am so happy you made it to NZ! Really enjoyed this video and waiting for part 2 :) fingers crossed so you get the luggage and I wish you have more nice trips to your motherland!
This video made me smile. Not teasing at all, but as someone who deals with different languages all the time your vowels got so much "thinner" in just one month, it really struck me.
THE HOLIDAY Parks in THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM,GERMANY, are fantastic compared to most of New Zealand campsites.
So they should be ! More people to cater for! Don’t come on here whinging about NZ
Aw no, never rent anywhere cheap in New Zealand!
Hi Antoinette are you French in your roots???
I found that specifically HB is always green in winter and spring and turns yellow in summer 😅
So nice to see Napier, Te Mata Peak and Waimarama, my second home. Thanks for sharing.
i think you misspelled Weimaraner :)
Do you speak the Tereo Māori ??
Great Info! :)
Still no luggage frig
Basic wow basic
Aussie here. What's funny is how Aussies and Kiwis can tell the difference between the different accents but people overseas often can't. Although, sometimes if it's a subtle Kiwi accent, it may take me a while to notice it.
There is regional accents in NZ,
Maybe it's easier to pick an Ozzie, they sound like Steve Erwin crocodile hunter
@@Froggability Some Aussies do sound like Steve Irwin. Most of us don't have quite that strong of an accent though.
NZ has changed alot ...and not for the better.
I wish US border control was more friendly when I came back after 4 years. The officer said to us lift that thing up (meaning our 3 yr old daughter). I was angry that I was going to say "asshole he isn't a thing. She's a human being jackass." My husband saw this and said the equivalent of shut up in Swiss German and gave me that scary Swiss stare. My husband was coming through the US for the first time with all the greencard paperwork. My husband knew he could be denied entry just because the officer didn't like us. I do have to say it was Miami and not someplace like the border of US and Canada. 90% of the workers there weren't born in the US. A lot of the officers don't speak a proper English. If they do have proper sentence structure their accent is extremely thick. Before my husband got his Greencastle and before Covid I had to translate what the check in person said to my husband. I also transferred for the Germans or Swiss in front of us. I have no clue how the Germans and Swiss got through border control without a person helping them understand the accent.
My culture shock in the US was wearing pajamas at Walmart. I said to my husband while in Walmart "OMG they really do wear pajamas here." My husband cracked up. I was also shocked at how shitty Walmart carts are. You're lucky if you find one where all 4 wheels turn. My husband is fascinated by Walmart for whatever reason. I guess it's because he didn't grow up with something like Walmart in Switzerland.
Can I ask you why do you think that the comment about the airport workers not being born in the US was neccessary?
I was in the States twice (on travel visa), both times I was treated very poorly by fully American workers (translation for you: no foreign accent, "proper" skin colour, you get it, right?).
For me it doesn't matter what colour, nationality etc etc the airport workers are, they just feel that power that they have over you and just use it, BECAUSE THEY CAN. They won't get reprimanded anyways. People who check your passport and visa, all the TSA agents - I have never met more rude airport staff than in the States. Once again - no matter what their colour, accent or whatever was. And even look at you - as a citizen you were afraid of saying something, you see what I am talking about?
BTW, I work with Americans (basing on the company profile I would say that from all the social groups and from all over the States, we also have some employees in Latin America and Asia) and I will tell you - a lot of them cannot speak that properly, sorry, but SURPRISE, SURPRISE: not matter how thick their accent is or how they misuse grammar - I CAN UNDERSTAND THEM. Maybe the only "thick" thing is your husband who cannot understand English in different accents (I am being mean on purpose, my goal is not to offend you husband, but to show you the way you think). Take him to NJ, see if he'll understand the real Jersey accent, or somewhere deep south where the twang makes the words almost unrecognizable, especially for the European who probably learned RP british English. Not to mention Americans who don't understand british accents.
Another thing - have you learned the German yet?Are you fluent? Has anybody complaint on your accent when you were in some Amt or wherever? Or do you think you don't have the accent?
And yes, I am being mean, but comments like that makes my blood boil - hopefully it's just ignorance on your part and you can learn to do better.
@@PropertyOfK it's ingrained in us Americans. We hear people being pleasant from the time we are born. Cubans, Central Americans, and South Americans don't hear it from the time they are born. I had a classmate that came from Cuba (he was in the States for 6 months). He said "I don't understand why you people say hello to a complete stranger in the store. It's fake." I said "this isn't fake it's common curiosity and obviously you don't have common curiosity." To make him see my point I said "the stranger is a human being also. He deserves to be acknowledged. You don't know what kind of day the stranger is having and being acknowledged by a stranger might have made his day." A good chunk of border agents at MIA is from Cuba or Venezuela. You'll get Haitians, Jamaicans, and Bahamians sprinkled in.
