Han
12th July 2005, 08:17 AM
I don't wish for this to be classed as a 'negative post' because I'm not a success story for life in NZ but thought I'd write an update about our return.
My partner and I were living in Wellington as of last September. We made the decision to go back home to London as things were not working out for us in NZ. We were unsure if it was going to be right for us at the time, but we were starting to struggle in NZ.
I am very pleased to report that we've been back for two months and we're both so happy. It's funny how you focus so much on what's bad about a place when you know you're leaving.
We have moved areas and are now in a small village in beautiful countryside, with a main railway line straight into London within 20 mins.
Life back here is great. An area is only as good as the people who inhabit it. We were definitely in the wrong area before! Also, you can only get a grip on your identity when you leave all things familiar and it's just you and yourself out there.
I never felt one ounce of pride to be British before I left for NZ. That could not be more opposite now!
It's great to have real friends who I've known all my life just down the road again. We're currently living with my parents whilst our flat gets secured and there's not been a row yet! It's amazing how we took people for granted before.
Most of all, in the wake of this past week, that all gets rammed home. I felt so proud when we won the Olympics! It was like we'd won the world cup!!
Then another sense of pride, for the opposite reasons.
My family and friends were all in London, just like any other day. We have been so lucky, many weren't. By some strange twists of fate, everyone I knew was OK. Friends and family missed 'the' trains, some heard it in the tunnel, some saw it happen, but they're all OK.
Thursday night, when I sat down to dinner with my family, I was so glad to be here. If I was in NZ, I would have lost it completely. Here, in London town, with my family and friends is where I belong. I was born and bred in north London and that's where I'm staying.
Wellington was amazing and I hope to go back and visit many times in the future but this is my home.
I really do wish everyone the best of luck. New Zealand is a special place which is prefect for some people.
One final request before I'm off though is that at Thursday 14th July 12:00 noon GMT that wherever you are in the world, you join the 2 minute silence. We are after all, all in this together and we are all affected, for we are all British...underneath it all.
My partner and I were living in Wellington as of last September. We made the decision to go back home to London as things were not working out for us in NZ. We were unsure if it was going to be right for us at the time, but we were starting to struggle in NZ.
I am very pleased to report that we've been back for two months and we're both so happy. It's funny how you focus so much on what's bad about a place when you know you're leaving.
We have moved areas and are now in a small village in beautiful countryside, with a main railway line straight into London within 20 mins.
Life back here is great. An area is only as good as the people who inhabit it. We were definitely in the wrong area before! Also, you can only get a grip on your identity when you leave all things familiar and it's just you and yourself out there.
I never felt one ounce of pride to be British before I left for NZ. That could not be more opposite now!
It's great to have real friends who I've known all my life just down the road again. We're currently living with my parents whilst our flat gets secured and there's not been a row yet! It's amazing how we took people for granted before.
Most of all, in the wake of this past week, that all gets rammed home. I felt so proud when we won the Olympics! It was like we'd won the world cup!!
Then another sense of pride, for the opposite reasons.
My family and friends were all in London, just like any other day. We have been so lucky, many weren't. By some strange twists of fate, everyone I knew was OK. Friends and family missed 'the' trains, some heard it in the tunnel, some saw it happen, but they're all OK.
Thursday night, when I sat down to dinner with my family, I was so glad to be here. If I was in NZ, I would have lost it completely. Here, in London town, with my family and friends is where I belong. I was born and bred in north London and that's where I'm staying.
Wellington was amazing and I hope to go back and visit many times in the future but this is my home.
I really do wish everyone the best of luck. New Zealand is a special place which is prefect for some people.
One final request before I'm off though is that at Thursday 14th July 12:00 noon GMT that wherever you are in the world, you join the 2 minute silence. We are after all, all in this together and we are all affected, for we are all British...underneath it all.