This is actually a post very much inspired by the discussion on life in Taiwan vs life in Australia/NZ. (But seeing that that thread started to talk about textile industry, I thought I'd start a new post) Having never lived in Australia (although I've been there for a visit), I can only compare Taiwan with NZ. Objectively, I don't think much needs to be said that haven't been mentioned already. Everyone here (I think) knows what it's like to live in Taiwan, busy, lively, perhaps exciting, but a little too messy, crowded and eventful sometimes. And NZ has always had its green and beautiful image, and its quiet and peaceful lifestyle. Now here's reality check, the view from the inside. True, NZ is beautiful. True it's quiet and peaceful. Yet... There's something about NZ. Maybe it's too peaceful?? Now that sounds a little strange I know. But I distinctly remember a criticism of the "young people" (ie people born in the 70s and 80s), how the men are not "tough enough", because life is too peaceful. There has been no world war since WWII. And life in developed countries are too easy, too comfortable. When I first heard that, I thought it was crazy... But now that I think about it, isn't that precisely what has happened in NZ? Basically, life here is a little too quiet, too peaceful. I never thought there was anything wrong with it, until I began to understand, and even feel sometimes, the sense of restlessness, the feeling that everything will always stay the same, that there is no progress, nothing will ever change, everything taken for granted, because you never really need to work that hard for anything. I had always wondered why the clinical depression rate in NZ is so high among the developed country. It is peculier indeed. People have such a relaxed lifestyle that they lack energy, and maybe eventually lose purpose... Of course, that was a very negative view of things. Undeniably, NZ still is a wonderful country, with many envious god-blessed natural advantages, but maybe, just maybe, it's not as perfect as it all seems from the outside? --

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