We’ve able to make the trip back to the States a few times since we moved here. It was part of the deal with our families – we’d try to make it back for a visit every couple of years or so, and in return they let us move to NZ.
We’ve been lucky that our families have been able to help us out with the trip. NZ is a long way from everywhere, so it’s pretty expensive for the three of us. We recently spent the holidays inthe States, our fourth trip back in the 8.5 years we’ve lived here.
Each time we arrive back it feels a bit more foreign, as we change and the country changes while we’re away.
- It always feels like a bit of a shock when we land in the States and are surrounded by US accents again in the immigration line. There’s a fair number of Americans in NZ, both tourists and residents, so it isn’t unusual to hear the accent, but it does feel a bit strange at first when going back.
- It seems like it should be a big adjustment to have to drive on the right side of the road again, and it is at first. Getting the rental car out of the airpost is always a bit of an adventure. But it’s surprising how quickly I’m able to get the hang of it again.
- The advertising! It seemed like every ad on tv was for some kind of medicine (with all the side effects) or a sports gambling website, and every billboard was for a personal injury lawyer. We were lucky it wasn’t election season where every ad is political, but it still felt strange.
- We are able to keep up on US news decently well, but we’re not immersed in it as if we lived there. In NZ we mostly read news from America, and tend not to watch much TV news (which only features the major overseas stories, though many of those focus on the US). So one of the weird things for me was finally hearing the correct pronunciation of names and products that I’d mainly only read about.
- The supermarket was a bit overwhelming. The stores in NZ don’t have nearly the amount choice that you’ll find in the typical US grocery store. It was also interesting to see different priorities. The US had one side of an entire aisle that was basically all breakfast cereals – in our local store it’s maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of an aisle. But of that whole aisle of cereals, about two feet’s worth was given to healthier cereals like granolas, whereas we have a much better selection of those in NZ.
- Also, everything was expensive. And not just because the kiwi dollar was tanking while we were there. It was strange to see the prices for some things close to what we’d pay in NZ but in US dollars. And then there were other things where you look at it and can’t believe how cheap it is! That used to be everything, but on this last trip thigs seemed more pricey.
- There’s always a few things, mostly foods, that you miss, so we made sure to try to take advantage. Hop was a particluar fan of nachos from Qdoba and Panera’s sandwiches. For me, I was happy to be able to get iced tea everywhere.
- Plastic bags! It was so weird to buy things like groceries and have them put in plastic bags. It felt like we were back in the 90’s ro seomthing. They’ve been banned in NZ since around 2019 or so.
Overall, while we are always happy to make it back and visit with family and friends, by the end we were ready to head home – to New Zealand.
Kiwi Bound 