BaldyBeardyBloke
5th May 2008, 11:31 AM
Well, as of today the family Edwards have been New Zealand residents for exactly one year, or one year and two days since we left blighty.
I can't decide whether it's 'blimey, a year already' or 'a year, is that all, seems like ages'.
It seems to have flown past as we've done so much and kept pretty busy, but it seems like we've been here forever as we feel so settled and happy here.
I know lot's of people have issues with missing family and friends or settling generally, but I have to say we've had a really smooth ride. A lot of that is doubtless due to the fact we were already living a significant distance (in UK terms) from family anyway in Scotland and had been through the moving with young kids, new schools, new jobs, new area, not knowing anyone so we knew A) what to expect and B) that we could deal with it.
We're still delighted that we chose Hamilton, we all really like it here and now that we have our own home the final 'settlement' piece is in place and there is no more thinking about when the next move might have to happen, or that our 'things' are only in temporary homes. We love our new home already and it feels right for us. Those of you that have seen it will know that there is tons of potential for upgrades, changes etc, so we're looking forward to that over the next few years - see already we're looking forward to years ahead here!
I am currently out of work, which brings it's own stresses, but no more or less than it would anywhere else, so I just see the job hunt as part of the normal circle of life. Prospects look reasonably strong, but until an offer I want to accept arrives you never know.
So, do we miss anything from the UK? I can only really speak for myself here and the answer has to be a resounding no. Occasionally our closest friends in Scotland and, despite not really knowing them that long, we do miss Dan, Amanda, Jack & Ella (Leachio) but that's it.
Is life better here? I guess that's an each to their own opinion, but for us, we certainly are happier as a family unit, so the answer really has to be a resounding yes.
Is there anything I would change? Not really. There are things that niggle and you wonder why it's like that (like rubbish insulation in houses) but there are at least as many, if not more, things that niggle back in UK so that all evens out I suppose. With hindsight probably we should have made the move three years earlier when I had the chance of redundancy and a big(ish) payout, but we didn't - we moved to Scotland instead, and I guess that set us up and made the emigration decision a simple one when we did get around to it, so karma, everything for a reason etc seems the logical conclusion there.
Would I recommend NZ? It's a very personal decision really, and to recommend over and above anywhere else would be wrong given that I haven't lived anywhere else (other than the UK, obviously). I would recommend looking at all your options and expanding your mind, experiences and future opportunities to anyone. Whether it be in NZ or Khatmandu is probably irrelevant, if you feel the need, try it. You can always go back, and you will certainly be better off for it in many ways.
What are we looking forward to? Improving the house, as mentioned above & building stronger relationships within our chosen community. We have my mum and Paula's Dad coming to visit towards the end of the year which will be great - an opportunity to show off our new life to people who can compare to our old life. It will be very interesting to see their comparisons. Other than that, just getting on with and enjoying life generally.
Thoughts on the UK a year on? A fabulous place to visit, a real historical adventure can be had around all of Europe, but been there, done that. I wouldn't want to live there again.
Anything I don't like about NZ? Kids driving at 15 is possibly the stupidist thing I've come across, apart from that, nothing that I can't live with.
In summary if life gets no better than it is now, it is still better than it was in the UK for us, so I'll be more than happy to settle for that. Anything more is a bonus.
Sam
Loving life in Aotearoa.
:D
I can't decide whether it's 'blimey, a year already' or 'a year, is that all, seems like ages'.
It seems to have flown past as we've done so much and kept pretty busy, but it seems like we've been here forever as we feel so settled and happy here.
I know lot's of people have issues with missing family and friends or settling generally, but I have to say we've had a really smooth ride. A lot of that is doubtless due to the fact we were already living a significant distance (in UK terms) from family anyway in Scotland and had been through the moving with young kids, new schools, new jobs, new area, not knowing anyone so we knew A) what to expect and B) that we could deal with it.
We're still delighted that we chose Hamilton, we all really like it here and now that we have our own home the final 'settlement' piece is in place and there is no more thinking about when the next move might have to happen, or that our 'things' are only in temporary homes. We love our new home already and it feels right for us. Those of you that have seen it will know that there is tons of potential for upgrades, changes etc, so we're looking forward to that over the next few years - see already we're looking forward to years ahead here!
I am currently out of work, which brings it's own stresses, but no more or less than it would anywhere else, so I just see the job hunt as part of the normal circle of life. Prospects look reasonably strong, but until an offer I want to accept arrives you never know.
So, do we miss anything from the UK? I can only really speak for myself here and the answer has to be a resounding no. Occasionally our closest friends in Scotland and, despite not really knowing them that long, we do miss Dan, Amanda, Jack & Ella (Leachio) but that's it.
Is life better here? I guess that's an each to their own opinion, but for us, we certainly are happier as a family unit, so the answer really has to be a resounding yes.
Is there anything I would change? Not really. There are things that niggle and you wonder why it's like that (like rubbish insulation in houses) but there are at least as many, if not more, things that niggle back in UK so that all evens out I suppose. With hindsight probably we should have made the move three years earlier when I had the chance of redundancy and a big(ish) payout, but we didn't - we moved to Scotland instead, and I guess that set us up and made the emigration decision a simple one when we did get around to it, so karma, everything for a reason etc seems the logical conclusion there.
Would I recommend NZ? It's a very personal decision really, and to recommend over and above anywhere else would be wrong given that I haven't lived anywhere else (other than the UK, obviously). I would recommend looking at all your options and expanding your mind, experiences and future opportunities to anyone. Whether it be in NZ or Khatmandu is probably irrelevant, if you feel the need, try it. You can always go back, and you will certainly be better off for it in many ways.
What are we looking forward to? Improving the house, as mentioned above & building stronger relationships within our chosen community. We have my mum and Paula's Dad coming to visit towards the end of the year which will be great - an opportunity to show off our new life to people who can compare to our old life. It will be very interesting to see their comparisons. Other than that, just getting on with and enjoying life generally.
Thoughts on the UK a year on? A fabulous place to visit, a real historical adventure can be had around all of Europe, but been there, done that. I wouldn't want to live there again.
Anything I don't like about NZ? Kids driving at 15 is possibly the stupidist thing I've come across, apart from that, nothing that I can't live with.
In summary if life gets no better than it is now, it is still better than it was in the UK for us, so I'll be more than happy to settle for that. Anything more is a bonus.
Sam
Loving life in Aotearoa.
:D