Taking a Break from USA and What I'm Learning

I realized this morning that I have not read or watched news from the USA in several days. That is a rare event for me. Truthfully, I have stepped way back from my much more frequent pre-Trump Administration practices. I just found that my more usual custom of checking news several times a day was just too stressful! So, I had already been reading more than watching news, in order to be better to my soul! (see earlier blog posts). But here in New Zealand, well......I'm not even tempted to look at the news much. Let me share a bit about life here and what I'm experiencing/learning.

Jim and I are in a sweet little airbnb only a block and a half away from our daughter and her family. It has been a delightful stay. Daily time with them, quiet time and outdoor time as the windy damp winter weather of Wellington permits. Flat whites, apple mango orange juice and an occasional Diet Pepsi are my usual wake up drinks here. I am loving the lack of anxiety from the news.

Life in New Zealand is pervasively kind. I'm loving this too! People are warm, inviting, welcoming. From virtually every encounter we have had related to New Zealand, kindness and generosity has been predominant. Even the airlines! Best flight of my life was on Air New Zealand. I have not heard anyone yell, no horns, no shoving, no cursing. Wherever we go, strangers smile and speak words of greeting. My soul is in such a sweet place.

Life is very ecologically correct! No driers. No plastic bags. All electricity, even the outlets, have an off and on switch. Children walk to school. Playgrounds abound with activity and giggles. The land is verdant green even though it is winter. The ocean sets the tone for the weather, as it is mild or incredibly turbulent. Always windy, just more or less of it. People just keep moving along, no matter the weather. It seems a metaphor. No matter what, people just keep moving, kindly and lovingly.

We have not yet seen evidence of great wealth or extreme poverty. Language is indicative of a very diverse people. French, English, Australian (with a variety of accents), and Maori are predominant where Jess and Pierre live. Maori is incredibly integrated in signage and spoken word. My 5 year old grandson is learning to speak and read English, French and Maori at his kindergarten. Their family mealtime prayer is spoken in Maori. So, Jim and I are learning, simply by being here, another language.

I am sure that there are issues and problems. Of course there must be, because any society has conflicting beliefs, thoughts, visions, and values. We will probably learn more of these as we stay longer. For now, I've just not experienced this. People disagree, speak it and move forward. So far, this is what I've observed.

We have a tv in our airbnb, and occasionally watch news. THAT is fascinating as well. The news we get on our smart tv are: local highlights, Euro News, French News, Australia/Tasmania News, and CNN. What a combination! No Fox, no plethora of USA news channels with very differing interpretations of the news. CNN. Interesting. When I asked someone about this (who is also from the states and living here), he said that CNN was seen to have the most balanced and comprehensive reporting. I have found all the channels give a rather thorough overview without attacking each other.Euro News appears to be my preferred news station. I'm learning about how U.S. policies, tariffs, and actions are affecting countries in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa, in particular. Watching all the channels truly gives me a feeling of being a global citizen. We are linked. What one country does can have dire consequences and tremendous impact on others.

In talking about the economy of New Zealand, I've learned that during like many countries worldwide, NZ faced inflation during COVID. The country is coming back, only now to be hit with the consequences and repercussions of Trump's tariffs. As one man said, 'we are just a small country, so when big countries act aggressively, we feel the results in big ways.'

I have found myself incredibly sad for how my country is perceived. Our national identity is so different than earlier in my lifetime. I have also gotten a sense of how other countries feel about this change in our identity, for clearly they are experiencing a very different America than the country they have known for generations. They, too, are experiencing a sense of grief, caution, and fear regarding who we are becoming.

As one official from Brussels said, "We do not know how to even begin to negotiate with the USA. We do not know how to relate to our friends who cannot be trusted to tell us the truth." (I wrote the quote as he spoke, but failed to get his name!) The sentiment is one I have heard from others in Euro News, French News, Aussie/Tassie News, and even local news, on the occasions USA news has been reported locally.

Personally, Jim and I (and our daughter and her family) are being treated warmly and with respect. But our country, friends, our country is seen with distrust, dismay, and disgust.

It is heartbreaking. I know from those that I've talked with that the change is with the Trump administration. The confusion began with his first election, but increased with the second election. This has only intensified with the policy and behavior from the White House, escalating into fear, particularly with the recent bombing of Iran. The No-King marches around our country are definitely noticed in this part of the world. They are seen as 'relief' that our country still has citizens that stand up and do not bow to fear.

Enough for this post! More to follow soon. I leave you with this thought...look for peace, and the people who bring peace. They are always around. Generally not with a lot of noise, just doing what is right.

The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds. Dalai Lama