holland
18th May 2008, 03:04 PM
Hi all,
Thought I should probably do our 6 month post...I will try to be as honest as possible....so hope I don't get shot down for some comments...as this is just from our perspective...and these perspectives change on a daily basis!!
Ok...we both have full time jobs, on reasonable money. We have both found it difficult to settle into our jobs and I think we would both say we are both still going through the 'settling' phase. I become frustrated at the amount of time it takes me to get my head around things at work....its almost like my brain has decided 'nope...you have retained too much information this week...so I am stopping you retaining anymore!'...this usually revolves around names!:D On the whole, we both work for great companies, we have been treated well and feel supported in our transition over here.
We are renting at the moment, in a lovely house over the road from the beach...we love the area...however, we have a railway line, highway and airport at the back of us, so we haven't had a full nights sleep since we have been here...move I hear you cry....we have looked...and can't find anything as nice so we are staying here for the time being, as the house does tick boxes in other areas. WOW...the temperature now we are getting into winter is interesting....cold, cold, cold to be exact! I would like to point out that I ( J) am writing this..if my hubby was writing it he probably wouldn't say it was that bad....I come in from work...start layering up ( literally) and then sit on top of the wall heater for the evening! I jest you not!
House hunting-we have been looking everywhere for houses for the last 2 months and haven't found one we like....we are fussy! I struggle with the fact that most of the houses are one level...and wooden..and a lot are sectioned off...all of these things I knew before I came over here, but it is different when you are deciding which one to put your well earned money into. I would like to say to those that are yet to come over here, I used to panic and think we would not be able to 'guage' the 'areas'...good area to live in/not so good area...but I have to say I had that sussed in the first couple of weeks, so don't worry about that !
I still look faint when I go shopping and they say '$250.00 please'...I don't know why I look faint as I was spending the equivalent at home! I didn't like food shopping in the UK, but I have to say here is is awful....I personally don't feel like there is much choice, supermarkets are small, and I don't think the offers are that good. However...I can always find a parking space...the shop assistants are friendly, I don't have to line up at the till and there is plenty of room in the isles...as it's quite!
Outdoor life- this is the main reason we came over here...hubby has a fishing rod which he uses very very regularly..living over the road from the beach, we go on bike rides, we go off on walks at the weekend, to amazing places, that have stunning views and amazing birds. We arrived here in the summer and we didnt watch tv for the first 3 months...I kid you not!
Weather-as expected...absolutely fantastic summer, glorious sunshine everyday. Just approaching winter, cold in the morning and at night, however still glorious sunshine throughout the days.
Last but not least family and friends...mmmm.I have to say the phone and internet are fab, I don't know that I could of made this move without them. I came over thinking I would be in tears everyday missing my family, and I have to say that I miss them terribly...but I don't cry all the time! I speak to my mum everyday, and she is really struggling, crying and awake during the night...I have a lot of guilt around this and it does play on my mind...but speaking on the phone and hearing her voice makes it a lot easier. We do have a webcam, but she cant bear to see me on it yet as she is happy being denial that I am around the corner! The time difference is a huge thing, I plan my nights/early mornings around phone calls.
So all in all.....We have been here 6 months and it feels like 10 years...this isn't in a bad way...just feels like a lifetime ago that we were at home.
Would hubby go back home? NO NO NO
Would I go back home? Not at the moment, I like it out here.
I will be interested to see how this post comes across when I read it back...I hope it isn't too negative, as we do enjoy life out here...but there are parts that are difficult!
J and G xx
PS- I could have written this post yesterday/tonight/tomorrow and the content would probably be different....as I do go 'up and down' with my views on this adventure!!!!:D
PPS- My advice to others would be...make the most of this forum and the friends you can meet...I used to sit at home in the UK and wonder whether I would actually meet these 'virtual friends'....and you do....it is wonderful to have people on the other end of the phone for advice/to listen to you whinge...when all your family are asleep!! Thanks to all my buddies...you know who you are:D
Thought I should probably do our 6 month post...I will try to be as honest as possible....so hope I don't get shot down for some comments...as this is just from our perspective...and these perspectives change on a daily basis!!
