Well hoba...listen up. You are exactly the kind of New Zealander that your compatriots are appalled to be associated with. It is 9.30 on a Sunday morning and I was just checking the essays that have been submitted and up comes your pitiful 'poor global me trapped in the Antipodean wilderness' drivel.To establish my credibility in comparing oranges to oranges...I live in Auckland too and have done so for...ooohhh...44 years. So...no tourist here. Just someone that knows something (probably more than you in fact, seeing as you sound like a whingy adolescent) about taxes, bills, transport and...oh...what are those other things? Oh that's right...reality and a little gratitude.First up...good luck on finding somewhere else in the world that can satisfy your "I Deserve More" attitude. The paradise of Atlantis sank long ago, and I doubt that they (or anyone else for that matter) would have appreciated your bleating. You have certainly been around the NZ sheep FAR too long...baa baa. Newsflash...every place in the world has its drawbacks...from sexism to racism to war to environment to unpleasant individuals to Government legislation...your naivete is indeed telling. I have in fact travelled extensively, and have loved aspects of each country I have visited, but am certainly not ignorant of the benefits of the beautiful, cosmopolitan, practical and conscience-filled country that I am a proud citizen of. To further underline this, my brother is a globe-trotting and famous sound engineer, who is on his 17th passport, and he has chosen to bring his 5-year-old bilingual French daughter back here to be educated in West Auckland, despite owning a stone-walled chalet in the South of France and an apartment on the Champs d'Elysees. Hmmm.As for your pathetic Top Ten...it is obvious that you feel you merit more leniency and tolerance than anyone else...generosities you are not prepared to afford to others.Fines? Stop screwing up then. I make sure that I have a current WOF and rego, don't speed or park illegally, and observe the legal requirements of not being violent or taking illicit drugs. You are either arrogant (or INCREDIBLY stupid and blatant in your disregard for the law)if you are being continually censured by the police. The NZ Herald reported that there were only 4 constables and 1 sergeant on duty in the whole Waitakere City region last week...and yet YOU seem to incur their wrath. Lighten up dimwit...if the charges were unfair, you should appeal. If not...shut up and pay up.As to your sad lament of working 12 hours a day but not having the money for a puny airfare to Australia...you are obviously spending far too much money on consumables and have absolutely no understanding of the power of saving. A one-way ticket (like we would WANT you to return) to Sydney costs $284...hardly a daunting sum (although if it is WAY outside your ill-organised budget I would be HAPPY to pay that just to get you out of here.)May I hazard the opinion that you are unhappy because you are unfulfilled? Is it love that eludes you? (surprising as you seem like such a happy and generous-spirited catch?) Do us all a favour and get yourself laid...it's amazing what a good dose of endorphins will do for lightening your mood.Or is it that you are lacking in professional success? 'Marketing' sounds suspiciously like those sad door-knockers selling pizza or video club special memberships. I am a high school teacher...a profession notorious for its low salaries...yet as I am doing what I love, I see no need to complain. I suggest you look within rather than without for your happiness. Find a job that you are good at, where you are enhancing rather than detracting from the world...it is not anyone else's role to do this but yours. That is what we are all here to discover...what it is that brings meaning to our lives. Find out and find out fast.As for bills and tax...wake up and smell the coffee. They are a fact of life. There is NOTHING in ANY dogma (religious or political) that states that you get everything you need to survive without making some kind of return. Maybe you believe that you are some sort of special case...and that all us other grateful tax and bill payers should somehow subsidise YOUR lifestyle. However I doubt that you would find any willing volunteers, considering your current approach. Hmmm...what's that saying in my mind? What goes around comes around? What's the bet that this adage falls on deaf ears.And as to the drivers thing...yes Auckland does suffer from a dearth of bad drivers. And yes that does scare me. But once again I am a subscriber to the notion that I CAN take some responsibility in terms of minimising the traffic risk by driving sensibly myself. If you are often in dicey situations, you are obviously pushing the limits by being impatient and selfish on the roads...an attitude that research proves is a factor in road fatalities. I PRAY that you don't live out West near me...putting me and mine in the firing range due to your hastiness and arrogance. Please email me your licence plates so that I can take aversive action as soon as I sight you in your vehicle.So...an observation and some advice hoba...you just don't get out enough to the right places and in the right company.Go watch a rugby game and learn the rules...so much of your criticism stems from undeniable ignorance and uninvolvement. I myself (as a highly educated/no beer gut/no abusive language/no loutish behaviour woman with no actual rugby playing experience whatsoever) derive great pleasure from the nuances and power of our national sport. And I surmise that you don't even respond to the stirrings that our All Blacks haka instils. Maybe you prefer ice hockey? (such a demure game.) Or soccer? (Not a hooligan in sight at this sport of course.) Or tiddlywinks? (At least that game would keep you away from the undeserving public.)Go skiing (break a leg...no seriously...please do) and be grateful at the rescue and medical services you receive without maxing out your medical insurance or obviously overworked credit card.Go fishing...I PRAY that you are not allergic to seafood...wouldn't that be ironic seeing as we are so abundant in a resource that the Japanese are SO jealous of...and rejoice in the geographical wonderland we are blessed with.Go to a play...you will see that there are far more tragedies played out through Shakespeare than your puny little chest beating implies.Go plant a tree...and contribute...it seems that you are short on the notion of giving out in order to get back.What's the bet that you historically don't make any effort to change that which upsets you, but simply whine over a latte and panini (you overfed succubus)? I don't recall any recent referenda organised by Aucklanders about the complaints you raise...the only current one before Parliament is the Fair Sentencing Referendum initiated last year by Christchurch citizens. In fact I would wager that you don't even vote in local OR central elections. Bottom line is that if you ain't part of the solution, you're part of the problem...a role you obviously relish, given your tone.All in all...your language is appalling...hardly complimentary seeing that another contributor ascertained you were in tertiary study. Which university are you at and what degree are you a student in? No doubt the College of Egocentric F***ing Complaints with a double major in Self-Pity and Ingratitude (1st Class Honours.) You have done yourself (and our country) a disservice by listing a Top Ten Reasons For Hating NZ...without even balanced it with a Top Ten Reasons For Loving NZ. Maybe you were too busy being all self-righteous and hard done by to compile this 2nd list (or maybe the potential list of reasons is too long for you to limit yourself to just 10.)Hoba...You haven't got a half-assed clue about how to be happy. You are an embarrassment to yourself and your country. You we do not need.Do all us reconciled and contented Kiwis a favour...if at least you can't contribute to our emigration statistics by buying a plane ticket out, contribute to our (yes saddening) suicide statistics and buy a ticket out of life.TT
- 01/07/2006
- 16:13:05
- Score: 3 out of 4 people found this comment useful.