[drumminj]

Well, I posted this just as the old forum was dying, so I figure I'll repost...

--

Hey all. I'm a recent addition to the forums here - looking to move to NZ hopefully September of 2005. I'm still in the "gathering info" stage, and obviously this is all dependent on finding a job.

I've noticed, in my searches, that most info assumes one is coming from the UK. While this info is helpful, obviously some things don't pertain to Americans, or important info is missing.

I'm trying to put together a web page that fills in the gaps. One that assumes an American point of view, and covers details important to one coming from the US - electronics, pet relocation, what one can expect in terms of pay, what the heck is a CV, and hopefully also being able to compare the culture of certain NZ cities to US cities to help get a better feel.

Does anyone have any information they feel should be included? At the least, it'd help all the Americans reading this forum, even if it doesn't make it on the web page. Perhaps you've already found a page with this kind of info - if so, please let me know, as I'd love to read it, and it would save me some work (not that I'm going to make a really elaborate page or anything).

It's nice knowing that there are others in the same boat - finding this forum has helped a lot. I'd love to be able to benefit from the knowledge others here have gained, and also hope to be able to share mine with everyone else.

Thanks.

J

[alexh]

CV (curruculum vitae - wish I could spell...) = resume, (or did you really know?)

Sorry cannot help with any more as I am not an American.

Kinda wondering why someone from USA would be going through the hoops to migrate to NZ. Glad to hear it, because it confirms my view that it is a desirable place, and not just for Brits cheesed off with the weather and the crowds etc.

cheers and good luck

alex

[drumminj]

alex -

I do know what a CV is. But when I started, I didn't. I was just naming off things that a typical american may not be aware of when they start looking into migrating.

As for why - all sorts of reasons. I like laid-back people. I love the outdoors. I don't dig the consumerism culture that pervades the US. Not a big fan of the fact the average IQ in the states seems to have dropped 50 points in the last 3 years.

I'm young, not tied down, want to experience new cultures, want to try to get more into photography, and don't speak any language other than english. It just seems like a perfect fit.

J

[alexh]

8)

sounds good, go for it & good luck. I looked at your NZ pics. - made me even keener.

cheers

alex

[Dave & Sandra]

Hi

RichSAdams is your man - look up all of his posts on the old forum. He writes wonderfully descriptive views of life in NZ from the American point of view. He's also an expert on anything electrical coming from the States.

Happy searching - Sandra

[Raeven]

Hi, J,

I am an American moving to NZ. Sandra is correct; Rich has posted many valuable things for those of us following in his footsteps. He takes his time and explains things in wonderful detail. In fact, we've missed him around here as of late and hope he rejoins us soon!

As for my own situation, I'm migrating under the partnership scheme. My husband is a native Kiwi. We hope to be in the Marlborough region by the end of October -- predicated on the sale of our home, which is taking more time than we expected. I'm happy to contribute where I can but don't know too much about the points system or what you need. Others do, however, and I'm sure you will hear from them.

As for what other information should be included, one thing that's been scarce to find is information on what it costs to ship belongings from the US to NZ, both east and west coasts. Some of us have posted anecdotal information as we've learned it, but there isn't much. So references to moving companies and approximate costs and options would be wonderful to include.

In any case, welcome to this website -- it's the finest and most comprehensive I've found on the subject of immigration to NZ, wherever you're from!

All the best, Rae (missing the dancing banana but confident ENZ will restore the revolting thing as time permits)

[drumminj]

thanks for the replies. I will go search the old forum.

I don't really plan on shipping anything when I move(except for my slobbery dog), so I don't know if I'll come across that information to add it to my list of resources. Hopefully someone else can provide that information, or I can find it buried somewhere in the old forum.

J

[jerjon]

I always think the more info the better. If you do put together a site for Americans thinking of emigrating, I would like to hear others' comparisons between US "culture" and feel with that of NZ. Also any experience others have had in emigrating from the US that might be a bit different that thosef from the UK.

And yes, I fully agree that the US colective IQ has fallen dramatically in the past 3 years. Frustrating, huh?

[Raeven]

Hi, jerjon,

I promise to post my experiences as a transplanted Yank to NZ just as soon as we can get there! At the moment just waiting, waiting, waiting for our house to sell.. we've been out of commission the past week addressing leach line issues on our septic system (long story why our community doesn't have a sewer, but it doesn't), but we're confident a sale is just around the corner.

Like J and yourself, I am saddened at the state of our country since 9/11 and our questionable responses (ok, outright wrongheaded!) to same. It's best to not get me started on all this, but I can tell you that many like-minded Americans are on this forum and their feelings about what happened here in the US has definitely fueled their desires to migrate to NZ. I can't help but believe my husband and I will feel much safer in NZ. We have many, many other reasons for our decision to migrate, but what is happening here in the US politically is unquestionably one of them.

Getting closer day by day!! - Rae

[Moorf]

Pretty much ditto in how we feel about UK - amongst other things... but don't get me started :evil:

[coastcat]

My husband and I are Americans, and what Rae said goes for us as well. Plus there's that whole feeling of having a target painted on my back just because of my citizenship. (I'm rather glad I turned down a job that was offered to me in 2000... at the Pentagon)

Don't hate me because I'm American - get to know me, and you'll find plenty of other reasons! :P

I had already considered emigrating to Canada, and it's still our fallback choice if NZ doesn't work out (Vancouver is a magnificent city).

There will be a certain amount of culture shock no matter how much research we do and how many scouting trips we make, but if NZ were just like the US why would I move?

[drumminj]

There will be a certain amount of culture shock no matter how much research we do and how many scouting trips we make, but if NZ were just like the US why would I move?

I would think that the culture shock is the whole point - experiencing new things. And, at least for me, I'm happy to get away from the American culture.

But I'm young, with no kids, so I'm not looking for continuity in my life. I'm looking for a different experience.

Good to see there are many people of like minds here. I'm kind of scared to discuss the political stuff, though. All differences aside, it's good to see others attempting the same thing, encountering the same problems, and being there to offer support. Hopfully i can add a bit if I ever get this web page together. It'd definitely be good to have testimonials from people who have made the move. I'm wary to trust the NZ immigraion service or tourism department when trying to know what it's REALLY like.

