Visit the photo gallery : Armand

Armand came 4 years ago in Australia. First he was planning to travel and then to work to complete his training in the area of hospitality. He is originally from Beaujolais and then went to study in Lyon (France). He had heard about Australia a lot before from his friends, who all came back mesmerized. So ha had decided to see it through his own eyes. He ended at the top of the east Australian coast in Port Douglas (40 km up Cairns), poch seaside town, after a travel along the east coast with a friend, who then came back home (in France). That was his first travelling for a long period to live outside France, which has been positive, as he hasn’t come back !

Since that he has been working a lot to save money for travelling, among else in India, and then to build his own buisness. He has been working hard as a waiter, dishwasher, cook, which gave him a lot of experiences and to get quite quickly a position as a manager. He has done it in the hotel and restaurant « Hi Tide », by the sea in Port Douglas.

Since that Armand came back in France twice. His goal was at getting his residence in Australia because it’s now his country as well and he says that it brings him some safety : he is sure that he will always find a job and that it will be sunny and warm ! To achieve that he has been sponsorized by his boss (to get a visa to work which is quite expensive if not paid by a compagny if you stay for more than a year). After 4 years he had to pass an exam (which he found quite easy) about Australia (its geography, politics and so on). That’s it, he is now franco-australian.

He is going to travel for a year now and plan to come back in Port Douglas after that, where he thinks that he can find some work easily and where he can save money without difficulties. But plan can change quickly… Also he has some real and deep friend over there now, who have been like « family » during those years. Indeed although there is Skype (which allows to talk with a video through the internet) he is far from his true family. He has always been living with housemates which allowed him to meet a lot of people from all over the world. He feel totally well-integrated, among other reasons one is that australians are used to this mixe of culture.

He explains that to speak English was first really hard for quite a long time, and when he is tired or speaks with somebody who has a new accent to him he still find it difficult. But he is proud of his « French accent » which is very often considered as sexy. He also misses good cheeses, good wines and French gastronomy, and to stay around the table for eating for hours and then to talk about politic (very typical French). But he has met some friends with whome he can do so and can find some good products imported from France when he goes to Cairns in special shops (only problem : it’s very expensive!). It’s balanced with the amazing quality of life that he finds in Port Douglas : it’s very sunny and warm all along the year, the ocen is beautiful, people are relaxed, he is leaving less than an hour from the rain forest at Daintree and Cape tribulation, where he has seen crocodiles and this funny animal nammed cassowarrie. He is also living by the Great Barrier, which is a huge barrier with a lots of pretty corrals along the north east coast of Australia. And, he appreciates the fact that work doesn’t miss while he always hears the French to complain about unemployment.

Armand doesn’t forget his French ots, that he likes and claims. But today he feels more like a « citizen of the world ». if you go to Port Douglas he recommands to sit in a café and to observe, to look at the people walking, at the peacefull and cheerful atmosphere of this town. Then go for a boat trip to the great barrier to snorkle or to dive if you can. Try to get 2 or 3 days to camp at the rain forest in Cape tribulation, you are going to feel totally immersed by this wild nature.

Visit the photo gallery : Stephane

Stéphane is 40 and has been living in Australia for 7 years. First he wandered around the world sometimes on his own and sometimes with an Australian girlfriend that he met over there. They had two children and even though they are not together anymore they raise them alternately.

Stéphane's house, looks like one from the brothers Grimm's tales.

He has been living in Crystal Water for 5 years among kangaroos, wallabys and an amazing nature, where he is gardener and road-mender. This eco village (http://crystalwaters.org.au/) located at the east south of Queensland area in Australia (26 km from Maleny) was created about 20 years ago. There are about 200 houses and most of the population is part of the cooperative based on the permaculture principle. Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that is modeled on the relationships found in nature. It is based on the ecology of how things interrelate rather than on the strictly biological concerns that form the foundation of modern agriculture. Permaculture aims to create stable, productive systems that provide for human needs; it’s a system of design where each element supports and feeds other elements, ultimately aiming at systems that are virtually self-sustaining and into which humans fit as an integral part.

Stephane does the maintenance of the roads, fences and different common places of the village (600 acres). He also helps some people from the village to keep there house nice. He collects and grows

Wallabys are walking around

rare seeds of trees and acts to make them growing back in his area, the Queensland.

How do you feel about your emigration?

I am feeling great about it, I have build my life there with my children, friends and job. I would have done the same if I would have been in France.

He had learned about it while he was living there. He is very happy with his integration, probably thanks to the alternative way of life he is living. He believes that they all have a lot of common ideas, the way of thinking about life on topics like education or politics. Also there are many people who come from different parts of the world.

Nowodays, his life is bringing him more and more to the eco-agriculture, natural agriculture

After a swim in the river Stéphane helps his neighbours who have some troubles this day to move the cows to another paddock.

(Masanobu Fukuoka) “forest-garden” and common agriculture. He is one of the originator of the common vegetable garden and is part of the common dairy with six others, where everyday somebody different is coming to milk the cows.

Where are you from?

From the stars?! I was born in Châteaubriant, we used to live in Rennes for my 14 first years, then we moved around Paris, and then in the south west part of France.

Stéphane is doing his own garden.

Why did you decide to leave from France?

I originally left to improve my English speaking, I wanted to work there, but I first had only a tourist visa and couldn’t work in the field I wanted to work in (luxury hospitality). So then I have picked up fruits.

Have you had already lived abroad before?

Yes I used to live in England for 3 months where I was working in a hotel. Then I have spend one and a half months in Barcelona during the 92 olympics games, but my surroundings was mainly French.

Why did you choose Australia?

A friend came to visit me for a week-end when I was living in Rennes (France), he was with an Aussie woman,

Julia, I had just left my job and was thinking about going abroad to improve my English speaking. I wasn’t interested by the States and I had already been to England, so I was thinking about Scotland or Ireland. At the end of the week-end julia gave me her parents’ phone number in case I would get there. So I went there for 3 months then to New Zealand for 6 months and went again to Australia for 3 more months. The day I left I was thinking at the airport that my story there wasn’t over.

When I came back in France few things in me had changed, I felt a want to live in a different way I was understanding the world LIVING in a deeper sense. At this time it wasn’t really clear in my mind I was confused and was looking for answers to my questions. After few months spend at my parent’s I went to Scotland with one of my friend’s phone number. There I have been working for two months and left on a road trip, hitchhiking (France, England, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain) meeting people from different background and kind of life. I was randomly following the coincidences one after each others like if I was climbing up a stair. I went to Australia again with a 3 months visa but I couldn’t re new it so I came back to France, went to festivals, grapes harvesting, fruits picking up with a group of friends and with three of them I came back to Australia.

