Discussion: Closer to Home?

135 Responses

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  • Ben Austin,

    Well given that it seems most UK bound Kiwis do congregate on London, in waves based on age/life experience I don't find it that odd or lacking that we tend to clump together. In my case I don't so much hang out with people from NZ because we share common origin or values, I hang out with them because they were my friends in NZ and this is a pretty common experience in London.

    I would think it is pretty normal for people to seek out old acquaintances when moving to a new place

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac,

    @Jack - interestingly enough, I was determined to have the reverse experience in London. I spent over 2 years hanging out with no-one other than Poms.

    Interestingly, I had horrible culture shock and was quite miserable until I started hanging out with a few other antipodeans who "spoke my language". Balance is certainly the thing - I was still mostly surrounded by Brits, but those few Aussies, Saffas and Kiwis made the last couple of years I was there much more bearable.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    "Oooh are you from New Zealand? I know this whole flat full of guys and they've all got that bird tattooed on them, what's it called? You must meet them."

    That was eons ago, and to this day I count myself fortunate that I never did meet those guys.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    @ Paul.
    IMHO that is a load of self serving bollocks.
    Immigrants aren't self selecting, we have an immigration department for that, and before that we had the White NZ Policy.
    Europe was in midst of social/political/economic upheaval with a hell of a lot more push factors than pull factors.
    If you have money and success, why move? There is really no need. Happy at home & so stable happy populations stay put.
    Prior to this mythical immigration period, the vast majority of immigrants were deported prisoners or slaves, sent out to other cnrs of the world to labour for their centre of power -ie Spain or England.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Most people who move country's today are self selected - they've decided to get up and move the people they left back at home didn't - that's 'self selection' - sure if they do it with a gun to their head it's not - but largely the kiwi who decides to take his or her OE in London or the mexican who jumps the fence into the US are doing so by choice - sure there are economic pressures but not everyone goes - it's always scary at some level - some people have the get up and go to do it and some don't

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    I trust you're not being obtuse with your comparison of Mexicans crossing the boarder and Kiwis going on an OE. Even though one is sanctioned by the two states involved and the other is expressly forbidden, negating the issue of 'self-selection', as this is the function of the states involved.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I think you're deliberately misunderstanding my meaning - it doesn't matter whether it's legal or not - it's the person leaving who chooses to go in the first place - they select themselves, while the people they leave behind don't.

    In fact I'd actually argue the opposite - it's much much harder for a kid in a poor village in Mexico to leave his or her home, travel north, brave the coyotes and crossing into the US, and find a job and live in the US illegally in a land where they don't yet know the language than it is for some kiwi kid who's fresh out of Uni to hop a plane and find themselves in a Earls Court pub surrounded with old mates. That mexican kid has demonstrated a drive and determination that clearly puts them to the head of the class.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Paul, we do seem to be talking past each other a bit here.
    Enjoy your Sunday.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Immigrants are self selected, to some extent, of course. It takes a certain type of person to move across the world.

    But Governments ultimately make decisions about what people will cross their borders, and in NZ's case if you don't make the requisite points (some of which are rather arbitrary) then it doesn't matter what your personality is.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    Just as an aside - Earls Court is in fact not full of Australians and Kiwis. After living there for two years I think I've heard such an accent maybe once on the street, and maybe a dozen times in the local pubs. Yet despite this I keep on getting knowing looks when people ask me where I live (as if to say "haha where else would you live?")

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

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