J

[unbrand]

Howdy! Long time listener, first time caller.

drumminj, great idea to start a US-based info resource. 4% of all immigrants to NZ are from the US. Hey, wait a second... We're not number one?! :wink: Seriously, I would very much welcome such a resource.

And yeah, I don't feel too comfortable talking about the politics stuff. Oh, the irony, coming from the land of the free, home of the brave, the beaten-down 1st and 4th amendments, the place where concrete WALLS are being constructed to protect our leader from the masses at his own party's convention, sigh.

raeven, right there with ya. My motivation for going to NZ is complex, but the current political climate is certainly a nice kick-in-the-ass to actually do something rather than just bitch to my friends.

NZ looks like a wonderful place, in many respects, and I can't wait to get there!

One thing in particular I'd like to see is a write-up of RichSAdams' electrical info. He posted a TON of great info about taking various electrical appliances from the US to NZ and whether it was worth it to take thing X. I'm currently wondering about things like firewalls and switches. Would the difference in Hz affect them negatively?

So yeah, drumminj, go for it! I'm sure you'll get a lot of good input from this forum. There's an amazing fount of knowledge here.

[coastcat]

One thing in particular I'd like to see is a write-up of RichSAdams' electrical info. He posted a TON of great info about taking various electrical appliances from the US to NZ and whether it was worth it to take thing X. I'm currently wondering about things like firewalls and switches. Would the difference in Hz affect them negatively?

Oh, yikes... I hadn't even thought about the various peripherals. Our Airport base station would need to be replaced (the new model auto-switches, but the older ones would need an adapter). Now where the heck is the router manual?

I get so jealous of the Brits sometimes. We North Americans will have to replace so many things... from major appliances down to alarm clocks! :(

[Raeven]

unbrand, so glad you've decided to delurk! It will be a pleasure to have you join us. To be honest, the fact that Americans comprise only 4% of the immigration population in NZ is one of its many charms to me.. I have nothing against my fellow Yanks, but the pack mentality is sometimes, uh, regrettable. My husband is very much looking forward to me being the one in the family who requires translation of her English to be understood.. he's put up with it here for the past 3 years!!

Re Rich's electrical postings, just get into the old forum and do a search on electrical stuff.. his posts are sure to pop to the fore. If you have specific questions, he's always been extremely welcoming of private messages and I'm sure he would give you the benefit of an educated response. He must be very busy with things at the moment because we haven't heard from him, but I have every confidence he'll be back with us soon. I've printed out his electrical information and refer to it so often I've dog-eared the pages. He's also recently shared a lot of great stuff on getting settled in NZ from an American perspective. You couldn't pay someone to be a better trailblazer! Between him, karl and others, there's very little you can't know about NZ in advance of a shift.

coastcat, loved your line about not hating you because you're American.. gave me a great laugh! WTF is an airport base station?? And I know what you mean about having to replace everything.. we just purchased all new appliances in the past year as we weren't thinking of moving then. Now someone else is going to get some great deals. My family has already put dibs on the things they want, the jackals!

All the best, Rae

[Pakeha Boy]

Have to agree, its a pleasant change hearing things from a yank (septic tank) perspective.
Perhaps one tip I could offer - you guys MUST remember is to keep your sense of humour, even though you may be scratching your head at the kiwi humour.
Be aware that NOTHING is sacred to them (other than the All Blacks) :nice1
The jokes and jibes can be a bit prevocative and at times, downright disrespectful, however there are some cracking jokes denigrating 9/11, whilst possibly in bad taste, bloody funny to Joe Kiwi in the street at the same time! (remember, just about everyone is Joe Kiwi due the the near- utter lack of a class system)
To the kiwis, everything that happens in the rest of the world is just so far far away, its open season for all to take the p*ss, and that in itself is a good enough reason to go there for me!

[drumminj]

Oh, yikes... I hadn't even thought about the various peripherals. Our Airport base station would need to be replaced (the new model auto-switches, but the older ones would need an adapter). Now where the heck is the router manual?

I get so jealous of the Brits sometimes. We North Americans will have to replace so many things... from major appliances down to alarm clocks! :(

There's much to be said for travelling light. Besides saving money on shipping, you don't need to worry about things being compatible.

I guess my thought has always been that, with such a drastic change, it'd be nice to start off simple and only add things as you need. It's so easy to get used to sitting in front of your TV in the evening, watching a cable show recorded on your DVR, and ignoring the world around you. I don't want to bring those habits with me, so I'm happy to leave most of my gadgets behind. All that's coming with me is my guitar, my photo gear, and my laptop (for processing photos). At least that's the plan at this point...

J

[coastcat]

There's much to be said for travelling light. Besides saving money on shipping, you don't need to worry about things being compatible.

I guess my thought has always been that, with such a drastic change, it'd be nice to start off simple and only add things as you need. It's so easy to get used to sitting in front of your TV in the evening, watching a cable show recorded on your DVR, and ignoring the world around you. I don't want to bring those habits with me, so I'm happy to leave most of my gadgets behind. All that's coming with me is my guitar, my photo gear, and my laptop (for processing photos). At least that's the plan at this point...

Oh, I agree. But my darling hubby is a computer geek of the highest magnitude. He hyperventilates if he's away from his Powerbook for more than a few hours. :laugh We have seven computers on our network, plus two printers, a cable modem, a router, and the Airport base station (Rae, that's a wireless network hub). And there are various other electronic devices blinking and beeping in various spots around the house. Add to this his packrat nature and reluctance to get rid of any electronics even if they're broken, and you've got chaos. I claim that my real reason for emigrating is to force him to clean up his toys...

Someone already has dibs on my KitchenAid mixer, and we're not emigrating for several years. The jackals are everywhere!

[veronica]

on the kiwi sense of humour, they tell good jokes against themselves too.

