Computer and Education

Are you thinking of going overseas to further your education? Why not consider New Zealand as one of your options? In my humble opinion, I felt that it was the best place ever.

Okay, some people might not agree. Others will probably find Europe, United States, and perhaps, Australia, a better option. Well, what you can find in New Zealand is found elsewhere too. So, what’s the big deal?

Well, there is no big deal. New Zealand is an English speaking country with good living conditions. It has heaps of nature, which equates to fresh air and clean water. The climate is generally okay. It’s like any other western country!

It is not the ‘big deals’ that made New Zealand a wonderful environment for students. It is the ‘small deals’ that most people might not think much of them.

My seven ‘small deals’ that make all the difference:

1) If your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, people will stop to help you. When my car broke down at an Auckland highway exit, instead of getting horned at, a group of 6 Pacific Islanders/Maoris, in their twenty-something, stopped and helped. They pushed my car to a safe area and spent 30 minutes helping me to fixed it. And I don’t even know their names!

2) People are trusting. I was feeling sick when driving along State Highway 1 and stopped by a café to rest. The couple had already closed the café for the day when I approached them for help. The wife helped to called up a motel, sent me there in her car, while her husband drove my car safely behind. This is something strangers never do in Singapore. But it is in the Kiwi’s culture.

3) Welcoming foreigners. The first time I arrived at the airport and was waiting for my luggage, guess the word “new arrival” must have been flashing above my head. A man in his mid-40s who was standing beside me waiting for his luggage started talking to me like an old friend. To be honest, it was kinda weird at first. Singaporeans don’t talk to random strangers!

4) Everyone says thank you! The first time I board a bus, the driver greeted me, and I was like “Wow.” At every bus stop, everyone says “Thank you” before alighting. It is one thing to be thankful, and another to actually show it. No wonder the drivers take pride in their job, cuz all the passengers always show their appreciation! I really love that part of bus rides – greeting and thanking.

5) Give way. This is something Singaporeans are taking a long time to learn. Everyone in New Zealand grew up in a culture of always giving way to others, whether it is the door, or the roads. People horn to say ‘thank you’ more than to alert. There is no pushing or rushing at supermarket queues or anything. Greed comes after courtesy.

6) Strangers smile at you, not in a creepy way. When I was working in the small Cambridge town, I walk pass an old lady who go for a morning walk with her dog. We always exchange a smile, even though we never officially introduce to each other. In university, sometimes when I walk pass random strangers who stay at other halls, we smile and say hi too. Smile is the universal language!

7) Minimum racism. I had met Kiwis, Australians, Maoris and Pacific Islanders, who are all New Zealanders. They are all polite and welcoming to foreigners from Africa, China, Middle East and Malaysia. I never heard any racism remark or racist joke while I was there. The people are generally more open-minded and accepting to foreign cultures.

There are actually many more examples. These are some of my more memorable ones, those that I really miss since I came back to Singapore.

I don’t know if you can find all these ‘small deals’ in any other countries. You might, but you don’t know unless you try. All I can say that, all these are real examples that I experience.

rn to bsn online We have provided high-quality, affordable higher education rich in Jesuit tradition and with a focus on attention to one student at a time.
Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Internet Security Software Security products and services designed to be simple yet strong, so you can focus on growing your business.
organizational leadership degree It offers every student an atmosphere that welcomes respectful observation, analysis as well as debate.