Before Ruth returns home to the USA, she discusses some of the things she learned living in Christchurch, New Zealand, and gives a few tips on adapting to the local culture. Memories of a friendly people and the breathtaking scenery, in addition to a richer vocabulary, are some of the things that she'll be taking back with her.	Ruth

-Where were you born?
Illinois, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?
Christchurch, New Zealand

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live with my partner, Maurice.

-How long have you been living in New Zealand?
Just over a year.

-What is your age?
26

-When did you come up with the idea of living in New Zealand?
I was living in New York City, feeling a bit burnt out and interested in traveling and making a change. My partner wanted to live abroad and has a lot of flexibility in his career. He started looking for jobs in English-speaking countries because we thought I’d have a better chance getting work abroad if there wasn’t a language barrier to deal with. So the fact that English is spoken here was huge. My partner also loves the outdoors – hiking, climbing, mountaineering -- so New Zealand was very attractive in that regard as well.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
No. I am on a working holiday visa, which limits the kind of work I can do and how long I can do it for. There are also some age and nationality restrictions for this permit, which I happened to fit. I had to have an expensive medical exam and fill out some paperwork, but overall it was fairly hassle-free. I applied and was accepted online in a matter of a month or so.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I don’t have medical insurance. Health care here is generally good and very affordable. The last time I had to visit the doctor was for an injury, which was covered by ACC (national accident coverage). I didn’t have to pay any doctor’s fees and my prescription was $4.00.

-How do you make your living in New Zealand? Do you have any type of income generated?
After six months of temping and looking for a job in my field (I worked in book publishing in the US), I got two jobs waiting tables. One I got from responding to an ad; the other through a friend who knew the restaurant owner. I wasn’t able to continue in my old career or find work in any related fields. That’s certainly been the hardest part of moving to New Zealand. In media, the arts, journalism and communications, there just aren’t the opportunities here that exist in the States. And there’s definitely an old boys/old girls network to contend with. Auckland is better than Christchurch for work in these fields, but not by a lot.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
New Zealand has two official languages – English and Maori. All government documents and facilities use both languages. However, English is the language you will hear everywhere, and most anyone who speaks Maori also speaks English. In the North Island, you will find Maori spoken more frequently and integrated into public life, but very few pakeha (non-Maori New Zealanders) know Maori, and no one is expected to know it as a matter of course. However, many Maori words and phrases have become part of everyday speech. A lot of place names are Maori as well. It’s fun to see how much you can pick up casually, and trying to understand the Maori language is great way to learn about the country.

I had a really hard time understanding the Kiwi accent at first – I had to ask people to repeat the simplest things two or three times! Some usage is different too, of course. I find myself saying “quite” and “as well” and “I reckon” way more than I used to in the U. S. This website (http://www.nz-immigration.co.nz/lifestyle/slang-words.html) has a list of Kiwi words to get you started.

In general, New Zealanders are more taciturn than Americans. If something doesn’t need to be said, then they won’t say it.

New Zealand is a first-world, Western nation with strong ties to the UK and Australia. Most New Zealand customs have their roots in colonial and post-colonial British culture, and it’s important to follow those cues to fit in. If you are visiting a Maori community, cultural event, or sacred place, watch the people around you and do what they do. It’s a very formal and ritualized code of conduct.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I do miss home, friends, and family a lot. One of the difficult things about living in New Zealand is how expensive and time-consuming it is to visit the US, and the time difference makes it hard to connect on the telephone. But New Zealand has incredible recreational opportunities, and I’ve been able to do a lot of amazing hiking and camping (“tramping,” as it’s called here). We live within two or three hours of several national parks. The accessibility to the outdoors and to beautiful natural landscapes is second to none.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I’m moving back to the US in a few weeks for career reasons, but I hope to come back to New Zealand some day, either to visit or even to settle down.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We rent a 3-bedroom flat that costs $NZ 1000 per month. Houses in our area start around $NZ 250,000. Houses don’t have central heating or insulation, so they can be very uncomfortable during the winter despite the relatively mild climate.

-What is the cost of living in New Zealand?
Overall, considering wages and the exchange rate, living in Christchurch is similar cost-wise to living in a U.S. city of the same size. Rents tend to be a little more affordable, although buying a house is very expensive. Groceries and dry goods are slightly more expensive but produce is cheaper. Consumer goods, books, and clothing cost significantly more than they would in the US, because the population is so small – four million people. Economies of scale don’t come into play here.

-What do you think about the New Zealanders?
In general, New Zealanders are pretty friendly and laid-back. People love to chat, although I’ve found it’s more difficult to make close friends and get to know people well. Kiwis are great travelers and are very interested in the US, although pretty negative about the current political situation. People will make quite pointed remarks about it, but usually in a genuinely perplexed way rather than an accusatory way.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in New Zealand?
The positives are the ease of travel within the country, the natural beauty, and the generally relaxed pace of life.

Negatives: poor job market in creative fields, lack of youth culture and cultural opportunities in general, not very diverse (at least in the South Island), some lingering and nasty sexism/racism.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in New Zealand?
Don’t expect it to be similar to the U.S. or the U. K., even though it’s very tempting to think that New Zealand is not that different. It is! And try to sort your work situation out before making the big move – do your homework and see what is reasonable to expect. My partner had a job offer before moving out here, which made all the difference.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about New Zealand?
My blog – www.nynz.wordpress.com
Immigration New Zealand - http://www.immigration.govt.nz/
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa - http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/Tepapa/English/
New Zealand Department of Conservation (excellent information about the national parks, wildlife, and tramping) - http://www.doc.govt.nz