I can hardly believe that it’s been over a month since I stepped off the plane in Auckland. Well a month and a half now as I’m back in Europe for work and my poor blog took a backburner for a week. My bad. It’s been 30 days of ups and downs, highs and lows, everything you might expect from a big move abroad.
New Zealand has been everything I wished for and more. It’s almost hard for me to articulate my feelings and emotions so far on this adventure. That being said, it takes a lot for me to be at a loss for words. Born an overly verbose person who has trouble shutting up at the best of times, I’ve spent the past few weeks contemplating this big transition abroad and how best to share it with you all in the least wordy way possible.
Reflecting on my first month in New Zealand, if I had to sum up my experience in one sentence, it would be, “wow, that was a learning experience.”
Let me just tell you, I’ve learned a whole hell of a lot. From improving my kiwi slang vocabulary to acquiring some profound life lessons, the old adage “you’re never too old to learn something new” has never been more true than my first month down under.
Check out 20 things I’ve learned during my first 30 days in New Zealand
1. New Zealanders are the friendliest people in the world
Before I bought a one-way flight to Auckland, I had heard mysterious rumors of the friendliness of the kiwi people. And over the years when I was backpacking around the world, I often met people from New Zealand, and I was struck by how kind they were. That being said, I was not prepared for just how friendly and sweet EVERYONE is in New Zealand.
And I mean EVERYONE! Not even exaggerating.
From the shopkeepers to the bartenders to the average person walking down the street, if there is one thing you can always count on in New Zealand is just how lovely and friendly everyone is.
Moving abroad is scary. Moving abroad to a new country without knowing a single person is absolutely terrifying. However, picking a place with super friendly people has made all the difference.
If I don’t leave New Zealand in a year a completely changed person, I don’t even know myself.
2. What Kiwi really means
Kiwi is the name of people from New Zealand as well as New Zealand’s flightless bird. Kiwis as we know them in America are called kiwi fruit. This is an important difference, as I’m sure you can imagine, especially if kiwis are your favorite fruit.
3. Driving on the left is fun, until you get to a roundabout, then it’s terrifying
If I die in a road accident while living in New Zealand, there is a 80% chance that it happened in a roundabout. While in general I think there are a more logical way of directing traffic, it doesn’t make going through them in the wrong direction any less scary. I pretty much scream every time I go through one here, especially the ones with double lanes.
4. The more sheep than people rumor is not false
So the rumor that there are more sheep than people in New Zealand is not exactly false, as I quickly found out. After leaving sprawling urban Auckland, the complete lack of people took me by surprise. Driving down to Wellington, I would drive for ages and sometimes not see other cars.
Once you get outside of the cities in Wellington, you quickly realize that there are just not a lot of people about. New Zealand really is the end of the world. And yeah, there are a lot of sheep. Everywhere.
But now that spring is here, all the lambs have been born which means adorable, fluffy, baby sheep EVERYWHERE!
5. New Zealand is freaking expensive, but not as expensive as Australia
When I was packing for New Zealand, I made an executive decision to leave my hiking boots at home. I figured I since NZ is such an outdoorsy place, I could pick up a nice pair once I got here. My old ones needed to be tossed and I didn’t want to waste the luggage space.
What a stupid decision, my god!
I went to go buy hiking boots in Wellington, and the pair I wanted was 450 NZD – that’s roughly 375 USD which is roughly twice as much as back home.
Because everything is virtually imported to NZ, things are expensive. For example, I usually drop around $80 on my weekly groceries.
But then I went to Australia and realized NZ was cheap in comparison.
Looks like I’ll be hiking in my running sneakers!
6. NZ has the worst internet in the entire world
No, I am not exaggerating. I’ve had better internet in Africa. In Jordan. In rural Turkey.
When I first heard rumors of shoddy internet in NZ before moving there, I laughed it off. I thought those stories were not up to date or relevant any more. Boy, was I mistaken.
As I understand it from my tech friends, NZ is literally at the end of the under-the-ocean-magic-internet-cable. Literally, it’s the last stop for internet, which means it’s really bad, really slow, and really expensive. It’s also limited. LIMITED!! I didn’t even know limited internet was a thing!
Without a doubt this will be the hardest challenge I have to overcome this year.
7. There are a lot of foreigners in New Zealand
New Zealand is an amazing, empty place. I think one of my favorite things about this country is that it’s so remote with so few people. That being said, there are a surprising amount of foreigners to be found around the islands.
