(Tuesday in USA)
Sweet as...
We left Sydney Sunday morning Oct 21 for an easy 3 hour hop over to Auckland, New Zealand..# 8 happiest country.
Take off...lunch, glass of wine 2 movies, wheels down. - bang -
Ditch crossed .. Easy.
The ditch is the Tasman Sea. The ocean separating eastern Australia from the western shore of NZ.
Auckland has its own wonderful character. Kiwis, the people of NZ, are delightful.. Proof is in the fact they call themselves kiwis.. More proof comes from simple observations like the opening line if the health care plan...
"New Zealand's comprehensive health system is built on Kiwis’ inbuilt need to see that everyone gets 'a fair go' in life."
They care for each other..and for everyone who visits..'sweet as'...(a NZ term for awsome)
We arrived in NZ Labour Day weekend..Monday Oct 22 is the national holiday celebrated on the 3rd monday of October..like ours on first monday of September.
The Kiwis invented labor day..their traditional celebration honoring working folk started before everyone elses.. They have a long and proud history of fighting for workers, building unions and improving the lives and well being for everyone.
There are about 4.6 million people on the 2 islands of NZ.
Auckland has better than a quarter of the total population in its metro area.. Very similar to the Massachusetts/Boston population relationship.
Upon arrival, and an easy passport and customs entry, we summoned an Uber to get us to our hotel.. This holiday the trains weren't running and bus/shuttle options were a bit complicated or slow.. It was the perfect happiness tour commuter option. Our Uber pilot was terrific.
Manojkumar, a delightfully conversational -man-with-an-incredible-life story, driver was born in India, spent work years in Kenya and landed in Auckland about 13 years ago.. It's his home..not going any where else, he says.
Manoj..drives full time. He was a grocery store manager for many years but wanted the freedom of "being able to go to the beach when the sun came out". His beef was he couldn't even see the sun in the store and surely couldn't punch out and take a beach day at-will. So he quit the grocery biz and now drives when he isn't distracted by the joys of life or impulsive sun worshiping.
Funny thing about the real freedoms blossomed by certain elements of economic security.. Which are found more often in happy countries than in billionaire serving oligarchies like USA.
Manoj.. Had the freedom to choose his lifestyle.
*He makes a decent living wage from driving... Because people are paid well here...
*NZ has a comprehensive government health plan that is not tied in to employment...everyone has it.
*When he is ready to retire there is a guaranteed pension...
True freedom, by my definition... Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose...when u want to change jobs for beach day access.. Sweet as..
Our 20 minute Uber conversation was one of the best I've ever had, thanks Manojkumar. This guy had an
incredible world view and understanding of global socio/economic cause and effect..
He knew a lot about USA politics and gets exactly how bad Trump really is.. And he has a magnificent relational view about how things should work..
India..Kenya..vs NZ.. He's seen a lot..and learned from it all. How do we help people to understand that?
Raising the level of thinking and seeing bigger pictures and lowering the level of blind tribal politics...??
One other critical element in the happiest countries winning criteria is how the nation treats its immigrants, Manoj.. being one here.
He told stories of his warm integration into the welcoming arms of New Zealand.. In comparison to other places he's been in his life..it's great here..
Auckland is pretty tame when it comes to crime and violence..but kiwis still shudder and complain about crime... Manoj.. Says...it really isn't that bad... Crime is not good at all, but you don't know the bad crime and violence until you've lived in Kenya, for example...
It's all relative...and folks in the happiest countries do tend to like lower crime rates...
"I'm now a Kiwi.. I like it here..It's my home and I'm not leaving", said Manojkumar..
Yep..the happiest countries do have people that seem happy to be there.. Pixie dust? Maybe..
I just wish....
We're in New Zealand 6 more days... Up next...Saul and more stories are sure to follow...
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