[David with a dream]

Yes we have just done the un thinkable and returned to the UK after only three months. I am really gutted (to say the least) about what has happened but we are where we are.
I/we really loved NZ but the problem was we just did not know where to settle and in the end this was our undoing.
Yes house prices have shot up in NZ and teachers pay is not the best, we did know this but thought we could find our dream home for a song. It didn't happen. We panicked and here we are. Back in the UK looking forward to winter! I've been really down since our return and really hope that one day we get another chance to live in NZ.
I would love to hear from any one who this has happened to or who knows of this happening to other poor folk!
Looking forward to some input on this to give me hope of a return......

[Timbo]

David, I`m so sorry to hear that things didnt go as planned for you. No matter how much research you do with something like this, there are bound to be things that come as a big suprise. If you fit the criteria (aged under 30 I believe) maybe you could get back out under the working holiday scheme. This gives you a year to find your feet while earning along the way.
If you want it as badly as you appear to, you will find a way to make it happen. Stick around on here, and I`m sure you will get all the support and suggestions you need.
Welcome aboard by the way, even if under somewhat sad circumstances.

[StevieD]

Sorry to hear it David, all I can say is bad luck, we going to be going next year, on the strength of money (hopefully) earned on the sale of our house here. We do feel that we know the situation down there, with many friends having already made the move.
Good luck to you both.

Steve

[David with a dream]

Cheers mate, could do with picking up at the moment. We have both had to go back to our old places of work this week 'cap in hand' not the best feeling in the world. But hey after the first 100 or so people saying 'bloody hell you didn't give it much time did you' you kind of get used to over reactions.
Like I say I would live to go back one day but my wife has been hit badly by this but I'm hoping a winter or two back in the UK and more government medling in education might change her mind, we shall see. Once again ta for the reply....

[Avalon]

But hey after the first 100 or so people saying 'bloody hell you didn't give it much time did you' you kind of get used to over reactions.

Yeah - ive heard that from other people too. But would the people saying such things have even tried it in the first place? Somehow I doubt it.

Please dont let anyone take that away from you - no matter how hard this is for you. Very few people even TRY to chase thier dreams. You did. It wasnt what you expected - well I know that feeling: New Zealand isnt exactly all I expected either to be honest. For us, the differences are manageable, but itd not for everyone.

If you decide to try again (and there no reason not to if thats what you want) - you will at least know what your pitfalls are and be prepared for them.

Good luck - whatever chioce you make - you have to do what is right for you - not other people.

[bob_the_engineer]

Hi David

I’m with Avalon on this one. I’ve seen this happen to a guy I worked with. When he turned back up it was great to see him, I spent some time finding out how it had gone. It was a fascinating story. I have to say that the attitude of others surprised me!

I think some people just need a little re-enforcement that the best thing to do with your life is play it safe. In my opinion this reaction comes from those who are bored, but too scared to do anything about it.

So please tell us more about how it went (a question the “hmm told you it was a bad idea crew” don’t get asked often!!) :nice1

Bob

[Diny]

Welcome to the forum - stick around - you'll find alot of help here. I can imagine your life is in complete turmoil at the moment. As for the idiots who make the inane comments, well just thumb your nose at them (or other apt hand gestures) - at least you gave it a go which is so much more than many many other people do.

Sadly, there's no definate way of finding out what it's like to live in NZ until you actually take the plunge and come over here. Some love it, some hate it, and a huge amount of people spend a long time flapping around in the middle ground (me included).

Take your time, let the dust settle, take stock of all the pros and cons and then further down the line have another go (if that's what you want). If not, be happy back at home and chalk it all up to one hell of an experience - something to tell your grandkids about !!

Good luck and keep us posted.

Diny

[Anita & Marco]

Hi David,
Sorry the read your news. But unfortunately, I guess I am one of those persons not understanding you gave it only 3 months. But I think I read through the lines that it was mainly your wife who had problems? Did she get homesick when things did not work out like you expected them to be?

We are flying one way to NZ next month and are prepared for a hard time, especially after a few months. This IS the crucial stage in a process like this. Of course I am not telling I will stay in NZ forever, when it doesn't work, it just doesn't. But please, I would be happy to see your reasons, because 3 months IS a short period to see if you will be able to successfully settle in a new country!!

