Kiwi Girl from New Zealand - What the Media Has Shown Me
Dear America,
Hailing from a small country called New Zealand, I am a kiwi who doesn't really know that much about the USA. So when I was asked to write a letter to voice my opinion my first thought was what I hear most people around me saying - Terrorism, Bush, the most wealthy, powerful country in the world. All these opinions I have gained from the media.
The USA appears in our news just about every day here, whether it be to do with the war in Iraq, some scientific development, NASA or some other current event. It may be that I am just growing more aware of the world in my 20's but it seems the entire world is obsessed with what's going on in the US. Is it maybe, we admire you? I really don't know...
As someone who has only travelled as far as Australia I don't know what it is like to be/live in the US right now or any other country for that matter. I know only what I build up a picture of from the snapshots I see in the media. As I have grown older I have come to realise that the picture the media portrays is not always correct, so the picture us kiwi's have of the average "American" may not necessarily be true.
All my life I have heard the saying "Only in America". This lends itself to the fact that the US houses an extremely diverse range of people and almost anything can happen there; another opinion I have gained from statistics and the media.
When I was younger I wanted to either be or marry an American. Growing older has changed my mind. This was probably influenced by the fact that at this time well over half of our television programming was from the US. As I have grown older I realise that I am very fortunate to live in my little corner of the world where I am safe. I am proud to be who I am.
I think the biggest message I could give to America is - Be proud of who you are and try to ensure that the picture the media is painting of you is one you can be proud of.
Best wishes for the future America.
About the Author:
Name: Kiwi Girl
Age: 20
Country: New Zealand
Gender: Female
Occupation: University Student
Experience With US: Never Visited the United States
12 Comments
Published on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 1:59 AM. Hailing from a small country called New Zealand, I am a kiwi who doesn't really know that much about the USA. So when I was asked to write a letter to voice my opinion my first thought was what I hear most people around me saying - Terrorism, Bush, the most wealthy, powerful country in the world. All these opinions I have gained from the media.
The USA appears in our news just about every day here, whether it be to do with the war in Iraq, some scientific development, NASA or some other current event. It may be that I am just growing more aware of the world in my 20's but it seems the entire world is obsessed with what's going on in the US. Is it maybe, we admire you? I really don't know...
As someone who has only travelled as far as Australia I don't know what it is like to be/live in the US right now or any other country for that matter. I know only what I build up a picture of from the snapshots I see in the media. As I have grown older I have come to realise that the picture the media portrays is not always correct, so the picture us kiwi's have of the average "American" may not necessarily be true.
All my life I have heard the saying "Only in America". This lends itself to the fact that the US houses an extremely diverse range of people and almost anything can happen there; another opinion I have gained from statistics and the media.
When I was younger I wanted to either be or marry an American. Growing older has changed my mind. This was probably influenced by the fact that at this time well over half of our television programming was from the US. As I have grown older I realise that I am very fortunate to live in my little corner of the world where I am safe. I am proud to be who I am.
I think the biggest message I could give to America is - Be proud of who you are and try to ensure that the picture the media is painting of you is one you can be proud of.
Best wishes for the future America.
About the Author:
Name: Kiwi Girl
Age: 20
Country: New Zealand
Gender: Female
Occupation: University Student
Experience With US: Never Visited the United States
Labels: 20's, americans, culture, female, foreign affairs, media, never been to the us, new zealand, oceania, pop culture, student
Australia
Canada
Egypt
Germany
India
Iraq
Iran
Italy
Japan
Malta
Malaysia
Macedonia
Mauritania
Mexico
New Zeland
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Panama
Peru
Philippines
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
Sudan
United Kingdom
United States
Vietnam
Kiwi Girl,
Your letter portrays an understanding and wisdom beyond your years. Your perspective is thoughtful and well balanced.
Unfortunately, the American media cherry picks events for the sake of sensationalism. Nothing in American movies, and very little in the American media, has anything to do with the lives and beliefs of average Americans. Only the unusual, absurd, and extreme occurrences get much coverage. Although you haven't been to the U.S. and I've not been to New Zealand, I think we would find our daily lives are very similar, with much in common.
American Girl
I guess the lesson to be learned is that the rest of the world is no different than America. Here in America we worship celebrities like gods and equally love to watch them get divorced, get arrested, have affairs, shave their heads, and crumble in any other way possible. In the global arena, America is a celebrity. That is why the global popporazzi loves to chase the US around to catch it as it stumbles and falls. America faithfully does the dumb things that celebrities have to do to land themselves on the cover of tabloids, thereby satisfying the global appetite for juicy gossip and watching the demise of a world power.