[Moorf]

Wow Coastcat - sounds like my hubby - so do you live in a rats nest of cables (you know, the ones that actuallly get USED from the "cable box") and, despite having been converted to the virtues of "wireless" technology can't quite understand why the number of cables lining the room hasn't decreased? :laugh :laugh

We've downsized to 2 laptops and a media PC on our *cough* wireless network in preparation for the move - I'm already having panic attacks about getting a connection sorted asap in NZ :oops:

[coastcat]

Wow Coastcat - sounds like my hubby - so do you live in a rats nest of cables (you know, the ones that actuallly get USED from the "cable box") and, despite having been converted to the virtues of "wireless" technology can't quite understand why the number of cables lining the room hasn't decreased? :laugh :laugh

It's a bit of an obstacle course! Sure, our laptops have wireless connections to the network, but that eliminates a grand total of four cables. That leaves, what, 394? :laugh My husband promised to clean up the living room, which is piled up with his computer stuff. That was in June. The pile is even larger now. I went on a simplification purge a couple years ago, and continue to pare down my possessions. We still have the same amount of stuff, but his percentage of it grows every time mine shrinks. Arrrrgh!

Maybe when we emigrate I'll hire a container and pack all his debris into it... and look surprised when the shipping company sends it "by accident" to Greenland instead of New Zealand. :angel

[MelissaLG]

Coastcat-- I think I will do the same for my guy. I am swimming in a sea of useless computer stuff. BTW-- I once lived on 16th St. and North Portal Road. I remember Silver Spring well, especially a mexican restaurant not far from the Metro station there. It was one of only a couple places with decent Mexican food in the entire Metro DC area. I am very certain that I will have a worse "lack of Mexican food" problem in NZ!!

[drumminj]

I'm already having panic attacks about getting a connection sorted asap in NZ :oops:

Yeah, I haven't looked into that one yet. How good is the connectivity there near major cities? Dial-up? DSL? Cable Modems? What kind of a pipe do they having going to other continents?

J

[coastcat]

Coastcat-- I think I will do the same for my guy. I am swimming in a sea of useless computer stuff. BTW-- I once lived on 16th St. and North Portal Road. I remember Silver Spring well, especially a mexican restaurant not far from the Metro station there. It was one of only a couple places with decent Mexican food in the entire Metro DC area. I am very certain that I will have a worse "lack of Mexican food" problem in NZ!!

Was it Mi Rancho? There's a serious lack of good Mexican food around here, although you can get fantastic Salvadoran food. Better eat up now, because I don't think Latin American cuisines are that well represented in NZ. Heck, they don't even have Taco Bell! (not that TB qualifies as Mexican food, or even food)

It's odd... if you read through the American ex-pat country reports at Tales From A Small Planet (http://www.thesun.org), you'll see a theme - everyone misses Mexican food products.

So we can't get quality guacamole or corn tortillas in NZ, but I bet computer parts are readily available. Ladies, we're in trouble. :laugh

[drumminj]

It's odd... if you read through the American ex-pat country reports at Tales From A Small Planet (http://www.thesun.org), you'll see a theme - everyone misses Mexican food products.


That has to be the worst website to navigate that I've ever encountered. Is there any actual content on there somewhere? Can you provide a direct link the the american ex-pat accounts? I tried, but couldn't find anything of substance on there (I spent 10 minutes trying).

And I'm not new to this internet thing.

J

[coastcat]

Weird, the links aren't working right at the main page of TFASP, but they're fine from this one: http://www.thesun.org/rprweb/home.shtml (scroll to the country you want and click)

Here's a direct link to the page on NZ: http://www.thesun.org/rprweb/the_rprs/pacific/n_zealand.shtml

I've spent quite a few hours reading through the post reports. Darn it, I should have gone into the Foreign Service. Chengdu might be a hardship post for most people, but I'm a Szechuan food addict and Chengdu is the epicenter of spiciness. (can we get a :drool emoticon someday?)

[Pakeha Boy]

I think your longing for exotic spices will diminish once you've had a taste of your first hangi.
Takes a lot of beating, that fresh out of the ground, piping hot earthy flavour. Or even a crayfish or two, straight out of the sea and into the pot!
Now yer whistling dixie!! :eek

[Douglas]

It looks like they're doing something similar to what I'm hoping we can do on the ENZ site - and no I hadn't seen the above site before I put together the "My Story" page. :angel

Hopefully, since ENZ is dedicated to New Zealand, we can build up a more complete picture of the country for prospective migrants. :hopeso

http://www.emigratenz.org/my-story.html

[Raeven]

(Rae, that's a wireless network hub)

Oh!! Then I have an airport base station, too!! Never heard the term.. thanks, coastcat!

Pakeha Boy, re Mexican food.. I kind of doubt the longing for that particular taste does diminish with time, although I am very much looking forward to trying hangi. Anyway, I did make sure avocados were readily available in NZ and have insisted on a glass house in order to grow my own tomatoes, chiles and cilantro.. if Blenheim doesn't have good Mexican food (and why do I have a sneaking suspicion it does not?), it can be had at our house!! I'd rather not make my own tortillas, but I can do it if I have to.. Everything else is relatively easy to make from scratch... except for mole sauce that takes 7 days. Worth it, though!!

I think in future years, instead of celebrating Thanksgiving, I'll just have a big Mexican feed at our house and invite whoever is going through taco and guacamole withdrawals... any takers? :D Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiibbbbbaaaaaaa!!! !!!!!!

Hasta luego, Rae

[Moorf]

GUACAMOLE... YUMMMMMMMMMMM

Will be getting your address!

[Woz]

Wow Coastcat - sounds like my hubby - so do you live in a rats nest of cables (you know, the ones that actuallly get USED from the "cable box") and, despite having been converted to the virtues of "wireless" technology can't quite understand why the number of cables lining the room hasn't decreased? :laugh :laugh

It's a bit of an obstacle course! Sure, our laptops have wireless connections to the network, but that eliminates a grand total of four cables. That leaves, what, 394? :laugh My husband promised to clean up the living room, which is piled up with his computer stuff. That was in June. The pile is even larger now. I went on a simplification purge a couple years ago, and continue to pare down my possessions. We still have the same amount of stuff, but his percentage of it grows every time mine shrinks. Arrrrgh!

