Hello,
I think being in NZ hasn't as such changed us just given us the confidence to be ourselves. In Edinburgh we always wanted to please our friends and family and did more things for them than ourselves. We're not grumbling as we loved making them happy but being here has made us realise that it's time to make ourselves happy as well. I think we're also less materialistic and look on things in the Kiwi way of making do with the tools you have to build things rather than going out and buying a new table for the sake of it. Instead you do up an old table or build one. We found it was way too easy to just go out and buy and build clutter than make do. We're also more aware of money and appreciate it now.
As for making friends and fitting in with Kiwi life it all depends on what area you stay in I think as to how you integrate. Rotorua was so easy to fit in and make friends. Everyone wanted to know about us, where we'd been what we'd seen. Where as in Wellington people are slightly more reserved and take time to get to know you but once they let down their barriers and let you in you really have a true friend. Well that's our experience anyway.
As for what we would like to give back to NZ this is easy. Making Kiwi's realise what a lovely country they have and encourage them to travel it and see different areas or even go to the other island. So many do their OE in Europe and dont appreciate what they have on their doorstep. It's amazing when we tell them where we've been in NZ and what we've seen that they didnt even know it was there and it excites them and hopefully encourages them to venture out and see their own country. I know we wish we'd done more in Scotland and now we cant!
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