Thanks Becca - you have made me realise how lucky I am too live in New Zealand. We Kiwis take a lot for granted until someone points out what we have here.
@maltnz you are absolutely correct. It takes someone on something like this to remind people to be grateful with life in nz. Just one thing that's recently creeping up on us is the house price.
I returned to New Zealand after 20 years in the UK, The sense of relief was huge, we have our problems here, youth crime and crazy politics but every western country is in the same boat. The ability to find some quiet place away from the crowd is hugely appreciated
Well, that was a comprehensive list of misses! I know Billy is looking for another position but you really should consider other countries with similar culture, the UK and Australia aren't too much different in many ways, Aus would actually be a good choice because it could eventually provide a pathway back to NZ in the future if you still had your heart set on it. The other possibility (and I know you want to be a stay at home mum) would be to train as a nurse or look on the NZ skills list to see if there's other choices. I know for Billy's profession, NZ is small potatoes, but in time he might find a way back as well. I can see how much it's affecting you being torn away from the place you called home, I really hope fortune smiles and you can one day get back there.
I really hope we can get out of the US honestly. I kept trying to be hopeful about it and not sure what I can do if Billy does end up winning a job here, but after yet another school shooting on the news today I don’t feel safe here. Really hoping to find something anywhere else.
@@Becca.Loveless I really feel for you Becca, it's been all over the news here in the UK as well, I find it absolutely disgusting that it just keeps happening and nothing changes. There's a lot of positives about the US but as a country it seems to be a bit lost. Having children really brings it home doesn't it. You really should consider training in a field that is needed in any country of your choice, you can still be a great mum, but sometimes you need to play the long game to get what's best for you and your family. I really hope Billy can land a job somewhere you can all feel safe and happy, it's a lot of pressure for him, which is why you need diverse skills between you. There's no quick easy answers I'm afraid, if I wasn't an atheist I would pray for a good outcome, the best I can do is offer words of support and hopefully some ideas. All the best to you and yours.
we lived in Auckla d for a year and i still cry over not being there!! your list hit on everything that i miss as well!!! there is truly a whole different mindset in NZ which makes it such a beautiful and welcoming country to live in. we are most likely going back soon for another contract 🤗🤗🤗 BTW...you can get Whittaker's in western Canada ... i❤️NZ
I came here to offer the same chocolate delivery service- my cousin-in-law is heading to LA soon and a PO box address is all it would take! Becca- I have the same 'suck fairy' feelings with Cadbury chocolate. As a child, cadbury was the best chocolate. Now, it is revolting. So glad you discovered Whittakers fine rolled 66% :-)
Oh Becca I’m sure once you’re settled in your own place the homesickness for NZ will dissipate. Your little family fitted right into our way of life but you will be able to carry on living that way soon 😊
I also miss your videos from there, the truth is that you have shown us a splendid country. You should be hired at the NZ tourist office, I mean it, you are a magnificent ambassador, I would love to visit it although I live in the antipodes and do not see viable. I wish you very good luck. We, your followers, continue to support you.
I would be a very happy woman if NZ tourist office wanted to hire me! Unfortunately I am very small potatoes. I will really miss our time there and there will always be a couple other places I really wanted to see! But thanks so much for the continued support. It means a lot to me 🥰
😅 the carrot comment. I always see snack ideas from American sources talking about eating carrots with dip or ranch and I'm like isn't that going to overpower the carrot flavour? Makes sense now 🥕
Kia ora girl, it's fejoa season here and I'm in heaven lol... and yea I love our healtcare, food quality and coffee.. hope it works out for your whanau in the u.s😊
I love that idea! However I think the coolest aspect of the kindy to me is that it’s free because of the government funding. Not sure I can convince the White House to pay for kids to come play with me for 20 hours a week 😂
Hello Becca 🙂 You make NZ sound so utopian - Kiwis love hearing foreigners saying nice things about NZ because, although they love their little country, many Kiwis do dream of living in the USA or Europe because of the opportunities and more sophisticated/diverse cultural experience of those places.
As NZ is on the other side of the world, it is a passage of right to travel especially to Europe the Big OE, overseas experience, higher wages are a pull for many, but just pure travel and adventure is the main draw card.
@@anneleahy9010 - Totally agree. I have fond memories of my travels through europe but after 4 years I returned home with my wife and first baby on the way.
Hey Becca. Great video. About the dryer thing. I’ve seen this from other Americans who have moved to NZ. Absolutely everyone I know has a dryer, but they aren’t a chattel in a house. You take them with you when you move. So, if you want a dryer, you buy a dryer. You would never find a dryer waiting for you in a rental or when buying a house, even if there’s a washing machine, which is not usual either. It would be like leaving your microwave or fridge behind. I think that’s why it seems to you like we don’t use them. We do definitely use them less often than other parts of the world though.
My response to this is I had several friends (not Americans) that didn’t have dryers either! And another reason we never got one, there was actually no space for a dryer in the laundry room (or the rest of the house for that matter, unless we wanted it hanging out in our living room). I’ve seen one person in an old villa like ours get a dryer and place it UPSIDE DOWN on top of their washer which seemed incredibly unsafe to me, but I can see why they did it!