We will definitely give it a longer time - at least two years, because otherwise it would be of no use to give it a try at all.

I wish you all the good luck in the world and please realise how happy you are to be able to get your jobs back!!! Enjoy it, but think it over very well before you go out for a second time, or at least be prepared better.

Regards,
Anita

[Avalon]

Anita,

I think its fair to say that 3 months can seem like a lifetime when you are in a strange country and trying to struggle through all the ups and downs.

I too was prepared for a hard time - NOTHING prepared me for HOW hard it was. Beleive me, if my parents hadnt been planning on coming out - I would not have lasted 3 weeks let alone 3 months. It was only that they were going to be making a new life here that got me through 2 solid months of crying my eyes out. None of us know before we live it how we will cope with all it entails - separation, new culture (Crap bacon). homesickness, finances.

Not making it the magical 2 years does not mean its no use trying.

As yet you do not know how hard you will find it. If you went home in less than 2 years - would you really want someone saying this all to you? Emigrating is incredibly hard, and I think we should try our best to be understanding when people do not find it suits them - for whatever reason.

david had a dream and he went for it. The fact that he went home does not detract from that

[jewelsvani]

Sorry to hear that it didn't work out, there is nothing stopping you from trying again.:)
It sounds as if I could be in the same position as you when I go there, a detailed account of your experience would be a great help.
What subject did you teach by the way and how easy was it to find work? (If you don't mind answering that is).

I hope you find work back in the UK and don't miss NZ too much. :)

[Alex]

david had a dream and he went for it. The fact that he went home does not detract from that
Excellent post.

Yesterday I confided in a colleague of our "grand plan" seeing as he is coming to NZ in Nov for an extended holiday. It turns out that he is really coming to check the place out, seeing as about two years ago he got EOI accepted and was ITA, but didn't apply due uncertainty as whether he could settle etc. Now he says he really regrets not taking it further, and that if they like it in NZ he won't be able to come out "for good" for at least 18 months.

So in reference to the thread, well, at least you gave it a go David, so good on you. I've had to spend long periods away from home and family due to work, so I know how difficult it is trying to make phone calls etc across time zones.

Hopefully all will work out for you and yours, and all the best.

[Singel]

Hello David, sorry to know that things didn't work out for your family. I think you have made a wise choice to move back to UK and fortunately, you got a job to fall back on. As what everyone say, stick with this forum and who-knows you may return to NZ in the near future.

Good Luck and All The Best :cheers

[willsken]

I'm also very sorry to hear thing didn't work out for you. I think you made a good point about not being able to find a place to settle. We went out in August to have a look around and planned to drive all around the North Island.

I had done a lot of research and in my head I had decided that I wanted to settle in Napier. When we arrived to have a look we found the house prices were more than we could afford so I felt the dream of living in NZ was over.

I spent the next couple of days feeling very upset and depressed. Then we arrived in Waipukurau. I fell for the place and it has been no looking back since.

Luckily the rest of the family felt the same. Now I long to go there and in my mind it feels as if I'm waiting to go home.

Maybe, one day you could go on a break over there and find a place you love without the pressure you must have felt when you moved to NZ?

[Jo and Andy]

The one thing you can say is that you gave it a go, no regrets. It must have been a tough decision for you to come back as I know we all set ourselves this deadline to make it to, past the homesickness. I hope all works out in the UK for you and if not try another place again, if not NZ then somewhere else.

We are looking at it that we will say a set timeframe to make up our minds, but who knows what will happen, house prices are rising etc, finding a job. The whole process of moving to somewhere we have not been. Not sure how to look at it really, an adventure. My pension spent early then living off the state Aghh.

Hope you manage to settle back and when people say you didn't give it a try, ask when they are going to try it.

Along with others would be interested in the pitfalls. Fore armed is fore warned I think they say.

Good luck

[Diny]

Waipukurau ????????????

My word ..... you'll be able to play a banjo duet with Jo B ......... went through there the other day, it's certainly 'different'.