Maybe when we emigrate I'll hire a container and pack all his debris into it... and look surprised when the shipping company sends it "by accident" to Greenland instead of New Zealand. :angel

Its a very painful task getting rid of old PC bits, I know this from experience. As Moorf stated we have cut down from a home network of 5 PCs, printers, scanners and related network bits to 2 laptops and a media server, Or put another way... from a 5Kw electric heater to a 3 Kw heater :mrgreen: (That was the one room in the house that never needed heating lol)

The thing with cables is that they are always handy at some time. I used to have a huge box full of old cables (Until yesterday :wah) when they were dropped around to my brother-in-law so he could add them to his collection. (Probably much to the disgust of his wife as it just adds to his collection :P)

If I am honest, I would not have used most of the bits again... but you can bet that when you want part X you could always find it in the spare parts collection and get up and running again. If they were all put up on eBay he might be able to upgrade other bits that are being kept which will keep him happy while clear out old stuff.

Good luck :D

[Moorf]

Damn, perhaps we should have kept those cables and PC's to heat up the Chch home!!!!

:laugh

[coastcat]

The thing with cables is that they are always handy at some time. I used to have a huge box full of old cables (Until yesterday :wah) when they were dropped around to my brother-in-law so he could add them to his collection. (Probably much to the disgust of his wife as it just adds to his collection :P)

If I am honest, I would not have used most of the bits again... but you can bet that when you want part X you could always find it in the spare parts collection and get up and running again.

This is my husband's rationale as well. On the very, very rare occasion when he actually uses one of the bits he's saving, he's rather smug about it. Of course he's never done an inventory. I set up a system for him to create one, and he said great, I'll get started right away. And then he went back to surfing the web. :roll:

Rae, "Airport" is the name of Apple's wireless base station. If it's from another manufacturer, then it's not an Airport (which looks like a flying saucer, or maybe a squashed Hershey's Kiss if it were white chocolate).

I think your longing for exotic spices will diminish once you've had a taste of your first hangi.
Takes a lot of beating, that fresh out of the ground, piping hot earthy flavour. Or even a crayfish or two, straight out of the sea and into the pot!
Now yer whistling dixie!! :eek

Discovering Korean and Indonesia food didn't diminish my craving for India or Chinese food. It just added new cravings! I'm looking forward to trying hangi. I'm already a fan of crayfish - hope I can sneak some New Orleans seasoning past customs. Yum...

Darn it, this thread is making me hungry.

[Graham Barnes]

Hi Jason,

Off thread a bit...but just had a look at the pictures on your website.
Fantastic photos of lightning...how did you manage to get the timing spot-on...or was it luck??

Graham

[Moorf]

Great pics - I want to get more into photography when in NZ - fancy giving some private lessons?

We're obviously on the same wavelength having read your previous post - we'd like to get back to how we were when we lived in Scotland - the scenery, the laid back lifestyle and people, lack of consumerism and fab photo opportunities....

What equipment do you use - I am currently using a digicam (not very pro tho) and bought a Pentax SLR so that I could learn the basics without a digicam doing it for me automatically!! I think we may get a decent digital SLR when we get to NZ to save on all those film dev costs!

Moorf

PS- I am serious about lessons!

[drumminj]

Hi Jason,

Off thread a bit...but just had a look at the pictures on your website.
Fantastic photos of lightning...how did you manage to get the timing spot-on...or was it luck??

Graham

Hi Graham. That's the first time I've ever tried photographing it. The best shot there was actually great timing(aka luck) - saw the lightning bolt, pressed the shutter. I think in most cases, you have to just take a bunch of photos and hope for the best. There is some skill involved in getting the correct exposure, but the rest of it seems to be a bit of luck.

Moorf - The best investment I've made so far with regards to photography is a digital SLR. You get immediate feedback, and don't have to pay film and developing costs. The only way to get better at photography is to take photos - good and bad. Digital lets you do that for (basically) free, and allows you to instantly see the affect different settings have. I have a Canon 10D, and a variety of Canon lenses.

we'd like to get back to how we were when we lived in Scotland - the scenery, the laid back lifestyle and people, lack of consumerism and fab photo opportunities....


Glad to hear that. NZ seems like a great place for that kind of mentality. Now if I could just get over there to congregate with those like-minded people :hopeso

J

[Pakeha Boy]

I lived in Darwin for 3 years many moons ago, and took some great lightning shots that are still up on my wall yet!
I used an OM10 SLR on a tripod at night time. With one of those little injector cable thingys that screw into the button, I held the shutter of the camera open, pointing to infinity at a section of sky, and released the shutter directly after the lightning bolt.
Great fun with a good beer etc, and got some great lightning pics. :nice1

[jesselyn]

Hi Graham. That's the first time I've ever tried photographing it. The best shot there was actually great timing(aka luck) - saw the lightning bolt, pressed the shutter. I think in most cases, you have to just take a bunch of photos and hope for the best. There is some skill involved in getting the correct exposure, but the rest of it seems to be a bit of luck.
J

wtg - they are indeed great pics :clap i especially like the "View from a golf course on the East side of the South island, on the way to Christchurch". :nice1

will be great as a screensaver too :D :angel


jes

[jesselyn]

GUACAMOLE

3 large Mexican Hass avocados, peeled and pitted
3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
juice of one large lemon
1/3 cup cilantro, finely chopped
2 green hot chili peppers, seeded and chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mash one avocado and chop the other two into 1/2-inch pieces. Add remaining ingredients and serve.



:nice1

[coastcat]

Thanks for posting that recipe, jesselyn! Now, for the big question... are good tortilla chips available in NZ?

(then again, if the guacamole is fresh and spicy, all you need is a spoon!)

[negirl]

Fantastic photos especially of the lightning. We live in Nebraska right now & we get some spectactular lightning shows, wonder if they get storms like that in NZ?. We have a Cannon Digi Rebel & we love it, a digital but you can treat it like an SLR. My husband took some great photos of the South Isalnd when he was there this last May.

[jesselyn]

Thanks for posting that recipe, jesselyn! Now, for the big question... are good tortilla chips available in NZ?


yvw... about the tortilla chips, umm i dunno... actually, i dunno how to cook :no. i can boil water tho :oops: . that is the reason why my family keeps teasing me how will i be able to survive NZ :? ; told them i know how to use the microwave :nice1

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Ingredients

12 corn tortillas, cut into quarters
Vegetable oil if deep-frying
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. To fry the chips, add enough oil to come halfway up the sides of a large heavy pot or electric deep fryer and heat over high heat to 360° F.