NZ has a very open working holiday scheme which means many people from around the world can come and easily get a visa to work and travel around the country. Also NZ is a popular travel destination. Pretty much everyone I’ve met has NZ on their travel bucket list.
This means there are lots of foreigners around town, which for me is both a positive and a negative. Negative because I want to go native and fit in with the locals which can be challenging, but also awesome because I get to make friends with people from all over the world.
8. But no Americans in NZ
That being said, there are NO AMERICANS IN NEW ZEALAND. Fellow countrymen, where are you?
This past month (ok, month and a half) I have flown to NZ from the US, and I have flown from NZ to Europe. From San Francisco, Auckland is a 12 hour direct flight. From Wellington to London, it took me approximately 40 hours of travel time and 4 flights.
How many Brits have I met so far on my journey? Dozens. Germans? A million. How many Americans? One.
What the hell?
Expect a lengthly post about this phenomenon shortly.
9. Rent is per week not per month
Completely random but for those curious-minded folks, apartments are listed with rent prices per week not per month. It’s a confusing but interesting phenomenon which somehow makes the extremely high cost of living more palatable.
And speaking of apartments, they are called flats like in the UK and the deposit is called a bond. Speaking English is hard.
10. Getting the bill in the restaurant
The first time I went out for a meal at a sit-down restaurant in New Zealand, I was surprised by several things. Firstly, the food is phenomenal. Seriously, there are some damn good restaurants to be found in this part of the world. And don’e even get me started on brunch.
However, at the end of the meal I was confused. When were they going to bring the bill? We sat and waited and waited and waited before getting the attention of someone to bring the check. Quickly they explained that you pay at the register and not at the table. Soon I figured out this was standard around NZ.
Can anyone explain this to me?
Instead of having the waiters bring you the check, it’s standard for you to get up when you’re finished and head to the register to pay directly.
This is not universal but I’ve definitely encountered it way more here than anywhere else in the world.
11. Likewise, you usually have to go up and grab a jug of water and cups
Same goes for water. Most of the time they don’t bring water to you, even if you ask. They have sinks or jugs set up for you to grab it yourself.
I haven’t decided how I feel about this yet. It’s an internal struggle between my inherent laziness and my urge to be in control of everything. First world problems.
12. The brunch culture will blow your mind
Hi my name’s Liz, and I am addicted to brunches.
Heavy pancakes. Crispy French toast. Fluffy poached eggs smothered in decadent Hollandaise sauce. Swoon.
One of my favorite things about home was brunching with friends on the weekends. One of the things I hated most about Spain was the total dearth of brunch spots to be found. Lucky for me, NZ is the best of both worlds and has an amazing brunch scene. Everywhere.
13. NZ has the best coffee in the UNIVERSE
In addition to a great foodie scene, there is a thriving cafe culture which means awesome coffee all the time.
I have not had a disappointing cup of joe since I arrived which says a lot considering I’m the world’s biggest coffee addict.
And just like there are new words for everything in NZ, I’ve learned a lot of new coffee vocabulary too. For example, when I get a nonfat or skinny latte, here they call it a trim latte. Makes me feel so classy.
Same goes for a flat white, a type of espresso coffee in New Zealand. A new favorite.
14. Wellington is actually the coolest little capital in the world
I talked before about how much hype Wellington was getting and how it initially put me off living there. But then I arrived and fell head over heels in love with this city.
Proudly named the 2011 Lonely Planet “Coolest little capital in the world,” the buzz around town actually lives up to expectations. In short, Wellington rocks, and I am so so SO happy I decided to make it my home.
15. Everyone in Wellington knows someone who works for WETA or the Hobbit
Sometimes I have to remind myself that not everyone is as big of a nerd as me, and they don’t realize that part of Wellington’s fame comes from the fact that it’s home to WETA, the design studio behind the Lord of the Rings.
Now with the Hobbit franchise in full swing, WETA employs tons and tons of people, which means when I go out at night, there is a good chance I’ll meet someone somehow associated with the project. That is, if they ever leave the studios.
I think you can imagine my reactions when this happens.
16. Finding Peter Jackson has been harder than I thought
One month into my time in Wellington and I have yet to find and shake hands with the most famous son of New Zealand (apart from Sir Edmund Hillary), the man, the myth, the legend – Peter Jackson.
Of course I count this as a giant failure. Luckily I still have 1o months to go.
