Hi all,
Sorry for being "silent" for so long!!! We have not had internet access "at home" until just a couple of weeks ago. I have had to use the internet cafe to do my emailing...but if you type as slow as me, it would cost a fortune to send emails, so I have kept it to just business.
Since my last post, lots have happened. We made offers on 2 houses but the sales fell through (great disappointments, after getting our hopes up so high)...not to say also spending a small fortune on home inspectors and appraisers. The third one was a charm...we found it on Trademe of all places! It is 3 years old and has just about everything we were looking for, including a master bedroom large enough to hold our king-size bedroom suite! It has double-glazed windows, 2 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms. It, however has no heating...but we are getting heat pumps installed next week. We moved into our new house on February 24th and had all our stuff moved from the storage warehouse. Packing and shipping our own things ensured that almost everything was intact...a couple of chairs had broken legs that were easily fixed and one wine glass broke...but that was about it. Some candles also melted a little, although the rest were fine!? We are happy with the location and the house itself.
After almost four months of sitting at home unemployed, I almost lost my mind and was terribly homesick. If anyone offered me a chance to move back to the US, I wouldn't have hesitated at all...please don't get me wrong....we did NOT move here to get away from anyone or anything in the USA. I love the US and will always be an American. The move was about finding employment for my husband who is in a very narrow field that had no jobs open for him when his last one ended.
Anyways, in the middle of January, I received 2 job offers - from Southern Ballet (the largest ballet school in Chch) to work as a pianist; and from St. Margaret's - a private girls' school - to be an itinerant piano teacher. I am now currently making almost as much as I used to back in the US....but the cost of living is a lot higher here. These jobs did not simply arrive at my doorstep - I had sent out numerous CVs to schools and called lots of places for leads. I also networked and joined the local association of music teachers. I know it is difficult breaking into the community here - I have been told by several locals that it is more about who you know rather than how good you are, that will get you jobs here. Regardless, I had prayed long and hard for these jobs. I feel very fortunate that just 5 months after we got here that I have these jobs - which I really enjoy. The people I work with are also very nice and professional - it means so much to work with people I can get along with.
We have had a number of hurdles and challenges, but things are finally becoming more settled and I feel so much better in our new home, not living out of suitcases anymore! Our cat Felix, has also adapted well and seems happy.
Anyone thinking of moving from the US with questions...fell free to write me! Happy Easter ya'll!
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