After a couple of months we took different roads. I stayed for sometimes with an aboriginal community, who helped me to get an extension to my visa, so I stayed with them for longer.

Everything started with a simple phone number during a meeting in France. So he went there but because he couldn’t get a visa he kept travelling for more than 4 years picking up fruits in both sides of the world.

It’s during his third visit in Australia that he met Zoe, the woman with who he shares two children.

What are you missing from France?

My family, some old friends with who I have lost contact and a part of the French culture.

He admits that sometimes he can miss a good French meal (yes… the famous cheese!), but he is satisfied here and balances that with all his activities, experiences and people he had met here.

Stéphane is using an old machine to select the « Acacia Macradenia » seeds. He keeps an artisanal way to work on this tresor. These seeds make trees with vivid yellow flowers and are natives from Australia.

The machine helps him to share the seeds from the wastes.

He sees his parents about once every two years and the rest of his family less.

He doesn’t think that he will go back to live in France, he is happy with his life over here. But he would like to bring his two children for about 6 months to show them his roots and to make them travel. He doesn’t go to France often (average of about every 3 years) and his parents came only once. He misses his mother but he had built and found a new family here.

He speaks English really well now, language that has come naturally throughout his travels. It helped that he used to live in England for about a year before he came to Australia. He heard about Australia while he was working as a waiter, then he decided to see it by himself. Once his visa expired he decided to stay. First the government refused to extend it, but the second time he got it.

What have you kept from the French identity?

Pleasures of the table.

Do you feel well about the language?

Yes totally. Humor and expressions are an endless discovery.

How many years did it take you do feel comfortable about it?

I cannot count with years, it depends with who and of the environment.

If you go over there he recommends you to come on a Saturday when there is the market. The farmers from the village gather to sell their fresh organic vegetables and fruits depending on the season, some honey, home-made cakes, bread cook in their common brick oven, a restaurant with vegetarian or healthy food, and Stéphane sells his seeds and young plants of unusual trees. Also you will enjoy listening the village band (Crystal Limba) that plays cheerful songs only on drums.

“North & South” magazine (NZ) on its June 2011 issue talks about the project.

Visit the photo gallery : Pierre

In his quiet and peaceful apartment Pierre is telling me his story. I’m feeling like I`m in a museum… Pierre’s hobby is aboriginal art and he has been collecting paintings, objects and sculptures for years that are decorating his cozy apartment. He is one of the first to pioneer the collection of this kind of art. But because he has moved out of his big house by the beach to a smaller apartment in the heart of the cultural capital of Australia, Sydney, he has had to sell a part of it. He is now 69 years old and has been living in Australia for 47 years. Here are his words…

I was born in Tourcoing (north of France) on 11^th of April 1942. I studied marketing and textile in a famous high school in this area, which was at this time the capital of French textile. Woolen industries of Roubaix/Tourcoing were famous all over the world. When I went into the army and a small woolen company who had a branch in Australia since the 1900’s has hired me.

When I turned 22 in 1964 they sent me to Australia (12^th Aug) with a 3 year contract that has been renewed again and again. And now, that’s an old story as I am still living here in Australia.

I had to buy wool in suint (from sheeps) at the trade market with the quality that was demanded by European clients. Markets were at the north of Australia : Sydney, New Castle, Goulburn and then Brisbane. I was travelling there by car or plane.

After 22 years the company closed so then I began working for our Australian broker on purchasing, and no longer selling wool. I had to deal with the French and Italian clients, as well as with Chinese, which led me to travel over there 8-10 times per year.

When I was around 50 years old I decided to work for myself in my house in a small office. The fax and mobile era gave me a total freedom. My house was by the beach. I was wearing shorts and had my feet in the send every day! I became an agent for Chinese government al Cooperations. and had my feet on the send ! I became an agent for Chinese government al Cooperations.

At age 56 and thanks to the Australian law I could access to my retirement funds.

My emigration has been a dream come true because I came here when I was 22 years old, with a 3 year contract and 2-3 months of holidays per year with expenses included. It does sound too good to be true! When I turned 27 I became the only person in charge of purchasing at the branch. I was often working 60 to 70 hours per week excluding transport hours. But I was my own boss. Every second year I would come back to France to visit the Head Office. And then when I was working for the Australian company I would go back to France every one or two years.

When I arrived here in 1964 the French community from the North of France was quite large. After two years of living here I realized that if I wanted to improve my Australian integration, I would need to keep myself separate from French community. In 1967 I met my partner Ken and we’re still living together after 44 years. Ken was studying pharmacy at Sydney University and he is now retired after owning several pharmacies.

Being gay in Australia during the 60’s never gave me any problems. I have been accepted by Ken’s family really quickly, although they are very conservative being from the north of France. My parents treated Ken like a second son and few of my uncles accepted him as family. We traveled often to France – last year for example we have been living there for 4 months (in Provence, south of France), we rented a country house in a small village.

Of course I missed my French family at first. But little by little it has been replaced by Ken’s family and our friends who come from Australia and all over the world (South Africa, Germany, Britian, Scottland, Irland etc), gay and straight. During our New Year Eve’s party for example there was 14 of us with 9 different nationalities, but we have all now become Australians !

Yes, I have kept my French passport but I don’t know why… I prefer to travel with my Australian passport now because when I’m travelling with Ken we both have the same. Yes, I have had the Australian nationality since 1975. So I’m voting (which is compulsory here, otherwise you get a fine) and I am following the Australian politics closely.

After so many years abroad I am now feeling fully integrated with such traditions as the Australian day or Anzac Day… when we are then having a time with our friends. For Anzac Day, we wake up early, at 3 a.m to go to the monument of the Unknown Soldier in Sydney for the emotional ceremony at 4 A.M. to commemorate the lost battle of Galipolli (Turkey) where millions of Australians and New Zealander volunteers have been. Because I’m coming from the Flandres where World War 1 (1914-1918) occurred and as Australia had suffered a great loss too, to be here during this ceremony has became a yearly obligation.

A message to people who want come to visit us in Australia… Leave your pre-existing judgments (racial, religious, sexual… and others…) overseas. You will feel lighter and born to live again.

The amazing tale of Dominique… Why has she been living in New Zealand for 29 years?

Visit the photo gallery :Dominique

Dominique Davaux has been living in New Zealand for 29 years, with John, her Australian husband.  I am interviewing her in the living-room, drinking some herbal tea (meadowsweet plants from her garden that taste amazing). John, who speaks a little bit French, is leaving after a little while because he has some work to do in the garden, and doesn’t want to disturb us. She takes time to tell me her stories and is looking for some French words that have ended to be hidden somewhere in her memory.  I have been living at their own place during this photo reportage and came back from it feeling like «new»!