I only gave part of the story. After the border control we had to go to the back room to get entered into the computer. At the desks there were a Jamaican and 2 Bahamians. They were cracking jokes and being their typical Islander selves with people waiting. One guy noticed our 3 year old was complaining about being hungry so he went in back and grabbed a back of chips and took us next. I know chips isn't the healthiest thing, but it shut her up long enough for us to get out of there. You have to realize MIA is different than most International airports throughout the US. When you come through MIA you will realize that you were treated nicely where ever you were. Also you are a foreigner. Foreigners are treated differently. You know you might want to stay illegally in the greatest country on earth (I'm being sarcastic here. The US isn't the greatest country on earth. There is no such thing as the greatest country on earth). A foreigner who is married to an American and has an American child is treated like an American. My husband, daughter, and I flew right when Covid vaccines came out. Foreigners still weren't allowed in the US during this time. My husband didn't have his greencard during this flight yet. I found out since my husband and I were vaccinated that US citizens could bring their foreign spouse into the US. We flew into MIA again and got a Haitian border control agent. He was giving us the story my husband wasn't allowed in. We gave him the story that we were told by the US Embassy in Switzerland we were allowed in. He came back with that was only certain states that was allowing people in. Florida wasn't one of the states. We gave him our story of my family never met our then 2 year old daughter and I didn't know how much longer some family members had on earth. We said we were going to quarantine alone for 2 weeks before seeing anyone (this was true. We didn't want to make my family sick). We also said our daughter isn't going to go out to shops because she wasn't great about wearing a mask and to young to be vaccinated (this was true. We didn't want our child to get sick in the US. We know is would cost a lot of money if things went wrong). He said "I had kids that didn't see their family until they were older. Let me talk to my supervisor." The people in the next booth was 1 American, 3 American kids, and 1 foreign spouse. They were with a Spanish speaking border agent (I'm guessing by the dialect of Spanish used he was Cuban). The agent wouldn't hear about the kids not seeing family. He cut them off. The parents put up a giant fight because they heard we were being considered. It took us 2 hours to get through border control.
@@PropertyOfK I'm also going to go here. You don't know me at all. You don't know what I think makes a person American. Americans (born and raised) come in many different colors. I believe Native Americans are more American than any European, Asian, African, Australian, and South American. Native Americans are far far far far darker than me. You're just an idiot that thinks all Americans are racist. Being racist is so far from the truth with me. I've experienced going through MIA border control more than you have. I grew up near MIA and traveled to the islands a lot as a kid. Before Miami was completely changed into an area where you can only speak Spanish in some areas it was full of Islanders. They treated citizens with respect. They never called children a thing. Nowadays even citizens are treated like shit sometimes.
We just got back from our trip, too. The passport control man said 'Welcome home Louise' and I really did burst into tears. I was also surprised about how no-one growled at my kids simply for being inquisitive kids, but answered questions and showed them things patiently. The kids got to cuddle and feed lambs, and the lambs came in the house, unthinkable here. My daughter Ellen discovered L&P (Ellen pee) and thought that was hilarious!
I came back to NZ in Feb 2022, and the lady at Immigration said the same thing...'Welcome Home', I also cried 😢.
The security guards at Hamburg airport are very obnoxious. They address you as if you're a criminal. I'm surprised that you still haven't heard anything about your missing luggage. You must browbeat the airport or airline constantly, otherwise they might think you're not bothered. As for that accommodation, doesn't New Zealand have minimum standards and regular checks? I would certainly write a very critical comment on Trust Pilot and TripAdvisor. It was an utter scam for the company to use a decent looking cabin in the advertising. I used to experience a mini version of a reverse culture shock every time I returned to England while I was living in Germany. The very first thing I noticed was how shabby England looked compared to Germany. It still does! Maybe King Charles will finally urge the highways people to fix potholes. In Australia there is a significant number of people who want to get rid of the monarchy and have a republic. Is this mood also reflected in New Zealand?
What does King Charles III have to do with British highways?
@@robert3987 He drives over the same potholes we all do.
NZ has the Treaty of Waitangi signed in 1840 (3 years into Queen Victoria's reign)between Maori and the British Crown. If the Crown's role is changed/ removed it could make local matters awkward.
It's NOT a majority who want Australia to become a republic.
A reverse culture shock for me when coming back to NZ after some time in the Netherlands was seeing so many people with dark hair. You don't necessarily notice it in Europe but when you come back you realize that so many Europeans are blond while the majority of Kiwi's have darker tones.