We have the points, but should we go??! - to main forum
Aug 6th 2008, 2:07 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 12
We have the points, but should we go??! - to main forum
My husband and I live in the UK. He's British, I'm an American with UK citizenship. We have three children, all under the age of 6, and we want to see the world, have a bit of an adventure, expose our children to something different...
My husband is a software developer, and a few weeks ago found out about NZ's need for IT specialists, whathaveyou. We've never been to NZ, but there are a lot of qualities about it that appeal. Similar weather (familiarity), larger homes, fewer people, more space for the children to run about.
We are LDS, and our church has a relatively large presence there, so we feel confident about having a ready-made support system when we live there (the church is very organised and strongly supports newcomers and families in general).
We haven't even started our EOI, and I've been trying to read as much as possible as we gear ourselves up for the process.
I would really like some stories from people who emigrated with small children in tow. I myself am used to the feeling of being out of place; I've lived in the UK for 9 years, but my accent still makes me stick out like a sore thumb and I'm pretty much an oddity wherever I go. Whatever. Such is life, as in immigrant...
My husband has been looking at jobs in Wellington... we really like the idea of living simply, and hopefully a bit more cheaply than the UK. I don't like the crush of people here, I don't like the fast-paced life, and I don't like the commercialism. The idea of living in a small-town atmosphere with people who don't care what brand of clothing/car/handbag I own, well, it really appeals.
I've only quickly perused this site, but many people talk about "feeling down" or having "bad experiences", but I haven't come across many specifics. I want to be pragmatic about this move, and I want to go into it with wide open eyes. I'm not expecting a fantastic, rich, amazing life in NZ. I know that's not what NZ is about. What I would really, really like is room for my children to roam and time to spend together as a family out the back garden, on hikes, enjoying each other. I'm pretty much a loner as it is, with many of my friends scattered across the world anyway, so a certain amount of isolation isn't going to worry me.
Thoughts?
My husband is a software developer, and a few weeks ago found out about NZ's need for IT specialists, whathaveyou. We've never been to NZ, but there are a lot of qualities about it that appeal. Similar weather (familiarity), larger homes, fewer people, more space for the children to run about.
We are LDS, and our church has a relatively large presence there, so we feel confident about having a ready-made support system when we live there (the church is very organised and strongly supports newcomers and families in general).
We haven't even started our EOI, and I've been trying to read as much as possible as we gear ourselves up for the process.
I would really like some stories from people who emigrated with small children in tow. I myself am used to the feeling of being out of place; I've lived in the UK for 9 years, but my accent still makes me stick out like a sore thumb and I'm pretty much an oddity wherever I go. Whatever. Such is life, as in immigrant...
My husband has been looking at jobs in Wellington... we really like the idea of living simply, and hopefully a bit more cheaply than the UK. I don't like the crush of people here, I don't like the fast-paced life, and I don't like the commercialism. The idea of living in a small-town atmosphere with people who don't care what brand of clothing/car/handbag I own, well, it really appeals.
I've only quickly perused this site, but many people talk about "feeling down" or having "bad experiences", but I haven't come across many specifics. I want to be pragmatic about this move, and I want to go into it with wide open eyes. I'm not expecting a fantastic, rich, amazing life in NZ. I know that's not what NZ is about. What I would really, really like is room for my children to roam and time to spend together as a family out the back garden, on hikes, enjoying each other. I'm pretty much a loner as it is, with many of my friends scattered across the world anyway, so a certain amount of isolation isn't going to worry me.
Thoughts?
Aug 6th 2008, 10:52 pm
#2
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,613
Re: We have the points, but should we go??!
Hi and welcome to this NZ forum. 
As this area is really for brief intros, I am going to move your thread into the main forum. It'll be seen by the wider audience there & you will get more input.
As this area is really for brief intros, I am going to move your thread into the main forum. It'll be seen by the wider audience there & you will get more input.
Aug 7th 2008, 12:33 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,298
Re: We have the points, but should we go??! - to main forum
My husband and I live in the UK. He's British, I'm an American with UK citizenship. We have three children, all under the age of 6, and we want to see the world, have a bit of an adventure, expose our children to something different...
My husband is a software developer, and a few weeks ago found out about NZ's need for IT specialists, whathaveyou. We've never been to NZ, but there are a lot of qualities about it that appeal. Similar weather (familiarity), larger homes, fewer people, more space for the children to run about.
We are LDS, and our church has a relatively large presence there, so we feel confident about having a ready-made support system when we live there (the church is very organised and strongly supports newcomers and families in general).
We haven't even started our EOI, and I've been trying to read as much as possible as we gear ourselves up for the process.
