[Tia Maria]

Probably a bit cheeky posting this in the Money Matters section but I realised I'd been posting on a lot of money threads about the difficulty of adjusting to NZ wages and thought it would be nice to point out a few of the plus sides to emigrating whcih make it worth the struggle.

So for me money can't buy:

1) Watching my son swim everyday in the summer at the school pool
2) Being able to pop to the shops and then take my children to the beach and be home in time for a morning snack.
3) My OH getting a ferry to work rather than a London tube
4) All the new NZ friends I've made. :clap
5) Knowing that my life is fuller and more interesting than if I'd stayed at home in the UK.

I'm sure there are more but those are the ones that spring to mind!

Cheers

Tia

[StevieD]

The lack of yellow pollution smog when I look over the hills (excepting Auckland - sorry Aucklanders!)
Kids walking/cycling to school
Friendly helpful people by the bucketload who take the time to care about life and don't just want to rush around at breackneck speeds
Fishing/kayaking in clean rivers and seas
There are more, but as you say Tia, let others have a go..... ;)

[Carol]

Seeing two people in the middle of Pak n Save doing this .............



http://www.newzealand.com/travel/app_templates/behaviors/dsp_bigimagepopup.cfm/file_id/863/language_uuid/69B3E9FB-2E57-4EDB-9046-4684AA660A92/pageurl/5B20CEF2-6967-4374-BC87-9C7E532C6288.html


just because that's what they do.... :yes

[Pip]

seeing the snow on the mountains from my bedroom.
being a short drive from the beach
people asking how my day was and actually "meaning it" - that or they are a heck of a lot more convincing than those in the US/UK!
Getting home 30 mins after leaving the office, often to a spectacular sunset, as opposed to a packed 2 hour stressful commute across crowded/cancelled tubes.
Having space to grow our own tomatoes
Finding out we have a resident Hedgehog (although might have been a tad concerned if I found one in our two bed second floor flat back in the UK!) :laugh


On a side note, we also prepared ourselves for less culture/arts etc, versus leaving london, and whilst that's somewhat true - we actually are finding that go to a lot more events here in Christchurch, because its not a major effort to get there - or back, as opposed to trekking into London!

[zardell]

Having my hubby home EVERY night (he used to have to work away a lot)

Having him ring me to tell me he's on his way home from work and walking through the door less than 5 minutes later !! :laugh

Clear blue skies. How the grey of the UK used to get me down.

Realising how important newly made friends are and appreciating one another.

Having the time just to 'be'.

And being in bed for 10pm........I think I may be turning into a Kiwi.....:yes

Julie

xx

[zardell]

Friendly helpful people by the bucketload who take the time to care about life and don't just want to rush around at breackneck speeds


Spot on PB1.........:clap

Julie

xx

[nippa&pippa]

For me, is my children had chance to spent more quality time with their father and for father to getting know them better, instead of him struck in motorway in UK on the way home and miss children's bedtime routine.

[auskiwi]

Waking up to the sound of tuis singing outside our bedroom window every morning...

[StevieD]

The vast array of birds (feathered variety of course!) and their wonderful birdsong. My brother would love it here.

[Sam B]

-the kids' fantastic school, complete with 3 adventure playgrounds and a pool
- the weather - much more sun, even if it's cold, NO DRIZZLE!!
- the coffee (well, actually money does buy the coffee, but still, it's not a MAJOR expense!)

[astus]

Ohh..yes I'll agree on the coffee
-Watching the ocean from my bedroom window
-The wines! :cheers
-The weather..even when it gets colder I truly love it

[wildflower]

safety, freedom, happiness, no fear, a good nights sleep

and just in case you are wondering, I live in SA....so those are the things i will cherish the most

[thezorbster]

For someone who's really up and down emotionally at the moment, your posts have made me cry! We've started saying goodbyes to people/places which is getting me really down but reading all your posts has reminded me again why we're doing what we're doing. Thanks!:nice1

[liamnrach]

Tia Maria

Thankyou:) Yes it has made us smile:) It is so lovely reading what everyone finds lovely about NZ, even if they are struggling a bit financially...

Here's to more cheery posts like this one....:D

Liam n Rach

[Timbo]

Having a one hour commute to work for the last 3 weeks, and not seeing more than 5/6 cars using the same roads. This is at 7.30 am and 5pm respectively.
Being able to spend our weekends simply chilling on a lovely quiet beach rather than tramping (needlesly) round a shopping mall.
Being able to indulge my passion for a spot of fishing at the drop of a hat, and to go to some stunning spots to do it.
Great thread!!

[Tia Maria]

Your welcome, thezorbster & Liamnrach :)

Its great that all these things make improvements to 'everyday life' and you don't have to wait for your annual 2 week holiday to enjoy them!

I've been to many places in London where you almost feel you have to apologise for having children, whereas here I love that you can go into shops & restaurants with children and there are toys for them and everyone chats to them.

Oh and seeing tropical plants like Bird of Paradise flowers growing on the roadside.

Picking avocadoes from my garden.

Cheers

Tia

[wanderingoregonian]

- southern cross in the sky
- wind sculptures (the wand one near welly airport today was bent beyond 45 degrees!
- being offer a hot cup of tea where I ever I go for work
- glimpses of ocean surprising you on a drive
- the lollies they pass on in the city supermarekt while you wait for a teller (the line may be huge, but still goes faster than most of hte lines back home
- Fridays off (okay a bit of a wage loss there, but man its so worth it - and had to work full time back in the states)