Where about are you from?

I am from Vert-Galant, near Paris.

Why have you decided to leave France?

Because I’ve met John!  He came in France through a French friend that he met in India, who told him to come to visit him.  I was in a small village in the Tarn and Garonne area, where his friend was living too.

Have you already had the opportunity to live abroad before?

No.  And I had no intention to emmigrate; I didn’t know that I was a migrant. And I didn’t know at all whereabout was Australia and even less New Zealand! In the plane, during our first travel, on the stop-over in the Philippines, where it was stiflingly hot, I thought «but where are we going like that?  Aren’t we arrived yet? ».  Ahlala… naivety! If I would have known I wouldn’t have done it.  It was total wrecklesssness.

Why New Zealand?

It’s total random!  We arrived here in 1980.  We had been living for a year in Melbourne before, but John had enough.  Before that he had been travelling a lot through Asia, and couldn’t stand living in this big city.  The gap between what he had experienced before all along those travels before he arrived in France, and Melbourne was too big.  So we started to travel with a big car and a tent from there to the north of Australia, following the east coast, and also a little bit in the outback.  In Cairns we met Sheila, an American and John Hayes, an Englishman.  They were travelling in a campervan and showed us a photo album, where there was some building works that John Hayes had been doing, including a meditation hall in a Buddhist community in the bush, in the north of Sydney.  Just on the page nearby was a picture of a small house, and we asked about it.  They answered that it was their house in New Zealand, where they had been living for 3 years but they didn’t want to live there anymore, they wanted to sell it.  Then John said: «A house in the country, why not!».  So they made the transaction with a New Zealand solicitor that Sheila and John knew.

You hadn’t even seen the house?

No, just few photos! And we spent some time camping with this couple (we didn’t want to loose contact while the transaction was taking place in Waimate!). We visited some amazing parts of Queensland together. In October 1981 we went to NZ.  Once in Christchurch we first thought that it was horrible !

In Melbourne John was working as a roof layer and I was taking care of the baby, our first one, a little girl, Arwen.  To me, living in Melbourne was like coming back to the past:  I was living in Paris until I was 23, then I escaped Paris and went to live in la Baule with my first partner and then in the Lot-et-Garonne and in the Tarn-and-Garonne, where I learned gardening.  In Paris I

saw everything in black.  I was working in a library, where we had to clean all the books.  All this dust accumulated throughout the years… And this constent noise… But once I arrived here some things were missing: exhibitions, good movies, stone villages, talking with people… But in Melbourne it was actually different, not at all like Paris: the CBD is quite small, although there are many skyscrapers.  Around that there are suburbs.  So we needed a car, whereas in Paris I was walking everywhere.  In Melbourne, avenues seemed so huge, very wide, I couldn’t walk everywhere!  Although I saw many different cultures: for instance the chinese area, the turc, greek, italian, spanish, portuguese, vietnamese ones. It is a very dynamic city with lots of good food, if you know where about to get it.

So once we arrived in Christchurch we thought that there was nothing in comparison!  It was a cultural and gastronomical desert!  When we took the bus on the National 1, which was at this time empty: it was all straight, the road, the railwayline, electric lines and poles, and shelter belts of macrocarpa trees. We started to wonder what have we done??

But we found that people were so kind, lovely, helpful… We had contacts from Sheila and John, who told their friends that we were coming.  We even spent our first night at the lawyer’s house, with his family.  They all came the day after with brooms, vacuum cleaner, cloths and buckets to clean the house.  It was in Morven.  It was a settlement near the train station. In the early 20^th century it was a dynamic village with a grocery, a butchery, a bakery, a tea room (a cafe where people could drink a tea or coffee and eat a sandwich while they were waiting for their train to arrive).  But when we arrived there was already nothing left. Thanks to all the friends of John and Sheila, so kind, we thought that it was finally not that bad.  They asked an electrician to come to restart everything because the water supply was working with a pump.  And that’s it, little by little…

In April 1982 I came back in France for 5 months, 2 years after I had gone.  I was hoping to find something that could make me stay, but no, there wasn’t anything!  Of course it was great to see everybody again, but I found odd that there wasn’t really any

opportunity that could have made me stay… There was nothing at all, so I came back.  But it allowed me to escape the fisrt winter here, while John was freezing, working for a farmer.

Then we wanted to buy our own property, and not only a quarter acre! We wanted more land. We didn’t want to stay in this area because there was too much to restaure in this house that wasn’t really well done (no toilet, too rustic!).  In Waimate there are a few hills, it’s nicer, but Morven is very flat.  So we went travelling all around New Zealand.  It was in March 1983, it was raining a lot on the West Coast so we went to Nelson and Motueka then from the South Island to the North Island. We were going from a Real Estate Agent to another to visit houses. We saw some wonderful places but without finding our property, with the idea to make our organic farm.  At this period there was speculation around land for kiwi fruits so it was very expensive. We didn’t find anything during our big road trip, so we came back.

Then our son Raphaël was born.  Eventually in 1984, the lawyer that had helped us to buy our house from Australia found for us

a 15 acres block of land in Morven, where it is quite flat, but at least not too expensive! My parents came at Xmas 1985 when John was still building our new house, but that was their first and last trip to New Zealand because they found it too far away, they felt the journey was too long.

Once we moved in we had a flood, 13th March 1986.  The flood bank along the river broke.  It happened in our new house, while we were still unpacking. It took us several months to repair everything, and we had two small children, it was hard. Once that was done, we started our bio-dynamic business, but we needed a temporary organic certification.  Once a year we had a visit from the bio-dynamic inspector who also gave us advice.  Our neighbours, born and bred here helped us a lot as well; they taught us what we couldn’t learn from books. At the beginning it didn’t work really well, organic shops didn’t exist at this time and there were only a few cooperatives.  The trucking system didn’t help either.  But little by little laws were evolving and so delivery courier companies were allowed and started to be cheaper.  First we mainly had vegetables.  Some of these, people didn’t know, such as celeriac, lamb’s lettuce, Florence fennel, scalopinis.  People’s diet was not varied in those days.  We were also growing some Chinese and Japanese plants such as daikon radish, mizuna and giant red mustard.  We had to «educate» people.  I was sending recipes.  And little by little people were trying everything.  But carrots remained our main sale.

Then organics shops started to open everywhere and we also had a box system sent to individual customers living in isolated places.  For those customers I was also trading Demeter or Bio-Gro fruits or vegetables that we couldn’t plant ourselves (like

avocadoes and oranges) because of the climate. But we were trying not to spend too much energy with transports.