2. In batches, without crowding, deep-fry the tortillas until golden brown, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain.

3. Sprinkle lightly with salt to taste while still hot.

Serve immediately.

Yield: 48 chips

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse, copyright 2004.


jes :angel

[drumminj]

Thanks all for the compliments on the photos.

negirl - your dRebel *is* an SLR. Nice little camera, too.

Back to the main topic - anyone else have any suggestions for this website, or info to add to the pile. I've been busy working on other things, but hopefully will find some time this week.

J

[MelissaLG]

Was it Mi Rancho?

It was Mi Rancho!! I knew it had "Rancho" or "Ranchito" or something in the name but I could not quite recall the actual name. Thanks! Good memories.

So we can't get quality guacamole or corn tortillas in NZ

I know.... :wah ......but at least I can make killer guacamole at home (NZ has no shortage of avocados...you can buy them on the side of any country road, at least on the North Island). I guess I will have to learn to make corn tortillas...otherwise Rick and I might go into withdrawl. Of course, I probably can't get the right ingredients, and grinding my own corn/masa might be a little more than I had in mind...but we'll see! One of us expats really ought to open a Mexican restaurant.

[coastcat]

Back to the main topic - anyone else have any suggestions for this website, or info to add to the pile.

This site has a good chart comparing the climate of NZ cities against those of UK cities. How about a North American version, comparing US and Canadian climates to NZ ones? Temperature and rainfall are good to know, but I also would like to know relative humidity levels. It's easier to be a weather forecaster in DC during summer - if you forecast the three H's (hazy, hot, and humid) for every day between late June and early September, you'd be accurate 90% of the time. Ick!

When you're used to buying flour by the pound and gas by the gallon, it would be helpful to have a quick approximate conversion chart to help train Americans to think in metric (1 lb = about 450g, 1 gallon = about 1/4 liter, etc).

Oh, and something that will require research and scouting trips... what common US brands are readily available in NZ? It's the little things that make you feel at home, or not. Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite are universal; Vanilla Coke is available, but Cherry Coke is not. Clairol hair color is sold there, but only the Nice n' Easy brand. Whiskas and Fancy Feast canned cat food is available, but not 9-Lives. Say goodbye to Crest and Tide, but you can still buy Colgate and Fab.

If I'm feeling particularly ambitious, I'll try to put the climate thing together this weekend. Hmm... hey, North Americans, what NZ cities would you want on the list? It seems like a lot of Brits make a beeline for Chch, but where are the Americans and Canadians settling? I'm probably headed for Wellington, as is SoCalGal.

[Raeven]

It seems like a lot of Brits make a beeline for Chch, but where are the Americans and Canadians settling?

Hi, coastcat,

Look for us just at the other end of the Interisland Ferry.. we're hoping to settle near Picton/Blenheim! Had thought hard about Nelson for awhile, but hubby's family is conspiring to keep us close to hand.

I certainly thought about the Mexican restaurant option -- I love to cook, make great Mexican food and hubby has the requisite restauranteur experience.. but I decided against it. Have you ever watched a Kiwi eating Mexican food? I'm sure there are exceptions, but my husband is pretty representative of the Average Kiwi.. the faces made and the forthright commentary are hilarious and embarrassing, respectively!! Unless every migrating American settled somewhere near Blenheim, I'd be out of business in a month.. Kiwis do not, as a rule, like spicy, strong-tasting foods. It's meat-and-three-veg for every meal, if he thinks he can get away with it!!

My offer to host an annual Mexican Thanksgiving feast still stands, however!!

All the best, Rae

[justin.g.s]

I am in favor of the humidty aspect as well. So cal did you read about the 100 mile and hour winds wellington got hammered by @ a week ago, Windy Wellington indeed.

Oh avacados, that is great news. I have a 80 year old avacado tree that rains avacados in ocotober, last year we had nearly 400 plump green pearls.

During college football games I make a beer battered fried avacado wedge appatiizer. slightly crunchy and you can dip in salsa.

OR you can go bigger, or rather grow bigger with the following; get your favorite mexican meat cooked( shredded chicken, or pork works great)

Cut the avacado in two, remove pit and pack cavity with meat. bread the avacado and deep fry.

The result is your friends drooling like homer simpson. AVACADO UUMMMMMMMMM.

Google the beer batter avacado for cooking tips.

[coastcat]

I certainly thought about the Mexican restaurant option -- I love to cook, make great Mexican food and hubby has the requisite restauranteur experience.. but I decided against it. Have you ever watched a Kiwi eating Mexican food? I'm sure there are exceptions, but my husband is pretty representative of the Average Kiwi.. the faces made and the forthright commentary are hilarious and embarrassing, respectively!! Unless every migrating American settled somewhere near Blenheim, I'd be out of business in a month.. Kiwis do not, as a rule, like spicy, strong-tasting foods. It's meat-and-three-veg for every meal, if he thinks he can get away with it!!


Uh oh. I do not, as a rule, like food unless it's spicy and strong-tasting! Sure, I can appreciate simple or subtle flavors, but when ordering Thai or Chinese or Indian food I make a beeline for the menu items labeled with chilis, stars, asterisks, skull & crossbones, flashing neon DANGER!! signs, etc. My version of homemade Szechuan hot and sour soup is also known as the Bowl Of Death. Any Kiwi neighbors will be relieved to know that I don't translate "bring a plate" as an opportunity to unleash my favorite dish upon them (it involves chicken gizzards and birdseye chili paste). My husband is of Danish and Irish heritage. He won't even eat dark-meat chicken because it has too much flavor. He was born to be a Kiwi. :laugh

During college football games I make a beer battered fried avacado wedge appatiizer. slightly crunchy and you can dip in salsa.

