Anousith, Auckland, New Zealand

“ I think I am getting better as I get a little bit older.”

Name : Anousith Bouaaphone

Gender : Male

DoB : 16.08.1983

City of Birth : Vientiane, Laos

Status : Single

Family : Only Child

Hometown : Auckland, NZ

Education : Physiotherapy

Job : Entrepreneur / Physiotherapist

Religion : Christian

Politics : Center Left

As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?

JOB – How did you decide to do this job?
As a child, you kind of go through stages, maybe because of what you saw on TV or even what your parents want you to be.
But in my case, I have always had a fascination for science, human body and sports. Being a sports physiotherapist, what I am today is really close to what I had in mind, even tough I cannot say I tough about it. Of course my parents wanted me to be a doctor and I entertained

Nothing of all this happened and in fact it probably worked out a lot better than I imagined, especially on the professional ground. Personally I am not married and all that but I am still very happy.

the idea for a while but it is not the lifestyle I was looking for. I got taken by the idea of working with sports teams, travelling and I have to admit that it was more appealing than being stuck at university for 10 years!

HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now?

I arrived in NZ (Auckland) when I was 6 and I was told that I would spend my life here. Or at least most of it… I knew that coming from Laos, that I was pretty lucky to be here and that it would be hard to leave anywhere in the world because I would get a better lifestyle here. I think that in the long term, I always thought I would be here.

Anousith lives in this cozy apartment.

Anousith’s favorite spot is this beautiful view over Auckand.

Striking and memorable events…

IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life?

As interesting as it may be it is quite a recent event. I am currently going through some changes in my professional and personal life and everything changed for me last year. I decided to leave a good job that could have taken me further but I wanted a change. This job enabled me to achieve a lot of things I dreamt about as a child but I felt the need to go further. Today my focus is to secure my future and my parent’s future. They sacrificed a lot to come to NZ and leave everything behind and I feel an obligation to look after them.

IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in?

World: I think that this underlying conflict in the world (Islamic States particularly) made me think a lot. It affects everything you do, your lifestyle and so on. But it does make me question the motives. What’s their thinking? Maybe democracy is not ideal for these countries and fighting for it may not be the only way. Many conflicts start when you try to impose your ideas to another culture that may not appreciate, and especially if you present it as the best way for them, which may be wrong. Of course there is no excuse for extremism but I think that this can lead to extremism.

BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory?

I think it is the second time I went back to Laos, with a very different mindset than the first time. The first time was a bit weird because it wasn’t NZ, wasn’t as confortable ☺. But when I retuned at about 18, I had this feeling that I went back where I belong, there was my culture, my people. I felt a sense of home which I never felt before.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT –

I think it would be from the professional side of things. I worked for 6 years with a professional Basketball team from Auckland called New Zealand breakers. Playing on Australian league and we won it 3 times in a row which was a big thing for a NZ team. I was involved in this success and was even able to start and run their medical program. I was really proud of being involved in such a transition for the club.

Looking back / Reviewing expectations

10 YEARS AGO, I think that I had this romantic idea of being married and having kids, maybe having my own physio clinic and all of these things…

TODAY, nothing of all this happened and in fact it probably worked out a lot better than I imagined, especially on the professional ground. Personally I am not married and all that but I am still very happy. I’m not desperate to get married and so on ☺ I think that one can fall into the trap of what one though 10 years ago would be and try to achieve it. To some extent I did feel that pressure but I think it’s more family pressure than anything, my parents would love to have a grand kid and their only kid. But I would be wrong to do it just for them.

Anousith drives his car around Auckland.

One of Anousith’s favorite hobby is to go swim at the beach…

30 years old, a turning point?

WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO?

I think I am getting better as I get a little bit older. I think I have improved from the mental side of things. I am much more open-minded now, in term of politics and religion. I grew up as a Christian and always had one way of thinking up to 25/30 when I started to think outside of Christianity and embrace other religions, accepting other religions and ways of thinking.

I think I am getting better as I get a little bit older. I think I have improved from the mental side of things. I am much more open-minded now, in term of politics and religion.

Physically I also think I have improved and I put much more emphasis on my own health. Being active and staying active. Make sure I eat well, which unfortunately is expensive.
I guess like everybody does I do review what I have done and what I want to do. It’s a 10-year thing and it does coincide with being 30…

OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »?

I can feel old in different situation, if I go to a bar surrounded by young, I do avoid certain bars ☺. But overall I feel young and reenergized. I guess it goes with trying to change of focus every 10 years. My energy feels young.

CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change?

A lot of people say you can’t regret things but I think you do! And regret is part of life because it makes you want change, to make something different, trying to avoid same mistakes. I think I have put a lot into professional career, working hard, and it was at the expense of my personal life. I could have been a better boyfriend, a better partner and put more effort into my relationships.

My Values

My Typical day

And tomorrow?

YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years?

In the next 10 years I want to have established my own business. So far I have worked for others and in the next 10 years I want to change it and work for myself. On the personal ground, I would love to have children and I cannot wait to have kids. I think I became pickier than before, but there is a real difference between dating at 20 and dating at 30 because you know better what you want and everything can go faster.

THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years?

New Zealand : I think we are going to see a lot more influx from the Asian region. And therefore there will a lot of opportunities in term of business and travel. I am looking forward to see how we interact with this region. NZ may be a small and isolated country but I think you can either seat back and watch what is happening or actually contribute. And I think NZ can be a leader on the green, renewable energies.

World : I think there is so much at the moment that it is hard to imagine what is going to happen. Everything is so volatile. It is probably a time when everyone on the globe is uncertain about what the future will be and what will happen with these conflicts. In the past conflicts have been between regions or countries but now it is global. For me there is hope that there will be peace but it is hard to predict the outcome.

Fears and Dreams…

FEARS – What are you afraid of? I am afraid of failure, not being able to achieve what I set out to achieve. Personal, professional ground… My fear is always to be average at something. But this fear is actually a great driving force.

ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve?

I want to have some sort of influence in term of improving other people’s lives in some way. Have an impact, working towards a greater good. I went into physio because I wanted to help people. Maybe I could have some impact on the Laos community. I think I have always had this calling to help others.

DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams?

To be able to have this connection to different cultures and people around the world. Being able to travel but also to help them, assist them and improve their way of life. I think this requires a lot of financing and this is why I want to start my own business.