Anyone can make an intro for me?
17. Windy Wellington lives up to its name
Wellington is nicknamed “Windy Welly” and let me just say, a more accurate epithet never existed.
I’ve been to some windy places over the years, but nothing could have prepared for Wellington. Most days it’s just average level of winds that will mess up your hair and might blow your skirt up. However, in just a month I’ve witnessed some wind storms where I thought the world was ending.
I’m talking wind that will blow your clothes clean off. One week we had 140 km/h winds for three days. I couldn’t leave the house. Those are the moments where you realize you’re living at the end of the world.
18. Earthquakes
My first week living in Wellington we had an earthquake. I had gone out for a wine tasting that evening, so it’s safe to say I was pretty sloshed by the time I rolled home a few hours later. Climbing into bed, I was closing my eyes when the room started to shake. My hopes that it was just a big gust of the famous wind were dashed when my roommate popped his head in to check on me.
I’m from Virginia. We don’t get earthquakes. I don’t know how to react.
I know there are more and more bigger earthquakes happening in New Zealand, and let me just preface this by saying I am SO not ready for a big one.
In fact, they are so prevalent, many Kiwis I’ve met have an earthquake app on their phone that let’s them know about them. Can I just stick with Candy Crush?
19. No drunken behavior
I learned real fast my first month in NZ that I had to bring my passport out with me to the bars to show ID. I haven’t had to show ID to go out drinking since living in the US, let alone bring my passport.
NZ is also pretty vigilant about drunken behavior. They don’t let belligerent people in bars and will kick you out without a second thought.
One of my last nights in Wellington I was out at a bar with friends and while we were waiting for drinks, a group of young drunk guys were getting rowdy on the dancefloor. Suddenly, I saw one of the bouncers head over to kick him out. Causing a scene, eventually the guy picked him up and carried the dude out on his shoulders. The kid was so waster he was high-fiving and cheering everyone on his way out. Hilarious.
20. The wildlife is slightly different from what I’m used to back home in Virginia
21. Shit happens and you can’t plan for everything
So basically I’ve had the worst luck in the entire world my first month in New Zealand. I legally cannot write the specifics so far, but let me just say there’s a reason I’ve not been online as much as I meant to. My first month was a struggle, but I’ve been trying to make the best of it.
Something bad happened which I’m trying to deal with that’s costing me a lot of money.
If anything, it’s been a good lesson on trying to look on the bright side and be positive. Fingers crossed it will all work out for the best.
22. No matter where you are in NZ, you are approximately 15 minutes from somewhere spectacularly beautiful
New Zealand is ridiculously beautiful. No matter where you are in the entire country, you are likely a stone’s throw away from a place that will make your jaw drop open in awe.
This is probably my favorite thing about NZ. I need beautiful landscapes and lush natural spots to feel comfortable and at peace. Lucky for me, New Zealand has that in strides.
23. I already love New Zealand to pieces and I never want to leave
Only a month in and I can already see myself settling in NZ permanently. It already feels like home to me.
My whole life I feel like I’ve been searching for that special place where I can settle down. Maybe it’ll be New Zealand.
Have you ever been to New Zealand? Is it on your bucket list? Ever transitioned abroad before? What’s something you learned in your new country?
About the author
PLEASE RESPOND, SOMEBODY! Hi Im Peter currently living in Latvia, grew up in Boston()MA) planning on moving to NZ, I was thinking of putting all my stuff in a 40′ container shipping iut there, then when I get there looking around to find a place/are to live. If I could find a modest plot of land with a nice view of nature I would drop my container there and live out of it until I converted it into my home. I am an architect/chef/writer, and have been a “nerd” since before it was kewl, so I would look forward to the posibility of working for Weta. Any more tips for me, is the internet just bad or really hopeless, I watch alot of tv by streaming it thru my computer, is that even realistic there, is that also sooo expensive?
