FOREIGN FEELINGS

ASK AN immigrant why they chose New Zealand and they’ll tell you – there are better work opportunities and it’s a good environment in which to raise your children.

We learn along the way that you’re sore losers, your sausages are terrible, you have no interest in our cultures and your stereotyping is lame.

But I’d take that over living in fear of being hijacked at every red light. I’d take it over having to feel as if my barred-up home is a jail. I’d take it over living on struggle street in South Africa.

New Zealand has become home in the past six years, and while I feel like I belong in this jandalwearing, ginger beer-loving nation, I am still a foreigner. I’m not alone.

Alex Mihalicz, 48, moved here from South Africa with his wife, Tracey, 46, and although Kiwis might comment on their culture or throw a snide remark, they’ve found there is a mutual respect.

‘‘You get one or two Kiwis that sometimes have a snide remark or two, but you could get that anywhere, with anyone,’’ said Mihalicz. ‘‘It’s definitely a mixed bag. Some of the Kiwis are friendly and they’ll come along to a braai [South African barbecue].’’

The only criticism of their new country is that teens ‘‘have no respect’’ and ‘‘there’s a lot of drinking’’.

Another immigrant who will never leave is Algerian business owner Djamel Cherguit, 47, who has lived here for more than a decade and feels ‘‘like a New Zealander in spirit’’.

‘‘New Zealanders don’t treat you like you’re different and they don’t make you feel like a foreigner. It’s different in every situation, I suppose, but I’ve never had any bad experiences with Kiwis.’’

His criticism of his new home and the people that live here? ‘‘They’re bad losers when it comes to rugby – they’re worse than Australians. And they’re scared to play the French.’’

Cherguit also finds that the people here are ‘‘misinformed’’ about the rest of the world and are only interested in countries who will take them on in rugby or cricket.

‘‘They live a very easy life. Here they don’t ask questions about other people’s cultures and they don’t know what is happening because they live so far away from the rest of the disaster in the world. They think Tripoli is an island.’’