Good on you - and let us know when you arrive as we're only a hop, skip and a jump away from you on t'other side of ranges ........ just look out for the windmills.

Sorry to hijack the thread - back to subject.

Diny

[ellen]

I haven't posted for some time. My husband has been in Taupo since early May; I spent the month of July there but am back in Kansas, USA, finishing up teaching this semester and trying to arrange for moving in the meantime. I must say that we were sobered by the housing prices; we are moving to where his job is (Taupo) and had expected to buy a house there. This seems precisely the wrong time to buy with housing prices at a high and the exchange rate unfavorable. Most rentals seem to be of the holiday home variety but that is what we'll have to go with, possibly being flexible enough to move several times.

But we're sobered enough to keep our house here in the US now (we have a college attending daughter who will live here along with some friends). So part of our hesitation is because of housing prices; the other is to see how our son (age 15) adjusts to the educational system there. He wants to come back here for his last year of high school; we're unsure about that and pretty much everything.

So, even at our advanced ages (my husband is 61 and I'm 54), we're getting a new chance to practice and emotional flexibility. We have "sort of" plans for the next few years. I'm not quitting at my university; they will let me go on indefinite leave. My husband is loving NZ; he's working on getting a glider pilot's license and feels that he is doing good work. But we are going to see where the next few years take us. The man has taken me places I would never have seen (we lived on an island off the northern Alaska coast for awhile) and it has made for a rich (though sometimes uncomfortable) life so far.

Ellen

[David with a dream]

Hi Anita and Marco
Good luck to you both and I do hope you meet that two year dead line you have set your self, only time will tell.
Yes my wife got home sick, as did I and the kids for that matter. But at the end of the day if you can not commit your self 100% then how long do you give it. 6 months, 1 year, '2 years' or until you have blown all the savings and then their is no way back. But like I say the very best of luck and I really hope it works out for you guys because I would hate any one to have to go through what we are going through right now.
Good luck.........David

[Anita & Marco]

David,
I still feel sorry for you guys.
What I wonder is, have you ever before been away from UK for a long time or worked abroad? There is a lot of factors that you have to keep in mind when thinking of things like emigration - and of course, like all the others said: at least you gave it try - while a lot of others only are talking about it!!! That's so true.

And if we will feel unlucky in NZ we will try something else, definitely. No use to be unhappy when it just doesn't work out for you.

All the best and maybe there is another country around (somewhere in Europe) where you could feel comfortable? when you do not want to stay in UK.

All the best,
Anita

[chips]

.
Yes house prices have shot up in NZ and teachers pay is not the best, we did know this but thought we could find our dream home for a song. It didn't happen
......
I think this is going to bew the case in the future. I am astounded by the prices of houses here now. Even in the "cheaper" parts of NZ. I believe you are doing "mighty well" if you find ANYTHING under $200,000. And as for building your own - it's good to have dreams ,and it's equally as good having friends who know the system and can point out hidden pitfalls and where the money's going to tot up.
For some , they wont even need a mortage. And good for them. But on average that's few of us.
BUT don't be disheartened, it can happen , maybe not now ,but someday.
take care chips .

[jewelsvani]

The only thing I don't understand about all this is, even as a teacher in the UK there is no way on earth I can afford a house here. $200000 won't get you a shed in cambridge (where I teach) £180000 you get a two up two down if your lucky. As far as I can see NZ house prices can "at worst" only be the same as the UK?

If I can't afford one here or there I would rather be over there renting than renting over here. :)

Can you not get a morgage in New Zealand the same as over here and pay it off that way? This is what I intend to do.:)

Or am I underestimating the housing scene in NZ?

[K&CS]

Hi David

Sorry it didn't work out for you. I think the homesickness is a thing which sends a lot of people back home - I can see myself being like that when I get there, because I am a real homebody. Good luck with your plans for the future, whether it's in the UK or back in NZ. As everyone else has said, at least you had the courage to find out what it was like on the other side.

