Kiwi dreams - New beginnings

Angela and Scott McGrath emigrated to New Zealand in 2019 to a country the same size as their home state of Colorado, USA, with daughters Fianna, then eight, and Xenia twenty. Adrienne Matthews speaks to Angela and Xenia about the differences they have discovered between their home town Colorado and their new town Brightwater.

It’s my fault we’re in New Zealand. My great uncle had travelled here often and three different Kiwi families visited us during my childhood. I always enjoyed their easy-going outlook on life. While I was pregnant with Xenia, I did some research and I was determined I was going to live here someday. We wouldn’t have come without Xenia being on board with the idea, since I had brainwashed her from when she was a baby it was no problem, despite that we had never set foot ourselves in New Zealand before.

I was excited by the adventure. Six months earlier I had moved out of home and had a partner, but realised this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience another way of living in another part of the world with a different culture and new adventures. I just wasn’t going to pass that up - Xenia.

Our decision was largely based on the opportunities available for our kids here. Colorado was beautiful but my husband had graduated from Columbine High School not long before the massacre by two students in 1999, and gun violence was increasing all over the state. You never got away from the aftermath or the realities of regular shootings elsewhere. It feels so much safer here – Angela.

I attended Columbine and although there were beautiful memorials of the students and teacher who died, you could never forget because you were reminded every day - Xenia.

When we took the plunge and came over, we drove into Nelson and I said to Scott ‘honey, this is home’. My background in clinical pathophysiology and integrative healthcare allowed me to get work before I began my own business, Wild Wisdom, while Scott found a job as a diesel mechanic – Angela.

Fianna loves school here. In the USA kids sit at the desks most of the day. Here they get to explore the outdoors, have more social interaction, and it feels like their education is well-rounded and takes account of them being children. There are also so many opportunities for art and music experiences, something that has largely disappeared at home – Angela.

The integration with Māori culture is inspiring. Fianna has been learning Te Reo and Kapa Haka for four years and loves it. Most people who live in Colorado don’t have any interaction with indigenous people or their culture – Angela.

One of the biggest differences between the two countries is the cost of medical care. We had to remortgage our home three times in the USA to afford medical bills, despite having insurance. The cost of a ride in an ambulance was $2000, far cheaper to hire an Uber. A $48,000 operation here would be hundreds of thousands back home – Angela.

Kindness is everywhere here. It’s safe to know your neighbours and the local community mucks in to help out if someone needs it. Back home it was like everyone was out for themselves or their family, leading very self-focused lives – Angela.

Food here is expensive but amazing. Meat, vegetables and fruit actually taste like they’re supposed to. Even your junk food like McDonalds tastes like real food. Everything is less processed and has less sugar - Angela.

Unfortunately, it is extraordinarily expensive. My partner and I can’t always afford fruit and vegetables. You certainly have to eat seasonally, whereas at home everything is available all year round. I do miss the amazing Spanish and Mexican food – Xenia.

There have been downsides. People here assume that because I am American I must be a Trump supporter. They’re not backward in giving their opinion about the USA, and it’s often negative. There are some really beautiful things about America and the people are very resilient, but that gets overlooked - Xenia.

Shopping at the start was quite an experience. I went into the grocery store looking for the hair shampoo aisle and there were five shampoo options, vastly different from a whole aisle at home. Nothing in America is ever closed either, so that was a shock.

New Zealanders are much more conscious about the environment though. No matter where you live here you are never far away from nature and you are bigger on recycling. You also do composting, which is amazing – Xenia.

Coming here has definitely changed my life. There is much more work-life balance. When I arrived, I worked as a hotel receptionist and was terrified to ask for a few days off because you just don’t do that back home. I was amazed at the positive response I got from my boss when I finally plucked up the courage to ask. I have since found my dream job as centre manager of Gymnastics Nelson. It’s amazing to see kids having fun with what they’re doing there without the endless pressure on them to win. - Xenia.

Christmas here was a shock. It still feels very weird that it is hot on Christmas Day. It becomes a much larger event here being the start of when most people take their summer holidays. It’s certainly amazing to swim in the ocean at Christmas. - Angela.

In the USA you don’t feel like you have any say in the political system. The lack of corruption was another factor that encouraged our move here. It is amazing that you can easily talk to your members of parliament and feel like you have a say and your opinion or concerns are taken into account – Angela.

It is slowly starting to change, but young people in the USA have felt completely ignored by the political system – Xenia.

Nelson is our happy place. We feel so blessed to have been able to come here – Angela.