WHY NEW ZEALAND ROCKS

Everyone told me coming here that New Zealanders are "out of this world nice" and super friendly. I didn't truly experience this until I was exploring the Bay of Islands and my friend and I were waiting for our fish n' chips (which is a whole other reason why Aotearoa is the best place on earth). A middle-aged man noticed our outlandish North American accents and started asking us questions: where we were from, why we were here, all the basics. Immediately I put my guard up and became skeptical as to why this strange man was interrogating two young adult women. Back home, people don't talk to one another unless they need something, and strangers making conversation for the sake of conversation is seen as "creepy," so I was inclined to be wary of the situation. It wasn't until this man so genuinely wished us the best on our studies, and the safest of travels back to Auckland that I realized his intentions were not malicious: he was simply being nice. It was so refreshing for a complete stranger to be so welcoming and friendly for no other reason other than he wanted to. His small action made my day and also reminded me how important it is to be kind to everyone no matter where you are in the world. New Zealand truly does breed a special kind of people and it is because of these warming hearts that this place has become my home.