Ok...we both have full time jobs, on reasonable money. We have both found it difficult to settle into our jobs and I think we would both say we are both still going through the 'settling' phase. I become frustrated at the amount of time it takes me to get my head around things at work....its almost like my brain has decided 'nope...you have retained too much information this week...so I am stopping you retaining anymore!'...this usually revolves around names!:D On the whole, we both work for great companies, we have been treated well and feel supported in our transition over here.
We are renting at the moment, in a lovely house over the road from the beach...we love the area...however, we have a railway line, highway and airport at the back of us, so we haven't had a full nights sleep since we have been here...move I hear you cry....we have looked...and can't find anything as nice so we are staying here for the time being, as the house does tick boxes in other areas. WOW...the temperature now we are getting into winter is interesting....cold, cold, cold to be exact! I would like to point out that I ( J) am writing this..if my hubby was writing it he probably wouldn't say it was that bad....I come in from work...start layering up ( literally) and then sit on top of the wall heater for the evening! I jest you not!
House hunting-we have been looking everywhere for houses for the last 2 months and haven't found one we like....we are fussy! I struggle with the fact that most of the houses are one level...and wooden..and a lot are sectioned off...all of these things I knew before I came over here, but it is different when you are deciding which one to put your well earned money into. I would like to say to those that are yet to come over here, I used to panic and think we would not be able to 'guage' the 'areas'...good area to live in/not so good area...but I have to say I had that sussed in the first couple of weeks, so don't worry about that !
I still look faint when I go shopping and they say '$250.00 please'...I don't know why I look faint as I was spending the equivalent at home! I didn't like food shopping in the UK, but I have to say here is is awful....I personally don't feel like there is much choice, supermarkets are small, and I don't think the offers are that good. However...I can always find a parking space...the shop assistants are friendly, I don't have to line up at the till and there is plenty of room in the isles...as it's quite!
Outdoor life- this is the main reason we came over here...hubby has a fishing rod which he uses very very regularly..living over the road from the beach, we go on bike rides, we go off on walks at the weekend, to amazing places, that have stunning views and amazing birds. We arrived here in the summer and we didnt watch tv for the first 3 months...I kid you not!
Weather-as expected...absolutely fantastic summer, glorious sunshine everyday. Just approaching winter, cold in the morning and at night, however still glorious sunshine throughout the days.
Last but not least family and friends...mmmm.I have to say the phone and internet are fab, I don't know that I could of made this move without them. I came over thinking I would be in tears everyday missing my family, and I have to say that I miss them terribly...but I don't cry all the time! I speak to my mum everyday, and she is really struggling, crying and awake during the night...I have a lot of guilt around this and it does play on my mind...but speaking on the phone and hearing her voice makes it a lot easier. We do have a webcam, but she cant bear to see me on it yet as she is happy being denial that I am around the corner! The time difference is a huge thing, I plan my nights/early mornings around phone calls.
So all in all.....We have been here 6 months and it feels like 10 years...this isn't in a bad way...just feels like a lifetime ago that we were at home.
Would hubby go back home? NO NO NO
Would I go back home? Not at the moment, I like it out here.
I will be interested to see how this post comes across when I read it back...I hope it isn't too negative, as we do enjoy life out here...but there are parts that are difficult!
J and G xx
PS- I could have written this post yesterday/tonight/tomorrow and the content would probably be different....as I do go 'up and down' with my views on this adventure!!!!:D
PPS- My advice to others would be...make the most of this forum and the friends you can meet...I used to sit at home in the UK and wonder whether I would actually meet these 'virtual friends'....and you do....it is wonderful to have people on the other end of the phone for advice/to listen to you whinge...when all your family are asleep!! Thanks to all my buddies...you know who you are:D