[Bruckner]

We’ve been here just a hair over a month and it’s been…challenging. Greg is still searching diligently for a job and while we had read on the forum that the market moved slowly, it’s still difficult to be patient. He’s made some good contacts, gone on a couple of interviews but still nothing.

I decided to try and get back in the tech market as a Project Administrator but with my blip-on-a-radar experience it won’t be easy. Now I did get called for an interview but by the time I got there it had already been filled. However, the recruiter did tell me I had an “eggsellent” resume and then offered me a job as her company’s receptionist whose duties would include walking the owner’s dog. Not exactly what I had in mind.

Right now I have a three week administrative temp job (no dog walking involved) and will continue temping on a short term basis until Greg lands a job. Only then can I make the decision whether or not it’s worth it to put the kids in day care which, from what I’ve seen is often expensive and very hard to get into. There’s more to this than I care to post but that’s how it stands right now.

The cost of living is high, which we knew, but it’s the price of real estate that hit home. It’s just insane and it’s unlikely we’ll ever buy a home here unless the market takes a sharp downturn. We're in a pretty albeit cold rental in Devonport but the container is due soon so we'll have to find a place that's not on the market. Why move house twice?

So am I happy we made the move here? Yes, because we decided it was a risk worth taking. Will we stay? We came here with a short term goal of two years for the IRRV and a long term goal of five years for citizenship. After that we’d make a decision whether to stay or move on.

With all the worry about jobs and finances I haven’t really had time to be homesick but it’s starting to kick in. The sound of my dad’s voice cracking when he tells me he misses the kids just breaks my heart. Then losing my aunt the week we arrived and not being able to go home for her funeral, after having just buried my father-in-law before we flew out from LA. I don’t think I’ve even had time to properly mourn them.

So there you have it. Not very positive but it’s honest. We just keep on keeping on and hopefully we’ll have better news along the way.

Emily

[RamblingPaddies]

chin up emily ... things will get better soon, i'm sure.

may i ask what area of work your husband is in ?

[Bruckner]

Operations trade support, that sort of thing. My Bat Shield goes up when he starts to tell me exactly what he does. He's managed to get his resume around to most of the big international IBs here in town. There was something in the pipeline but he's still waiting to hear. Fingers crossed!

Emily

[Sam B]

The first few months are pretty tough anyway, never mind with all the job hunting and also 2 bereavements. Are you set on Auckland? Houses are cheaper almost anywhere else... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things work out for you. The weather's improving and there are some wonderful places that you'll start to enjoy when you feel more settled, I'm sure.

[Bruckner]

Not married to Auckland at all but there are one two markets for Greg, the other being Wellington. He's not gotten anything back from Wellington but since we're not physically there it's to be expected. He may have to make a reccie trip there soon.

We've done a couple of day trips to Matakana, Puhoi and Piha. Loved Piha and Puhoi but wasn't too impressed with the Matakan Farmer's Market. Sounds crazy but I love the little Saturday Auckland Farmer's Market behind the Britomart. I'm addicted to whitebait fritters!

Emily

[clg]

Good luck with things. Sounds like you are dealing with a few of the most difficult parts of the move all at once, finding a job, place to live and then the tug of things back home. In the time we have been here those are all the issues that are toughest to deal with so I expect having them all hit at the same time is quite difficult.

Things will get easier on the job/housing front they just take some time to get sorted and soon it will be an early christmas when your things arrive.

It will get better!

[hammadkkhan]

Best of Luck and don't loose hope. Things will get better.

Our prayers are with you guyz....

