Grey skies turn bright blue
After snowy and bleak Russian winters, Genia Kholmanskikh is excited to be so close to beautiful beaches.
What’s your name and where are you from? My name is Genia Kholmanskikh and I am from St Petersburg, Russia
What inspired your move, and how long have you been here?
My partner and I had been living in Paris, St Petersburg and Budapest for a few years because of our work and studies, and we realised we had become too comfortable with our lives and needed a challenge. We’ve been in Auckland for eighteen months.
What do you do here?
I own VegeBouquet, the first company in New Zealand to create bouquets of fresh fruit and vegetables.
What surprised you most when you first arrived?
The incredibly fresh air. We arrived in winter, but everything was green and magnolia was in blossom. After snowy Russian winters and grey winters in Paris I realised that NZ winters will be bearable, to say the least.
What are the big advantages to living here?
Probably the proximity to beautiful beaches. I still cannot believe it only takes 40-50 minutes from the city to get to such breathtaking places like Muriwai or Piha. Another big one is safety – I have recently caught myself sitting on a cafe terrace with my bag carelessly left on the bench next to me – super easy to run away with anywhere else in the world.
Disadvantages?
Europe is too far now. Go figure!
How expensive do you find it?
I feel like the cost of living is more or less the same as in Paris or any other major city in the world. The housing prices are a joke.
What are your favourite NZ foods?
I love that you guys have so many choices of fresh seafood! Mussels with different sauces are probably my favourite.
How do you get around?
I’m trying to get around on foot as much as I can – that’s why we decided to live in the city centre. If I need to get somewhere far or to go hiking, driving is inevitable (unfortunately).
How do you find the shopping?
I don’t really like spending too much time on shopping, so I order most things online. I never understood all those complaints about NZ not having H&M and other large chains, to me it’s not a big deal.
Favourite after-dark activity?
Probably going to movies and spending time with friends over a glass of amazing local wine.
What are the top three things you recommend for visitors?
My favourite place is Penguin Rescue at Katiki point in Otago. It’s amazing to see how penguins and seals live in their natural habitat, playing on the shore and enjoying their freedom but being protected at the same time. Favourite places in Auckland are Karekare beach on the West Coast and Mt Victoria in Devonport.
Besides family and friends, what do you miss most about home?
I’ve been moving and living in between places for a few years now, and so I’ve learnt to adapt. I cannot even say I miss a certain lifestyle or foods. New Zealand still feels like a new place to me and I’m still excited to learn about what it has to offer.
How easy is it for you to go home?
It’s at least 24 hours’ flight time, and so to make it physically comfortable I need to go home for at least a month, which is a bit hard.
What is the one thing about NZ you’d change?
Public transport. Period.