Yes, very definitely a challenge in an old house so I can understand why you didn’t have one. Also, I’m in Wellington, so our often terrible weather probably means we have a higher dryer population than Auckland.
Btw hanging the dryer upside down is how they are designed to hang. So the dials are accessible. All the fixing points for the hangers only attach in that position on the ones we have had. ( And as a kiwi I prioritise a dryer.)
And we miss you. nothing like doing the washing shuffle, on the line, here comes the rain, off the line into the shed, suns out, back on the line, repeat several times. We had the worst summer up north, but autumn is lovely.
I bet! I wonder what your winter is going to be like.. And I loved certain aspects about line drying. However, I will never take a dryer for granted again!
Loved hearing your US perspective on it all! I am originally from Northern Europe (just for context) and I agree with everything you said except the health care (but I totally agree with you on that coming from the US, if that makes sense). I am not very impressed with the healthcare here, esp. not with gynecological check-ups and the huge gap when it comes to modern medication (esp. cancer treatments). I was used to getting annual medical check-ups including pelvic examinations with external and internal ultrasound, ultrasound breast examinations, and ofc the pap/smear, all "for free". Here they only have paps every 3 years and that's it- not to mention that you have to wait forever to get an appointment with a specialist if something is off. Many gynecological cancers would have a much better outcome due to a much earlier detection if NZ had a much better checkup standard and access to better treatment. Most western countries are miles ahead in cancer screenings & treatment. In regards to people: Yes, they are super lovely and daily interactions are really pleasant and nice. I really love that. However, in my personal experience, I find it very hard to build more meaningful, long-lasting friendships because I find many kiwis to be very cliquey? I never had that problem in any other country that I have lived in. Maybe it is easier if you have kids? Idk. It's funny that most of my friends here are from the US. I could also do without the passive aggressiveness here but I am trying to get used to it haha. Overall, definitely not the worst place to live eh. And I feel you on the chocolate. The US really needs to stop putting butyric acid into their chocolate. I gonna move to Canada soon for a couple of years and I am sooo curious where you will end up living! :)
I'm a kiwi and i have to agree with you, very cliquey, even for kiwis just moving cities. And I think we will head to user pays more for health care, it is in a shocking state currently.
Ah! I can only DREAM of really nice European healthcare 😍 but NZ healthcare is worlds better than the US. Honestly my least favorite part about moving back to the States. I completely agree about kiwis! I almost never in my two years trying to make friends there had any friends from NZ. It was always someone from another country, or a hybrid couple (a kiwi and Australian, kiwi and Brit, kiwi and American, etc). That’s so cool you’re moving to Canada! I wish we were moving there. It’s a step better than the US in many regards, but still close to all our family. Honestly sounds perfect to me right now. American chocolate is not worth eating. Which is great if you’re trying to lose weight! Lol If we end up winning the job in Vancouver and you end up in Canada let me know! 😂
Kia kaha Ripeka, a te wa pea, ka hoki mai koutou ano? You never know what the future holds however, thank you for reminding us all to appreciate what we have here in NZ compared to many others in the world. “Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu” (the gesture is more valuable and important than the gift itself) and the family unit is precious and paramount for a vibrant and successful society. From me and mine, to you and yours Rebecca, noreira, i raro i te rangimarie me te manaakitanga o te runga rawa, noho ora mai no Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿 Paimarire
@@Becca.Loveless thank you for your kind words Rebecca. I’m not trying to show off but, I am 26th generation from the great migration that arrived in Aotearoa NZ over 700 years ago. it’s more of a handed down obligation and, out of respect to my ancestors, myself and my two sons will endeavour to value and protect the land. If it wasn’t for them (ancestors), myself or my sons wouldn’t exist, therefore we, definitely appreciates living here. It’s not perfect however, it’s ideal in many other ways, especially if you enjoy being outdoors often and, you want to either have and/or raise a family in a relatively safe environment, as you well know. To be honest, I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else, all the best to you and yours for the future Rebecca. Noho ora mai
I feel so bad you guys had to leave that beautiful country. Hopefully you guys can find someplace somewhere comparable or even go back. All your points to seem so true to me. Take care
Great summary. I’ve just spent 3 months in NZ and returned to the UK. From my experience previously in the USA the difference is much greater than with NZ, Aussie, the UK, Republic of Ireland, and even Canada. The USA focuses on personal freedom to the detriment of the wider community. Also too many guns in the wrong hands.
Our country lost something when your family left our shores. All the best for your future and hopefully we might see you able to emigrate back to us. ;-)
Hope everything works out well for you back in the states. I also hope that when your young one is a few years older you are able to return as hot water beach on the Coromandel will be calling out to both of your young ones to come and play in its warm waters.
As a kiwi I've never had central heating or air conditioning and I still pine for it 😂 nothing I hate more than having to drag myself outside on a frosty morning to rummage around for kindling and firewood and then having to light the fire, I also hate being too hot and not being able to do anything about it. We do have an HRV which keeps our house bone dry though so at least we don't get condensation or mould (we also live in a 110 year old villa) so definitely recommend them to everyone
Thank you for sharing this! I love how many people told me they lived in NZ and had central air or whatever and we were the only ones that didn’t have it.
