Kiwi by choice?

Yesterday, Ariel and I checked out a house for sale in our neighborhood. It was an open house, and the real estate agent was very welcoming and chatty. He recognized right away that we're from the Philippines and then babbled about himself being in Manila a few times in the 80s. Our conversation turned into us migrating here and suddenly, he told us that in his view, we're more Kiwi than him. Why? Because we're here by choice, while he's here by chance.

Now what do I make of this? 

Yes, it was our choice to be here. The US was out of the question for us, Ariel and I just don't have that great big American dream, period. I like Germany and Austria (at least I had friends there) but the language barrier just might be too difficult for us. Okay, so we were fascinated by the amazing adventures and jaw-dropping sights that NZ has to offer, plus of course everything LOTR :) 

It's been 5 months (6 for Ariel) since we moved here and we're doing fine -- by this I mean that we are healthy and we are positive about the future. I'd be lying if I say that I've nothing to complain about but in general, life here is good. Efficient. Lately, we've been taking Marius to different playgrounds so he can play and practice his bike-riding skills. Once, we were on the pavement with Marius biking ahead of us, and I casually mentioned to Ariel that we could not do this back home (or I'd be scared to death that our son could be run over by a jeepney or tricycle or just about anything). Ariel replied, yes we could, if we live in a posh village in Alabang. I agree. Back home, you have to pay a high price just to enjoy simple things. I remember bringing Marius to Gymboree so he can play at their nice, colorful playcentre. But if you belong to the lower-middle class income bracket -- good luck na lang. That's what I enjoy here -- waking to the sound of birds singing, playing with Marius at the beach, taking walks and appreciating every good thing that I am experiencing.

I remember Fr. Luis Halasz, a Hungarian priest that I met in 2002 while I was still working at Probe. He was assigned in Mindoro as a missionary for about 40 years. He speaks Filipino like a local, and is loved by his parishioners very much. He applied for Filipino citizenship many times, and got rejected every time. Later on, he was recalled back to Hungary and at the time that I met him, he holds masses for the Filipino community. God knows why he wanted to be a Filipino, but it made me feel proud that this foreigner, who spent more time in the Philippines than I did, loves the country and its people so much. In the end, he told me that it didn't matter that he's not a Filipino citizen, it's just a piece of paper anyway. In his heart, he is a Filipino.

So are we Kiwi by choice? Let's just say that we are Filipinos enjoying the Kiwi lifestyle. We are immersing ourselves into a new culture, the "Kiwi" way of looking at things and all the opportunities that come with it. It's not hard to fall in love with NZ, that's for sure. For now I consider this place our "home away from home." No, we're obviously never going to be official Kiwis unless we apply for citizenship 5 years from now. Do I want to be one? I'll cross the bridge when I get there. But that's not the point. For me, it's not a question of citizenship. I don't have to be of any ethnic origin to "belong" to a country. I am Filipino by chance, like the real estate agent is Kiwi by chance. Maybe he's right, at least we chose to live here with an open heart and mind. I love being Filipino but I also appreciate this new, unfamiliar place that I am falling in love with. 

Someday I'd also like to live in Germany, Tibet, and the North Pole :)