Can I ask how the media in the U.S portrays NZ?
Travel advertisments?
And for the record I don’t think ‘Murrica’ is land of the dumb.
I know the media loves for us to think that but like mysteriousvisitor said – stupidity is a global issue:-D
NZ has possibly the highest suicide per capita rate in the developed world, with Maori making up the vast majority of those neighbours due to the socio-economic makeup of the regions where we hail from. Plus, we have our fair share of fuckwits down here, too. For the most part, we’re fulla good sorts
I gave a homeless woman and her dog $20 yesterday up in Avondale. When she opened her mouth I could tell she was one bout of the flu away from dying — she sounded absolutely horrible, as if she were thirty years older than she looked. I could tell she and her pooch hadn’t eaten in a while, too. Sure, I’m not doing too well myself, but you can’t help but be compelled to chip in where you absolutely must, correct?
Sigh. Just another fucking day in Auckland. Hey, neighbour…
There’s a Maori Man who sleeps in the carpark of the building I work in.. I talk to him from time to time when he hasn’t left for the day.. Most of the time he’s laying on the concrete on a couple of blankets making ciggies from the butts he’s collected while we chat.. He rolls up his mattress and folds his blankets and slides them in a space between a wall and a big storage chest thing.. Picks up all his butts never leaves any mess. Most days at least one of my collegues will mention him.. “He needs to go” or “its really uncomfortable when hes there” . I want to ask them if they think hes comfortable.. Im leaving there soon so hopefully I’ll work up the courage to say so..
It’s becoming too common of a sight in these parts, which really is distressing. I’m technically in the same position as that man since I don’t have my own place (yet) and I really don’t like my family… I really think you should mention it to your colleagues since I did a similar thing with my old work — I challenge their views on mental health/suicide and made them see the error in their short-sightedness on the matter as part of the Movember initiative. It’s really nice that you talk to him, though
I’d usually only help the homeless women I come across since they’re more vulnerable than others. My go-to is a care package made of women’s sanitary items, warm clothing (especially polypropylene thermals) and a ration pack or two with a hexi cooker. I’ll spend some time with them to show them the basics, check on their general well-being and just let them talk with me, y’know? I do get paranoid that some nosy bastard will either post it to FB or get a news crew to do a good Samaritan story or some shit, so I don’t stay long
If you are an Aucklander and happen to see a Maori fella with a big brownish pack walking around the city, that’s probably me. Anyway, hope your night is well. This bloody rain came outta nowhere…
I’ve read about the homelessness crisis in Auckland..It’s at breaking point.. Theres even maraes and motels offering people a small space with a matresses… But these are short term soloutions..I don’t have ‘The Soloution’ but surely theres a red flag when there are loads of qualified builders moving abroad and taking their skills with them because they either can’t find work or are sick of the shitty wages our shitty government would pay them. I don’t mean to sound a drag Shephard please forgive the rant..
I’m not in touch with my family either.. It needed to happen..
I admire your work and you inspire me with your care packages.. I couldn’t live without my polyprops! Today I heard my colleagues talking about him again.. They’re upset as he now has a mate to keep him company..
Are you inbetween houses at the moment? Are you couch surfing or sleeping rough? I hope the night is kind to you if you are.. Im in Wellington or I would look out for you and your big brownish bag..
I appreciate your view on this matter — I don’t speak with anyone else from this country, so it’s refreshing to speak on matters regarding NZ with another NZer. Quite a few of my friends who are skilled tradesmen have crossed the ditch in the past 18 months due to the very reasons you spoke of, and I’m considering doing the same as well
I read a bit about your story, so I can understand why you’d be in the same situation regarding contact with your family as I am. That’s cool that you know of the awesomeness that is polyprops — sure beats that merino shit we were issued back in the day. Honestly, and I know this will sound blunt, but your colleagues can go to hell. That’s all I can say about that
A combination of sleeping rough and staying with “family” if necessary. Hotels/motels here and there. Housing applications are taking too damn long to go through. Not sure how this will all work out. I hope you’re staying cosy down in Wellington — damn windy weather and earthquakes
If you’d ever want to speak more in private or such, feel free to suggest so. Kiwis on this site are a rarity, so it’s nice to know that there are others on here that are at least in the same time zone
I’d be interested to know how many kiwis are living over there these days although I heard it’s not as easy as it used to be..
‘Times are a changing’ by Bob Dylan comes to mind.
I must admit I do love a good fine spun merino.. Not the itchy kind ..
And yes I do agree with you bout my workmates, well, the judgemental ones anyway..
I should have mentioned though that the CEO who is sometimes taking a sneaky ciggie break at the same time I am told me he doesn’t have the heart to tell him to go.
So theres that.. and I just think about that when they’re blabbering on..
