[ers99w]

Hi, All--
I joined this site a few months ago but never gave an intro. So, here goes:

I'm from Virginia and lived there for 22 years--I'm almost 30 now. I then moved to Honolulu for grad school, and got my Master's in Geology. As part of my education, I took an advanced class on Volcanology, and we took a field trip to New Zealand for a month in 2004 to climb Tarawera, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu. I LOVED it (except for the food...i guess i will be losing weight soon), and have wanted to go back ever since. I also have wanted to live in a different country forever.

I've been a hydrogeologist in San Diego, CA for almost 4 years--I hated it, but it's where I met my boyfriend. Boyfriend of nearly 2 years is getting his Ph.D. at the U. of Auckland starting July 1. He has his visa and is down there right now trying to find a place to live. I had some classes to finish up, so I'm coming in three weeks (July 7).

Partners of Ph.D. students are eligible for an open work permit, so I'm applying for that as soon as I get down there. I ALMOST have everything--I just need an NZ address to put down, and I need to receive my FBI police certificate (should be here this week).

I need my passport to get into the country, and ALSO to open a bank account once i'm down there, and ALSO to apply, so I'm waiting to get down there before I submit my app.

I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me--I'm showing up with two suitcases and a tourist visa to get started. If anyone needs a geologist at their firm, please contact me. :)

Thanks for reading!

[slider]

Hello, and welcome to the forum :)

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

I'm almost 30 now.

Ah, a mere whippersnapper

I took an advanced class on Volcanology

Are they the logical people with the pointy ears? :laugh

Welcome and good luck with your journey.

[dusk]

hello and welcome :)

[AndyR]

welcome to the forum! I remember someone telling me that geologists in NZ move to OZ in order to get paid more....maybe enough have gone for them to be recruiting more.

[JandM]

Good luck with everything.:)

[dilanium]

Hello and welcome! :)

[Leanne]

Best of luck with all your plans!
:)

[mgbridges]

Welcome and good luck with your move.

Anneliese

[Bruckner]

Welcome to the forum!

Emily

[calixfornia]

Hello and welcome! What an interesting field you are in. Best of luck to you!!

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Hello and welcome.




Suzanne.

[Scibby]

Welcome aboard from another Virginian, who will hopefully be heading to New Zealand in the next year or so.

[Keith C.]

Hi, All--
I've been a hydrogeologist in San Diego, CA for almost 4 years--I hated it, but it's where I met my boyfriend. Boyfriend of nearly 2 years is getting his Ph.D. at the U. of Auckland starting July 1. He has his visa and is down there right now trying to find a place to live. I had some classes to finish up, so I'm coming in three weeks (July 7).

Partners of Ph.D. students are eligible for an open work permit, so I'm applying for that as soon as I get down there. I ALMOST have everything--I just need an NZ address to put down, and I need to receive my FBI police certificate (should be here this week).

I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me--I'm showing up with two suitcases and a tourist visa to get started.

You're in a similar situation to us. In our case, I'll be the Ph.D. student, and my wife will be getting the work permit. In fact, we even lived in San Diego for a while.

I'd love to give you some good advice, but you are slightly ahead of us. We'll be moving to Wellington in September or October. So, if you have some advice to give us... The one thing I can mention is that you may be able to get health insurance via the University. The rates seem cheap to me.

You might want to join the NZ University Students (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/group.php?groupid=6) social group and see what that group can contribute.

[Scotty69]

Hi and welcome to the forum

[ers99w]

Thanks, all! I head out to Hawaii tomorrow (Saturday)--i'm relaxing on a little vacation before heading down to NZ july 6-7. Luckily, I still have awesome friends on the islands that welcome couch-crashers. I will be warming up just for the NZ winter. :)

and, yes, most people think that we 'volcanologists' are pointy-eared--including my dad, a former trekkie. hopefully, though, it's true that we ARE logical...!

As for advice I can give, well...none yet. My two check-in bags are under 70 lb, but over the 50 lb weight limit for Air NZ, I have one carry-on suitcase over 15 lb, AND a carry-on backpack with a laptop in it. I'm breaking all kinds of their rules, and I am a little anxious to see what happens at the ticket counter! Do they REALLY weigh carryon items??? I've never had that happen.

My boyfriend had over-weight bags and he said they only charged him $29 (U.S.). Here's hoping...

[JandM]

Good luck, good holiday, and let us know how it goes.:nice1

[Parsley]

Hello and welcome!

[Kirst&Kev]

Hi and warm welcome!

I hope ANZ are lenient on you about your baggage allowance!