British Expats - Two months is enough, I want to go home

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathyc

Wow! thank you so much for all of your replies :) .

I'm not sure if this is homesickness or not, that's the problem. I've moved round a fair bit but have never felt this negative about a place. Yes it could be culture shock but I was expecting something a lot different.

We're living in Mairangi Bay which is in the north shore of Auckland. It's not at all like I'd thought it would be. It's very hilly for a start and a lot more built up.

We've got two young children and I don't have any intention of working until they are in school full time. I've started to visit some groups with them and have made some friends. But it's not the lack of friends really that is bothering me. It's the coldness and dampness, the awful cost of electricity, no heating, the standard of the rental houses, the bad driving, giving way to the right, the food.....I could go on.

But of all of it it;s the houses that have really depressed me. Honestly some of them wouldn't even be found in a dumpy holiday camp in Britain, how on earth could landlords have the cheek to rent them out in such a state? We looked at some where the plaster was so wet you could pick it off the walls, how can children live in a place like that? And no heating either, there's no way I'd have a portable gas fire because I'm scared stiff of the things so we have to rely on electric heaters and I'm dreading the next bill. But we have to keep the place warm because of the children, It's really hard sometimes.

When I think of our lovely house back in England I could cry but if I start I may never stop. It can't be just me, do other people feel the same?

Hi Cathy, :)
we have been in NZ for nearly 3 months. I also have 2 small children & don't work until they are both in full time schooling. Hubby currently has no job, so no income either which is tough, but we love it here so far (sorry don't mean to rub it in) luckily we have rented a nice house (yes its cold) which has helped as the last one we rented in the uk was a pile of poo! I'm just starting to feel a wee bit homesick, missing family & friends Pm me if you need to chat xxxx :)