Besides the cost of firewood its a nice heat you get from the heater though , especially on a cold stormy night and the lights are off and the glow from the fire is your light ,perfect
Which is funny to me because our neighbor and seriously everyone in our friend group we talked to (except those that lived in the CBD and one other friend) didn’t have a dry.
It sounds like you may come back at some point in the future. I noted that what you liked about being back in the US is "Thrifting" which is material. Anyway it must be nice to be back with your family. Good luck 🥳
You have the greatest career right now. Lots of road works after Gabrielle I'll trade you a box of Mrs Sees You could learn to make your own cheese,, the soft kind, even Feta. I made cottage cheese by accident. Left 2 L of bluetop on the frig for 3 weeks. Milks cheap over there. Try the organic kind. I agree about the flowers but seeing a few in the desert 🏜 can make you respect their struggle to exist and being so obvious on the sandy background makes their beauty shine. I don't think you got to do the Tongariro crossing, but that would be similar to a Mountainous Bryce. Hope Billy's getting closer to getting his dream job. At least he can jam with some musician mates. Clara is talking well and I'm sure William is learning and growing wider and taller more each day,
I would love to make my own cheese! And we’re both sooo sad we never got to do Tongariro Crossing. One of the biggest regrets we left behind! And both the kids are adjusting pretty well to being here - Clara’s happy with whatever and William is distracted with all the family and cousins here 🧡
One thing I don't understand about Americans who use the dryer for everything is how do you dry things that you can't put in the dryer? Many Americans say that they don't own a clothes horse. So how do you dry jumpers and other delicates that need to be laid out flat to dry?
Hi Becca I'm kiwi Maori descendant we aren't really that better off you live in a bigger country that would have bigger expenses as it grows with more population but take everyday with a grain of salt find yourself the courage to try new things such as maybe starting up a bakery or take sum thing from your journeys and apply it
Sounds to me like you are just going to have to come back here to live asap and forever. I’m sure we can find you a cool villa that has A/C and central heating and a dryer no worries. 😉 We need more people like you here that appreciate our little country that we all take for granted.
Miss you and family in New Zealand, come home...Find Kiwi American channel to help you create your channel here in New Zealand. She also loves the coffee here too. Her take on New Zealand and yours are brilliant...reach out to her and make your dream return back to New Zealand as collaboration 🤔. You both find and have an interesting spin about New Zealand lovit.❤🎉
food produce......oranges from the US dry taste no flavour but perfectly bright orange....tried NZ oranges very dull looking not so orange in colour like the US oranges.... but way better taste very sweet like how youd think oranges would taste (majority of them)....that stood out to me.........and yes the meat omg.....
Another fun example is the Red Delicious apples. Everyone hates them because they always taste horrible, but they were engineered to look like the “perfect” apple so it’s the classic that is still sold today. Fascinating (and backwards) stuff!
Also, oranges are INCREDIBLE from Florida in winter. Main thing is that you need to only buy them in winter because that’s when they’re in season. Tricky part is they’re sold year round because Americans don’t understand produce seasons.
Depends on the cheese. You can find amazing cheeses here from all over the world (NZ included). Just expensive and hard to find. But yeah, “American cheese” is revolting.
You could cone to Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺 great chocolate, great weather, great Cafe culture and pot holes galore!! You would feel right at home 37o Celsius on Saturday might be on par with Texas 👍😉
Sorry I'm doing multiple comments but have you thought maybe to incorporate what you learnt here and possibly utilising it to win for your family especially since you have your Kiwi baby girl
Kids are kids, integration without prejudice or bigotry and that flows through their whole education. The only bad thing is NZ is fast becoming climatized to the big corporates and their demand to show expediential profit. Mums used to stay at home to look after kids until they went to school, now days young families can't afford to do that. Seems everyone wants a more than their share of your pie, apart from that we Kiwis still find the value in family, good times and looking out for each other. I'm a kid who doesn't require or demand every latest item; I actually spend quality time with friends and family; I understand progress, but don't accept everything that is put in front of me. Me being me is important, but I fear much of me is being taken away because society i.e. big corporations, the PC brigade, propogandists or just the plain self righteous, dictate. Just my view point as a teenage girl. (my gender - a point that goes against the grain of the self righteous, you do as I say people). Do come back home!
Potholes. The real reason why Americans drive huge SUV's. Unfortunately, the current government has let the roads go. We now have potholes. And we notice them because we're not used to them.
The USA hasn't increased the gas tax since 1993. The US infrustracture is under funded. The Society of Civil Engineers gives the US a D for infrustructure. Apparently 65,000 bridges are unsafe. Like schools, based on local property taxes ? Schools in poor areas are an absolute shambles. It's disgusting. In NZ we had the decile system, it has just been removed so I don't know what is happening, but in NZ areas were number 1-10, and funding was based on the poorer the area, the more money is put in. The US government are so bought by big money, the priority is the corporations. Look at the whole East Palistine train crash saga, so illustrative of corruption and cruelty by employers and the government. It is socialism for the wealthy, rugged individualism for the poor
Everything is mass produced and due to size of country full of preservatives - with many climate variances and the population sues people so everything has to be exactly the same all the time. Lets just say condiments and sauces are a necessity to taste there. So its closer to bread mixed with Jib Board. Joking not joking.
