🐑🇳🇿5 Years in New Zealand — A Chapter I'll Never Forget🥹
✨️ Farewell to New Zealand 🇳🇿
I’ve loved New Zealand like a second home — 5 years and 3 months, from a 26-year-old full of energy and passion for new experiences, ready to do any job, changing workplaces countless times, until I became a 30-year-old who thinks more about health, loves being home as much as traveling, and has learned to cook and survive on my own. My IQ didn’t grow, but my EQ did.
Food is expensive, rent is high, but cars are cheap — I bought a 7-seater for just 50,000 THB. Life was simple — weekends were just supermarket runs, cooking, and movies. Timaru, a small town two hours from Christchurch, was where I stayed the longest.
The best part was driving — beautiful, empty roads, snowcapped mountains, and stunning views in every season. Nature was truly magical. People here are super chill — barefoot, no umbrellas, no makeup, no judgments. I rarely felt discriminated against. Even 10°C felt normal with just a light jacket.
Second-hand stuff is common here. The air is so fresh. I even saw the Southern Lights near home.
My English improved a lot. I avoided Thai groups and worked with Kiwis and Asians like Malaysians, Taiwanese, Chinese, and Indians — who became like family. I’m lucky to have met friends who cooked for me, worked 12-hour shifts but still chatted endlessly. Even hearing Chinese daily made me pick up some words.
And of course, my life partner — we met during my first working holiday year in 2019. A Malaysian. It wasn’t easy at first — different cultures, languages, and visa situations. But time, patience, and love brought us closer. I can’t imagine life without him.
Now it’s time for another big move. These past 5 years felt like living a dream. The future is uncertain, but I have no regrets — New Zealand will always be my comfort zone. Still, it’s time to leave it and trust that I’ll survive like I always do.
Lastly, if you ever get a chance, live abroad — no matter the country or your age. You’ll grow stronger, know yourself better, and gain experiences that will stay with you forever.
#newzealand #workingholiday #travel #roadtrip #naturalwonders