{faints}

[Raeven]

o/~ oh, justin!! o/~ <trill, trill!!>

Could we prevail upon you to provide those Homer-like drool-inducing avocado treats next Thanksgiving?? My god, I might commit perverse crimes to try one of those!!

coastcat, fortunately the influx of immigrants is having its effect on the culinary scene in NZ. I think you really can get most anything you like, if you're willing to sleuth around a bit! And what a miserable task that is, eh? :mrgreen:

Anyway.. you can probably grow or buy most anything you need there to make your own, so all is not lost.. you and I can cook up a storm of spicy food and send our hubbies out for porridge!!

Rae

[kamus]

...with some of you- we currently live in Silver Spring (a suburb of Washington DC) and we are desperate to escape the stifling and deteriorating political situation. As I write, the Republican Convention is droning on in the background and frankly they are scaring us. Between the erosion of personal freedoms i.e. the Patriot Act, the lies that have led us into a costly and unnecessary war, campaign dirty tricks and election fraud, the decline of cultural values, America's profligate consumption of the world's resources, its out of proportion contribution to world, pollution, a disastrous and reckless foreign policy, an over-dependence on an oil based economy that will someday collapse like a house of cards, a failure of the public education system, the fact that somewhere around 50% of the populace thinks that George Bush is some kind of a visionary leader instead of the dangerous criminal he is, amongst many other reasons, we think that New Zealand looks pretty darn attractive.

Dave

[Douglas]

This site has a good chart comparing the climate of NZ cities against those of UK cities. How about a North American version, comparing US and Canadian climates to NZ ones? Temperature and rainfall are good to know, but I also would like to know relative humidity levels. It's easier to be a weather forecaster in DC during summer - if you forecast the three H's (hazy, hot, and humid) for every day between late June and early September, you'd be accurate 90% of the time. Ick!


Hi Coastcat, glad you liked it. I can put together a comparison with US and Canadian cities very easily - I'm a bit of a weather fanatic and have most of the info at my fingertips.

Summer temperatures over most of NZ are typically in the low to mid 70's (fahrenheit) - so humidities here don't have as significant an effect as they do in hotter climates - but that doesn't stop Aucklanders complaining. ;)

Average afternoon humidities mid-summer:
Auckland are 60 - 65%.
Christchurch around 60%
Wellington around 70%
Napier around 60%
Dunedin around 70%

[coastcat]

Douglas - Hmmm. Those Aucklanders should try an August day here, with 65% humidity and 30-35C temps. It's... unpleasant. I'll leave the climate comparisons to your expertise!

Dave, welcome aboard! Who knew Silver Spring had so many disgruntled potential emigrants? :laugh Here's a good way to amuse yourself... compare rush hours as seen in our local traffic cameras (http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/tmctmpl.asp?url=/content/dpwt/operations/tmc/cam.asp) versus the Wellington (http://www.citylink.co.nz/services/webcam/index.html) ones. That alone is reason to move! For goodness sake, you can actually see pavement in the Wellington cameras... and their evening rush hour doesn't last four hours. That's the kind of culture shock I'm looking forward to experiencing!

[Raeven]

...with some of you- we currently live in Silver Spring (a suburb of Washington DC) and we are desperate to escape the stifling and deteriorating political situation. As I write, the Republican Convention is droning on in the background and frankly they are scaring us. Between the erosion of personal freedoms i.e. the Patriot Act, the lies that have led us into a costly and unnecessary war, campaign dirty tricks and election fraud, the decline of cultural values, America's profligate consumption of the world's resources, its out of proportion contribution to world, pollution, a disastrous and reckless foreign policy, an over-dependence on an oil based economy that will someday collapse like a house of cards, a failure of the public education system, the fact that somewhere around 50% of the populace thinks that George Bush is some kind of a visionary leader instead of the dangerous criminal he is, amongst many other reasons, we think that New Zealand looks pretty darn attractive.

Dave

Dave, extremely well said. For the life of me, I cannot understand why the issues you list are so obscure to that fifty percent populace. It leaves my jaw on the floor to know there is a very real chance that GWB will be reelected. He is, as you say, a dangerous criminal. I hope to watch the unfolding disasters looming in the USA from afar in NZ, as much as the fact of those disasters breaks my heart. I fear we have exceeded the tipping point in this country, and even in exercising our right to vote, nothing is going to stop our slide into complete chaos.

Love your tagline, btw -- one of my favorites!!

drumminj, we can't disguise our adventure into territory more or less off your topic!! Apologies to you for this. However, I'm confident the continuing dialogue will bear fruit more meaningful to you in your quest for suggestions! Please feel free to kick us abject thread highjackers off to our own 'rant' thread... on the other hand, could we get further afield than guacamole? :mrgreen:

All the best, Rae

[coastcat]

Guacamole is never off-topic. :cool We should spin off a new thread with just food discussions, though, as it's an important topic! We really need to put together a set of recipes for dishes that are common here but rare or non-existant in NZ. That goes for liquid refreshment, too. I suppose you can get margaritas in NZ, but what about mojitos and caipirinhas?

Hmm, I think I've just found a long-term project...

[Dave & Sandra]

Now, now you Yanks are beginning to talk a foreign language. What are mojitos and caipirinhas?

Please help out a poor liitle Brit here :roll:

[coastcat]

Now, now you Yanks are beginning to talk a foreign language. What are mojitos and caipirinhas?

caipirinha: Brazilian cocktail made with cachaça (a Brazilian white rum made from cane sugar), lime, and sugar

mojito: Cuban cocktail made with regular light rum, lime, sugar syrup, and mint

Both are classics in their home countries, and newly fashionable here. So are martinis and cosmopolitans, often with added flavors. Note to myself: add Cuban and Carribean recipes to the list. Life without masitas de puerco and jerk chicken would be pretty dull...

Edited to add: Okay, here's a simplified mojito recipe!

12 mint leaves
1/2 lime
4 tsp sugar
1.5 oz rum (about three tablespoons)
ice
soda water/club soda/seltzer/whateverthe Brits call it?

Remove any seeds from the lime. Put the lime, mint leaves, and sugar into a tall glass and mash them a bit with a spoon. Add ice and rum, then top it off with soda water. Garnish with mint leaves and enjoy!

