nippa&pippa
7th November 2007, 12:04 PM
A year gone by very fast, too fast!....we planned to have mini-party with my mum, my grandma and OH's mum, to celebrate our 1 year in NZ, but got overshadow by daughter's stomach virus (btw she is better now but my oldest son got it)
My mum and my 83 years old grandma have been staying here for 2 half weeks to meet their new grandson, and they are now in auckland staying at my sister's before return back to UK :wah but I still got MIL staying here till end of march next year
Looking back how much NZ has changed our life in 12 months, we move into our first house in NZ and recently had baby kiwi boy, Eliot, born 9 weeks ago.
We agreed it is was best decision we have done is emigrated to NZ, even on low wage of $42K and difficult first few months when we first arrived. We brought house with 10 acres of land that we couldn't afford it in UK, our children had so much freedom to run and play on the land, enough to bring tears to our parents!! They were in amazed when they first arrived, can't wait to have tour around the house then paddocks etc even they were jetlag :laugh.
Our oldest son love his Kindy so much. My mum came with me to see Kindy as she used to work in primary school she was blew away to see climbing frames, woodwork bench etc were available for kids to play. Parents don't overreact and wrapped kids in cotton wool here.
The community is fantastic here with all shops/bank know us now :o and make friends quickly, down to have young children does help ;), we go to playgroups etc to meet other mums and children. My children have made friends especially Ashley got his first 'best' friend and Eliot got a new friend born last week
Maternity care in NZ was brilliant and built very good relationship with my midwife. Very different experiences for me that I had to learn something new all over again with Eliot, with different pre/postnatal care with midwife, plunket nurse, dr etc compare with UK.
Took driving test last week and passed it, now a proud owner of New Zealand driving licence!
Even we have been back to motel several times, where we stayed when we first arrived a year ago on Halloween night, because we have become friends with them. We decided to revisit the room we stayed few days ago brought back the memories of first 2 week few enough to raise hairs at back of your neck....
Only downside part of living in NZ for me is heartbreak moments at the airport to see relatives go back to UK, I hate it so much. The house become quiet and flat for first few days after relatives left. My children is too young to understand fully of why they have gone.
In our first year, we had my sister flew down in December, then my parents came in April with sister joined us a week later, then sister came down again in September (to meet her new nephew) then MIL came in Oct then my mum and grandma came three weeks ago!! I know my mum will be back again early next year with my dad this time. Also got OH's sister and her husband coming to stay in next March, keep busy with guests
It was great to meet fellow expat from this forum, Helen & woz (Moorf), Pip (pip), Deb (Wilson182), Joanne (joanne100), Laura (Sharpblade) etc, looking forward to meet more in December.
My mum and my 83 years old grandma have been staying here for 2 half weeks to meet their new grandson, and they are now in auckland staying at my sister's before return back to UK :wah but I still got MIL staying here till end of march next year
Looking back how much NZ has changed our life in 12 months, we move into our first house in NZ and recently had baby kiwi boy, Eliot, born 9 weeks ago.
We agreed it is was best decision we have done is emigrated to NZ, even on low wage of $42K and difficult first few months when we first arrived. We brought house with 10 acres of land that we couldn't afford it in UK, our children had so much freedom to run and play on the land, enough to bring tears to our parents!! They were in amazed when they first arrived, can't wait to have tour around the house then paddocks etc even they were jetlag :laugh.
Our oldest son love his Kindy so much. My mum came with me to see Kindy as she used to work in primary school she was blew away to see climbing frames, woodwork bench etc were available for kids to play. Parents don't overreact and wrapped kids in cotton wool here.
The community is fantastic here with all shops/bank know us now :o and make friends quickly, down to have young children does help ;), we go to playgroups etc to meet other mums and children. My children have made friends especially Ashley got his first 'best' friend and Eliot got a new friend born last week
Maternity care in NZ was brilliant and built very good relationship with my midwife. Very different experiences for me that I had to learn something new all over again with Eliot, with different pre/postnatal care with midwife, plunket nurse, dr etc compare with UK.
Took driving test last week and passed it, now a proud owner of New Zealand driving licence!
Even we have been back to motel several times, where we stayed when we first arrived a year ago on Halloween night, because we have become friends with them. We decided to revisit the room we stayed few days ago brought back the memories of first 2 week few enough to raise hairs at back of your neck....
Only downside part of living in NZ for me is heartbreak moments at the airport to see relatives go back to UK, I hate it so much. The house become quiet and flat for first few days after relatives left. My children is too young to understand fully of why they have gone.
In our first year, we had my sister flew down in December, then my parents came in April with sister joined us a week later, then sister came down again in September (to meet her new nephew) then MIL came in Oct then my mum and grandma came three weeks ago!! I know my mum will be back again early next year with my dad this time. Also got OH's sister and her husband coming to stay in next March, keep busy with guests
It was great to meet fellow expat from this forum, Helen & woz (Moorf), Pip (pip), Deb (Wilson182), Joanne (joanne100), Laura (Sharpblade) etc, looking forward to meet more in December.