[whoiga]

Greetings all!

I'm happy to have found a community centered around immigrating to New Zealand, as I am considering doing so in the future (hopefully not more than 4 or 5 years from now).

I'm currently a Finance Major at a university in Texas (U.S.), and most people look at me like I'm crazy when I mention I'd like to live somewhere outside of the U.S. for a good solid number of years, much less when I begin rambling on about New Zealand.

Over the past several months I've taken interest in New Zealand, and its unique history that I'd never been aware of before. It also appears to be a "geographical sample platter" of the world, in that it has a little bit of everything: snowy mountains, tropical beaches, a glacier that you can visit without necessarily freezing your tail off, vineyards, hills, etc.

I've enjoyed reading about & studying up on everything related to NZ.

The recent 100% New Zealand Promotion (which I first saw in September on YouTube I believe) has done nothing but further my interest. It looks like a great and fun place with nice people, interesting cultures, and who wouldn't want to at least visit the youngest country on Earth? Hehe. I'm also pleased that I would be able to get by just fine with English, although I don't mind learning some of the native languages.

The "only" true concern I can think of for living in NZ would be... I think I could used to driving on the left side of a road (in reverse of how our traffic operates here in the U.S.), but... I don't think I could get used to sitting/driving in the right-side of a vehicle... so I guess I could import my vehicle or something, but I've got plenty of time to ponder about that.

Anyways, sorry to keep rambling. Nevertheless I'm glad to be here so I can begin reading & learning what all of these acronyms I keep seeing mean, and also so I can go ahead & begin getting a good idea of what all an immigration will entail.

See you all around! :)

[Marie P]

Welcome to the forum Whoiga :clap

Marie x

[Hippywench]

Hello and welcome.

A lot of people don't know much about New Zealand, this is probably why you get the strange looks.

I hear you about the 'geographical sample platter'. I'd love to visit places like Iceland or Norway but I'm a baby when it comes to the cold. That's also put me off Canada, which was another option of ours.

I also love changeable weather, am very partial to a good roof-rattling thunderstorm and am fascinated by volcanoes.

That with my thrifty, relatively non-materialistic, nature loving personality means New Zealand is the place for me.

Any idea which area you'd like to move to?

[dilanium]

welcome from another student in the US. I know the looks you are talking about very well. I get them every time I talk to people about my plans after graduating.

I think that the driving on the left side will be fairly easy, it will just take a little concentration at first. Though, I'm really worried about driving when I'm tired once I get there, I feel that would be when I would get into trouble.

:)

[scott&vicky]

Welcome to the forum

[holland]

Hi and welcome to the forum

J and G xx

[whoiga]

I'm actually not sure which area of NZ I'd like to move to. Before finalizing any decision to move there permanently (or even just for 5 or more years), I'll try to visit several places on both the North & South Island, but I've not yet delved much into specific areas. :)

[Chiba]

The "only" true concern I can think of for living in NZ would be... I think I could used to driving on the left side of a road (in reverse of how our traffic operates here in the U.S.), but... I don't think I could get used to sitting/driving in the right-side of a vehicle...

Firstly, welcome! :)

As to driving, don't worry about it. I used to go to the US on business from Japan (same as NZ for driving), and didn't have a problem. The reason is that if everyone else is following the drive-on-the-left thing, all you need to do is follow their lead. The only issues I had were dumb ones, like I'd occasionally I'd get in the wrong side of the car and then wonder where the steering wheel was! :confused: , or I'd get out and try to put gas in the car only to find that the filler cap was on the other side, etc. You'll be fine!

[PeterNZ]

Hi and welcome!

"tropical beaches" let me know if you found one! ;) But still, the beaches are wonderful here. Not really that tropical but still great because ... there are no people on the beach!

Cheers

Peter

[whoiga]

Ah, well compared to the beaches I have... NZ's are way better (I suppose tropical is inaccurate after all).

I live in Southern Texas (well right now I'm actually going to school in Central Texas), and back at home, my parents' home is about 10 minutes away from the beach (we live along the Gulf Coast, so it goes US --> Bay --> Padre Island --> Gulf), and while it's quite nice... the beaches are crowded, the sand is darker from tar (causing mercy water), and the waves don't really get very big (except during hurricane season!).

I can't wait to at least visit NZ though - I hope I won't have to wait too many more years before I schedule my first visit.