Worried about volcanoes - so you moved away from living near the 3rd biggest volcano ever (Taupo) to living near the 2nd biggest volcano ever (Yellowstone)? 🤠
But in NZ you can’t “get away.” Same with hurricanes (cyclones) - I grew up with many hurricanes hitting my hometown. But we could always just hop in the car and drive far away and be safe.
![What I learned about renting in New Zealand [2 questions to ask] /Americans in New Zealand](/img/n.gif)
Thanks for reminding us Kiwis of just how precious our life on these Islands is.
It really is a special place!!
I spent less time there than you, but I agree with everything you said. The people, the coffee, the food, the beauty, and the chocolate.
It’s a pretty amazing place!
Thanks Becca - you have made me realise how lucky I am too live in New Zealand. We Kiwis take a lot for granted until someone points out what we have here.
Take advantage! Go on some adventures!
@maltnz you are absolutely correct. It takes someone on something like this to remind people to be grateful with life in nz. Just one thing that's recently creeping up on us is the house price.
We'd love to see you and your family back in NZ - any time!!
We’ll see what happens!
I returned to New Zealand after 20 years in the UK, The sense of relief was huge, we have our problems here, youth crime and crazy politics but every western country is in the same boat. The ability to find some quiet place away from the crowd is hugely appreciated
I can imagine your sense of relief! New Zealand isn’t perfect, but for some people it will always feel like home.
Well, that was a comprehensive list of misses! I know Billy is looking for another position but you really should consider other countries with similar culture, the UK and Australia aren't too much different in many ways, Aus would actually be a good choice because it could eventually provide a pathway back to NZ in the future if you still had your heart set on it. The other possibility (and I know you want to be a stay at home mum) would be to train as a nurse or look on the NZ skills list to see if there's other choices. I know for Billy's profession, NZ is small potatoes, but in time he might find a way back as well. I can see how much it's affecting you being torn away from the place you called home, I really hope fortune smiles and you can one day get back there.
Or Billy could be a music teacher at a high school and still seek positions in a orchestra.
I really hope we can get out of the US honestly. I kept trying to be hopeful about it and not sure what I can do if Billy does end up winning a job here, but after yet another school shooting on the news today I don’t feel safe here. Really hoping to find something anywhere else.
@@Becca.Loveless I really feel for you Becca, it's been all over the news here in the UK as well, I find it absolutely disgusting that it just keeps happening and nothing changes. There's a lot of positives about the US but as a country it seems to be a bit lost. Having children really brings it home doesn't it. You really should consider training in a field that is needed in any country of your choice, you can still be a great mum, but sometimes you need to play the long game to get what's best for you and your family. I really hope Billy can land a job somewhere you can all feel safe and happy, it's a lot of pressure for him, which is why you need diverse skills between you. There's no quick easy answers I'm afraid, if I wasn't an atheist I would pray for a good outcome, the best I can do is offer words of support and hopefully some ideas. All the best to you and yours.
Canada, where they are now, has the most similar culture to the US. Ever heard of it?
I disagree that Canada has the most similar culture to the US. Canada has its own personality
we lived in Auckla d for a year and i still cry over not being there!! your list hit on everything that i miss as well!!! there is truly a whole different mindset in NZ which makes it such a beautiful and welcoming country to live in. we are most likely going back soon for another contract 🤗🤗🤗 BTW...you can get Whittaker's in western Canada ... i❤️NZ
No way!! Western Canada isn’t that far! I hope you can make it back to Auckland again 😊
We miss you to Becca 🙂
😭 wish we were still there!
I moved back to NZ after living overseas for years, for all the reasons you mention. I hope one day you can return.
Us too! It’s a pretty amazing place 🧡
Aww the chocolate!! Let me know if i can send some over. It would be a small gesture to say thank you for loving our little nation 🇳🇿
Lol send all the chocolate you want!!
@@Becca.Loveless lol pls msg where i can send to & your favourite flavours!
@@Becca.Loveless If ure in IG or FB i'll DM you.
I came here to offer the same chocolate delivery service- my cousin-in-law is heading to LA soon and a PO box address is all it would take! Becca- I have the same 'suck fairy' feelings with Cadbury chocolate. As a child, cadbury was the best chocolate. Now, it is revolting. So glad you discovered Whittakers fine rolled 66% :-)
Oh Becca I’m sure once you’re settled in your own place the homesickness for NZ will dissipate. Your little family fitted right into our way of life but you will be able to carry on living that way soon 😊
I think you’re totally right! I just really want a place to call home.
What I miss is the greenery and family but I'll be back there for a visit in Dec.
Nice! Yeah the green all year round thing is pretty amazing.
Thank you Becca for reminding me how special my country is and the people in it.