Along the years we also hosted several field-days or seminars on Organic methods, on Bio-Dynamics or Permaculture or maybe we had local gardening groups visiting.  We had students from the organic course of the Christchurch Polytech coming on their work experience.

Was it only both of you to do all of that?

At first, yes.  Then we had an employee 2 to 3 days per week.  She even looked after the place when we had to go to France or Melbourne.

We stopped the organic business and sold the property in 2004, which makes it exactely 20 years, because we could feel that it would be difficult to switch to a new type of occupation.  We wanted the property to keep its value, to stay clean and nice.  So we couldn’t really stay living there without the business.  To take care of this kind of property costs quite a lot.  For example after 15 years we had to cut the trees that took too much space or were giving too much shadow.  Arborists are expensive!  We had planted our trees according to permaculture books, but reallity is different!  We used a scrub-cutter around the gardens and mowed around the ornamental trees; we actually used quite a lot of petrol.  So we didn’t want to carry on like this, we thought that it was the right time to stop. We still wanted to cultivate our own garden, but somewhere smaller.  But once again the property market was inflated.  In two months, between March and May 2004, prices went up incredibly high.  So we had to rent a house on a farm for 3 years while we searched for a small block of land.  We wanted to create a Bed & Breakfast, with a large garden and orchard still using biodynamic methods.  We even made the house plans and the map of the landscaping. And John could have given yoga and massage classes. But we never found the right place in the right location; maybe we were too fussy and difficult.  Finally we decided to buy this house, in the town of Waimate where we are today, smaller with less land.  It is the first time that we live in a town since Melbourne in 1980/81.

Children were gone then?

Yes, during her last year of secondary education our daughter left for 11 months to France with a high school program, and then in 1997 when she came back she went to study and work in Dunedin.  Our son went to study in Nelson in 2001.

And are they now living in Europe ?

Our daughter left in 2001 and never came back.  I thought she would go to France because when she came back her level of French was quite good, but not enough to get her baccalaureat (equivalent to e-level).  But in France it is quite complex, so she went to England, where it is easier to find a job, and even easier than here.  It is easier about your level of studies and your diplomas, they trust you more. Also you can evolve in the companies quite quickly.  She met an Englishman from Cambridge and so she stayed in Cambridge.

And our son has travelled a bit. He went to work in Melbourne and spent time with John’s family.  Then he left to work in England from 2008 to 2010 with his New Zealander girl friend.  They visited Morocco, Venice, Prague, Vienna, Rome and of course Paris and my mother’s town in the South-West.  He has a French passeport, through me, an Aussi one through John, and

a Kiwi one, because he was born here, in Timaru.  So he could have stayed longer, but his girl friend couldn’t stay longer than 2 years with her New Zealand visa.

So he can get three passports?

Yes, but it’s interesting to see that John, as an Aussie, can’t have any other nationality.  He can’t have any other passport, whereas for children it’s possible to have Australian citizenship by descent as well as their original citizenship.

And you?

I made the application for a New Zealand citizenship in 2006.  It took me a while (laughing)! 1981 to 2006!  People were actually surprised to discover that I had not done earlier.  It was a very official ceremony in the town hall with the mayor in full regalia.  We had to swear on a bible and read the allegiance to the Queen.  We received a certificate and a gift of an alpine totara tree.

But are you still French?

Yes and I am travelling on my French passport.

There are some countries, such as the United States for which it would be easier to travel with your New Zealand passport, according to some agreements…

Oh yes! Indeed this is true.  But anyway, we are going only to France, England and Australia.

For Australia, as French I need to apply for a tourist visa whereas if I had a New Zealand passport I would not need it.

And when you first arrived here which were your possibilities to work here?

I was trained as a librarian in Paris but my English was still not good enough to work in this field here.  So I became self-employed and helped John.  I had the Australian residency, then the N.Z. residency.  But when we wanted to buy the property we needed an authorisation from the Department of Internal Affairs in Wellington, at that time. Maybe it’s going to be

like that again soon because there are more and more foreigners and companies who want to buy land in New Zealand, maybe too many. In 1983 we needed authorisations.

How do you feel about your emigration?

Pffff… It’s too far away!

The worse was in 1984 when the Rainbow Warrior bombing occured.  People in this district were just saying lots of jokes, but we know a French guy who had serious trouble in Christchurch.  French people suddenly had a bad reputation and French products were boycotted.  Plus one of the three responsible agents’ name was Dominique (Prieur)!

Our only long trips to France were in 1990 and 1998.  It was for 4 to 5 months, to get enough time to visit all the family and old friends, to get used to the culture and language again, to have enough time to enjoy it, the way of life and all.  But in 2003, 2007 and 2010 we could not stay in France for more than 5/7 weeks and we thought that it was really too short for the expense.

What are you missing from France?

Now I am ok, I’m a hybrid.  Now I know New Zealand and its history better.  But I still miss nice villages, castles, the remnants of Greco-Roman or even older architecture, exhibitions, the language (apart French from Paris because I don’t like its accent, but I really like the one from the south west of France for example).  I was good at French and French literature at School so it was quite a grief not to have this anymore.  I realised that I was identified by all these things and had to slowly reinvent myself, I suppose.  About food it’s ok because we can find good bread now, croissants, good olive oil, but when we first arrived… no!  Wine was expensive and imported.  But New Zeland has changed a lot which makes things easier.  But there is still not much history…

And family?

Yes it has become difficult, especially with my mum who is getting old and and who can hardly move now… Also I have never

really known my nephews, or the opposite: they have never really known me.  And I’ve missed it a lot.  If we would have lived in France our children could have gone on holidays together for example.  My sister has four boys but they have never come here.

Last time we were in Paris, for the first time one of my nephews suggested he might come over. But he has already gone to Japan, so he is more into travelling than the others.

This year we have met a young French student in organic husbandry, Pierre.  And he had an internship period in the Lot-et-Garonne, where I was living for some time and he knew some people that I knew in 1977.  And randomely we’ve met here.  Pierre was really amazed by the coincidence, well me too.  He stayed in New Zealand for a year and with us here for a week and is leaving soon.  He had 3 or 4 people that came to visit him!  He is the same age as our son and we have developped the same kind of relationship as auntie/uncle to nephew.

Also nowadays communication has improved a lot, with Skype we can talk with the family, it isn’t less frustrating than it used to be?

Yes, for us when we were travelling in Australia in 1980/81 the only way to communicate with our parents was to send mails to poste restante, and we had to tell on every letter where we would be next to get the answer in another city!

What have you kept from your national identity?

I’m wondering!  I should ask our friends!

