More than a bit discouraged

[nickydwuk]

You have probably explored every avenue with reards job hunting but I thought I would add my little bit. Although I am not yet in the country I have secured a job (I am a nurse) through a nurse recruitment agency. Do they have simialr agencies for teachers? This agency found the employer, checked my references and arranged the interview. They are now advising and supporting with the whole emmigration process. If nursing has this why hasn't teaching? I thought both were in short supply.

[Glenda]

Sorry KH, I'm a bit late in adding my tuppenceworth. Would like to confirm Taffy's observations of Kiwi life - you have got to get out there talking to people and telling them you are looking for a job. A lot of jobs are not advertised, and that can include teaching as I believe a recent vacancy at my kids' school was filled without advertising.

After a 'reality check', I went out and told people I was seriously looking for work - friends, kids' parents, teachers, bank manager, hairdresser, the guy in the motel we stayed at ... within a couple of weeks I was offered three jobs. Two other friends have recently done the same thing.

Letting us know on this forum could be a small help as no doubt some of us will remember what you said and let you know if we hear of anything. I certainly would, even though it won't be Christchurch!

[selchie]

Have you considered volunteering at a local school? It could be a way of getting known. ...Two summers ago I met a violin maker at the local Wood Fair, and found that he taught at the elementary school up the street from our house. I had long thought about volunteering, but hadn't done it. In the fall, I started helping in his class a couple of hours a week. He kept saying that it was too bad I didn't want to spend more time at it, because I could apply for a position as a teaching assistant of some sort.

Thank you so much for writing of your troubles, and putting them in a perspective that can be so useful to many of us here. In so many ways NZ seems like home, but there are those little differences that can be so frustrating and even discouraging until one finds the key.

Best of luck - to you and the schools who could use someone like you.

[pianist1]

Hang in there, KH! I felt like the crud of the earth during the first 5 months we were here. As an educator (music teacher with a graduate degree) I know exactly what you are going through. I sent out more than 30 CVs with cover letters to the schools asking if they had any openings...only 3 bothered to reply, saying they had nothing. I never heard back from the rest.
Like you, I decided to find employment in another field (retail) since I had some experience in it (though nothing like Nolasmom)....I worked for a couple of months but it made me a nervous wreck cos the bos was micro-managing and installed cctv cos she thought we were stealing!
Before we made our move here, I knew that networking was very important regardless of where we moved to, so I made it a point to join the IRMT (Institute of Registered Music Teachers) and attend their meetings to show my face. It was at one of these meetings that someone I met recommended me, when she was asked if she knew of anyone who could fill a position that suddenly opened up. I was very lucky in the sense that the HOD of the school I work at is well aware that I am way over-qualified for the job, but she has treated me very professionally and been supportive. My first year at St. Margaret's has been good - I only wish I worked more hours, since this is only a part-time job.
I got my other job (as ballet accompanist at Southern Ballet) mainly by constantly calling them to ask if they had a need for a pianist. Luckily for me, very few people can actually do this kind of work. I am sure they got sick of my calls, but when one of their pianists quit, they remembered to call me.
One other thing worth mentioning, for those who live in Chch...we have had several kiwi friends tell us in our face that Chch is a very closed community and people just do not hire people they don't know. They seemed to think that this is more prevalent here than say, in Auckland. So, if it's coming from the horse's mouth, there must be some truth in it.
My solution to all this is to keep on plugging and keep bugging everyone you come across till something happens. Don't give up hope, KH!

[heidi]

KH thanks for the stories
Here is my I love Americans stories:

A hot humid day on the boadwalk at old orchard beach, Maine. The place is packed, noisy, tourist hell or heaven depending on how you see things. The kids wanted one of those icy blended drinks. I asked how much they were and was given the ROYAL treatment. The young man making the drinks gave us samples to taste, took his time, treated us like we were buying champagne instead of slush, thanked us ---it was amazing (and weird)..

then pizza again same hellish location on the boardwalk. The waitress couldn't have been more helpful and sincerely went out of her way to make us feel as if we were eating at a four star place (the pizza was excellent and dirt cheap too). We tipped well after all that, I don't know if other people did it is such a rough and tumble sort of place. It really restored our faith in people who have to work long hot hours in mostly thankless jobs and still manage to be excellent at what they do.