Where do you sleep when roughing it? Are you the bus stop kinda guy or do you go bush?
There was a severe quake today I was told but I didn’t feel a thing.. The November one scared the shit out of me though.. I haven’t felt anything like that before..
I know what you mean.. the last thing I expected was to hear from a kiwi on this site.. but then it shouldn’t have been that surprising considering the statistics I guess
Do you want me to share my method with you?
I’d be happy to but not here..
I’d say half the population of Perth and Sydney, or thereabouts. Seems to be quite a bit, but you’re right about it not being easy to move there anymore. “This Is The End” by The Doors it what comes to mind for me…
As a sweater and a t-shirt, yes. As thermal underwear in “sunny” Waiouru? Hell no…
Your boss sounds like a decent bloke. I had a feeling there’d be at least one other person as sympathetic as you are. I stick to the bush mostly since I have the gear to do so, but honestly I love sleeping out near the beach where I grew up out east — it’s always lovely there
Yes, I read about the quake in Season, and remember the ones from last year. I haven’t felt a proper quake since 2013 when I was down the line, but that was bad enough
Well, I’d definitely like to speak with you more, and I s’pose I am interested in your exit strategy — whatever it may be. D’you have an email or something I can contact you on?
Hi Shephard
U around? I’m hanging out in here for a while but will email you tonight..
It’s blowing an awful gale out there.. Hoping yr dry if you’re out and about..
I’m from the US, in Washington state…. It’s on the west coast and borders Canada. It’s nice here, I’m in a strange spot of it that doesn’t rain a all the time (that’s Seattle that does that) it’s generally dry…. Right now it’s cold -_- and there’s snow for some horrible reason, like a foot of it -_- grrrrr
I’ll put some as well I’m in United States living in Connecticut right now but I am originally from NYC it hardly snows tempenture fluctuates I wish Connecticut can be like Washington
36 comments
Romania
What’s Romania like?
Yes, what is Romania like?
‘Murica. Land of the dumb.
Oh, come now. Stupid behavior is a worldwide problem. π
Wherever there are humans.
Is New Zealand as pretty as the media here makes it out to be?
Can I ask how the media in the U.S portrays NZ?
Travel advertisments?
And for the record I don’t think ‘Murrica’ is land of the dumb.
I know the media loves for us to think that but like mysteriousvisitor said – stupidity is a global issue:-D
Sure it’s pretty.. Beautiful scenery, clean and green as I’m sure they portray.. But underneath all the ‘prettiness’ there’s an underlying truth..
Ooooh mysterious… what is it?
Our Government system is shit..
Our Health system is fucked..
Our Education system is screwed..
I get that these issues arent limited to just NZ but it really is becoming more and more prominent.
NZ has possibly the highest suicide per capita rate in the developed world, with Maori making up the vast majority of those neighbours due to the socio-economic makeup of the regions where we hail from. Plus, we have our fair share of fuckwits down here, too. For the most part, we’re fulla good sorts
I gave a homeless woman and her dog $20 yesterday up in Avondale. When she opened her mouth I could tell she was one bout of the flu away from dying — she sounded absolutely horrible, as if she were thirty years older than she looked. I could tell she and her pooch hadn’t eaten in a while, too. Sure, I’m not doing too well myself, but you can’t help but be compelled to chip in where you absolutely must, correct?
Sigh. Just another fucking day in Auckland. Hey, neighbour…
Hi Shephard..
There’s a Maori Man who sleeps in the carpark of the building I work in.. I talk to him from time to time when he hasn’t left for the day.. Most of the time he’s laying on the concrete on a couple of blankets making ciggies from the butts he’s collected while we chat.. He rolls up his mattress and folds his blankets and slides them in a space between a wall and a big storage chest thing.. Picks up all his butts never leaves any mess. Most days at least one of my collegues will mention him.. “He needs to go” or “its really uncomfortable when hes there” . I want to ask them if they think hes comfortable.. Im leaving there soon so hopefully I’ll work up the courage to say so..
That’s what I thought you were gonna say Shephard.
That’s what I thought you were gonna say Shephard.