IT’S AMAZING. I hope you love it a little more now 🤍
@Becca.Loveless yes definitely, thank you Becca, I hope you and your family will come back someday
I also miss your videos from there, the truth is that you have shown us a splendid country. You should be hired at the NZ tourist office, I mean it, you are a magnificent ambassador, I would love to visit it although I live in the antipodes and do not see viable. I wish you very good luck. We, your followers, continue to support you.
I would be a very happy woman if NZ tourist office wanted to hire me! Unfortunately I am very small potatoes. I will really miss our time there and there will always be a couple other places I really wanted to see!
But thanks so much for the continued support. It means a lot to me 🥰
😅 the carrot comment. I always see snack ideas from American sources talking about eating carrots with dip or ranch and I'm like isn't that going to overpower the carrot flavour? Makes sense now 🥕
Now you know! Also Americans love their ranch and will try to put it on everything they can.
Kia ora girl, it's fejoa season here and I'm in heaven lol... and yea I love our healtcare, food quality and coffee.. hope it works out for your whanau in the u.s😊
Feijoas!! 😭 I miss the feijoa tree in our front yard right about now. And thanks 🥰 it’ll work out eventually!
Hi Becca! Maybe you should run your own kindy! Introduce the concept to the USA!!😊 Oh, and a lot of Kiwis have dryers too... just so you know. 😐
I love that idea! However I think the coolest aspect of the kindy to me is that it’s free because of the government funding. Not sure I can convince the White House to pay for kids to come play with me for 20 hours a week 😂
This made me feel like crying. I'd love to hear all the good things about USA x
I actually have that as a movie I want to make soon!
Hello Becca 🙂 You make NZ sound so utopian - Kiwis love hearing foreigners saying nice things about NZ because, although they love their little country, many Kiwis do dream of living in the USA or Europe because of the opportunities and more sophisticated/diverse cultural experience of those places.
I would agree about more opportunity and diversity, but I’ll take what NZ has to offer any day.
As NZ is on the other side of the world, it is a passage of right to travel especially to Europe the Big OE, overseas experience, higher wages are a pull for many, but just pure travel and adventure is the main draw card.
@@anneleahy9010 - Totally agree. I have fond memories of my travels through europe but after 4 years I returned home with my wife and first baby on the way.
It has been a pleasure having you and your family here for such a short time in your life, who knows, in the future.... God bless you all.
No idea where life will take us! But I’m excited to see 🥰
love seeing your authenticity… ✨🍃🙏🌷🙏🍃✨take care.. your doing amazing job of dealing with your situation at the moment….thanks for chatting …🍃🌷🇦🇺🌷🍃
Thanks for watching 😊
Hey Becca. Great video. About the dryer thing. I’ve seen this from other Americans who have moved to NZ. Absolutely everyone I know has a dryer, but they aren’t a chattel in a house. You take them with you when you move. So, if you want a dryer, you buy a dryer. You would never find a dryer waiting for you in a rental or when buying a house, even if there’s a washing machine, which is not usual either. It would be like leaving your microwave or fridge behind. I think that’s why it seems to you like we don’t use them. We do definitely use them less often than other parts of the world though.
My response to this is I had several friends (not Americans) that didn’t have dryers either! And another reason we never got one, there was actually no space for a dryer in the laundry room (or the rest of the house for that matter, unless we wanted it hanging out in our living room). I’ve seen one person in an old villa like ours get a dryer and place it UPSIDE DOWN on top of their washer which seemed incredibly unsafe to me, but I can see why they did it!
Yes, very definitely a challenge in an old house so I can understand why you didn’t have one. Also, I’m in Wellington, so our often terrible weather probably means we have a higher dryer population than Auckland.
Btw hanging the dryer upside down is how they are designed to hang. So the dials are accessible.
All the fixing points for the hangers only attach in that position on the ones we have had. ( And as a kiwi I prioritise a dryer.)
Hopefully you and your husband come back
We’ll see where life takes us!
And we miss you. nothing like doing the washing shuffle, on the line, here comes the rain, off the line into the shed, suns out, back on the line, repeat several times. We had the worst summer up north, but autumn is lovely.
I bet! I wonder what your winter is going to be like..
And I loved certain aspects about line drying. However, I will never take a dryer for granted again!
Seeing this video makes me very happy because it is very nice to hear someone talk about my home place so thanks Becca
Glad you enjoyed it! It was my pleasure being able to live there for two years 🤍
Nice to hear your comments, we take our lifestyle here in nz for granted.
Enjoy it! Many wish they could live there!
