I lived in New Zealand from 2012- 2014 and there's no denying that sometimes when I am driving to work on a dull and rainy Monday morning, I will feel a pang of longing to return to my flat in Mount Maunganui where I could walk 2 mins to the beach with the sun on my back, smoothie in hand and feel the sand between my toes and a warm breeze against my skin.
It seems like I lived in Nirvana right?
That being said, there were times when I did live there that I sincerely missed the UK especially during big events such as the Olympics in 2012, when I can imagine that the country would have just been a complete buzz of excitement or when I would see photos of my family exploring the countryside near my house which holds so many dear childhood memories for me.
New Zealand: Pros
The scenery- there is absolutely no denying that the natural wonders of the 'Land of the Long White Cloud' are simply sublime. I have literally had my breath taken away by some of the views that I've come across in New Zealand of which no words or photographs can do justice. Yes the UK has some stunning scenery too but somehow it just doesn't compare to the bluest of blue lakes, the dramatic mountainous regions, the natural springs, the waterfalls. the caves, the beaches, the waves or the rolling green hills of New Zealand. I could gush about how beautiful this country is for hours upon hours.
And finally the patriotism of Kiwis is a beautiful thing to be behold. The way the population gets behind their sports teams is nothing short of admirable, especially their beloved All Blacks rugby team. The pride of their indigenous Maori culture is draped in every part of day to day life in New Zealand something which I was privy to when Sam and I were invited to attend a 'Kapa Haka' festival by a lady that she worked with. It was an opportunity for the local schools to showcase their cultural identity through performing songs, dance and their individual Hakas and it was a real eye- opener. This passion, I feel, has been somewhat lost in the UK and young school children would most likely feel embarrassed about performing anything of the sort in public.
New Zealand: Cons
This may seem like a pro to a lot of people but sometimes New Zealand was just far too quiet. With a population of only 4.4 million and quarter of that number living in Auckland, it meant that some areas were simply too sparse for me. You substitute people for landscape in New Zealand and I understand that that is the appeal for many but sometimes I just wished that there was a bit more going on. There were fewer gigs than in the UK, fewer places to have a drink or a meal, music and films seemed to reach the country a few months later than everywhere else and certain towns seemed to completely shut down out of season.
Travel- It takes forever to get anywhere! There is little to no public transport in most places and therefore a car is essential. Even then, what is a centimetre on a map, can in fact be a 3 hour trip along winding roads which will make even the most strong stomached traveller reach for the sick bucket. Internal flights can be ever so expensive and the nearest country, which is obviously Australia, is a 3-4 hour flight away! It's very easy to feel rather isolated in New Zealand.
Unless you live in Auckland, there didn't seem to be as many job opportunities in New Zealand as in other countries. Most places rely heavily on tourism so jobs in hospitality or retail are relatively easy to come across but in terms of 'career' type jobs (everyone's idea of a 'career' is different, I am referring to the biggies such as financial, PR, journalism etc) it seems to be lacking.
The Cost- by this I mean the cost of feeding and watering yourself. Seriously, it's insane! There was a bar near where we lived in New Zealand that would charge 12 NZD for a glass of beer (not even a pint)- that's the equivalent to £6, and unless you're in London where the cost of living defies all logic, those prices are ludicrous. Our weekly shops at the supermarket would also be the source of constant heartache and basics such as bread and milk and especially cheese were astronomical in price compared to the UK.
United Kingdom: Pros
The city culture- there's just so much going on in the UK's major cities and whatever day of the week, at whatever time of day, you will find something fun and exciting to keep you occupied. The nearest big city to me is London and I have had some of the best days just wandering around the city stumbling across new coffee shops and restaurants, exploring markets, seeing shows in the West End or being a complete tourist and visiting the iconic sites of Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the London Eye etc. Every city in the UK has it's own unique history too which has shaped it's character in terms of architecture, pop culture and diversity.
Europe- It took for me to live abroad for a number of years to realise how lucky Brits have it in regards to accessibility to Europe, most of the countries are just a few hours away (if that) via a quick train, plane or boat ride. Even though I travelled through Western Europe via Inter rail trains in 2009, it never occurred to me how bizarre it was that I could be having a coffee and croissant in Paris for breakfast and then be eating Bratwurst in Berlin by dinner time.
Ultimately it comes down to the fact that UK is my home country. It is where I was born, it is where my family live, I grew up in it and therefore it will always have my heart. Sentimental yes but true. I am proud to be British and all that comes with that label and will often feel my blood boil whenever the country's name is besmudged. I love Christmas in the cold, I love tea and scones, the British countyside, Harry Potter, Dickens and any other stereotypes you can think of, yes there are parts that are less desirable but you get that in every country in the world. We should be thankful that we live in a country where we have free schooling available to everybody, free health care, freedom of speech and (although there is still a long way to go) a stronger sense of equality for our people. That feeling of my feet touching British soil for the first time in 3 years and seeing my family's crying faces at the arrivals gate at Gatwick airport cannot be replicated anywhere in the world!
Before I get too gooey eyed about the UK, there are also a number of downfalls to life this country:
Because it has become so busy over the past 20 years this has simultaneously resulted in an increased mentality of impatience and unfriendliness amongst Brits. There seems to be a culture of ever- so- Britishly tutting if somebody is taking a little while to find their seat or park their car and I am starting to see some substance to the title of 'moaning pommies' that we have been blessed with. Whenever Sam or I notice that we might be slipping into these habits we will try and take a step back and remind ourselves that we have as many hours in the day in the UK as we did in New Zealand so there's no need to rush.
The Weather- It would be impossible to compile this list without mentioning this one. The weather in the UK can be pretty dire and will put a dampener (literally) on many of your plans throughout the year. If you're thinking of throwing a BBQ, wedding, country fair or gig outside you will always need a back up plan- usually in the form of a marquee- because there's a 97.29% chance that it will rain.
The Binge Drinking Culture we have here in the UK is shocking and although it has improved in recent years, it is still worth noting in this list. Brits will drink themselves into oblivion until they end up fighting, crying, spewing or pissing themselves. I am aware that this is a huge sweeping generalisation about people from the UK and that other countries are victims of this too but I have never seen so much carnage on a night out than what I have witnessed in good old Blighty. We should be more like the French and drink wine and smoke leisurely from the age of 9 I think.
Please note that a lot of these photos were taken from Sam's instagram page which you can check out here.
Hello and welcome to This Ruth Is On Fire, a UK blog which is a haven for random thoughts and sarcastic observations.
I'm also into books, clothes and visiting places too.
