[Ginabridget]

Originally Posted by dianabutnotaprincess

People are really friendly, but somehow the level of interesting conversation doesn't seem to be there. I've noticed that bringing up politics, emotions and complaints of any sort all get short shrift.

I think that this could be as a result of being a new to the area because what you've mentioned above is exactly how I found England when I first came here, and I think Australia was the same when I lived there for a while. I think that once you get through the first 18 months of being in the new place/meeting new people you tend to get back to talking about absolutely everything and being able to have a right good whinge (which is good for the soul I reckon).

What I found difficult when I first left NZ (I'm in the process of moving back now) was making new friends where you didn't have years of shared history that binds you together, you have to work at making new friends and before you know it you've got that shared history.

I'm not sure I've made that very clear, but I hope you get what I mean.

It's one of the things I'm not looking forward to when I do finally get back to NZ is that I'll have to start all over again on the friend front. Blimey that sounds terrible doesn't it, but now I've got the kids I'm not sure I've got the energy to be super-friendly.