About the Author and the Blog
My name is Simon Eskow. I grew up in the Bronx, NY in the United States. (Click here for a brief explanation of why it’s referred to as “the Bronx” and not “Bronx”). I lived most of my life in New York City, lately in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. I studied art at Cooper Union and years later got an MFA in creative writing at the New School.
I moved to Auckland in November 2009 with my wife, Jacquie, who was born and raised in New Zealand. She supported me while I finished a novel I started in grad school, sort of in exchange for moving from NY to NZ. With the draft complete it was time to start looking for a job. In December, 2010, I took an editor role at Reseller News, a computer business magazine owned by Fairfax.
This blog is a semi-fictional account of a native New Yorker’s uneasy adjustment to life in New Zealand. The blog is doing better than I am. It has had more than 35,000 page views as of early 2013.
You can read my explanation to the uninitiated about Rugby during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and how New Zealand television commercials are just as impressive as the ones you see during the Superbowl.
I’ve written about the media elite in the US, and the importance of wearing clean underwear everywhere.
There are tons of pictures from my road-trip/mid-life crisis, fun graphics to help you out during a natural disaster and even a couple of cartoons (here and here).
Many people have visited Basement Life to read my entry on Martha’s Backyard, a somewhat popular shopping destination for American expats. I intend to re-visit Martha’s some time soon, but I have no idea when.
Others have come from around the world to read my explanation of why a blink of the eye in geologic time is equal to about nine months in human time.
December 8, 2010 at 10:46 am |
Hey Simon, Got a real chuckle (more like a guffaw) out of your blog. When are you visiting the states again? If you ‘re taking up donations for the plane ticket back – keep me posted (LOL!) I spent part of the Thanksgiving weekend at your Mom’s house – had a great time!
Would love to see you. Take care!!
December 8, 2010 at 7:07 pm |
Thanks for the comment, Janice. tentatively planning a trip back next summer. Hope all’s well with you and your family.
March 20, 2012 at 10:33 am |
Brilliant Mate!
Thanks
April 1, 2012 at 7:13 am |
Hello Simon, I wanted to let you know I enjoy your blog a great deal, and I hope to see it gain greater and greater success. (BTW, this is Gina, daughter of your Mom’s friend Vicky, and once long ago occasional playmate, etc…)
April 1, 2012 at 9:30 am |
Thanks for your kind words, Gina. I hope all is well with you. I do remember those occasional visits and I think a trip or two to the botanical gardens.
July 8, 2012 at 2:32 pm |
I found your blog on the E2NZ blogroll, congratulations on an awesome blog.
It appears you have settled into NZ life better than my wife and I have you are lucky.
July 8, 2012 at 6:01 pm |
Thanks for the nice comment, Kal. Sorry you’re not settling in easily. Hope things improve.
July 8, 2012 at 6:05 pm
We are moving back to the states come December, counting down the days
July 8, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Simon I have added your website to my blogroll; I hope you don’t mind the extra traffic.
July 8, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Thanks Kal. I’m flattered. I’ll return the favor.
July 8, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Thanks Simon, I look forward to reading more of your blog posts.