JPOnion
24th August 2008, 09:37 PM
Hi.
...
Oh, I guess you want more than that, huh? :D
So I guess I've been bitten by the kiwi-bug. I've been wanting to move countries for a while now, and even got the opportunity to spend a year in Tokyo a few years back. That was for school, though, even if it had nothing to do with my program. Now that I've graduated, I want to make the move something more long term.
Why do I want to move? It's a little hard to explain, but I'm sure many of you here have similar reasons to me. I haven't felt like I fit in here, and haven't for as long as I can remember. The politics, the general way of life and personality of the average american, the excessive sex-appeal and commercialism, the fast paced live-to-work mentality are a few things I'm able to actually put into words. Basically, it's just an all around deep-rooted feeling of "this isn't my kind of place" that's always nagged at me, and I've lived all over the country too (north, south, east and west). I'd like to do it relatively soon, too, because I'm just starting out in the workplace so don't really have a career to leave behind or start from scratch. I'm working my way up from the bottom right now, might as well do it someplace I enjoy, even if it means leaving the cool job I've got now.
Canada's always been my first choice, mostly 'cause it's right next door and it's been great everytime I've gone. But right now it's a bit too close, there's some things that don't appeal to me, and if I actually sit and think about it I realize Canada isn't someplace I want to move to, the US is just someplace I want to move from...and Canada just happens to be there. So, in essence, Canada's just catching me on the rebound.
New Zealand, though...in the last few months, all the reading, research, stories, etc has made it seem more like a place I want to move to. I don't want to go into this thinking I've found utopia, though, I know it'll have issues. Even though I loved my time in Tokyo, and at the time thought I wanted to live there, there were things I didn't like, frustrated me enough that it made some family / friends back home that read my blog think I hated the place...so I'm trying to keep that in mind, find out what it is about New Zealand I won't like, what'll frustrate me, etc, but also what I'll probably like. Weigh the pros and cons. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, if you will.
So yeah, there's the long introduction. I'm still in the research stage, but NZ is definately the top choice. As I said, everything I've seen so far (the good and the bad...this isn't the first forum I've been at, but I don't think I can mention the other one here...needless to say, they dont have as rosey an outlook on NZ as you all do) makes it seem like a country I'd like to move to, rather than just a place to "escape" the current one...even with the kinks in mind. I've got a trip in the works when I get enough vacation time (6 more months...) to see how much I like it in person, though.
A few simple Q's if you dont mind:
1) Is there any advantage to wait for the PR to go through before going, rather than getting a job on a work visa / permit and, while in NZ already working, start the PR process there?
2) Software Engineering...would that count as a long term skill shortage? I might be missing something, but I can't find it anywhere where specific jobs are mentioned, but based on the general descriptions of what's needed I would imagine this would count. I'm not sure if it counts as "Information Communication Technology", either (can't find a definition anywhere).
3) I notice in a some of the signatures here that some people get job offers then start the PR process, waiting for it to fully process before working. I've only had a few interviews so far in my working career, but I've never heard of a company giving a job offer and then waiting for that long. Is this normal, a kiwi thing, or an exception when dealing with us migrants?
Thanks, everybody! I'm excited about learning more and the prospect of actually doing this. I've got a big sense of adventure and travel-lust, but I usually need somebody pushing me past the initial "fear" of starting, so maybe this forum'll help. :nice1
...
Oh, I guess you want more than that, huh? :D
So I guess I've been bitten by the kiwi-bug. I've been wanting to move countries for a while now, and even got the opportunity to spend a year in Tokyo a few years back. That was for school, though, even if it had nothing to do with my program. Now that I've graduated, I want to make the move something more long term.
Why do I want to move? It's a little hard to explain, but I'm sure many of you here have similar reasons to me. I haven't felt like I fit in here, and haven't for as long as I can remember. The politics, the general way of life and personality of the average american, the excessive sex-appeal and commercialism, the fast paced live-to-work mentality are a few things I'm able to actually put into words. Basically, it's just an all around deep-rooted feeling of "this isn't my kind of place" that's always nagged at me, and I've lived all over the country too (north, south, east and west). I'd like to do it relatively soon, too, because I'm just starting out in the workplace so don't really have a career to leave behind or start from scratch. I'm working my way up from the bottom right now, might as well do it someplace I enjoy, even if it means leaving the cool job I've got now.
Canada's always been my first choice, mostly 'cause it's right next door and it's been great everytime I've gone. But right now it's a bit too close, there's some things that don't appeal to me, and if I actually sit and think about it I realize Canada isn't someplace I want to move to, the US is just someplace I want to move from...and Canada just happens to be there. So, in essence, Canada's just catching me on the rebound.
New Zealand, though...in the last few months, all the reading, research, stories, etc has made it seem more like a place I want to move to. I don't want to go into this thinking I've found utopia, though, I know it'll have issues. Even though I loved my time in Tokyo, and at the time thought I wanted to live there, there were things I didn't like, frustrated me enough that it made some family / friends back home that read my blog think I hated the place...so I'm trying to keep that in mind, find out what it is about New Zealand I won't like, what'll frustrate me, etc, but also what I'll probably like. Weigh the pros and cons. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, if you will.
So yeah, there's the long introduction. I'm still in the research stage, but NZ is definately the top choice. As I said, everything I've seen so far (the good and the bad...this isn't the first forum I've been at, but I don't think I can mention the other one here...needless to say, they dont have as rosey an outlook on NZ as you all do) makes it seem like a country I'd like to move to, rather than just a place to "escape" the current one...even with the kinks in mind. I've got a trip in the works when I get enough vacation time (6 more months...) to see how much I like it in person, though.
A few simple Q's if you dont mind:
1) Is there any advantage to wait for the PR to go through before going, rather than getting a job on a work visa / permit and, while in NZ already working, start the PR process there?
2) Software Engineering...would that count as a long term skill shortage? I might be missing something, but I can't find it anywhere where specific jobs are mentioned, but based on the general descriptions of what's needed I would imagine this would count. I'm not sure if it counts as "Information Communication Technology", either (can't find a definition anywhere).
3) I notice in a some of the signatures here that some people get job offers then start the PR process, waiting for it to fully process before working. I've only had a few interviews so far in my working career, but I've never heard of a company giving a job offer and then waiting for that long. Is this normal, a kiwi thing, or an exception when dealing with us migrants?
Thanks, everybody! I'm excited about learning more and the prospect of actually doing this. I've got a big sense of adventure and travel-lust, but I usually need somebody pushing me past the initial "fear" of starting, so maybe this forum'll help. :nice1