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5 Assumptions About New Zealand Culture & What Changed

I went abroad with these assumptions and I was pleasantly surprised to see if they were true or not.

Taishiana

May 03, 2020

Susquehanna University

5 Assumptions About New Zealand Culture & What Changed

Taishiana

I remember preparing for the general culture of New Zealand in my GO (Global Opportunities) preparation course at SU. I expected NZ to be fairly like the U.S., though a bit more liberal.

My cultural focus was based on my personal experience of being a Native American woman, therefore I wanted to learn more about the Indigenous groups of New Zealand. I wanted to experience a variation of a colonial system where Indigenous people were at the cultural forefront.

Here's five assumptions and curiosities I held about New Zealand and how they changed or did not:

The British influence in the NZ accent

I really enjoyed hearing the NZ accent. I remember telling people that they sounded sophisticated while talking, but sometimes the accent is super thick that and fast that I couldn't catch the whole sentence. I miss hearing it daily.

Standoff Attitudes Towards Foreigners

I thought as outsiders, we'd be treated a bit abrasive because of the U.S.'s president and events making world news. In hindsight, I probably should not have expected the worse in people. New Zealanders were super friendly, helpful, and polite to lend a hand.

Carefree and relaxed with life

This seemed true for the most part, but once you engage in more political topics, as usual, things get tense or a little uncomfortable. I enjoyed the attitude because it gave me space and time to talk past my introversion. Yet, nothing is ever truly carefree or relaxed because life has many surprises and I would keep that in mind when going elsewhere.

Bland Food

In my prep class, it didn't seem like there was a signature food for New Zealand, so I expected fairly bland food. This was only true on-campus in the catered halls. BRING YOUR ADOBO. However, if you decided to eat out, then the food was superb! I highly recommend being adventurous with your food selection because it hit different on the taste buds.

People don’t leave the island often

I was SO WRONG with this one. I just assumed that New Zealand was all the beauty and safety of the country meant that people didn't travel that often. However, people fly to Australia, the U.S., and the different Pacific Islands all the time! It's common that most people have their passports at earlier ages too so they can travel elsewhere.

I know some of these were naive, but hey - I had no idea until now.

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Recommended for you

5 Assumptions About New Zealand Culture & What Changed

I went abroad with these assumptions and I was pleasantly surprised to see if they were true or not.

The British influence in the NZ accent

Standoff Attitudes Towards Foreigners

Carefree and relaxed with life

Bland Food

People don’t leave the island often

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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