It’s becoming too common of a sight in these parts, which really is distressing. I’m technically in the same position as that man since I don’t have my own place (yet) and I really don’t like my family… I really think you should mention it to your colleagues since I did a similar thing with my old work — I challenge their views on mental health/suicide and made them see the error in their short-sightedness on the matter as part of the Movember initiative. It’s really nice that you talk to him, though
I’d usually only help the homeless women I come across since they’re more vulnerable than others. My go-to is a care package made of women’s sanitary items, warm clothing (especially polypropylene thermals) and a ration pack or two with a hexi cooker. I’ll spend some time with them to show them the basics, check on their general well-being and just let them talk with me, y’know? I do get paranoid that some nosy bastard will either post it to FB or get a news crew to do a good Samaritan story or some shit, so I don’t stay long
If you are an Aucklander and happen to see a Maori fella with a big brownish pack walking around the city, that’s probably me. Anyway, hope your night is well. This bloody rain came outta nowhere…
I’ve read about the homelessness crisis in Auckland..It’s at breaking point.. Theres even maraes and motels offering people a small space with a matresses… But these are short term soloutions..I don’t have ‘The Soloution’ but surely theres a red flag when there are loads of qualified builders moving abroad and taking their skills with them because they either can’t find work or are sick of the shitty wages our shitty government would pay them. I don’t mean to sound a drag Shephard please forgive the rant..
I’m not in touch with my family either.. It needed to happen..
I admire your work and you inspire me with your care packages.. I couldn’t live without my polyprops! Today I heard my colleagues talking about him again.. They’re upset as he now has a mate to keep him company..
Are you inbetween houses at the moment? Are you couch surfing or sleeping rough? I hope the night is kind to you if you are.. Im in Wellington or I would look out for you and your big brownish bag..
I appreciate your view on this matter — I don’t speak with anyone else from this country, so it’s refreshing to speak on matters regarding NZ with another NZer. Quite a few of my friends who are skilled tradesmen have crossed the ditch in the past 18 months due to the very reasons you spoke of, and I’m considering doing the same as well
I read a bit about your story, so I can understand why you’d be in the same situation regarding contact with your family as I am. That’s cool that you know of the awesomeness that is polyprops — sure beats that merino shit we were issued back in the day. Honestly, and I know this will sound blunt, but your colleagues can go to hell. That’s all I can say about that
A combination of sleeping rough and staying with “family” if necessary. Hotels/motels here and there. Housing applications are taking too damn long to go through. Not sure how this will all work out. I hope you’re staying cosy down in Wellington — damn windy weather and earthquakes
If you’d ever want to speak more in private or such, feel free to suggest so. Kiwis on this site are a rarity, so it’s nice to know that there are others on here that are at least in the same time zone
United States of A
I’d be interested to know how many kiwis are living over there these days although I heard it’s not as easy as it used to be..
‘Times are a changing’ by Bob Dylan comes to mind.
I must admit I do love a good fine spun merino.. Not the itchy kind ..
And yes I do agree with you bout my workmates, well, the judgemental ones anyway..
I should have mentioned though that the CEO who is sometimes taking a sneaky ciggie break at the same time I am told me he doesn’t have the heart to tell him to go.
So theres that.. and I just think about that when they’re blabbering on..
Where do you sleep when roughing it? Are you the bus stop kinda guy or do you go bush?
There was a severe quake today I was told but I didn’t feel a thing.. The November one scared the shit out of me though.. I haven’t felt anything like that before..
I know what you mean.. the last thing I expected was to hear from a kiwi on this site.. but then it shouldn’t have been that surprising considering the statistics I guess
Do you want me to share my method with you?
I’d be happy to but not here..
I’d say half the population of Perth and Sydney, or thereabouts. Seems to be quite a bit, but you’re right about it not being easy to move there anymore. “This Is The End” by The Doors it what comes to mind for me…
As a sweater and a t-shirt, yes. As thermal underwear in “sunny” Waiouru? Hell no…
Your boss sounds like a decent bloke. I had a feeling there’d be at least one other person as sympathetic as you are. I stick to the bush mostly since I have the gear to do so, but honestly I love sleeping out near the beach where I grew up out east — it’s always lovely there
Yes, I read about the quake in Season, and remember the ones from last year. I haven’t felt a proper quake since 2013 when I was down the line, but that was bad enough
Well, I’d definitely like to speak with you more, and I s’pose I am interested in your exit strategy — whatever it may be. D’you have an email or something I can contact you on?
mustardsuede at out look
Hi Shephard
U around? I’m hanging out in here for a while but will email you tonight..
It’s blowing an awful gale out there.. Hoping yr dry if you’re out and about..
I’m from the US, in Washington state…. It’s on the west coast and borders Canada. It’s nice here, I’m in a strange spot of it that doesn’t rain a all the time (that’s Seattle that does that) it’s generally dry…. Right now it’s cold -_- and there’s snow for some horrible reason, like a foot of it -_- grrrrr
I’ll put some as well I’m in United States living in Connecticut right now but I am originally from NYC it hardly snows tempenture fluctuates I wish Connecticut can be like Washington
by that do you mean horrible? O.o
Yes π
Brazil – South America
Olaβ
USA
Mexico
Hungary.
USA-CT
New Zealand!
I’m from NZ too! Email me and lets talk?! My email is jesse.m.xoxo@gmail.com