One cultural difference I’ve experienced while being here in New Zealand so far is the overall
relaxation the country abides by in all areas. The US has a very strong hustle culture which prior
to coming I didn’t acknowledge much. In many ways here I’ve experienced this country wide
relaxing, such as in school, there are many assignments due a week in the United Stated versus
here we have about two assignments due for the whole semester. It allows us to take our time and
really perfect our assignments versus rushing to finish assignments of lesser value. Also going
out to eat is usually in the United States. I feel a sense of urgency to be quick whereas here
everyone seems to be more relaxed because tipping doesn’t exist, so the waiters and waitresses
do not rush you. All of the kiwis I have interacted with really take the time to get to know you
and ask you personal questions and you can tell they genuinely care. In the United States it is a
rarity to meet someone out in public that is looking to have a long genuine conversation. Other
cultural differences I have experienced are the importance they place on being green and
recycling and their importance on saving the environment. Just by driving around and looking at
the nature they have preserved you can tell how much they care about the environment. Whereas
in the United States there is a much larger drive for profit, the US government has aligned the
rules and regulations to help businesses versus helping to preserve the environment. Being here
has made me a lot more eco conscious and I believe will change my behaviors when moving
back to the United States. I look forward to taking these practices back with me to the US!
