Who moved to NZ and hated it?

[Dawn]

Wow, some surprises here :-? Everyone's posts are usually so upbeat and 'whoa having a great time', unless sombebody's been through a particularly hard time and then we all share in it. It's interesting that some have said that although they appreciate the country, are having a great time and love being there, they aren't able to imagine themselves staying and also others who would like to be able to stay but don't think they'll be able to afford to.

We aren't there yet and so can't possibly know what to expect, as many have voiced, expectations are very different to reality. but to go with an open mind is what we will try to do just as many of you have. New Zealand is one little place in a very big world and we see our opportunity to leave the UK as an adventure. Unlike Maggiemoo we do dislike the UK but that doesn't mean we're looking for NZ to be the answer to our prayers. What we are looking for it to be is an experience from which we can either decide to prolong and settle or that will spur us on to other places and other experiences.

Neither of us have set plans on work, we never have had although we both have good qualifications and experience. We've always gone through life doing what we have to do when we have to do it, we've swapped and changed jobs and roles to fit in with what we want out of life at the time. There have been very hard times, for example when our children were small and we both wanted to experience as much time at home with them as possible, but it was a choice we made because it was what mattered at the time.

We're lucky now that because of the house sale we have some cash behind us, we're not on easy street by any means, we know we're going to have to be canny but we feel weve been offered an opportunity. We see it as an opportunity to have a freedom, a freedom to choose where we want to go and what we want to do. We don't have job titles and even if we did they're not who we are, we don't have pre-conceived ideas and expectations and even if we did we've had enough of those shattered to expect them to be shattered again.

We want a look-see. We have a curiosity and we fully expect to continue being curious after NZ. Gary is always saying I will never be satisfied and he's right, I won't be nor do I want to be. There's always more to see, more to do, more to learn. Who wants to be satisfied? NZ is just another step on a long journey through what I want to be a full life. If it turns out to be more than that all well and good and if not, then I know my foot will fall and we'll take the next step to who knows where.

I really hope that everything turns out the way you all want them to. We all need and want different things out of life and we all go about getting them in different ways.

Good luck

[MotherBear]

Wow, some surprises here :-? Everyone's posts are usually so upbeat and 'whoa having a great time', unless sombebody's been through a particularly hard time and then we all share in it. It's interesting that some have said that although they appreciate the country, are having a great time and love being there, they aren't able to imagine themselves staying and also others who would like to be able to stay but don't think they'll be able to afford to.

Yes I was quite surprised as well, but it's good that folks can come on here and share their thoughts and concerns and not feel alone in having some doubts. ?It would be sad to worry that you were the only one that felt like this and had, somehow, got it wrong. ?

Most, if not all of you, have immigrated only in the last few months and could possibly be suffering from the after effects of all the stress getting there and haven't quite felt your feet yet. ? Stress can take quite a while to come out and could be colouring things a bit. ?However, where finances are concerned, they form the backbone of your existence and it's vital to get them right and that, too, can colour your impressions of NZ. ?I hope you can all find what you're looking for downunder so that all the hassle, anxiety and financial pay-out you suffered to get there will all be for a good cause.

Chins up, troops! ?With a bit of luck and good planning, it'll all come good in the end. ? ;)



Mentiad (original poster) has gone very quiet.

[Debd]

Hi Dawn, nicely put! You'll always be happy with an attitude as good and true as yours!
And you're right motherbear, careful planning and budgeting are the main things!

[nattydread]

Fantastic Question...

Here's my 2 cents worth..

I'm not overly surprised at the replies so far..
The main thing we are struggling with is the cost of living..
We made massive mistakes in the beginning of converting to pounds.. and thinking .."ooh bugger me , that's only 10 quid.." infact that 10 quid.. is about 3 days wages,,and would be my petrol paid for a week and a half..

Next.. jesus, I miss Next..
cheap (ish) stylish (ish) and good value for money..
Nothing even remotely close to it here..

I have a life,, (as you will have noticed from my absence on here..)
playing guitar (after a long long break) .. cycling, walking.. even been bloody gardening...
Who'd have thunk it!!???

All in all, nz is good.. the people are kiwi's. (nuff said)
and the cost of living is probably more than the uk,, but , and its a big but..
I have a life here, that I could never have had in Britain..

Massive house and garden,, (well compared to our 3 bed Wimpey in Scotland it's massive,,) nice (ish) car..