[Dave & Sandra]

They are definitely my kind of drinks. I will drink anything with rum in :nice1

[SoCal Gal]

Coast Cat, get that food thread started! One thing that surprised me is that there is more pizza than you can imagine, everything from Dominoes and Pizza Hut to every sort of fancy wood-fired pizza cafe in Auckland and in Wellington....in fact, I think I mentioned this to Raven or CC, that one day we had a hard time finding a place that wasn't "wood-fired" and no amount of convincing my hubby that there was probably pasta and chicken on the menu would appease him! We actually had some very good falafels in a take-away place!! I know a long time ago, Pepsi-Cola "had" Pizza Hut/ KFC/ Taco Bell, so I always thought of those three chains together, but there are no Taco Bells in NZ. Lots more KFCs than I thought I would see, that's for sure. Ah, fooooooood! :cool

[Raeven]

Welcome back, SoCalGal!!

Great to see you posting again, and with such fantastic news, even!!! Congratulations on your new NZ abode and on being pulled out of the pool!! I'm tickled to bits for you and all the others who've been selected!!

Ok, I'm game for us to start the food thread, but I can't quite figure out where we might put it... Health, Medical and Education seems perhaps to set the wrong tone... suggestions?

Rae

[SoCal Gal]

Thanks, Raeven! Glad to have a better work schedule now so I can sneak away to the forum occassionally! ;-0
Yeah, the food thread, where should it go? Maybe where the "things you'll miss" thread was? My memory got somewhat erased with the passing of the old forum! Yikes! I need to get posting regular again, my soul and spirit demand it! Surf's Up!! :cool

[Dave & Sandra]

Great News SoCal Gal :nice1

Rae - we should have a nice word with Douglas (aka ENZ) - it's good to know he has a name now. What a wonderful, helpful person he is and so skilled ;) ;) and ask him to create a new section for food. :mrgreen:

[Raeven]

LOL, Sandra, great idea!! Are you feeling brave? I'm already bugging him to the point of getting banned over my dumb banana. :mrgreen:

<tuneless whistle...>

Rae

[coastcat]

I think it qualifies as "migrant life in NZ" and thus goes in the main forum. Familiar foods are essential to our psychological comfort, and that will help us all make the adjustment to new surroundings, which in turn ensures successful settlement in the new land.

Right?

Bring back the dancing banana! :nice1

[drumminj]

Hmm... hey, North Americans, what NZ cities would you want on the list? It seems like a lot of Brits make a beeline for Chch, but where are the Americans and Canadians settling? I'm probably headed for Wellington, as is SoCalGal.

I think I'm probably headed to Wellington as well. Or Chch.

[drumminj]

Dave, extremely well said. For the life of me, I cannot understand why the issues you list are so obscure to that fifty percent populace. It leaves my jaw on the floor to know there is a very real chance that GWB will be reelected. He is, as you say, a dangerous criminal. I hope to watch the unfolding disasters looming in the USA from afar in NZ, as much as the fact of those disasters breaks my heart. I fear we have exceeded the tipping point in this country, and even in exercising our right to vote, nothing is going to stop our slide into complete chaos.

Why do I always get sucked into politics....

I don't understand the hangup on Bush. Sure, maybe you don't agree with what he and his administration has done, but Congress is just as guilty(USA PATRIOT act, giving Bush the power to take us to war in Iraq, etc). The administration isn't running unchecked - it's just that no part of the federal government has the country and the people at the top of its list of priorities. The problem is that we get to vote for one of the candidates presented to us for president, but...unfortunately, all the candidates suck (well, Ross Perot was at least entertaining). Bush, Kerry, whomever, all the things mentioned will still be a problem. The issue isn't who's in power, it's the complacency of the populace, IMHO. That, and trying to use one set of laws to govern 270 million people who live in such varying social, geographic, and economical climates.

Regardless of our perspective, it seems we all see the same core issues. It kind of scares me to think that many Americans are moving to NZ as well, who may be bringing with them the mentality I wish to seperate myself from. I guess I'm no more deserving of a PR than they are, however. It is comforting to see the Americans here seem to value the same things I do.

J

[drumminj]

Coast Cat, get that food thread started! One thing that surprised me is that there is more pizza than you can imagine, everything from Dominoes and Pizza Hut to every sort of fancy wood-fired pizza cafe in Auckland and in Wellington....in fact, I think I mentioned this to Raven or CC, that one day we had a hard time finding a place that wasn't "wood-fired" and no amount of convincing my hubby that there was probably pasta and chicken on the menu would appease him! We actually had some very good falafels in a take-away place!! I know a long time ago, Pepsi-Cola "had" Pizza Hut/ KFC/ Taco Bell, so I always thought of those three chains together, but there are no Taco Bells in NZ. Lots more KFCs than I thought I would see, that's for sure. Ah, fooooooood! :cool

Just for reference, the pizza there isn't the same as it is here. The sauce is quite different. We had some Pizza Hut in Queenstown. Boy was that a weird experience. You're looking for something familiar, a little taste of home. And the whole experience is anything but.

So don't expect to have "comfort foods", as it probably won't be what your'e accustomed to.

J

[Raeven]

Why do I always get sucked into politics....

I don't understand the hangup on Bush. Sure, maybe you don't agree with what he and his administration has done, but Congress is just as guilty(USA PATRIOT act, giving Bush the power to take us to war in Iraq, etc). The administration isn't running unchecked - it's just that no part of the federal government has the country and the people at the top of its list of priorities. The problem is that we get to vote for one of the candidates presented to us for president, but...unfortunately, all the candidates suck (well, Ross Perot was at least entertaining). Bush, Kerry, whomever, all the things mentioned will still be a problem. The issue isn't who's in power, it's the complacency of the populace, IMHO. That, and trying to use one set of laws to govern 270 million people who live in such varying social, geographic, and economical climates.

Regardless of our perspective, it seems we all see the same core issues. It kind of scares me to think that many Americans are moving to NZ as well, who may be bringing with them the mentality I wish to seperate myself from. I guess I'm no more deserving of a PR than they are, however. It is comforting to see the Americans here seem to value the same things I do.