Probably some expressions and interjections and a bit of an accent.

While I was talking with a Japanese friend I also realised that my vision of the world is very «eurocentrical», whereas his is «asiacentrical».  When he is talking about learning more about his neighbours he would talk about Malaysia for example.

Whereas I see everything from the Western Europe point of view.

How do you feel integrated about the langage?

About that I do, now.  But for a long time I had trouble with the accent (stress accent), and it still happens sometimes nowadays.  For years I hated the glazed stare of people who wouldn’t understand me.

How long did it take you to really feel well-at-ease?

15 years at least!  And before I could feel totally bilingual 20 years!  And I was good at English in High School, it was my favourite subject.

How do you feel integrated with politics?

Well, I am a member of the green party, I have always been part of the ecologist movement, but while I was living in France there wasn’t any green party.  Here this party gathers always at least 7% of the votes, here it’s the third party.

How do feel integrated to the life here?

Good, I am part of a gardening association.  I don’t really like how it works: with a president, a secretary, a treasurer.  Meetings can be formal. But we know lots of people now in the district.  That is the advantage of the fact that we haven’t moved too much.

We have some american friends that have been moving so much that we are wondering how they can get roots and know some people really well?  I like the fact that I know how to find help easily to resolve any problem, for example.

How do you feel involved in New Zealand traditions?

I find them less colourful.  But I assume that it’s the same everywhere.  Because of urbanisation traditions get lost, it’s less and less colourful everywhere…

For example?

Public parties, such as balls.  Like the 14th of July (National Bastille day) street balls doesn’t exist here.  And all that come from religions. I think that a lot of things got lost while pioneers travelled by sailing ships, because it took at least 3 months by boat, and then they were isolated from their original civilisation.

However there are architectural buildings here which kept British style.

There are also the traditional Fish & chips on Friday evenings, pubs, but I don’t like pubs!

When we first arrived there were no cafes but since about 10 years lots of them have opened.

Have you ever felt any kind of discrimination?

I have been affected by the Rainbow Warrior (Green Peace) drama.

As long as we were self-employed it was all right but when I’ve tried to find a job it has been much more difficult.

My name on my resume -Davaux, I’ve kept my maiden name-, that nobody can pronounce was wrong.  When I had to fill in forms about my studies I couldn’t find any equivalence and nobody knew my schools, so people didn’t consider that I had a diploma.

Do you live surounded by French people?

No!

And other foreigners?

Yes, our friends are often foreigners (Americans, Canadians, English, Deutch), or people who have travelled a lot.  We tend to hang out with people who have been working in the organic//biodynamic field or who are doing yoga, or who are artists.

Locals?

Yes, a few, neighbours…

Do you have the project to come back to live in France?

Sometimes we think that «yes»!  But because John has his mother who is living in Melbourne, 3 hours by plane only, we couldn’t leave, she wouldn’t understand.  We are used to live here now.  In France it wouldn’t be easy either because I am not sure that John could have the residency to live over there.  But after the big flood we had in March 1986 and with this cold wind from the

south, the sharp breeze from the east, I was thinking that living in France would maybe be better!  But we don’t really want to start all over again in Australia either. At least here we don’t have any fire risks like in Victoria.

Do you feel more French or world citizen?

Maybe both… It’s difficult to answer.

Why have you asked for the kiwi nationality?

Just in case, because for some time there was lots of movement against foreigners.  Also, as I am now closer to retirement than when I arrived here in Waimate I was scared that laws on retirement pension would change for foreigners.

How often do you go back to France?

The first time was in 1982, 2 years after I left from France, then 8 years later in 1990 (with the children), but it was too long.  So many things had changed, even the language!  And then 8 years later again (just with our son Raphaël), which was again too

long!  My family had changed too.  My grand-mother had died in between.  My father was very ill.  I had lost touch with good friends.  And then it was 5 years later in 2003, which was a better time frame.  Then 4 years later, we did an effort for my mother 80’s.  And then 2 years later, this year 2010 (because our daughter had twins in Cambridge) which was better, it was closer.  But the problem is the cost.

Aurélien is engineer for DHI (Danish Hydrolic Institute). He modelises rivers, he studies river floods, river pollution, and data with models to know how rivers are represented (flow, level…). He analyses to find sensitive places of the rivers in order to know where to build protection walls… In New Zealand there is a high need in this area because many kiwis who have been studying it are leaving to work in Australia where they can get better pay and enjoy the sun more !. In his company, more than half of his colleagues are foreigners.

Visit this new photo gallery:Aurélien

Can you explain to me your work, how did you end up here ?

I was doing an internship in France. At the end of it, I’ve been looking for some work, but without wanting to stay in France. So I’ve send my resume to different fields in the same company, all over the world world, with the hope of going to South America, or Asia or Spain. But I have finally ended up here, a little bit randomless ! They were looking for someone with my profile, so I taught « why not ! », and after a month I was there !

… No time to think !

Mostly no time to really ponder. If I would have asked myself too many questions I think that I would actually have never come. That was like a reflex in me : « yes or no » !

… But were you also interrested by this job ?

Yes but I could have done it anywhere else. I think that if I would have tried to balance what was for and against, too many things would have kept me in France. I have gone thinking « I’m going there, trying, and I’ll see ! ». Now i think that it was a really good idea, I have no regrets.

And so you are leaving to Malaysia in a month ? (he told me before the the interview)

Yes because I’m currently growing in my job : I was looking after rivers but now I’ll take care the ocens (ports, beaches…). But the only qualified personn here is aver booked so he hasn’t had time to teach me. There are many qualified people over there that can train me.

Can you tell us your life here since you arrived : searching for an appartement and so on ?

The problem of my company is that it’s out of downtown. So I’ve fisrt been looking for a place close by, in the suburbs. But New Zealand is a quiet country. Although Auckland is dynamic city , out of town it’s really quiet. So, because I got bored of living in the suburbs, although I was sharing the flat, after 6 months I’ve decided to move on. Nothing happend in the evenings : tv, work… Since I’m living in the city centre, it’s getting better : I have a social life. I first moved in to a big house with 20 people, where I was hanging on more and more to see my friends, go out, until I finally moved on. And few months later I’ve moved again into a new and beautiful and cheap house, well-situated. But I’ll move again to another place beacause these two french friends are going to live in Canada soon.

I’ve noticed that compared to when I used to study abroad, it’s much more difficult to meet new people now that I’m working. As a student I was constently meeting new people, I had always activities going on, but now that I’m in front of my computer 8 to 10 hours per day, to meet people is requiering much more effort.

And so do you meet people while your are doing activities ?

