How Living in New Zealand Permanently Changes Your View on Happiness

This time, bringing the child to New Zealand for a short-term study program, I never imagined that our entire family would discover a whole new way of living.

In China, our days were a whirlwind of constant hustle:
Waking up at 6:30 in the morning to prepare breakfast, rushing the child to school, working all day, helping with homework in the evening, and enrolling in classes on weekends… every day felt like a relentless race. We seemed to always be “living for the future,” with few moments to savor the present.

But in New Zealand, the pace is truly a world apart.

🌿On the way to school in the morning, the air is crisp and fresh, the streets are tranquil, and the child walks to school humming a tune, no longer drowsy and squished into the subway.

🌤️While the child is in class, I find myself at a cozy café, doing some grocery shopping, or sometimes just strolling to the park and basking in the sun. Even if I’m just sitting there, it doesn’t feel like wasted time.

🌈After school, we take the child to the beach to build sandcastles and collect shells, and in the evening, we enjoy dinner on the balcony while watching the sunset. There are no homework groups, no anxious reminders, and no sense of being overwhelmed by the educational treadmill.

What touched me the most was—
One day, the child came home from school and said, “Today, my desk mate and I acted out a little play, and I even told an English joke!”
As I listened, my heart swelled with emotion, realizing that when he’s not interrupted and not rushed, he genuinely has the ability, the desire to express himself, and his own shining moments.

📌The education here isn’t about laissez-faire, but it is genuinely relaxed. Teachers encourage expression, embrace individuality, and don’t push for grades, which makes children more willing to participate actively and joyfully.

Many people say coming to New Zealand is about “escaping the rat race,”
But I want to say: it’s the first time we’ve found our own rhythm of life.

We’ve done so much for our child, competing in extracurricular classes, striving for better schools, and fighting for resources… but this trip made me ask myself a question again:
“Shouldn’t we also let the child see what life can truly be like, after all our efforts?”

Joining a class is just a formality; what’s truly meaningful is that in a completely different educational environment and social atmosphere, the child grows, and so do the adults.

These past few weeks, I’ve learned to slow down, eat mindfully, and look up at the sky while walking, alongside my child.

🌍I’m not sure if we’ll stay in New Zealand long-term, but what I am sure of is that this period of life will be a time that none of us in the family will ever forget.