Back at Ogunquit, on the beach we met a family from Long Island. The mother went out of her way to make friendly conversation as I desperately tried to thaw my cold northern habits and smile and think of things to say (rather than bury my nose in my book). They were so NICE and friendly!! Like kiwis. We canadians have alot to learn about warmth!

I agree with others you have alot to give and just need to find the right place. Your comment about consumer life in NA is very very true!

[KiwiHopeful]

I'm glad Maine did us proud, though I'm not surprised. I'd gladly live in Portland, Maine, but for the weather. It seems every time I go there between September 1st and June 1st, it snows!

Never been to OOB during the summer myself--I prefer to avoid that kind of place at that time of year--but as someone who has worked that kind of job (at the Polar Caves in Plymouth, New Hampshire) I can tell you that people who can't manage a friendly smile or make some chit chat don't last long.

But at the same time, it's a two way street--too many people respond to friendliness with, well, nothing. I've always thought everyone should work a menial customer service job at some point in their life; it would make them a little more sympathetic to their fellow human beings.

BTW, if you plan to head to New England anytime in the future, please let me know if I can make any recommendations.

[heidi]

Thanks! We reserved our cabin in Ogunquit for next summer already....but if we move to nz we'll have to cancel that! (big grin!!) New England is very pretty. If NZ doesn't want us, the States is my second choice. OH has dual citizenship. He's another American 'thing' I love (grin)

Maine is our closest ocean, a 12 hour drive away.

[KiwiHopeful]

Great spot, Ogunquit.

I may be telling you things you already know, but here goes ...

If you dare a trip across the border into New Hampshire, you'll find some great spots. Portsmouth is my favorite. When we were back in the States, you'd have found us there most weekends. Great little shops and some terrific restaurants. I highly recommend Muddy River Smokehouse, brick oven pizza at the Portsmouth Gaslight, the Portsmouth Brewery, and, if you're into kitsch, The Friendly Toast. Fat Belly's is pretty good, too.

If you want a nice romantic dinner, the Dolphin Striker or, even better Ristorante Massimo - Portsmouth NH

Frankly, it's pretty difficult to get a bad meal in Portsmouth. (My wife and I were lamenting the quality of restaurants here in Chch because Portsmouth had spoiled us so much!)

IF you have kids, driving out to Odiorne Point is worthwhile. They have a nice little science center, great tide pools, and nice walking/biking trails, as well as a bit of sandy beach. Great Island Common, on Newcastle Island, is also a great spot for kids, with a nice playground, jetty, and sandy beach. (My boys absolutely loved it there--they called it the 'playground beach'.)

There's also the old fort at the Coast Guard base on Newcastle Island.

I think you'll find that Portsmouth is much less crowded than the little Maine towns (especially York and Kittery) and only the locals go to Great Island Common.

BTW, do you have kids and if so, what ages are they? I ask because I can point you toward some great rainy day stuff for them.

And, please, stop me if I'm telling you stuff you already know.

[heidi]

Loved Portsmouth! We also had a great meal there, lunch with the kids, crayons, in a crowded bustling basement exposed brick on the water kind of place (could that be a Dylan song?! lol-I just read he has his own radio show as a complete aside). Lots of atmosphere! Loved the old bricks, old shipyard feel. The shopping looked great too, through the windows. Now STOP with the Portsmouth tips...we wanna get back to enzeeeee. You can come up to the warm north island for a cuppa tea and tell us about all the places we could've seen had we stayed in NA, and then we can laugh at the poor suckers stranded in fifty feet of snow in the Walmart parking lot with their big screen tvs hanging out the back of their mini-vans while talk of the oil crisis plays on their radios.

[KiwiHopeful]

Okay, deal.