[Tentun]

Hi there

I've been lurking on this forum for a while and have read and contributed to some posts which have really, really helped me out so thank you so much to everyone here - I am finding this forum a great help.

Anyway, I thought it was about time I officially introduced myself.
We are a couple with one child (only 16 months) and we currently live in the UK in West Sussex and although we love our life in England both my hubby and myself grew up in South Africa and we have agreed that returning to South Africa is not an option for us (for reasons I won't go into now) so we've been looking at alternatives where we can get the same or similar type of upbringing for our little boy as we had in South Africa in the 70's and 80's as we both agree that while we are happy in the UK we want for our child what we had in SA and the UK is very different to that.

After lots of thinking, we've decided on New Zealand as we feel this is the best choice for us and we submitted our EOI last month and found out today that it has been selected from the pool with 125 points. I know we still have to go through the pre-lim checks so I still have my doubts and am trying not to get too excited but I do feel really happy about it and just crossing all fingers and toes that things come through for us and we get our ITA.

Hello everyone and I will keep everyone updated on our journey to NZ and thank you for all your posts that I have so enjoyed reading.

Kerry

[Nienke]

Hi Kerry, welcome to this wonderful forum. Good luck with your ITA, any questions and there's always someone here with an answer!:nice1

[able]

Welcome Kerry.I've also found a lot of great info here. Hope everything works out right for you.

[pinkpiggy]

Welcome to the forum Kerry and family.:)

[smitjo]

Welcome to the forum Kerry!
I understand exactly where you are coming from - I grew up in South Africa and now live in England! My husband and I would both like to bring our children up (don't have any as yet) in a place similar to SA with the opportunities and outdoor lifestyle but without the violence. We too chose NZ (obviously as we wouldn't be on this forum!) and just hope that we will finally get over there next year!

All the very best.

[NeilV]

Welcome Kerry,

I just arrived in NZ after 7 years in the UK myself, though I grew up in Amanzimtoti near Durban. After 2 weeks here I can say that the world as a whole has advanced since the 80's, but that NZ offers a close approximation to the more laid back lifestyle, and friendly, trusting [safe] environment to that which I had growing up in SA. Not to say they don't also have issues with crime and violence, but far from the extent I remember in Durban for the 10 years before I left!

Just remember, to quote Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ, "There is no place like home", so don't look for what you've left behind, look forward to what might be better ahead ;+)

My dad reckons Africa is in the blood, and will never be washed out - but they now live in a canalboat around Hemel, an hour north of London, and seem to be loving it there too?

Anyway, wecome and good luck with the Immigration process ;)