Loved hearing your US perspective on it all! I am originally from Northern Europe (just for context) and I agree with everything you said except the health care (but I totally agree with you on that coming from the US, if that makes sense). I am not very impressed with the healthcare here, esp. not with gynecological check-ups and the huge gap when it comes to modern medication (esp. cancer treatments). I was used to getting annual medical check-ups including pelvic examinations with external and internal ultrasound, ultrasound breast examinations, and ofc the pap/smear, all "for free". Here they only have paps every 3 years and that's it- not to mention that you have to wait forever to get an appointment with a specialist if something is off. Many gynecological cancers would have a much better outcome due to a much earlier detection if NZ had a much better checkup standard and access to better treatment. Most western countries are miles ahead in cancer screenings & treatment. In regards to people: Yes, they are super lovely and daily interactions are really pleasant and nice. I really love that. However, in my personal experience, I find it very hard to build more meaningful, long-lasting friendships because I find many kiwis to be very cliquey? I never had that problem in any other country that I have lived in. Maybe it is easier if you have kids? Idk. It's funny that most of my friends here are from the US. I could also do without the passive aggressiveness here but I am trying to get used to it haha. Overall, definitely not the worst place to live eh. And I feel you on the chocolate. The US really needs to stop putting butyric acid into their chocolate. I gonna move to Canada soon for a couple of years and I am sooo curious where you will end up living! :)
I'm a kiwi and i have to agree with you, very cliquey, even for kiwis just moving cities. And I think we will head to user pays more for health care, it is in a shocking state currently.
Ah! I can only DREAM of really nice European healthcare 😍 but NZ healthcare is worlds better than the US. Honestly my least favorite part about moving back to the States.
I completely agree about kiwis! I almost never in my two years trying to make friends there had any friends from NZ. It was always someone from another country, or a hybrid couple (a kiwi and Australian, kiwi and Brit, kiwi and American, etc).
That’s so cool you’re moving to Canada! I wish we were moving there. It’s a step better than the US in many regards, but still close to all our family. Honestly sounds perfect to me right now.
American chocolate is not worth eating. Which is great if you’re trying to lose weight! Lol
If we end up winning the job in Vancouver and you end up in Canada let me know! 😂
Kia kaha Ripeka, a te wa pea, ka hoki mai koutou ano? You never know what the future holds however, thank you for reminding us all to appreciate what we have here in NZ compared to many others in the world. “Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu” (the gesture is more valuable and important than the gift itself) and the family unit is precious and paramount for a vibrant and successful society. From me and mine, to you and yours Rebecca, noreira, i raro i te rangimarie me te manaakitanga o te runga rawa, noho ora mai no Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿 Paimarire
Your comments are always so kind! And I hope you do appreciate NZ because not many people get to enjoy it!
@@Becca.Loveless thank you for your kind words Rebecca. I’m not trying to show off but, I am 26th generation from the great migration that arrived in Aotearoa NZ over 700 years ago. it’s more of a handed down obligation and, out of respect to my ancestors, myself and my two sons will endeavour to value and protect the land. If it wasn’t for them (ancestors), myself or my sons wouldn’t exist, therefore we, definitely appreciates living here. It’s not perfect however, it’s ideal in many other ways, especially if you enjoy being outdoors often and, you want to either have and/or raise a family in a relatively safe environment, as you well know. To be honest, I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else, all the best to you and yours for the future Rebecca. Noho ora mai
I feel so bad you guys had to leave that beautiful country. Hopefully you guys can find someplace somewhere comparable or even go back. All your points to seem so true to me. Take care
Great summary. I’ve just spent 3 months in NZ and returned to the UK. From my experience previously in the USA the difference is much greater than with NZ, Aussie, the UK, Republic of Ireland, and even Canada. The USA focuses on personal freedom to the detriment of the wider community. Also too many guns in the wrong hands.
@@sandpiperuk yes you are so right. I am looking for a new place, new way of life. Just my opinion but the U.S. has indeed become "meaner"
I have no idea where we’ll end up settling! We don’t really have too much control over it.
I know you will always cherish those wonderful times in New Zealand. I'm sure you are making lots of memories already here in the USA.
Sure am! We are certainly rich in the family department here.
Our country lost something when your family left our shores. All the best for your future and hopefully we might see you able to emigrate back to us. ;-)
Wouldn’t that be amazing? We’ll have to see where life takes us!
I can see why you fit into the New Zealand way of life because you seem so nice
Aw thanks 🥰 I think (hope!) I’m a nice person lol
As a New Zealander, we're gonna miss you
As an American, I’m gonna miss NZ 😂
Hope everything works out well for you back in the states. I also hope that when your young one is a few years older you are able to return as hot water beach on the Coromandel will be calling out to both of your young ones to come and play in its warm waters.
William only got to go to the hot water beach there once! At least we have lots of video of some of our favorite memories there 🧡
NZ isn't going anywhere. You can come back sometime.
Unless the volcano explodes! 😂
@@Becca.Loveless Yellowstone is a pretty big volcano. Not all of NZ is volcanic, so parts will survive...
As a kiwi I've never had central heating or air conditioning and I still pine for it 😂 nothing I hate more than having to drag myself outside on a frosty morning to rummage around for kindling and firewood and then having to light the fire, I also hate being too hot and not being able to do anything about it. We do have an HRV which keeps our house bone dry though so at least we don't get condensation or mould (we also live in a 110 year old villa) so definitely recommend them to everyone
Thank you for sharing this! I love how many people told me they lived in NZ and had central air or whatever and we were the only ones that didn’t have it.
Besides the cost of firewood its a nice heat you get from the heater though , especially on a cold stormy night and the lights are off and the glow from the fire is your light ,perfect
Its still weird to me that you didnt have a dryer while you were here, not many people I know dont have them! NZ misses you too!!