J

Hi, J,

Your points are fair and valid, so far as I'm concerned. You're right; Congress has a lot to answer for. Nevertheless, I think the convergence of several events served to put us in harm's way: A Republican president, a Republican-controlled Congress and an attack on our soil created the situation we're living with today. The 9/11 attack caused a wave of patriotic unity in the country. When the president asked his Republican-controlled Congress for anything, they didn't question it. They just gave it to him, taking it on faith that he was steering us in the right direction and had pertinent information to back up his requests. Even when some began to suspect we were heading in a wrong direction (going into Iraq, unchecked spending, Patriot Act, etc.), they were very hesitant to voice their concerns for fear of appearing unpatriotic -- and their fears were well founded, because Bush did in fact accuse those who questioned his course of being unpatriotic.

I disagree that it doesn't matter who is in power. During Bush's 3 1/2 years, we have become polarized as Americans, stridently lining up behind our issues. Religion has crept into places where it historically has not been. We are deep in debt. Middle class people are getting squeezed to death with unfair tax rates. The complacency of the American people horrifies me, certainly. But our leadership owes us better than we're getting.

Don't worry too much about all we other Americans joining you in NZ.. we comprise only 4% of NZ immigrants. And most of us have lots of other reasons for leaving, too -- not just GWB.

Thanks for your views, and hey, it's just politics, right? :angel

All the best, Rae

[Raeven]

Just for reference, the pizza there isn't the same as it is here. The sauce is quite different. We had some Pizza Hut in Queenstown. Boy was that a weird experience. You're looking for something familiar, a little taste of home. And the whole experience is anything but.

So don't expect to have "comfort foods", as it probably won't be what your'e accustomed to.
J

Oh, god, where did I hear about the tourist who ordered pizza in NZ and got, for his trouble, a slice of white toast with canned spaghetti dumped over the top??? Certainly NOT what one might be expecting from home!!

Rae

[coastcat]

Oh, god, where did I hear about the tourist who ordered pizza in NZ and got, for his trouble, a slice of white toast with canned spaghetti dumped over the top??? Certainly NOT what one might be expecting from home!!

:eek :eek :eek :eek :eek

Maybe opening a restaurant isn't such a bad idea after all. I've always wanted to create one that offered proper versions of American food favorites. People in other countries think that all pizza tastes like Pizza Hut's and that southern fried chicken is well-represented by KFC. Nooooo! I'd want to serve pizza in NY thin crust and Chicago deep-dish versions... chicken that's soaked in buttermilk and pan-fried with a delicate and slightly peppery crust... yum.

I haven't made any political comments yet, but yeah, I agree. It's the angry polarization that really alarms me, with the two sides fighting so bitterly that nothing actually gets done. I'm also not keen on living in what's becoming a theocracy. NZ is no paradise, but at least it'll be a different set of worries. :P

Hmm, maybe I shouldn't move from one national capital to another...

[kamus]

Why do I always get sucked into politics....

I don't understand the hangup on Bush.
J

Hi, J,

Your points are fair and valid, so far as I'm concerned. You're right; Congress has a lot to answer for.... But our leadership owes us better than we're getting.

Don't worry too much about all we other Americans joining you in NZ.. we comprise only 4% of NZ immigrants. And most of us have lots of other reasons for leaving, too -- not just GWB.

Thanks for your views, and hey, it's just politics, right? :angel

All the best, Rae

J.-I don't think we're really disagreeing very much here though I think that Rae nails it. After witnessing what has transpired in this country since 9/11 under the Bush watch my wife and I said to each other that we would move if he was re-elected but then it dawned on us- even if he loses, the country has suffered considerable harm and is more polarized now than since the not so great days of the Vietnam/post Vietnam era. Precisely because of your point that it's just not Bush's fault (though he takes a lion's share of the blame IMO) but more importantly, the American People and Congress' fault, that we have decided we can't tolerate living here much longer.

As far as coming to NZ with an attitude- we're coming to create a brand new attitude and leave the old one behind. We've been angry for four years and that is four years too long. We want a non-divisive and safe atmosphere in which to raise our two little girls and their welfare and future trumps any political considerations.

Maybe we should have a political rant category for those of us trying to get the US situation off our chest and I apologize for injecting politics into this forum but is a reality affecting ours and I guess other's decisions to come to NZ.

[karltsmith]

On the issue of Pizza, your average NZ pizza is PANTS! This is primarily because any old cheep cheese is used, such as "Colby" not Mozzerela (yum) The sauces used on the base are not great either. My advice, if you really like your pizza....make your own or go to an Italian restraunt! :clap

On the issue of US politics......mmmmm.....you poor guys don't seem to have a much of a choice and IMO you're Bu****ed who ever you get in the WH! :wah

Look forward to"meating" you all in NZ...you can all come and cook me some American "grub" on my BBQ anytime! ;)

Karl

PS I like my food like I like my women........hot and spicy! :laugh (sorry a bit chauvanistic)

[drumminj]

Maybe we should have a political rant category for those of us trying to get the US situation off our chest and I apologize for injecting politics into this forum but is a reality affecting ours and I guess other's decisions to come to NZ.

No worries. I think discussions of "why" we are all moving is bound to come up. Nothing wrong with that. And I'm certainly not bothered by this coming up in "my" thread. I certainly don't feel any ownership or control over such things.

J

[kamus]

...your handle indicates that you might be a musician-is that the case? If so are you going to NZ with "musician" listed as your profession?
My wife and I are both musicians and we are examining our options before applying as musicians don't seem to fit neatly within any existing categories.

-Dave

[drumminj]

Nope, not a musician. Used to play drums many years back. Never was very good, but boy is that a great stress-reliever. I play a bit of guitar these days, but again, can't say I'm very good. I highly doubt NZIS would let me in the country based on my skill as a musician. But perhaps I should look into it.

J

[markkellaway]

Re. the comments on Bush, patriotism etc. I, as an outsider, find it pretty abhorrent that the current US administration appears to have used 9/11 for political gain. Is this not a view shared by any of you guys from the US?

Having said that, our own politicians here in the UK have done the same. :no

I for one cite the politics as quite a large piece of the overall attraction to NZ. Sure there will be corruption etc. but at least things, and people, seem pretty stable!

Mark. :D