As a child of refugees settling in Australia after the second world war, I experienced the searing poverty that myriads of displaced people dealt with as they tried to rebuild lives in far away, unfamiliar places.
At age 10, I fell in love with America. That came from watching film rolls in school. I was blown away. They were about things like the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, and cars with huge fins driving on U.S. highways with six lanes on each side.
More than half of the non-European immigrants who left Sweden last year had tertiary education, according to Statistics Sweden. Of the 17,000 immigrants, 57% had post-secondary qualifications.
Patrick expressed feelings of misalignment with American politics, especially since Trump's presidency. He questioned why he continued to feel unsettled when he could relocate to a country where he feels represented.
Britain has seen a significant shift in its net migration figures, with an almost 50% fall in 2024, partly due to reductions in immigration from non-EU+ nationals.
The perception that living in New Zealand is inherently better than in the UK overlooks significant challenges, such as high property prices and economic struggles in key cities like Auckland.
"I'm so glad you guys are out of this country, lucky you â¤ï¸ we are hurting over here," one person wrote. "Looks like a beautiful life you're living away from the horror of USA politics," another user echoed.
Emigrating requires perseverance and preparation, and people should weigh reasons beyond political climate. Many find the day-to-day life abroad contrasts sharply with idealized media representations.