Anyway, enough of this depressing global issues/war in Iraq/foreign relations crap. I'm going to go back to more important stuff...the latest scoop on Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston...
Kiwi Girl,
Save your money and come visit America. We need Kiwi Girls here. There's plenty of Aussies here. Why not Kiwis?
And, whatever you've heard, you'd be safe here.
Wow I loved reading all of ya blogs~~
I had always wanted to travel to the U.S.A and finally did in 2003..my passion was to meet as many different cultures as I could plus to experience a White Winter in the Northern Hemisphere etc..actually I remember feeling excited because I knew as soon as I touched down In L.A I would begin to experience the 'culture' differences...and understandably there is...to me that is the beauty of the United states of America..every state ,every town is different from accents to little mannerisms..sometimes they made me giggle or sigh but mostly I thought it pretty cool an cute...
I was treated with respect and a natural curiousity. I met some wonderful Americans ,hard-working and very hospitable..experienced my first ever Thanksgiving and even though its been over 4 years ago I still crave some krispy kreme doughnuts (NZ dont have quite the same)..oh me oh my...I even stuffed some boxes in my luggage when I came home to NZ security at L.A frowned but waved them thru( see why I love Americans..)...haha...no Im enaged to a guy from PA...and trust me we have had some very lively conversations over all the differences...but ya know what at the end of day...American Parents are just like New Zealand Parents...they want freedom for their children and to know that when they tuck them into bed at night they have full tummies ( cuz they could afford a reasonable standard of living)..education will be affordable...and if we feel like a cheeseburger at midnight we can feel safe enough to go downtown or where-ever without fear of some selfish idiot drunk ,buzzed out of brain or just plain mental hurting us...
The Media influences all and Kiwis are no different to Americans in that respect...maybe some of you readers may remember a song Sammy Davis Jnr had a hit with years ago called..."Dont Blame It On the Children"...basically he sang about where the blame for our attitudes come from....someone has made millions pushing the various stereotypes that have existed for a long long time...and both Governments have masterminded their own brands of advertising...America Home of the Brave and Free...or New Zealand Clean Green and Mean...sound familiar....please dont get offended Americans or Kiwis...but if your honest ya know its just not 'all true'....to me its the 'system" called World rubbing our backs and saying there ,there , now play nice like good lil children while the grown up people ( Media ) talk about important things...haha...Take Care America ,Thankyou for your wonderful Hospitality , and the opportunity to meet some real down to earth Americans...
To have a nice Online-shop
Shop by Eyegnet with Eye Magnet
Whatever you want
>>try to ensure that the picture the media is painting of you is one you can be proud of.
Sorry, we've little control over how the media portrays anything, and urge media consumers to take it all with a touch of skepticism and a hefty grain of salt.
Hi Kiwi Girl:
I am glad you got a chance to visit the US. You obviously had a good time here. Glad to hear that. I to, am from Pa. I ran into your site by accident looking for info on growing Kiwi. Ya it WILL grow in Pa. One has to plant the small variety, but it survived the first winter well and is growing like a weed this year. Pay little attention to the media. It is all hype and sensationalizing the worst that the US can offer. We do have vermon here like any where else in the world. I hope some day to visit your country. I have seen many shows on TV, and it seems like a very beautiful place. The people seem very upbeat and determined also, just like me. God bless and come see the US again.
dave208@excite.com
Some nice letters here. I am an American who married a New Zealander and lived in New Zealand for some time now. I found that my partner was treated kindly by Americans when in the U.S., but Americans were not liked in New Zealand. Many of the Kiwis here who make the comments have a very VERY limited grasp of what it is like to live in the U.S., and they associate America with commercialism, military imperialism, pollution, and crassness and in essence treat individual Americans as if they are ambassadors for the "worst of their country". I am glad you are happy to be a Kiwi and to live in NZ. I found in moving to NZ that I was happy to be an American and am very anxious to go home as soon as I can. My experience was shared by others as well:
http://www.expatexposed.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=30966
Bathmate
Thanks for your lovely posting. I really enjoyed reading it.
Bathmate
Very nice posting.I think this site can do better job in future.
http://www.webroyalty.com
Awesome posting man!
You are a great blogger. I like your work. Truly you are a genius.
Keep up the good work Man!!
Webroyalty