Yes, I watch everything online and I have unlimited internet. It is not bad in large cities. In smaller isolated spots it can be horrendous, cafes or restaurants do not automatically have internet and because we are small there is less competition so things are always more expensive than the US. Our telecommunication service providers are expensive, as is power. Most NZ ders don’t necessarily know how much cheaper it is in the States so they just don’t know. We don’t have Walmart, or Sephora or even Zara. I come to the US all the time, in fact I am in LA as I write. Examples, berries,in Trader Joes are super cheap- produce can be expensive in NZ, especially organic. But in general because our soil is more fertile you don’t necessarily need organic. I don’t buy organic in NZ & everything tastes amazing. In the US, things don’t taste as fresh and I often buy organic, bc it is cheap. You can get super cheap clothes for a professional wardrobe. Even lulu lemon is more expensive. In the US you can dress/ present yourself & shop cheaply with clever planning. Obviously, these examples won’t help you, Peter. I don’t really recommend what you tentatively plan because land is the beauty of NZ & it is expensive. Such things are highly regulated here, but I have no knowledge base to help you specifically as you can see by my example. Rent is super expensive and if in a position to buy then recommend that option and maybe subsidize by renting out rooms or Airbnb.Although I doubt you want that, you probably want to live somewhat a little off the grid, easy to do in NZ, but there are many ( good) regulations that you need to abide by. Expand your research, as said I do not know anyone to help you as my nature and lifestyle is very different to yours but get online there are people that will assist.Things are expensive. Builders are maybe a first stop. Check out how much a houses costs to build ( I have no idea!. The quality of our houses are much below the norm in the US, in my opinion. An example of this is lack of double glazing. We simply all freeze in winter. So you in your container would be a liability in the cold winter months of June/July. Plan a trip Jan- to March after you have done more research. I know you live in Latvia & my responses are in comparison to the US, but I have traveled across Europe also and it is different from there as well. We do not have two economies like in some poorer nations in Europe. So on the street is a different economy than in the shops I mean. Example, you exchange money only through banks or foreign exchange businesses which all offer the same very bad rates. Excuse my rambling response.
You’ll do fine. Of course you can stream internet… I don’t know where she got that from… some rural backwater I guess. Nz is expensive and wages modest. Go on Dept of Immigration website to see if your skills are needed … all trades, IT, engineering and medicine… and yes chuffing but that is low paid. Depending on your age you can work for up to a year (30 and under) Clothes Etc super expensive comp to The States. (4million not 400,000,000 people) if you register as an architect with the NZIA you will be able to build your own house but otherwise you won’t … you must be a registered Lcensed Building Practitioner … land can be cheap but not in the areas where there are jobs … same as anywhere. Rent before you commit … it’ll take you 2 years to even begin to know the f you can settle. People are superficially friendly but hard to get further with… like anywhere I feel you have to prove it is yourself . Good luck
HiIm Peter curently living in Latvia, grew up in Boston()MA) planning on moving to NZ, I was thinking of putting all my stuff in a 40′ container shipping iut there, then when I get there looking around to find a place/are to live. If I could find a modest plot of land with a nice view of nature I would drop my container there and live out of it until I converted it into my home. I am an architect/chef/writer, and have been a “nerd” since before it was kewl, so I would look forward to the posibility of working for Weta. Any more tips for me, is the internet just bad or really hopeless, I watch alot of tv by streaming it thru my computer, is that even realistic there, is that also sooo expensive? [email protected]
It is great that so many of you are leaving the US. For the sake of my children, I hope all of you leave. My wife and I were considering leaving the US if the election had gone the other way. Some of you are now proclaiming Castro as the George Washington of Cuba. Really? Over the past 60 years the George Washington of Cuba has been able to established the 1956 Chevy as the automobile to achieve for above average Cubans, aside from the fact that the USSR provided financial aide to Cuba to the tune of 3 billion USD per year until the USSR folded. I have to ask….what in the hell are you people drinking?
By all these “you” people you’re talking about do you mean us educated, rational people who aren’t racist?
Yes, by “you” people, I mean all of you that think you are the anointed ones. By “you” people, I mean all of you that believe all others on the planet that do not share your views are racists. By “you” people, I mean all of you that believe laws only apply when you feel they are appropriate. Ironic, but racism will end when all of “you” people have left for the moon.
yikes. this gary person is disgusting.
I know. Isn’t it just AWFUL when someone holds a different political viewpoint to yours. Everyone who isn’t you really shouldn’t have a voice, because you’re so much smarter and better than the rest of us deplorables.
Please leave. Quickly. Renounce your citizenship and never return.
That’s why we all want to move
See that’s what’s wrong with Americans these days. When the shit hits the fan you cowards ship out but when things are good and fine as wine you’re happy to live in the land of opportunity. Fuckin A man. Trump is a damned idiot and so is Hillary, but so was Bush and damn near all of our Presidents. Where has the American principal gone? People worship criminals and make them famous, racists come to power, talk of race wars. Wth is wrong with you people? Why can’t we all just unite and try to get along or at least unite enough to FIX our problems instead of leaving like a pussy. Do us real patriots a goddam favor and stay gone. We don’t need people who’d ship out when the country needs them most. And neither does any other country. It’s selfish and fucked up.