I would really like some stories from people who emigrated with small children in tow. I myself am used to the feeling of being out of place; I've lived in the UK for 9 years, but my accent still makes me stick out like a sore thumb and I'm pretty much an oddity wherever I go. Whatever. Such is life, as in immigrant...
My husband has been looking at jobs in Wellington... we really like the idea of living simply, and hopefully a bit more cheaply than the UK. I don't like the crush of people here, I don't like the fast-paced life, and I don't like the commercialism. The idea of living in a small-town atmosphere with people who don't care what brand of clothing/car/handbag I own, well, it really appeals.
I've only quickly perused this site, but many people talk about "feeling down" or having "bad experiences", but I haven't come across many specifics. I want to be pragmatic about this move, and I want to go into it with wide open eyes. I'm not expecting a fantastic, rich, amazing life in NZ. I know that's not what NZ is about. What I would really, really like is room for my children to roam and time to spend together as a family out the back garden, on hikes, enjoying each other. I'm pretty much a loner as it is, with many of my friends scattered across the world anyway, so a certain amount of isolation isn't going to worry me.
Thoughts?
My husband is a software developer, and a few weeks ago found out about NZ's need for IT specialists, whathaveyou. We've never been to NZ, but there are a lot of qualities about it that appeal. Similar weather (familiarity), larger homes, fewer people, more space for the children to run about.
We are LDS, and our church has a relatively large presence there, so we feel confident about having a ready-made support system when we live there (the church is very organised and strongly supports newcomers and families in general).
We haven't even started our EOI, and I've been trying to read as much as possible as we gear ourselves up for the process.
I would really like some stories from people who emigrated with small children in tow. I myself am used to the feeling of being out of place; I've lived in the UK for 9 years, but my accent still makes me stick out like a sore thumb and I'm pretty much an oddity wherever I go. Whatever. Such is life, as in immigrant...
My husband has been looking at jobs in Wellington... we really like the idea of living simply, and hopefully a bit more cheaply than the UK. I don't like the crush of people here, I don't like the fast-paced life, and I don't like the commercialism. The idea of living in a small-town atmosphere with people who don't care what brand of clothing/car/handbag I own, well, it really appeals.
I've only quickly perused this site, but many people talk about "feeling down" or having "bad experiences", but I haven't come across many specifics. I want to be pragmatic about this move, and I want to go into it with wide open eyes. I'm not expecting a fantastic, rich, amazing life in NZ. I know that's not what NZ is about. What I would really, really like is room for my children to roam and time to spend together as a family out the back garden, on hikes, enjoying each other. I'm pretty much a loner as it is, with many of my friends scattered across the world anyway, so a certain amount of isolation isn't going to worry me.
Thoughts?
BUT we love it here!! The beach is always close and empty, the kids have way more of EVERYTHING that we could not give them in the Uk and none of us miss home THAT much that we would consider resettling in the UK.
NZ is a great place BUT FULL OF PROBLEMS. Just like the US Italy, Greece, Inda etc etc. People = probleems.
The problems that we had in the UK were far worse on a DAILY basis than the problems that prevail in NZ.
We work less (Had more money..its all gone now) and have a WAY better standard of living. Apart from marrying Kate moving to NZ is the best thing I have ever done..even with all the irksome stuff..they say that strenghth evolves outta adversity..guess I am going to be REAL strong one day...look forward to meeting you in NZ??
PM me if you like.
Warm regards, Dom.
Aug 7th 2008, 1:13 am
#4
lionheart
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: papamoa
Posts: 571
Re: We have the points, but should we go??! - to main forum
Hi
Everyone feels down at times and have bad experiences regardless of where you live. I'm sure at some time during your 9 years in the UK, you have felt a bit homesick, isolated even especially when you first arrive somewhere.
Being a member of LDS will be of a great help and comfort to you as you will join an established community/church with common demominators.
Only you can decide on the move, for myself it was the right thing to do. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain. Do you really want to keep wondering 'what if'.
Hope this helps
Pauline
Everyone feels down at times and have bad experiences regardless of where you live. I'm sure at some time during your 9 years in the UK, you have felt a bit homesick, isolated even especially when you first arrive somewhere.
Being a member of LDS will be of a great help and comfort to you as you will join an established community/church with common demominators.
Only you can decide on the move, for myself it was the right thing to do. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain. Do you really want to keep wondering 'what if'.
Hope this helps
Pauline
Aug 7th 2008, 8:20 am
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 171
Re: We have the points, but should we go??! - to main forum
if you want to see the world than NZ is about at far away as you can get from other places :-(
2 hours and you just get to oz.
there is a lot more of the world you can see from europe and a lot easier
2 hours and you just get to oz.
there is a lot more of the world you can see from europe and a lot easier
