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Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Old Dec 14th 2010, 8:41 am
  #16  
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

For me it goes in peaks and troughs. I still don't have a job, but I am starting to get a social circle. I find that I'll now chat to anyone, cos at this point beggars can't be choosers!!! (I've been here 4 months)
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Old Dec 14th 2010, 8:44 am
  #17  
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what did you do in the end Persia?
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Old Dec 14th 2010, 10:42 pm
  #18  
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Totally understand where you're coming from. This is my 2nd go at migrating here. !st was 1988 and lived in Lower Hutt. For numerous reasons went back but my wife felt the need so we're here again this time in ChCh. The can-do thing gets to me. Usually find it's can-do without a clue! I tend to come under can-do but don't want to! Can't speak for Welly these days but I find people in ChCh a bit insecure. Friendly enough at first but tend to withdraw when they hear my accent. It's hard to explain to people back home how this isn't quite the utopia that it seems over there. That said, I can't see London being a place I want to get old in so It's either the rock or the hard place by the looks of it. Be lucky.
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Old Dec 21st 2010, 6:13 pm
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

2nd time round for me too, we lived in Welly and found it really hard to amke friends, I loved my job but this was not enough, I am now in Auckland somewhere I thought I never would be I am not a city girl but am loving it as each suburb is like a little village we live up the North Shore and just being out of the city is great, but I am not into clubbing etc so that suits me. I did find Welly people strange and some realy prejudice I have not found that here.
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Old Dec 21st 2010, 8:13 pm
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Good to hear your thoughts on Welly. Thought it was just me. Christchurch a bit like that as well but now I'm older it doesn't bother me as much. Auckland sounds interesting. Wanted to avoid the big city life too but what you say may make it an option if things don't work out here
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Old Dec 23rd 2010, 9:57 am
  #21  
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

i havent felt and prejudice yet
Even though i'm brit/asian

Just hard to meet folks i feel a connection with

I'll make more effort in 2011 to get out there and meet people
i'm not giving up - just finding it harder than i thought
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Old Dec 23rd 2010, 3:32 pm
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Sorry to hear you're having difficulties, it must be tough on your own.

Are there any Expats meet ups where you are? I know not evberyone wants to move 12,000 miles and then socialise with fellow emigrees, but I think it could be a great starting point? Have you thried to post a thread in the "Meet Ups" section perhaps?

Sorry, I am on a friend's ancient slow PC, but you say you're going to be doing some travelling around the NI, have you had a look at a website called something like sofa surfers or similiar? Ahhh, it's here ... Might be worth a look.

Whatever, you have a wonderful Christmas in as much as you can.
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Old Dec 27th 2010, 9:46 am
  #23  
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Originally Posted by DennisBergkamp
what did you do in the end Persia?
Husband decided to look for a job in Australia. He moved over at the end of July to start work, set up a house etc. and the rest of us followed a week later. I can honestly say it was the best move we ever made.

How are you doing now?
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Old Dec 29th 2010, 10:50 pm
  #24  
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Arrow Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Originally Posted by Persephone
Sorry you're finding life hard. We never know how things will turn out until we take that chance and go for it.
Could you look at changing jobs? I presume you have a work visa and as far as I know you can transfer to another job as long as it fits into one of the categories of visa. Another workplace may well be totally different, no different to the UK in that respect.

If you need to let off steam, it may be better to have a rant on here; most of us have emigrated and will have been there and understand how you feel a lot better than your average kiwi. Hell, even I had a good rant a few months back and I tend to let everything flow over me normally- a workplace situation pushed all the wrong buttons and I needed to do something or scream at the boss [not a good move when everyone knows everyone else in my small profession!]

As for finding friends, I know exactly where you're coming from. At least I have my NZ other half but I am having trouble getting to meet and know other people. Not sure what the solution to that is as yet...

Leave entitlement is crap over here, any chance you could get unpaid leave? I always had 5 weeks a year back in the UK and I would be asking any potential employer about how feasible it was to take 1-2 weeks a year off unpaid to get myself some decent holiday time. Luckily I don't have the Xmas shutdown to contend with, it would not be possible in my job due to the guidelines and legislation we work under. Still means you get less pay but it depends on your level of pay to start with, whether you can afford it and what you value the most.

Anyway hope life starts to turn in your favour soon. It is hard to emigrate and sometimes it is not the right decision and other times it takes some work to get to where you want to be. Good luck wherever you end up, you may even stay over here you never know!
So, We arrive in March!!! What is the leave situation???
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Old Dec 31st 2010, 8:33 am
  #25  
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Originally Posted by john and julie
So, We arrive in March!!! What is the leave situation???
Depends on where you work eh? But it appears to be a given that hols in NZ are pretty crap..especially when many are 'made' to take their hols during the xmas period. See my thread on food prices I have just written and see the replies to that one. That may also be something for you to be aware of.
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Old Dec 31st 2010, 10:29 am
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Husband = 4 weeks leave a year.

Two weeks compulsory for Christmas and New Year.
Other two weeks to be taken as and when the employer states during the winter months due to quiet work times.

If we need to have leave time then it has meant we have to take it unpaid.
One holiday for us in the past 7 years, however, we have needed to make UK returns for family reasons which has been unpaid leave.
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Old Dec 31st 2010, 1:55 pm
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Originally Posted by BEVS
Husband = 4 weeks leave a year.

Two weeks compulsory for Christmas and New Year.
Other two weeks to be taken as and when the employer states during the winter months due to quiet work times.

If we need to have leave time then it has meant we have to take it unpaid.
One holiday for us in the past 7 years, however, we have needed to make UK returns for family reasons which has been unpaid leave.
Hey Bevs that is exactly how the UK delegated holidays to all of it's industries with any connection to the motor manufacturing trades. Only difference is the UK Christmas and New Year hols fell at the coldest period so vast savings were made on heating bills and the workforce all stayed indoors..... (used to be the pub until beer prices escalated).
Now there is no UK motor trade............
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Old Jan 1st 2011, 5:29 pm
  #28  
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Originally Posted by Stormer999
Hey Bevs that is exactly how the UK delegated holidays to all of it's industries with any connection to the motor manufacturing trades. Only difference is the UK Christmas and New Year hols fell at the coldest period so vast savings were made on heating bills and the workforce all stayed indoors..... (used to be the pub until beer prices escalated).
Now there is no UK motor trade............
Sounds the same as the UK but without the Bank holidays?
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Old Jan 1st 2011, 7:33 pm
  #29  
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

Originally Posted by john and julie
Sounds the same as the UK but without the Bank holidays?

Yes, you are still entitled to the public holiday too. It depends on whether you would nomally work on that day etc, but you do get them.

Gill
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Old Jan 2nd 2011, 7:09 am
  #30  
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Default Re: Second Thoughts 2 Months In...

its getting better since i made this thread

went backpacking around the north island till today and it was great

i just need to win the lotto now so i can quit work, become a lazy bum who likes the odd holiday now and again! Love the sunny weather. Met some cool people whilst travelling so hopefully i can keep in touch with them.

I really like Taupo - nice to see the sun set on the lake

Hopefully 2011 will be better, with the chance to build my network of friends.

Still no idea of how long i'l be in town. I think i've realised i'm a nomad at heart lol
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