keeping in touch with New Zealand

Recently, I have started to read New Zealand news again. I'm still pondering why I stopped reading New Zealand news while I was in Singapore; instead preferring international news or Singapore news.

Reflecting upon it now, there could have been a few explanations. Perhaps I was overwhelmed with the new culture and could not find the energy to keep up with my own? Living in Europe has suprisingly not given me a lot of culture shock (yet). Could it be because I have friends here that I knew from New Zealand? Could it be because I have more time? Could it be because the European lifestyle is quite similar to the New Zealand lifestyle?

While flipping through one of my farewell gifts - a small book on 'Singlish' - I realised that getting by in a culture completely different to mine required my full concentration. There were many things I didn't understand about Singapore culture - even though some people can live there and not feel "Asia" - I emersed myself, watched carefully and analysed the life of average Singaporeans. In order to make room for it all in my head, I had to limit my brain from processing anything that was not Singaporean or global in nature.

I wonder if I missed much... I'm busy catching up now.