Our move so far...

Hi Pianist,

Can confirm that there are others out there who feel isolated. It is more difficult being without that family/friend network than many anticipate. It takes time building up a similar network, and must be particularly difficult if you are not in work or have no kids.

Quite a few immigrants I've spoken to have taken up different employment to what they were doing 'back home'. Not always preferable, but they needed to get 'out there' earning and making contacts. You said you teach music; if this is to schools, you could write to all schools offering your services. Alternatively print up some flys offering music lessons during the school holidays (you should have your piano by then) and stick them on every noticeboard or shop window who displays these things. Maybe have an ad in the paper. You have probably thought of all this and know the pitfalls. ::) How about a musical course of some sort that would give a little ammunition in your job quest?

Good luck with what you decide on with updating an old house, or having a new one built. Spent many days looking at Christchurch ourselves and we decided, like a lot of other immigrants it seems, that if we lived there we would opt for one of the towns just north, like Kaiapoi, as it is cheaper and commuting reasonable. With NZ's earthquakes in mind, I just could not live on one of those houses perched on poles (Redcliffs, Sumner etc.) overlooking the city!

:)

Hi Glenda,
Great suggestions....I have already been in touch with the "right contacts" since February when we came for my husband's job interview. I joined the local Institute for registered music teachers (IRMT) and sent my CV to the music department at the University of Caterbury, Southern Ballet, etc. I have also called private schools to ask about itinerant music teacher openings etc. Although I have a bachelor and master's degrees in music and am more qualified than most here, I don't have the education certificate required to teach in schools, other than as an itinerant. Honestly, I prefer a one-to-one teaching situation or at the university level. Once I get back my piano, I will put out flyers etc. Building a piano studio depends on word-of-mouth and networking with the locals. I never had to advertize back home - my students were all recommended to me by other students etc. I know this will be a slow and tedious process. It would be nice to do something brainless like retail work untill I get enough students...so I can have some income!
Yeah...those houses perched on the hillsides of Sumner and Mout Pleasant etc. are scary! We were invited for dinner by some friends who live in one....their driveway slopes like 45* down into the garage! Can you imagine driving up or down on icy day????

Hi Pianist, have just read your post for first time and you have had lots to think about for sure! You must really miss your piano too.
I was in a similar fortunate situation to you back in the UK, plenty of clients by recommendation and you get used to it in a sort of indespensible way don't you?!
I've come here as designer in many ways, (hairdressing, jewellery, handcrafted goods etc) and I had made sufficient money just working very few hours.
I hope to work from hope doing everything as I have set up a studio here. At the moment, I don't feel like net-working! Need some sun and dry weather to inspire me and get me out there a bit more, but having two little ones limits you.
I hope you remain pro-active and good things will follow!
All the best
Debra

Hi Debd,
Things have a taken a turn for the better for me....I got a part-time job working in a bead store here. ?It is located in the Arts Center (the touristy, artsy part of downtown Christchurch) and the owner makes most of the pieces of jewelry sold in tastefully-lit glass cases. ?My main job is to sell her jewelry (I get a commission if I sell more than $200/day) and i started today. ?There is a clause however...I am not allowed to sell any of my own jewelry to anyone in town!
The way I see it, this job will tide me over (and prevent me from going insane) until we can get our act together as far as building a house/buying a house is concerned. ?Then, if I can get my studio going again, I could drop this job.
Some thoughts about making/selling jewelry that I have been considering (you might be interested in?) to make a portfolio/samples of jewelry for weddings and show them to the bridal boutiques in town. ?If you can work out some kind of deal with them, it could be great, since it would mean making multiple pieces for matching bridesmaids etc.
Beading supplies here are very expensive as i am sure you have found out and people don't like paying a lot of money for jewelry. ?If you can make some unique pieces and sell them to exclusive boutiques, or sell on consignment, it might be worthwhile and you could actually make some money!
Good luck to you as well....
My greatest regret was not buying a portable CD player and bringing my favorite CDs with me. ?There are no radio stations here that are worth listening to as far as my taste goes....

Pianist. Congratulations. Sounds like it could be an interesting job, especially in that area. You'll probably have the opportunity of meeting people from all over the world if it's a touristy place.

If you're not allowed to sell your own jewellery in Christchurch, have you considered selling it by mail order or over the Internet? I'd have suggested Trademe, but I don't know if everyone who uses that expects to get things cheap. Just because you're forbidden to sell in Christchurch doesn't mean you can't reach people in other parts of NZ and posting your items shouldn't cost too much as they shouldn't be too heavy.

Good luck with the job. Hope it goes well for you.

Hi MB,
You're so right...we had loads of tourists yesterday at the store...mostly Brits on holiday. Since it was Labor Day weekend, we also had some people from the NI and locals looking for something to do. I sold just $126 of jewelry, so I didn't make commissions yesterday. Many of the pieces of jewelry are several hundreds of dollars...as Christmas approaches, i hope to sell more. However, being an extrovert, I really had a good time meeting and talking to all the different people.
Yes, I had thought of getting a friend in IT (who designs websites) back home to make a website for me before we left, but I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I got here. As it is, all my beads and tools are on the ship and I can't make anything anyway. When i can make enough to buy myself a desktop (donated my old computer) I will definitely work on selling stuff on the internet - I already had friends' friends who were buying a lot of my stuff in Florida and Texas. The internet allows me to have a world-wide market. Using Paypal also seems to be the easiest way to pay. Just need to do more research into it.

Hi Pianist,
Gosh you're quick! Working already? Brilliant and I'm sure you'll meet some nice 'beaders'. Good idea for making the jewellery too. Yes supplies are quite dear here but I'm used to paying a good deal if the quality is there. I use alot of crystal and glass. I'd love to know how you get on, sounds good!
All the best,
Debra

Just read your last post Pianist, have you tried selling on Etsy? It's an American based company aimed at selling only handmade goods? It's for worldwide use and very cheap to sell on there, popular too!

Hi Debd and Pianist, Maggimoo was telling me to get on the forum as the two of you make jewellery too! I am bead daft and have been making jewellery for a while now. I mostly sold my work in UK through word of mouth and by doing stalls at craft fairs.

Pianist, like you, I am finding the price of beads and supplies over here pretty pricey and I am charging in $ what I was charging in British pounds for my necklaces etc so my profit margin aint so great!! Have either of you two found any good wholesale suppliers here in New Zealand? I have a contact in India who sells lovely beads so PM me if you need the website details and I have just found a lovely company who operate from Coromandel but travel around craft fairs selling gorgeous beads by weight.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough time of it at the moment, it can be tough at times to settle in and I hope things get easier for you.

Carolynne

Hi Carolynne, I will pm you instead of using this thread!