Unplugging From the Matrix by Bruce Brown

As I sat on the tarmac at LAX, I was feeling tremendous relief that I would finally be reunited with the love of my life. You see, I have been following Carmen's blog entries for the last two months just like all of you. While it has been tremendously exciting, it has also been tremendously painful!  I was relegated to closing down the remainder of our American lives. We have been seperated several times in the past because of career moves, but never this long. Time seemed to be standing still, and everyday life was becoming more and more stressful.  I want to send a special "shout out" to my aces Troy and Tarem.  They listened to me vent all the way to the end...

Flying over the Southern Alps

That brings me to my first point.  I read Carmen's entry ("I Digress") attempting to explain why we were leaving our birth country and moving to our new home country, and I totally agree with everything she wrote. The greatness of America has nothing to do with it's wealth, or it's military might; it has everything to do with it's stated ideals:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The pursuit of happiness does NOT equal the pursuit of material wealth, and the pillaging of our natural environment. Somehow all of us have gotten it twisted.  Carmen is totally right when she says, "we were drinking the kool aid".  I wish I could trade all of the crap we bought and the hours we worked to spend more time with our loved ones. It has been my privelege to spend many a night with patients in the ICU who have had terminal illnesses. It's a shame that most people do not gain clarity about life until they are close to death.  Out of hundreds of patients that I conversated with in the middle of those lonely nights; not one mentioned they wished they bought another fancy car, or had a bigger house, or spent more time at work.  What do you think your regrets would be? What do you think you would wish you could do with a year, a month, a week, or a day left? That's why we took our "Round the World" trip; not because we were having a mid life crisis, or because we are flaky gypsies, or because we wanted something to brag about.  We did it to reclaim our lives, to find our place in the world, and to pursue our happiness.  Thank God we did. We met people on our journeys that we will be friends with for the rest of our lives. We found we had more in common with our new friends than we do with our neighbors or even people we've known for 20 years! We learned things about ourselves that we never would have back home.  If you choose to believe that 95% (America only contains 5%) of the world's 6 billion people have nothing to offer your soul, then I am sad for you.

First Glimpse of my new hometown!

The moment my new life begins!

The more appropriate question is not why we are leaving America; but why New Zealand?  It's so far away.  Exactly.. too far away for the small minded and bigoted; too far away from the unadventurous and the fearful.  New Zealand is inhabited and visited by the most beautiful people in the "first world".  People who care about nature and mother earth.  People who care more about the beach than the 5 star hotel sitting on it.  People who don't necessarily want to conquer the land, but exist in balance with it.  People who care about each other.  When Kiwis ask you how are you doing? They actually wait for your response!  When Carmen and I visited in December we almost had to hide from people to get some private time.  We were barraged with invitations to join strangers for dinner or drinks or wine tasting excursions.  The invitations came from every socioeconomic class and every Kiwi ethnic group.  We were treated like movie stars in Southeast Asia; we were treated like family in New Zealand.  Let me not get to carried away with emotion, after all I am medical scientist and engineer.  Let me give you the numbers, because they do not lie as people do:

*Amongst the lowest population density on earth, 16 people/km (USA=30, UK=252, Japan=335); The South Island has 20 sheep to 1 person :)
*25% of the land is protected forever, 30% is forested
*35% of NZ energy usage is renewable; Government mandates state 90% will be renewable by 2025.  Almost no oil,gas, or coal usage for electricity!
*New Zealand is a Nuclear Free Zone, the reason the USA has suspended treaties with NZ. Kiwis will not allow U.S. nuclear subs or ships in their waters, even though the two countries have been staunch allies since WWI. Protection of mother earth over allies.
*Lowest Military spending in the first world = 1.1% of GDP.  NZ spends roughly what Bangledesh spends on its defense, and Bangledesh is one of the poorest countries in the world! NZ is ranked #1 rank on the Global Peace Index put out by the U.N.  Peace unto you my brother and sister!
*#1 rank seven years in a row on Global Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International (U.S. ranks 17)
*Low crime rate. 48 murders in the entire country in 2009. You should see the news. The lead story today was what to do about the birds at the Dunedin airport.  They are endangering the airplanes because they get caught in the engines. Are you kidding? Where is all the mayem? I really don't need a gun anymore?
*#1 rank on Global Education Index (for all you parents who think your kid wouldn't be educated well); One of the other expat doctor's children (ages 11 and 14) told us that school was much better in NZ than back home. They have the opportunity to learn German, Japanese, Spanish, and even Mandarin in middle school?! Their teachers and classmates come from all over the world. No bullying, no metal detectors (like I endured), and no "keeping up with the Jones' ".
*#1 rank on Global Social Capital Index. Family comes first in NZ. Pregnant women are not allowed to work night shifts after 28 weeks gestation, no 10 hour days after 32 weeks, and absolutely no days longer than 16 hours! Most employers don't need these rules, but they are there anyway. Maternity leave is 1 year, paternity is 6 months and those 18 months combined can be divided between parents either way. So they each can be off for 9 months with pay and all scheduled raises. There is discussion about lengthening leave. Everyone takes at least 6 weeks vacation, most take a month off in a row so they can immerse their kids in another culture without rushing or cramming everything into a 5 day vacation! Best of all? People don't try to shame you for taking vacation (like our coworkers attempt to do to us); they actually shame you if you do not take them!!!!
*#4 rank on Global Economic Freedom Index (U.S. ranks #8). Just because it's socialized, doesn't mean you can't start a business or have access to economic opportunities. NZ's system just tries to control for greed and exploitation of people and the environment.
*Taxes are fair and everyone pays because there are no exemptions.  Foreigners and non-residents pay also if they working in NZ.  Taxes are taken out with each paycheck so there is no IRS equivalent and no need for large scale audits.  Everyone pays their share for shared benefits!
*Maori Culture (indigenous) is very strong, and is a very big part of everyday life in NZ. I've counted 3 Maori language television stations so far... (have you ever seen a Native American language station?). Carmen and I both are required as physicians to take Maori cultural classes. Love it! I want a face tatoo:)

Learning Maori Culture

*23% of NZ population was born outside of NZ (12% for U.S). Sheep herders and farmers are very important in NZ, but it is also a very diverse population with a mature, diverse economy (technology) that exports far more than it consumes.  Translation=NZ will be more than prepared to meet the challenges of the coming years because of it's genetic diversity and wise, economic planning and resource management.
*NZ has a couple of free tuition higher education colleges. Giving people from low socioeconomic backgrounds a "true" opportunity to better themselves.  Not just the opportunity to go into academic debt so you can become a "slave" to that debt.
*Universal Healthcare and a solvent social security system.  Kiwis understand that healthcare is a resource that must be paid for and must be appreciated. they understand they can't have an MRI everytime they have a headache! They understand that they may have to wait to get that surgery, but it won't bankrupt them or make them loose their home. They understand that people are not fodder for insurance companies and pharmaceuticals to make billions exploiting. They understand that they are more responsible for their own health than the doctor or the healthcare system. They understand doctors are human beings that make mistakes and have families they want to spend time with just as they do (100 hour work weeks are unheard of in NZ). Healthcare professionals or any other individuals can not be sued.  The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for all New Zealand residents and visitors to New Zealand. No more $50K invoices from Malpractice Insurance companies and no more $400/ hour lawyers to watch our backs, and no more threat of losing our home due to someone looking to hit the lotto! No countless hours trying to comply with Insurance companies and Medicare. We can finally be what we dreamed of and what we sacrificed so much to become... healers, pure and simple.

Enjoying Wifey's homecooking:) I can cook, but not like this!

Daddy's finally Home!

To our families: thank you for your love, support, and attempts at understanding us:)  To the friends we have lost because of our 'lifechange': may your heart be filled with love and your soul with contentment; we will think of you on every mountain top, every jungle trail, and every coral reef!!! God Bless (whether he be Jesus, Allah, or Buddah:)