Which is funny to me because our neighbor and seriously everyone in our friend group we talked to (except those that lived in the CBD and one other friend) didn’t have a dry.
Gees Becca - you,ve got reverse home sickness!!!
😂 I always said settling in, NZ felt more like home than the US.
we miss you down here Becca
I miss being there!
It sounds like you may come back at some point in the future. I noted that what you liked about being back in the US is "Thrifting" which is material. Anyway it must be nice to be back with your family. Good luck 🥳
We’ll have to see if the winds of fate bring us back to NZ!
@@Becca.Loveless Yes it seems like it was your soul place. I hope you do return with Billy and the kiddley winks
Making me cry in the train 😢 miss you guys ❤ such a sweet video!
Miss y’all tons!! 😭
Come back !! But come back to Christchurch!! 😀
Lol there is an orchestra there!
If you do get into making cheese check out what you can make with the whey
That sounds like a project I would love 😍
You have the greatest career right now.
Lots of road works after Gabrielle
I'll trade you a box of Mrs Sees
You could learn to make your own cheese,, the soft kind, even Feta.
I made cottage cheese by accident. Left 2 L of bluetop on the frig for 3 weeks. Milks cheap over there. Try the organic kind. I agree about the flowers but seeing a few in the desert 🏜 can make you respect their struggle to exist and being so obvious on the sandy background makes their beauty shine. I don't think you got to do the Tongariro crossing, but that would be similar to a Mountainous Bryce. Hope Billy's getting closer to getting his dream job. At least he can jam with some musician mates. Clara is talking well and I'm sure William is learning and growing wider and taller more each day,
I would love to make my own cheese! And we’re both sooo sad we never got to do Tongariro Crossing. One of the biggest regrets we left behind! And both the kids are adjusting pretty well to being here - Clara’s happy with whatever and William is distracted with all the family and cousins here 🧡
One thing I don't understand about Americans who use the dryer for everything is how do you dry things that you can't put in the dryer?
Many Americans say that they don't own a clothes horse. So how do you dry jumpers and other delicates that need to be laid out flat to dry?
I would just lay the single item out to dry!
We Kiwis will miss lovely people like you. We hope you can come back sometime
Maybe NZSO someday..
Hi Becca I'm kiwi Maori descendant we aren't really that better off you live in a bigger country that would have bigger expenses as it grows with more population but take everyday with a grain of salt find yourself the courage to try new things such as maybe starting up a bakery or take sum thing from your journeys and apply it
I think everyone is having a hard time right now! But happy to be settling in and have people to love and a place to call home 🧡
Yeah mind you the two summers you were here were the coldest I can remember
Oh weird lol. I knew this last one was crazy but I thought the one before was a Normal one.
@@Becca.Loveless nah that one was very wet also you made a vid on a trip to the corromandel where I commented on how wet it was lol
Sounds to me like you are just going to have to come back here to live asap and forever. I’m sure we can find you a cool villa that has A/C and central heating and a dryer no worries. 😉 We need more people like you here that appreciate our little country that we all take for granted.
I would love that! However, there’s no real job opportunities for my husband 🥲
Damn it! 🥲 A blessing and a curse this French horn mistress. 🤣 I’m glad you’re enjoying Vancouver now anyway. Take care.
You fell into our secret trap... See you in a few years...
Kia kaha my Aotearoa whanau ❤️
Lol find Billy a job there and we’ll be back!
Miss you and family in New Zealand, come home...Find Kiwi American channel to help you create your channel here in New Zealand. She also loves the coffee here too. Her take on New Zealand and yours are brilliant...reach out to her and make your dream return back to New Zealand as collaboration 🤔. You both find and have an interesting spin about New Zealand lovit.❤🎉
I would love to come back to NZ! I just don’t think it’s possible if my husband wants to pursue his career.
Sad we lost you and your whanau... hope your reintergration home is good. Hopefully you all can come back at some point.
That would be lovely 🥰
We don't know how lucky we are. Thank you for reminding us and hope you come back to visit one day.
It’s a very special place 🤍
Home, now, is in New Zealand. You just have to work out how to go back or to Australia.
We'll see if we can. Not looking likely currently
Could your husband get a visa as a music teacher in NZ?
Maybe! But he really wants a job in a professional orchestra.
@@Becca.Loveless
Could do both perhaps?
I wonder if that could be a possibility?
always room for you here if you evva wanna come back Becca, will have a word with the volcano god if you do, tell him to behave himself 😅
Please do! I didn’t know you had a personal connection 😂
And if an opportunity opened up there we’d be back in a minute.
Woow is that how it is In Nz
Lol it’s even better in real life.
You should compare notes with Tara (www.youtube.com/@Kiwiamericans), Becca.
Will have to do!
food produce......oranges from the US dry taste no flavour but perfectly bright orange....tried NZ oranges very dull looking not so orange in colour like the US oranges.... but way better taste very sweet like how youd think oranges would taste (majority of them)....that stood out to me.........and yes the meat omg.....
