When Home is a Hemisphere Away: A Kiwi Conversation and the Weight of a Nation

By Mukesh Devrari (I share an honest conversation I had with a Kiwi nurse. It made me reflect deeply on how I, as an Indian immigrant, feel seen and judged here in New Zealand. This is raw and personal. Take it as my story—not a conclusion for anyone else.) I have been living in this strange land, popularly known as New Zealand, for almost six years. Let me make it very clear: I am an outsider, completely unaware of European ways of conversation, interaction, and viewing the world around me. Even in India, I always lived in small towns, where you can literally talk to anyone. And above all, I was in a university, which gave me all the more access to speak with people freely. Here in NZ, I am at the lowest level of the economic and social ladder, doing menial jobs, just surviving. Though I am not very bad at adapting, I find it very difficult to deal with white New Zealanders. The reasons—I will contemplate in the coming months or years. Anyway, enough about me. Before I start writing ...