[Jaywalker]

We've been here three months and are absolutely loving it!

We've made some fine friends and are enjoying our jobs (most of the time).

I have three pieces of advice:

1) In New Zealand, first impressions count for nothing. We arrived in New Plymouth and thought "what a dive". A week later we were climbing a mountain and surfing on the same day - all twenty minutes from our house!

2) Don't take anything for granted.

3) Attack EVERYTHING with unbridled optimism!

That is all.

[gil]

Great advice Jaywalker and I agree with all three! (Also been here 3 months!)
Would also add "Never turn donw an invitation in the first six months" ! :D

Gil

[Moorf]

Absolutely, and can totally agree re the first impressions... the first time we ever went through Darfield I was horrified, labelled it "hicksville" and drove on... a year on and became our local town and it's fab and so are the locals :nice1

[Trigirl]

i agree too - glad to hear you are enjoying it!

[Carol]

"First impressions" are often those of the un-kiwi-ised eye.

Once you have converted to kiwi-ism - things look very very different!

Great to hear you are so positive.

[KD17]

We couldn't agree more -

beauty is only skin deep & never judge a book by it's cover springs to mind.

We've been here in Wellington all of 12 days and some of the areas look a bit suspect to say the least, but we had one of the most fabulous meals I've ever had in a restaurant you might walk very quickly past in the UK, at such a great price too.

This place is amazing :nice1 we're loving it......

Keith & Debby

[zardell]

"First impressions" are often those of the un-kiwi-ised eye.

Once you have converted to kiwi-ism - things look very very different!

.



100% agree with that !!

Julie

xx

[Hannah]

Hi Jaywalker,
Yep, I can relate to that. My first post after a week in New Plymouth was titled 'assume nothing - life in New Plymouth'
After just 3 months it started to feel like home, and now it is home.
I've only been back here 3 weeks and feel like i've never been anywhere else!
As I drove into Fitzroy I could have cried with happiness - I was so chuffed to be back. Being away for 8 months was enough time to miss the place like mad.
PM me if you want to get in touch!
Hannah

Did you get down to the festival of lights??!

[xanctus]

Two more advice to add maybe...
Just do like the romans if you live in Rome.
Just do like the Kiwis if you live in Aotearoa; New Zealand

the other one,
Never look back. (I mean, once u landed your foot in a new place, keep on walking and try to get a grip, rather than comparing to the old place(s)). I think that would lead you into a stress feelings.

Yeah, so far 8 months has been good and bad...but hey, that's life and in the end it's all good.
Those two were my motto when we moved. Others may think otherwise. :D

[andreamatt]

Fantastic advice Jaywalker - love your positive outlook,

Andrea

[marcia]

Great advice on this thread.

have to agree with the un-kiwi-ised eye!!

We looked at every lifestyle property in and around Palmy before xmas - we are now returning to some with totally different views - just goes to show you have to give yourself time to fit into the kiwi life before making any 'major' decisions!