This is so beautifully said! Applause!!!
And I DO mean this, I am considering living in Christchurch. What is your personal opinion on how N.Z. is, er… a “superior” government than that of the U.S. :Your true, heartfelt opinion?. -J.YO’
And I DO mean this, I am considering living in Christchurch. What is your personal opinion on how N.Z. is, er… a “superior” government than that of the U.S. :Your true, heartfelt opinion?. -J.YO’
Very well said, Liz.
Gary, you mention USSR like anyone against trump is for Russia. Meanwhile Russia is thrilled Trump won. Why are you trolling a travel site anyways for young people when you sound like an angry old man? Go back to watching Fox News throwing crappy beer cans at the tv and blaming others for everything.
Gary…you are just the “ugly American” that I need to get away from. I hope your new dictator doesn’t blow up the US. It hopefully will survive.
Actually, you might try reading the book “The Ugly American”, because you just demonstrated that you don’t know anything about it.
And, it also shows that you’re another bigoted, intolerant leftist that can’t stand it when someone doesn’t share your political views.
Trump is 1000x better than evil Obozo
Dude you`re rigging high
How’s that working out for you now, Gary? lol
Lol I just have to laugh at the fact that I am not the only one looking at New Zealand after the election here in the U.S. I do have a question, do you know much about any tiny home communities/movements in New Zealand? And…in comparison to the U.S…what is the government there like? Would one say it is a progressive country?
I am a New Zealander. That is funny because I want to move to the US. I would say NZ is progressive, yet there are aspects of the cultural psyche which make it curiously backward in some ways. The blog mentioned the internet for one. Communication is another. In the US, people, both men & woman, are expert communicators, this is not so across NZ, especially in more rural areas, down south. We just, in general, are not as proficient in clear communication styles, men especially. We also have something called ‘ The Tall Poppy Syndrome’ where it is unseemingly to be seen to rise to high or be too driven. This is not within all subgroups such as immigrants, but it is very real in NZ. But this is changing, especially in big cities such as Auckland. I do not know re the tiny home communities but in general there is definitely a feel that you can live as you choose. The idea of the American dream is not present in NZ. So you create your own life, and community. The expectation in society to have things is alot less than in the States. Of course in the bigger cities & in some sectors it is still there. For instance, you could have an old VW car, with Greenpeace stickers and be considered way cooler than having a lifestyle that supports a Merc SLK. As a kiwi, I grew up with the freedom to clarify & follow my own dreams. It was in LA that I heard first hand an American father tell his kid that his life must follow, college, meet a girl he likes marry- work in a corporation and produce. It was fascinating. I felt like I was inhabiting a hallmark movie. Very nice family, and not knocking the advice but you would not be a conversation expressed so openly in NZ. A big reason for this is because you used to be able to have a relatively good life with not a lot of money. Good free state education, cheap university ( college) loans, and free health care. Water fro the tap and not high expectations for material possessions and incidentally beauty/good teeth or fashion. But things are changing in part with NZ becoming much more international. Another big deal in NZ, is that we are influenced by the UK and we speak our mind. The author is in my opinion not quite correct to say we are sweet. People are genuinely kind and good, but we are not sweet. There is a difference. So if something needs to be said the content is the important thing, not the way in which it is delivered. So people can be tough, or harsh in imparting their opinion. It is not personal. It is valued, strong thoughtful discourse. This is, from my experience, in real opposition to the US. In America people are very considerate to be kind to one another, and it is socially unaccepted to undermine kindness/respect in expressing your viewpoint. So the worst example of this is one can end up having inane conversations which are very superficial because of the risk to state an opinion which may offend another. However, this kindness in communicating and Americans’ ability to communicate is what I find delightful. To desire material success and express this openly is refreshing, again as mentioned often very different in NZ. As a culture, we generally find this off putting as we are more reserved in expressing it. Some NZders may disagree but that’s because we have no problem disagreeing. Nearly every NZ der was against the ridiculous-ness of Trump, and I mention this because we see things more in shades of gray and intellectual depth, not simplistic black & white. Trumps showiness goes against our grain. Boxing woman in to an ideal also is foreign to us.