Actually there is a huge turn over in New Zealand, I have very good friends for 6 months- 1 year, and then they are leaving. So I realize that many people are leaving and I’m wondering if I shouldn’t be leaving too ? The problem is that all the people I’ve met are meant to leave one day or another. Having talked about it to some friends who are living here for a while, it seems to be really common. They all told me that after a year, a year and a half living in New Zealand, everybody is leaving, but they have finally met more and more local people. The problem is that this relationship takes a while to build and I don’t really have a group of local good friends yet.

What are you missing from France ?

I’m missing three things : family and friends. But for that, when you are living abroad you know that you can’t avoid it. Then, the food, and… Social advantages ! It could seem to be silly but to work 35 hours per week, the retreat and so on are things that I don’t have here. And because I don’t have the citizenship here, my social situation is different. I have only 4 weeks per year of holidays…

Are there fundamental French things that you’ve kept in you ?

It’s difficult for me to see what is finally being « French »… Sometimes I meet Chinese people with who I havelots of things in common , and French people with who I’m feeling really far away in our way of thinking. It’s a little bit difficult to explain… But the more I meet new people, the more I’m wondering what being French means. When I meet French people, of course, I’m feeling closer to them because we are having the same references (films, music etc) but at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter, we all have the same values.

Do you feel that because you’ travellled quite a lot before ?

Yes maybe… I have actually been studying in England for two years, in London and then Newcastle. Between both, I have been studying for a year in Spain (ERASMUS – it’s the name of an european university exchange). I have also done a semester in Hongaria (Hungry?) and an internship period in India. All these experiences were really amazing.

And what’s in the futur ?

In a short term, I would like to go to Spain, but not now because of the ressession, there is not much work. It’s really nice, I had some great time overthere. To me Spain is like France, but better !

So you don’t plan to stay in New Zealand for a long time ?

Actually it’s 50-50… I’m giving myself until September, to see if I can feel like at home. And if in 6 months I’m not feeling well-integrated in the country, then it will mean that I’ll have to go. But New Zealand is a great country where it’s nice to live . It’s part of the culture to have a social and professionnal life well-balanced, and people are really more relaxed than other countries.

What make you say that you are not really integrated ?

I have more foreign friends than kiwi friends. Also I’m not feeling like living the kiwi way of life, which is manly based on sport (rugby, running, surfing…) and there green week-end in their countryside houses. But also what does « live like a kiwi » mean ? I don’t really have any answer to that either…
As a foreigner I’m not feeling really pat of this society, I don’t have enough kiwi friends to feel part of the New Zealand life.

Have you ever been victim of discrimination ?

Discrimination, not really. It’s a Western country, New zealand is a young country with lots of foreigners. Kiwi people are really open minded and opposite to France, which has 2000 years old of history, here everybody is more or less a foreigner. The funny thing is that they really like France but hate us as well ! It hasn’t been lots of excehanges between NZ and France, they are mainly the Rainbowwarrior, nuclear tests… And in these stories French people didn’t take kiwis seriously… So these subjects are often showng up during conversations.
In France discriminations are much more important than here, and I don’t miss it !
Kiwi people are really lovely and honnest. For instance when you are going in a shop it happens that the seller tells you not to buy the product here because it’s cheaper somewhere else !

How often do you go back to France ?

I’m trying to go back once a year for a month. But because I have only 4 weeks of holidays per year it doesn’t leave me enough time for travelling and to really enjoy New Zealand. But I’m taking one week of holidays in NZ, and there are some long week-ends as well…

How is the atmosphere at work ?

Here it’s really relax, kiwi people finish their daya t 4pm…
Photography in the gallery : We cannot display this gallery

See the photos : Benoit

Can you tell me your story « before New Zealand » ?

I’m originally from north of France (Lille). I have aldways been attracted by travelling. While I was studying (which level, university?) I’ve traveled as much as I could. I had a 6 months internship period in Bavaria (Germany) and in Canada (Montréal).

Does that mean you speak fluent german then ?

Yep, a bavarian-german !

Then in 1999 I came back to France and worked. It didn’t go well with me, but in 2001 I’ve become a consultant and have been sent all over Europe. It saved me beacause in Paris I felt I ws dying. So I went again to Bavaria in 2001, to Austria in 2002, to England in 2003…

Did you go back and forth or did you live over there ?

I left on mondays and came back on fridays, slept in hostels. I’ve also been to Swiss, Belgium, Spain… We’ve had moved on from Lille. In 2005 it started to become difficult for my relationship, to build something lasting, so I’ve stopped this job. I knew that I wasn’t interrested in staying in France. I am with Seb, my partner, for 13 years but he isn’t a big fan of travels… Whereas for me that was necessary. We finally agreeded on the fact that we’d move away. We first thaught about staying in Europe, I wanted to live in Stocklholm, and he wanted to go to Barcelona. But for him short days in Sweden couldn’t have worked and for me Barcelona was a too big of a city. So we compromised on Munich (Germany). But while we were talking with a friend we realized that if we wanted to have a new start it was better to do it somewhere we both really wanted to be. So we finally decided to go to New Zealand. That was really a dream destination.

So in 2005 we arrived in Wellington (for the first time), we gave us 3 months to see how we liked it and if we could find some work. We have both been 100% happy. We came back to France in december for Christmas and to pack up our staff. In january 2006, we were in Wellington with a job and living in the house where we still are.

Everything happened really fast then !

Actually we fisrt rented the house and have started to buy it since the beginning of the year.

And so is your life here ?

Well, first my goal was to travel. When I was talking about it with my parents they weren’t really happy to see me going that far away… but I had the experience of Canada (while I was studying) and could remembered that after a while I needed to come back. So I told them that we would stay here for 2-3 years and then probably come back. But we didn’t excpect such a good life here and that we would feel so good. It has been 5 years now. I think that if we go back to France, it will be because of the circumstances. However, to live closer to the family by living again in an European country, why not. Well, we’ll see.

How do you find your integration ?

I find the mentality here really easy, very welcoming, very flexible. I am fascinated by the kindness of the people here. To explain better what I am feeling here I will explain how I perseve things in France, where I feel that sometimes the way the society is going, the way relationships are organised have made us forgotten about a kind of humanity. Sometimes we forget why things have been made in such or an other way. I understand better the society here, it matches better with my sense of self. Here there are as many indian people, as european people, as asian people… So naturally there are not as much identity matters as in France.

Are you talking about rascism ?

Yes about rascism, segregation… Here evreybody is coming from somewhere else. Even « natives » kiwis have actually foreigners grand-parents. People I’m hanging out with here are danish, english… I even have the feeling (although it sounds crazy !) that there is a better european integration here than in Europe itself ! where we are questionning a lot…

A day during a meeting at work, we’ve realised that we were all from a different origin around a table of 10 people, without any kiwi !