[Oregonkiwi]

Only then can I make the decision whether or not it’s worth it to put the kids in day care which, from what I’ve seen is often expensive and very hard to get into.
We had to find childcare a couple of months ago and it turned out to be much easier to find a place than we expected; I wrote about it here:
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12148

The cost of living is high, which we knew, but it’s the price of real estate that hit home. It’s just insane and it’s unlikely we’ll ever buy a home here unless the market takes a sharp downturn.
We've just started looking to buy a home too. There are more affordable areas than where you are right now (Devonport is one of the most expensive areas in Auckland), e.g. Onehunga or Mt Wellington/Panmure in Auckland City, and big parts of Waitakere City and Manukau City.

good luck with everything

[gil]

Hey Emily,
Great, honest post. From what I remember of your journey and from what you have said on this post, it sounds like you landed here after a h-u-g-e rollercoaster with some really unexpected blows thrown in at the tail. Not surprising that you have been hit so hard. Even when people arrive without the burden of recent bereavements, the first months are quite polarising in the feelings they raise.
Finding the right job is a challenge and takes as long as it takes, which can feel like eons. Big cyberhug to you {{{{{ HUG}}}}}.

And do have a look at other areas of the city: Manukau is a great place and has some much more reasonable housing than the North Shore.

Love

Gil

[leachio]

Thank you for sharing Emily and it does help to write/type it on here so feel free. We will all have experienced some part of your journey at some point ourselves.

You are in my thoughts ;)

[JoanneG]

You might want to reconsider that receptionist job on a temporary basis - walking the dog is a great excuse for getting away from your desk - and you'll come into contact with their clients - the employers!

It's always easier to find a job when you're in a job.

I once had to help a boss with his clothes shopping! It was great and I always got a free lunch out of it too! It was a nice diversion from the office and I got to go in swanky designer shops in Carnaby Street and Saville Row. Eventually I was poached from that position by another company.

I ended up as an IT Project Administrator too so it wasn't wasted time.

I hope your luck changes soon.

[mgbridges]

I'd been wondering how the two of you were getting on Emily, sorry to hear its been a struggle. It does get easier in time although even with the security of Martin being in employment and Joe enrolled in school I still have my down days so you're not alone. It must be so hard to have dealt with the move and your family bereavements and the twins all at the same time so big hugs coming your way.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Greg and for you to find suitable work and couldn't agree more with folks about cost of housing varying around the city. We ended up spending more than we planned getting the house (about which I've posted elsewhere) but we compromised and went further up the North Shore than we'd intended as well. Keep your eyes peeled and I'm sure the perfect rental will come onto your radar.

BTW there is another picnic planned in Windsor Reserve, Devonport on Wednesday next week assuming the weather is OK. We'd love to see you, Greg & the twins if any of you fancy coming along. Drop me a PM and I'll give you my mobile number as I plan to be there with Joe.

Chin up and positive job-hunting/house-hunting vibes coming your way.
Anneliese

[Bruckner]

Thanks everyone for your support and kind words. We went rental hunting today around the Howick and Bucklands Beach areas and plan on exploring other areas around Auckland as well.

Anneliese, I'm sending you a PM. I have to work next week but Greg can come by with the twins. So bummed I'm going to miss it!

Emily

Emily

[Tia Maria]

I can totaly emphasize with your situation, we looked for a rental for ages in Devonport and in the end failed and ended up buying. Its a great place but so popular and so small, especially if you want to live within walking distance of the ferry!

Its great you are still in a situation you can be flexible and look at other areas, we've made so many friends here and have got involved with the local community we would find it very hard to leave. If Devonport is still an option for you and you want me to keep an eye out for a rental let me know! Also if you want to find out about alternative childcare places then let me know also.

I think once one of the big things (job/house) falls into place, you will be able to relax again. I know lots of people manage to set up everything in the first week - some in the first 2 days! But its perfectly usual for this to take several months and there are lots of us who spent the first few months tearing our hair out trying to sort them out.

In the meantime the best advice I can give is to plan some fun, distracting things to do, so you don't spend day in, day out, having to talk about/deal with all the grown up stuff! Some ideas :D :

1) Harbour swim: www.nzoceanswim.co.nz/default.asp?PageID=10731
2) Auckland Marathon: www.aucklandmarathon.co.nz
3) Santa's parades: www.viewauckland.co.nz/farmers_santa_parade_auckland_queen_street_index.h tml
http://devonportdirectory.co.nz/
4) Pub Quiz: www.viewauckland.co.nz/info_pubbar_6404.html
5) Food & Wine tour: www.viewauckland.co.nz/experiences/auckland_experiences_C_fine_wine_tours_food.asp

Cheers

Tia