ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Culture
FLIGHT OF THE KIWI
Despite returning from his OE in the UK and Europe nearly a full decade ago, 34-year-old Christchurch man Matt Gibbons continues to refer to his brief 2015 stint abroad like he’s about to return there next week.
“Yeah nah, when I was in London, man the tube can just get you anywhere. Things here move so slowly” explained Gibbons, who was randomly bringing up the transport system in London for no reason.
Gibbons originally embarked on a 30-day Topdeck around Europe in around August of 2015, crashing on mates couches once his tour finished and never really getting a proper job before burning through most of his money and returning to New Zealand.
“Like, when you’ve done Oktoberfest, New Year’s in Edinburgh and seen Paris… it just gives you perspective, kind of feels like you’ve seen it all.”
“I was meant to get a gig with a rugby club over there but it kinda fell through. I think they sort of thought just because I was from New Zealand then I must be good,” Gibbons explained sheepishly.
Gibbons, who is also still part of the Kiwis in London Facebook group, confirmed to our reporters that he “lived in London for a bit”, which generously described his six months couch-surfing in various overpriced flats.
“I was quite close to getting a marketing job, but look when you’re an ex-pat Kiwi, sometimes it’s just good to enjoy your time and travel around,” he explained, not acknowledging he was just on mates’ couches for a good portion of his six months in London.
At press time, Gibbons had just posted a blurry throwback to his Instagram Story of Tower Bridge with the caption: Take me back. With zero intentions to return back despite acting like he is.
More to come.
