Lupin
5th July 2007, 04:52 PM
We've been away from Blighty for six months now and in NZ just a fortnight shy of half a year. Here's my assessment of our life in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
Please bear in mind this is only my (our, I've chatted with my husband about this) experience, only relevant to me here in Hawkes Bay, so I'm sure there's plenty that other migrants would disagree with!
The Good:
The climate (here in Hawkes Bay it really is different to the UK)
School. School is just incredible for my dd, she's so happy there and the standards are high whilst also emphasising the whole development of the child. Pre-school (kindy and playcentre) have also been marvellous for my younger child.
Our home to be. To own nearly four acres in the most beautiful village, just 10 minutes from the sea on one nurses income is a dream. To be building a four bedroom home on our beloved four acres is unbelievable. I feel so fortunate.
Kiwis. I've made some friends that I feel I've really 'connected' with. I've only met honest and helpful Kiwis. the community we're moving to has opened it's arms to us and made us feel so welcome.
My job. Wonderful opportunity, very fortunate to live so rurally and only need to walk round the corner to work.
The sense of adventure. I've enjoyed this and have found the 'differences and contrast' refreshing and interesting.
The scenery. I am loving how different Hawkes Bay is to Somerset!
Feeling that I'm further away from a consumer driven culture. Hard on to explain this and not everyone's experience of NZ.
Finding that gender roles are different to the UK. It's quite interesting rurally because women seem both more equal and less at the same time. The same seems true for men who seem generally more involved in child rearing and domesticity than their UK counterpart but also there is a strong male macho culture too. My husband struggles a little with the macho culture as he really doesn't identify with it at all. It's all subtly different.
Socialising at home. Kiwi's do lots of this rather than finding babysitters and meeting in the pub.
It's less formal here. From Kiwi's just dropping in unannounced for morning tea to the jandal culture.
The Bad
Sub-standard housing. Now winter is here I am *so* glad we opted to build.
Leisure facilities. This is surely very Hawkes Bay specific, but I am quite disappointed in the pools and parks. I guess I was remembering Oz standard and there are a couple of pleasant outdoor pools for summer but in general this has been disappointing.
The Ugly
The racism. Call it a "wonderful lack of pc culture" if you will but what I see is a culture where crude generalisations are acceptable and the norm and I don't like it.
Living costs. Electricity costs here are crippling. Return flights to the UK are a quarter of my husband's annual income (nurse). Second hand shops tend to sell goods fit for the tip, not for re-sale. Interest rates are sky high. Personal tax is high (and there's no personal tax allowance). Groceries are expensive for lesser quality.
Homesickness. If you've never had it before, it's awful. Fortunately I have had it before, I know it for what it is and know it's not forever but it's hard for it not to colour everything and alter your perspective.
Career progression potential here in the Bay. For my husband I have some grave concerns, which may or may not prove unfounded.
On balance, I feel we're doing really well in acheiving 'living the dream' and we're getting from this more than we had dared hoped in some respects and yet other aspects have been disappointing and frustrating.
Do I see us still here in a year? Without doubt.
Do I see us here forever? Less certain.
Please bear in mind this is only my (our, I've chatted with my husband about this) experience, only relevant to me here in Hawkes Bay, so I'm sure there's plenty that other migrants would disagree with!
The Good:
The climate (here in Hawkes Bay it really is different to the UK)
School. School is just incredible for my dd, she's so happy there and the standards are high whilst also emphasising the whole development of the child. Pre-school (kindy and playcentre) have also been marvellous for my younger child.
Our home to be. To own nearly four acres in the most beautiful village, just 10 minutes from the sea on one nurses income is a dream. To be building a four bedroom home on our beloved four acres is unbelievable. I feel so fortunate.
Kiwis. I've made some friends that I feel I've really 'connected' with. I've only met honest and helpful Kiwis. the community we're moving to has opened it's arms to us and made us feel so welcome.
My job. Wonderful opportunity, very fortunate to live so rurally and only need to walk round the corner to work.
The sense of adventure. I've enjoyed this and have found the 'differences and contrast' refreshing and interesting.
The scenery. I am loving how different Hawkes Bay is to Somerset!
Feeling that I'm further away from a consumer driven culture. Hard on to explain this and not everyone's experience of NZ.
Finding that gender roles are different to the UK. It's quite interesting rurally because women seem both more equal and less at the same time. The same seems true for men who seem generally more involved in child rearing and domesticity than their UK counterpart but also there is a strong male macho culture too. My husband struggles a little with the macho culture as he really doesn't identify with it at all. It's all subtly different.
Socialising at home. Kiwi's do lots of this rather than finding babysitters and meeting in the pub.
It's less formal here. From Kiwi's just dropping in unannounced for morning tea to the jandal culture.
The Bad
Sub-standard housing. Now winter is here I am *so* glad we opted to build.
Leisure facilities. This is surely very Hawkes Bay specific, but I am quite disappointed in the pools and parks. I guess I was remembering Oz standard and there are a couple of pleasant outdoor pools for summer but in general this has been disappointing.
The Ugly
The racism. Call it a "wonderful lack of pc culture" if you will but what I see is a culture where crude generalisations are acceptable and the norm and I don't like it.
Living costs. Electricity costs here are crippling. Return flights to the UK are a quarter of my husband's annual income (nurse). Second hand shops tend to sell goods fit for the tip, not for re-sale. Interest rates are sky high. Personal tax is high (and there's no personal tax allowance). Groceries are expensive for lesser quality.
Homesickness. If you've never had it before, it's awful. Fortunately I have had it before, I know it for what it is and know it's not forever but it's hard for it not to colour everything and alter your perspective.
Career progression potential here in the Bay. For my husband I have some grave concerns, which may or may not prove unfounded.
On balance, I feel we're doing really well in acheiving 'living the dream' and we're getting from this more than we had dared hoped in some respects and yet other aspects have been disappointing and frustrating.
Do I see us still here in a year? Without doubt.
Do I see us here forever? Less certain.