So in terms of integration I find it really easy.

What are you missing from France ?

First of all my family and friends. It would be so nice sometimes to share a beer with people from there here ! Also traditionnal sundays with the family… But nowadays there are subsitutes, with Skype for exemple, but it doesn’t replace all.

When I went to live in Canada it was the IRC (connection via a modem). We were writting a line and it took a while to come. It

was really frustrating. And phone was very expensive. Now it’s much easier : yesterday I was talking to my mum and could ask her opinion about the color of the house wall that we’re gonna paint again. But it’s still not the same as being together around a table, to share a pic nic, or some time together…

I’m not complaining about food here but French food is still French food ! New Zealanders are becoming more and more gourmets but my dad is a great cook and you can’t replace it !

Otherwise I don’t miss the French mentality. However I don’t throw everything away. We have for exemple, without no hesitation, the best social system in the world, although we are still complaining about it.

What have you kept of your « national identity » ?

I find it really difficult to feel like « belonging to one country ». I used to feel like european, but that wasn’t really it. I have been

travelling so much that I’m not feeling really linked with a country. My education is French of course. But today I’m feeling more like a citizen of the world.

At work my reaction are often more « bloody » than most of all, and I think that it’s my latin heritage ! It can be a problem as I’m getting easily angry, I’m imposing myself. Whereas that here things are done more by « shapes ». To make a kiwi be angry at you need to really push him !

But now, I’m 33, have spend 5 years here, which is 15% of my life, a thing that I can’t neglect. Living abroad is an obvious fact to me, so if we would have to come back to Europe, we would prefer to live in another country than France. Cultural exchange has become really important to us. It could be in Irland, Scottland, Bavaria… Somewhere with lots of nature !

The funny thing is that the French I’m hanging out with here are coming from different horizons with sometimes very different personnality than me, and maybe that if I would have met in France we would have never become friends, and have anything to talk about. But we are sharing a similar opening of the mind, an interrest for what is « besides ». It’s very enriching.

Do you feel well-integrated to your new town, the country, a local community, its culture, language, traditions ? …

I’m feeling well-integrated. I have first been astonished by the fact that after 3 months I was living here I got a letter to subscribe to vote for the next elections ! They’ve asked me my opinion, to participate, which I’ve found unbelieviable ! It was a sign. Here the population is so divers that I’m feeling like a piece of the puzzle.

There are, however, white people (« pakeas » as mauris said), and maoris people who aren’t really going together. I think that’s a shame.

But compared to some other communities in France that are not well-integrated or arboriginal in Australia, it isn’t that bad.

About my activities here I have opened a café two years ago, nammed « Mon Ami », downtown.  As I’m working in the informatics area that was a new experience for me. We opended in September 2008 but the recession arrived two months after. The beginning was really positive, but we had to close after 2 years because of the recession. Formal matters are really easy here, nothing as complex as it is in France ! Thanks to this experience I’ve met lots of people.

I’ve also been involved with re introduction of kiwis (birds) in the nature around here. I went to pick the traps up (hedges, ferrets, small rodents…) for 6 months.

I have also played rugby. But as I’ve started when I was 30, whereas they start when they are 6 here, it wasn’t easy ! I really enjoyed the atmosphere, but had a big back injury. So I had to stop sports for a year. But I still have been playing for a year and a half. I’ve never had to spend that much time in the emergency ! It’s a very typical aspect of the life here. The welcoming was great, the team had integrated me right away.

And then I’ve opened the café, which took all my time, as I was still working as a programmer during the day.

What’s about the English language ?

I already spoke English for several years so I wasn’t worried about it. But kiwi accent is quite difficult to understand ! I have a story about it… When I’ve joined the rugby team I first didn’t understand them at all. So when they asked me something I used to answer « yes » more or less to everything. A day I’ve been thus taken on the yearly rugby trip. Five months after I said yes, they told me « It costs that much, we are leaving next week-end to Australia ! ». As I didn’t know how it would be I have been surprised !  A lot of alcool, a very touristy place… Unbeliviable experience ! Bayley’s in my coffee at 4 a.m. It was tough (lol !) At 2 p.m I was waisted !

Have you already felt any discrimination ?

Once, last Saturday, first time after 5 years. I went to rent a car, have shown my French driving licence, that is usually accepted everywhere here (and by the law). But because it was a French ID he didn’t want to take it. But it’s a minor problem.

Otherwise we are regularly teased about rugby, the Rainbow warrior, but it’s not discrimination, it’s more like a game.

Do you live surrounded by French or people from all over the world ?

All over ! lately because I’ve been very busy with the café, my network hasn’t really grown, as I was working all the time ! When I first arrived I maybe had more foreigner friends, and lately more French friends. Probably because I was looking for something easy.

There is a kiwi family with whom we are really close. They have helped Seb to improve his English, and then we’ve become friends. We are sharing a common passion, which is sailing. We are going for expeditions together sometimes. Our fisrt Christmas here was with them, which was very important to us.

How often do you go back to France ?

Until now the longest we haven’t come back was for a year. We went back on July 2010 and 2009. And we are going for about 15 days to 3 weeks. We used to try to come back every 9 months but because of the cost we can’t really afford it anymore. Also here we are having only 4 weeks of holidays per year so I have to ask for unpayed holidays.

And finally… Do you have any recommandation to give to people who would come to visit New-Zealand ?

What to recommend ???!!! Most of my favourite places are in the South Island. I like Karamea because of this « Nowhere » feeling that it brings while I’m overthere. I like Still water bay, for the same reasons.

Catlins is an amazing place too, but for people who have lots of time, so it goes slowly overthere.

Finally if you want to visit the fjords in the Fiordland, I recommand to go to the Doubtful Sound by kayaking, from Te Anau, at least for 2 days. I shouldn’t tell it because it may bring people, but really it’s worth it, and it’s not really expensive either, and you don’t need to be super  fit to do so, just reasonnably fit.

“Sunsets…
Clichés, so…
Have they all been photographed? Same but never the same? Uniques, to come and come again…
They are here and remind us the time, and all horizons of the earth.
We can’t create them.
They are inviting theirself,
and settled.
Futurs mornings of the world.”

Stani Chaine translated by Anaïs Chaine

Visit this new photo gallery:New zealander sunsets,

To see the photos of the report clic on LAURENCE RE, or see them on the galerie menu (on the right of this page under portraits-reports).

It was the Sunday 6th of June at Chantal’s place where Laurence lives. It is summer in France, winter here. A beautiful house from where we can see the sea, a luxury of many villas in Auckland. Laurence has been living in New Zealand for 2 and a half years, after having spent 24 years of growing up in Paris.