I think.. and I'm ashamed to admit it,, I'm maybe a bit more materialistic than I would care to admit.. which has probably been the hardest lesson to learn..

But, I got over that.. and now it's time to get on with it.
Can't afford to fly back to Britain, so I'll just need to put up with this place..

It's tough, but somebody has to pull the oranges off the tree tomorrow morning for our breakfast juice..
and pull some lettuces up for the sandwiches..and spring onions.. and the tomatoes will be ready in a few weeks..
and the strawberries.. apples are getting fatter every day..
pears are coming on..
raspberries, blackberries..
Probably 30 quids worth in Tesco..
Thats nearly 100 bucks..

DOH!! done it again..

[MotherBear]

Gawd, who'd have thought it? Nattydread, Market Gardener . Have you really got all those fruits and veggies on the go? If so, that's just brilliant. Nothing like a bit of home grown.

You sound to be having a great life down there, Natty, even without a Next shop to keep you kitted out, but then you only need a pair of gumboots and old jeans to do your gardening. I can't help wondering if you're feeling a lot healthier now with that sort of lifestyle. It sure sounds healthy.

Good luck to you and long may it continue. Great to hear you're doing OK.

[Dawn]

Natty, Natty, I love y' man! Sounds like although the cash is just about doin' it your life is more than makin' up for it. Bring it on - coz y' can't ask for much more than that!! ;)

Deb, do y' know what? I have yet to see whether this attitude of mine gets me anywhere in NZ. I am much more of a control freak than I come across I fear. But I don't much care for status quo or for political correctness and it's got me into trouble more than a time or two. My kids show strong signs of being of much an inclination too - woes me, there may be trouble ahead.

[nattydread]

Thanks Dawn and MB for the replies..
In answer to your questions MB..
Yes, all that is growing in my garden,,
and other stuff too...

Never knew Rosemary was a bush?? I thought it only came in those little jars..
We've got shit loads here..
Silverbeet,, no idea waht to do with it.. Guinea Pig laps it up though..
and yes.. HUGELY healthier..
The meat and veggies are all so much less tampered with ..even Mcdonalds tastes fresher here..

on the subject of attitudes (Dawn and Deb).. I think the biggest mistake any British immigrant can make here is to complain about stuff..
They dont take too kindly to "Whingeing Bloody Pom's"
I know of a few people here in Masterton who have that label, and they don't even know it.. because they are too busy complaining..

too hot.. when its sunny
too windy when its windy
too wet when its raining.......

Anyone heard from SteveyC lately..??

[Maggiemoo]

Hey Natty - good to hear from you, and life for you sounds fab - good on ya.

Talking of fresh fruit/veg - got my 2 year old well trained...she goes out into the garden and picks us a lemon for our G&Ts!! ?ok so we normally end up with about 10 (lemons that is!! ?;D) rather than 1, but its a start!! ?Can't wait for the strawberries to grow and ripen...mmmm

I PMd Stevey a few weeks back to check how life is and not got a response - anyone heard anything from him?

Maggie

[MotherBear]

I PMd Stevey a few weeks back to check how life is and not got a response - anyone heard anything from him?

Taffy and WG have had chats with him on MSN messenger from time to time but I don't think there's been anything very recent from him. *Hope he's OK after all his dreams of his new life in NZ.

I miss not having anyone to spar with now and all my 'battering' smileys are going to waste.

[Dawn]

Y' know, you lot have made me think! I was out walking the dogs this morning over the fields and I stopped on the top of the hill to look out over the forest and miles and miles of green countryside. The sky was a clear azure, not a cloud in sight and the weather's been unseasonably warm here, still 18 degrees in November! I felt invigourated and happy and I started to feel a little unsure of what we are heading into.

A while ago I posted a question about how much money people have taken over with them in the past and whether or not people have managed or have struggled at all. A few replies said that they had left with less than we will and weren't worried about being OK. Stevey had a good laugh and said he thought it was a strange thing to ask but judging from the posts in this thread, it's highly relevant.

I'm worried now as to whether we will have enough to get by or at least give ourselves a fair shot. The problem is, we can't really afford to stay here either, not without a radical change in the way we live our lives.

Maybe this is just pre- make the jump nerves. It'll be raining and cold and grey tomorrow and I'll be chomping at the bit to get on a plane! ;)