🌿 My First Real Taste of Kiwi Life — A Journey to Kerikeri -by Jody

A Quiet Arrival Into Nature

I’ve been living in New Zealand for almost three years — half of the time studying at the University of Auckland, and the other half working at a small tech company in the city.

But despite all this time, I always felt that I hadn’t truly experienced what people call “Kiwi life.” My colleagues and boss are all Chinese, and after more than a year of working, my English listening and speaking somehow became even worse.

Recently, I finally gathered the courage to step out of my familiar routine.A friend and I drove nearly 300 kilometres north to Kerikeri — a place far away from the city.

The closer we got, the more the scenery opened up: rolling hills, quiet forests, and endless green fields.

When we finally arrived at the cottage, we stepped out of the car and were stunned by the view — ocean, trees, open space, and complete silence.

It felt like the world slowed down.

A Nervous Meeting That Turned Warm

The next morning, we met the farm owners and were invited for lunch.

To be honest, I was nervous. My English is not good, and I worried I wouldn’t understand what they said.But the hostess smiled at me and said:

“Your English is better than my Chinese — don’t worry.”

That one sentence completely relaxed me.

She shared how she arrived in New Zealand over 30 years ago. She said she spent one day at Auckland Airport and immediately felt:

“This isn’t what I’m looking for.”

Then she arrived in Kerikeri — and instantly knew this was home.

Later, I asked her daughter: “Can I pet the dog?”She walked over, gently lifted the old dog in her arms, and said:

“He’s 14 years old.”

Even the grandfather shared stories about life on the farm.I couldn’t understand every detail, but I felt every bit of their kindness.

Remote Work by the Ocean

The next day, we moved to a beautiful ocean-view cabin. It was my first time doing remote work with such an incredible view.

The ocean was right beside us — calm, blue, peaceful.Small boats floated silently in the bay.I typed on my laptop while listening to waves outside the window.

For a moment, I couldn’t believe this was real.

For the first time, I felt what a slow and gentle Kiwi lifestyle could be like.

Little Moments That Felt Like Home

The cottage felt like staying at a friend’s place — warm, colourful, and full of small details.

There was a simple joy in making a cup of coffee in the quiet kitchen, looking at the ocean while the sunlight came through the window.

Small moments like these felt surprisingly precious.

A Final Thought

This stay in Kerikeri gave me my first real taste of the Kiwi lifestyle:

✨ simple✨ natural✨ gentle✨ unhurried

For the first time in three years,I truly slowed down and sank into the rhythm of this country.

I know I’ll come back again —not just to travel,but to feel this peace and kindness once more.