Can you explain us your situation here ? For how long have been in New Zealand ? What was your way like since you arrived here ?

I arrived at the beginning of the year in 2008 with a Working Holiday Visa for a year. This 1st year I’ve been travelling all over the country. In order to survive, I did lots of different jobs for short periods of time, such as working in a supermarket, picking up fruits and vegetables, cleaning houses, selling pieces of art in an art gallery… My resume had doubled in length in a year !

After that year, when I was moving to a new place every three months (Wellington, Queenstone…), I was tired and needed to settle somewhere. So I came to Auckland in January. Because I come from Paris I needed to live in a big city, and I have also choosen Auckland because my uncle in living here. I have found work as a caregiver for autistic or paralysed people. I was a nurse in France but I couldn’t do it here because my diploma is not valid. I should have passed some exams, but I was not really up for it. So I have worked for several kiwis families, including some maoris ones. I stayed sometimes for 24 hours at their place. It made me know how they really live, their culture, their way of life, education, … It was a really nice experience. I could learn about our social and cultural differences, between them and where I am from.

Until a day when one of my friends who studies cinema came to visit me, I didn’t see myself clearly. It had triggered something in my mind about this whole life situation.. Indeed, being a nusre wasn’t really what I wanted to become. Since I was a child I always had in mind the idea of working in the fashion arena.

So I have started to study Fashion Technology at New Zealand Fashion Tech for 6 months. I am following 3 different classes : the first teach me the technical aspect, then I will learn how to make patterns and finally I will learn how to create my own brand of cloths.

Where have you been living during all this time ?

While I was travelling I was sharing houses with different people.

Same when I first arrived in Auckland. It’s very common here. Then I have moved into my own flat. It was the fisrt time in my life that I was living by my self.

Since I have started to study again I can’t pay for that anymore. So I am living with Chantal and her husband. Chantal is French (with a French father and an american mother), who has been living here for 16 years. Her husband is English. I’ve met her when I arrived in Aucland through the French network : there are some drinks organized by a French association who gather the French aucklanders aiming at greeting the new arrivals.

Why did you decide to leave France ?

Because I could not stand my work and the stress anymore. I was working in the cardiology departement. In two years I could see my amount of work considerably increasing, but of cousre not the pay. In France nurses are not respected for what they do. It disgusted me.

I needed to change everything. I wanted to go away, to travel, to experience the unknown… That’s it !

Did you leave France before that ?

The summer before I came here, I went to Canada for a month, by my self, on holidays. It was my first step towards this adventure ! When I came back to France, I felt very quickly that something was wrong. I realised that I was too young to live the life I had : « metro, boulot, dodo » (french expression to say that you are into a routine, litteraly translated by: go to the metro, go to work, and go back to sleep before you’ll do it again and again).  Three weeks later I gave notice at work that I was living.

About administration, what allows you to stay here more than the traditionnal Working Holidays Visa ?

I am here now as a student. During the 2^nd year I will be half on holidays, half on internship periods. I eventually hope to be sponsored by a company to stay more.

Would you like to become a resident ?

Not really… After my studies I would like to stay maybe for a year or two, and then come back to live in Europe or to live maybe in an other country. But you never now what tomorrow will bring. I planned to stay here for 4 months and I ended up being here for more than two years now.

What are you missing from France ?

I don’t know… It’s a way of life, a culture, family, food !

It’s not like I haven’t lived and grew up in a country for 25 years. I am still feeling connected to France. I keep in touch with my family, we are talking often on the internet.

I am thinking about coming back later, when I’m ready to stay in one place, have children, make a family.

My experience as a nurse taught me that life can be very short. So I am trying to seize the day as much as I can. For now I am feeling good here. I am enjoying living abroad. I am learning new things every days. It’s difficult for me to stay in a routine.

Heaps !! To me New zealand is a very young country, multicultural, which keeps evolving and changing thanks to this huge number of different nationalities. Asian, indian, polynesian, maori people and so on.

Wheras France is deeply established in its history, its culture, that doesn’t change as fast as here.

Kiwis people are really welcoming and nice. But it’s difficult for me to create deep friendships such as some that I can have with French people or other foreigners that I’ve met here.

How do you live your emigration ?

Really well ! I am enjoying the relax aspect of New Zealand.

And so do you have more french friends ?

I know many French people, indeed. And we all know each other, more or less. We hang out together a lot. It’s maybe a kingdom of fraternity.

What have you keep from your « national identity » ?

I consider that when you are growing in a country you keep its identity for life. Education stays in you. Our early years are fundemental. I am feeling French before any other nationality.

Do you feel intergrated in your new country, new town, its politics, local communities, cultures, language, its traditions ?

Yes I like Auckland very much. I was missing the sea when I was in Paris. Here you can see it where ever you are. It makes me feel like if I am always travelling.

About politics I have never been really involved into it in France and it’s the same here.

About culture, I realize that I start to be impregnated by it… through little silly details ! Such as getting into a jogging suit to go to work, open a bottle of wine by unscrewing it… To spend lots of time to text people because it’s too expensive to call people. To drink a glass of wine when I am going out in a pub (in France I used to have a beer or a cocktail, wine is for dinner), to wash dishes without rinsing them ! I don’t really know !

About the language I speak the « franglish » ! The first three months where quite difficult, but now it isn’t a problem anymore. Sometimes I forget some words, but it’s ok.

Have you ever felt any disrimination ?

Yes, once. I was working in a vineyard, and one of the employers didn’t pay us . After a month I went to threaten him, telling him that I would file a complain with the work council if he wouldn’t pay us, and that it was not because we were foreigners that he didn’t had to pay us. The day after I had the money on my bank account !

But I think that French are really well- integrated and that kiwis are very welcoming.

Do you live surrounded by local people or foreigners ?

Not at home ! But I am the only French in my class at school.

Do you feel more French or a citizen of the world ?

I don’t know… I would say more French in my soul and DNA, and a citizen of the world in my way of life…

How often do you come back to France ?

I came back only once since I have left. It took me quite a while to be able to make a step in the other way.

Bonus question : what advice do you give to people who want to visit New Zealand ?

If you like nature that is where you have to come !

I like being surprised by heavenly landscapes that come up totally unexpectedly after having driving for one hour for no special reason.

To do something simple : to make a barbecue on the beach.

My favourite place : Cathedrale Cove in the Coromandel (north island).

Project of photo reports and interviews with french migrants telling their success stories, somewhere else in the world, in 2010.  Just when the french government carries a debate on national identity…

Contact me : contact@anaischaine.com