Getting a (Primary School) Teaching Job in New Zealand
#31
Re: Getting a (Primary School) Teaching Job in New Zealand
But I haven't had to do such a thing so it's just my gut feeling on the above.
#32
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 280
Re: Getting a (Primary School) Teaching Job in New Zealand
My gut feeling? While the school may be lovely it could be really isolating living there. I suspect it would be hard enough travelling half way around the world only to find that you are travelling so much each day that you don't have the time to actually socialise or look for new friends.
Then again, are you sure it is really that isolated? Or is it just you haven't heard of the nearby towns? Without asking what school (or town) it is in, what region is it? You may find there are
Although I think -again gut feeling - if you aren't country people that's one hell of a difficult change.
Then again, are you sure it is really that isolated? Or is it just you haven't heard of the nearby towns? Without asking what school (or town) it is in, what region is it? You may find there are
Although I think -again gut feeling - if you aren't country people that's one hell of a difficult change.
In terms of the new job, the isolation itself isn't really a problem it's this potential up to 1.5 hour commute (if we can't find somewhere to live nearby) that is really the cause for concern.
I don't want to give too much away, but it's in the Hawkes Bay district... I can tell you that it's towards the east coast and according to Google earth the nearest towns are "Waipawa" and "Waipukurau" which are around 1hr 20mins and 1hr 30mins away respectively.
I think it might be time to try and find an estate agent that deals with that particular area and see what they say about the possibility/availability of renting there.
#33
Re: Getting a (Primary School) Teaching Job in New Zealand
That's why I didn't want to ask too much - it could pretty much identify too much. But an hour from Waipuk or waipawa is a pretty good indicator of how remote you could be. Those two places (particularly Waipukurau) are pretty stand alone places but they are still quite small in themselves.
Funnily enough I have a friend who grew up in Waipawa and she went to high school in Napier every day (the family was going to move and didn't and by the time they realised they didn't intend moving she was quite entrenched in her school). Waipawa to Napier is roughly about an hour (slightly less). Waipawa further into the rural areas sounds like it's really rural. Would be pretty as hell probably cos you would most likely be near the mountain ranges.
She found she got used to it but I know she commented that even in high school it meant she wasn't always able to socialise with school people afterwards. I don't know but I wonder if it's a similar thing with someone actually working that kind of distance? You would be limited as to always having to get home at a reasonable hour.
But heck, I still think that's a tiring commute. Good idea about contacting an agent in the area.
Like I said, I really don't know but that's just my gut feeling.
Funnily enough I have a friend who grew up in Waipawa and she went to high school in Napier every day (the family was going to move and didn't and by the time they realised they didn't intend moving she was quite entrenched in her school). Waipawa to Napier is roughly about an hour (slightly less). Waipawa further into the rural areas sounds like it's really rural. Would be pretty as hell probably cos you would most likely be near the mountain ranges.
She found she got used to it but I know she commented that even in high school it meant she wasn't always able to socialise with school people afterwards. I don't know but I wonder if it's a similar thing with someone actually working that kind of distance? You would be limited as to always having to get home at a reasonable hour.
But heck, I still think that's a tiring commute. Good idea about contacting an agent in the area.
Like I said, I really don't know but that's just my gut feeling.
#34
Re: Getting a (Primary School) Teaching Job in New Zealand
I just saw this article about school closures in the Tararua District (not where you are but it's not far). To give you an idea of where this is, It's about 2 hours south of Napier and just before you were to get to the Manawatu Gorge (which would take you to Palmerston North).
I'm only putting this because the closing of small schools may something worth considering/asking about.
I'm only putting this because the closing of small schools may something worth considering/asking about.
#35
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 280
Re: Getting a (Primary School) Teaching Job in New Zealand
I just saw this article about school closures in the Tararua District (not where you are but it's not far). To give you an idea of where this is, It's about 2 hours south of Napier and just before you were to get to the Manawatu Gorge (which would take you to Palmerston North).
I'm only putting this because the closing of small schools may something worth considering/asking about.
I'm only putting this because the closing of small schools may something worth considering/asking about.
Incidentally, I did speak to an Estate Agent who claimed to be familiar with the particular area of the school that has asked my wife to take part in an interview... and she dismissed Google Earth's claims that the commute would take 1hr 20mins, stating that it took her around 30 mins
Result! (Assuming we can trust an Estate Agent) - Therefore it might be nothing like as bad/difficult as we first imagined. A 30min drive is perfectly acceptable!
Just need to confirm a time for the interview now... could well be this coming Sunday!!!!