Another fun example is the Red Delicious apples. Everyone hates them because they always taste horrible, but they were engineered to look like the “perfect” apple so it’s the classic that is still sold today. Fascinating (and backwards) stuff!
Also, oranges are INCREDIBLE from Florida in winter. Main thing is that you need to only buy them in winter because that’s when they’re in season. Tricky part is they’re sold year round because Americans don’t understand produce seasons.
Cheese in America is garbage. My expectations were low but I was still shocked at how bad it was.
Depends on the cheese. You can find amazing cheeses here from all over the world (NZ included). Just expensive and hard to find.
But yeah, “American cheese” is revolting.
You should study to be a nurse NZ has a dire shortage and easy pathway to get residency .
Our priority is for Billy to work since he’s trained and very passionate about playing in an orchestra.
You could cone to Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺 great chocolate, great weather, great Cafe culture and pot holes galore!! You would feel right at home 37o Celsius on Saturday might be on par with Texas 👍😉
If there’s a horn spot opening in Melbourne Billy will take it!
No, Melbourne does NOT have great weather! Don't pretend.. 🤦😂
No Kindy 😢💔
A true tragedy!
Sorry I'm doing multiple comments but have you thought maybe to incorporate what you learnt here and possibly utilising it to win for your family especially since you have your Kiwi baby girl
We’ll see where life takes us! Really no idea what’s going to happen yet.
love kindy & goat feta 😂🐐❤️
Is that why it’s so good???! It’s goat??
Kiwis send the Poor Girl Some Whittaker's Chocolate and Reduced Cream can and Onion dips..
Haha I’ll just have to come back!
Gov just gave more hours child care 'kindy'....free scripts for most meds....
Hope u move back....
Blessings from NewZealand NewZealand
Amazing! Ya whenever I need motivation to look forward to our future move to Canada, I just look at US healthcare....
Kids are kids, integration without prejudice or bigotry and that flows through their whole education. The only bad thing is NZ is fast becoming climatized to the big corporates and their demand to show expediential profit. Mums used to stay at home to look after kids until they went to school, now days young families can't afford to do that. Seems everyone wants a more than their share of your pie, apart from that we Kiwis still find the value in family, good times and looking out for each other. I'm a kid who doesn't require or demand every latest item; I actually spend quality time with friends and family; I understand progress, but don't accept everything that is put in front of me. Me being me is important, but I fear much of me is being taken away because society i.e. big corporations, the PC brigade, propogandists or just the plain self righteous, dictate. Just my view point as a teenage girl. (my gender - a point that goes against the grain of the self righteous, you do as I say people). Do come back home!
I wish more kids were taught and raised this way! It would make the world a much brighter place 🥰 good job being a critical thinker!
why did you move back to the USA?
Husband lost his job in NZ and there are only two big orchestras in all of NZ.
Bex, we work to live, the US lives to work.
Lol when will we figure it out?
it's like you should have been born here 😍
For real!!
Get a PO Box... your subbie will lifeline you stuff like Whittakers
Pff just send it our address!
So are you thinking of coming back to New Zealand 🇳🇿 once you get sick of America 🇺🇸 🤔
If New Zealand hires my husband we would!
Potholes.
The real reason why Americans drive huge SUV's.
Unfortunately, the current government has let the roads go. We now have potholes.
And we notice them because we're not used to them.
No!! Fight the potholes!!
The USA hasn't increased the gas tax since 1993. The US infrustracture is under funded. The Society of Civil Engineers gives the US a D for infrustructure. Apparently 65,000 bridges are unsafe.
Like schools, based on local property taxes ? Schools in poor areas are an absolute shambles. It's disgusting. In NZ we had the decile system, it has just been removed so I don't know what is happening, but in NZ areas were number 1-10, and funding was based on the poorer the area, the more money is put in.
The US government are so bought by big money, the priority is the corporations. Look at the whole East Palistine train crash saga, so illustrative of corruption and cruelty by employers and the government. It is socialism for the wealthy, rugged individualism for the poor
Nowhere is perfect! There are some horrible things happening in the US, but at the same time there are some beautiful aspects as well.
Yes to the food thing...Why is U.S bread so disgusting??
What you pick out I suppose!
Everything is mass produced and due to size of country full of preservatives - with many climate variances and the population sues people so everything has to be exactly the same all the time. Lets just say condiments and sauces are a necessity to taste there.
So its closer to bread mixed with Jib Board. Joking not joking.
Worried about volcanoes - so you moved away from living near the 3rd biggest volcano ever (Taupo) to living near the 2nd biggest volcano ever (Yellowstone)? 🤠
But in NZ you can’t “get away.” Same with hurricanes (cyclones) - I grew up with many hurricanes hitting my hometown. But we could always just hop in the car and drive far away and be safe.
Nice comments. Although the political tribalism is getting worse and is not pleasant.
Polítics anywhere aren’t very pleasant these days..
I miss um...er..then there is...um...ahh, well umm there was a minute in 1960 that was um ...err.
Lol
Awesome video Becca, once you're settled get a po box so we can send your whanau some choccies 🍫🌈🌤
Lol just send it over to our address 😂