When I think of living boldly, one person comes to mind. That’s my good friend Morgan. 

We met in college, and became friends fast! We shared a lot of the same interests and always had so much fun! Morgan is one of my friends who is so loyal and so wise. I feel like I’m always learning something new from her. 

The truth is, I could have talked to Morgan (and shared with you) about many different topics but today I wanted to talk to her about living overseas in New Zealand.

Let’s start with the very first conversation she had about moving to NZ.

Morgan’s grandparents are from NZ and her mom still has family over there so they had always talked about going as a family. Part of the appeal of moving to NZ is the beauty there as well as the lifestyle it offers. Tons of outdoorsy adventures with walking paths/greenways EVERYWHERE, hiking trails all over the place and never being more than 3 hours away from the ocean. It’s always breathtakingly beautiful!

What were Morgan’s initial impressions of New Zealand once she got settled in?

Setting in took longer than expected and the first few weeks were really hard. But once settled in it really met all of her expectations. She and her husband envisioned getting to hike, travel, and explore quite a bit and they really did. 

One of her expectations of going to New Zealand was that it may be difficult to find a church. They didn’t really know what to expect in regards to church but they knew for sure there wouldn’t be one on every corner. They prayed that they would find a church that preached the Bible and that there would be people they could find community with. The Lord blew that expectation out of the water. They made really incredible friends and found a great church that truly took them in and became like family.

What were the cultural differences between New Zealand and America?

New Zealand has much more work life balance than we do here in the US. Starting out at a job you automatically get 4 weeks annual leave and you are encouraged to take all of it. It’s a slower pace of life in the sense that it is more relaxed. The people seem more patient because they are used to waiting for things (because it’s an island) unlike us here. 

One thing Morgan really loved about NZ is that they seemed to care less about appearances than the US. There was less of an emphasis on having nice stuff or having your home look like a pinterest board. 

One really big difference is that church is not a part of the culture hardly at all. If you go to church, it’s because you really want to be there.

How did her relationship with the Lord grow while she was in NZ?

When Morgan looks back the biggest thing she sees woven throughout her time in NZ is just the faithfulness of the Lord. He was with them every step of the way. He provided in ways that she didn’t ask for.

What was the most valuable lesson Morgan learned while in New Zealand?

She learned that she could do difficult things and be brave in ways that she didn’t know she could. Morgan learned a lot about her ability to step outside her comfort zone and not play it as safe. She realized that she was capable of doing more than she thought and that she didn’t have to be an introverted homebody who doesn’t go on adventures. She actually has it in her to do big things that the Lord calls her to.

What encouragement would you give to someone thinking about moving overseas or culturally different?

DO IT! You can always go back home. If you step out and do the thing, make the move, it will change you, and it will give you a new perspective. It takes a lot of time, effort, and even money. However, she believes it’s worth it!

Traveling and experiencing new cultures changes us for the better.

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