Kate

[David with a dream]

Hi Jewelesvani,
Yeah we could have managed a small mortgage and you are right up here in North Yorkshire property are at best mad just like the uk as as whole. However you see we did not know where to settle and that in its self we the kiss of death.
I think a lot of people (unless they are loaded $$$) with be in for a surprise because some of the houses we looked at for $200 to $300 where not the best. If you can afford a self build plot say $200ish K then look no further at Lockwood homes. You could bag a 'grand designs' type home for $350K + land costs. Sadly on a teaches pay just like the uk grand design homes are a tad out of reach.
Good look with your plans for NZ and if you think I can help in any way do feel free to drop me a mail. All the best.......David

[K&CS]

Hi David

Whereabouts in North Yorkshire are you? Agree, prices are mad here - half the reason why we've not managed to sell our house yet.

Kate

[Avalon]

The only thing I don't understand about all this is, even as a teacher in the UK there is no way on earth I can afford a house here. $200000 won't get you a shed in cambridge (where I teach) £180000 you get a two up two down if your lucky. As far as I can see NZ house prices can "at worst" only be the same as the UK?

If I can't afford one here or there I would rather be over there renting than renting over here. :)

Can you not get a morgage in New Zealand the same as over here and pay it off that way? This is what I intend to do.:)

Or am I underestimating the housing scene in NZ?

Something that its worth bearing in mind: Its not just the cost of the house - its the cost of the MORTGAGE!

Rates in the uk are at about 5.5% (?), rates here are at about 8.5%. That makes having a mortgate here MUCH more expensive. Add in lower wages for many jobs - it can be a problem.

On paper - NZ homes look really cheap - especially from the UK and if you factor in exchange rates - but also bear in mind, the exchange rate is dire right now. at 1:3, homes are much more affordable that at 1:2.5!

As an example:

We sold a UK house for 215K which had a 145K mortgage on it. My parents sold a 200K house with no mortgage on it.

Together we bought a $600k house here (only £240K!!!!) My parents put in about £80k ($200k), we put in about £55k ($130K) and we have a mortgage of $265K (£106K).

The interest on our UK Mortgage (145K) was costing about £630 a month ($1575).

The interest on out NZ mortgage (106K) is costing: £760 a month ($1900)

If you want to play around with mortgage figures - westpac has the best calculators. Its worth a look to see how AFFORDABLE the house you want is.

The only other thing yo may be "missing" is that many NZ houses are indeed Sheds! It can come as a bit of a shock when you get here. Even thgis house - which I love and is very nice - doesnt have heating! And there are exactly 2 poweroints in the kitchen (I assume the previous family ate microwave dinners, as the microvave is quite fancy! - i dont think they cooked much).

Hope that helps a bit - sorry if its completely not what you wanted to know!

[jewelsvani]

Thanks avalon for the post,

Gives me an idea of what to expect. (I appreciate the use of figures allows me to see things more easily) It certainly isn't cheap, so in reality the housing market is about the same as the Uk if not worse!!

At the momment we are paying £650 rent per month so I could probably afford a 300K morgage when I am there, but I realize that gets us a poor standard of house/shed. Are they that bad for 300K?

At least I can afford to buy a house over there, in Cambridge £120000 won't even get you a 1 bedroom flat. So I suppose I would be slightly better off in NZ. Saying that, it is a lot more expensive than I thought, thanks for the heads up. :)

Well I know that teaching isn't payed very well but hopefully my OH job is better paid he's a chemist. We have had very positive feed back from agencies in NZ about the lack of analytical chemists so fingers crossed. :)


Anyway once again your post is Much Appreciated.
jules

[Soon2baKiwi]

Hi David. I haven't much to say that hasn't already been said; you did it and not many people can say that at the end of their days. Before this last time of leaving, I had left and returned to Ireland 3 times - 3 + 3 years in London and 2 years in Holland. No matter what your reasons for returning there will always be people who 'know better' and assume that you returned because it didn't work out for you. Sometimes they just need to realise that people return TO something as opposed to FROM somthing. Good luck to you and I hope you feel better soon.

[Soon2baKiwi]

Hi David. I haven't much to say that hasn't already been said; you did it and not many people can say that at the end of their days. Before this last time of leaving, I had left and returned to Ireland 3 times - 3 + 3 years in London and 2 years in Holland. No matter what your reasons for returning there will always be people who 'know better' and assume that you returned because it didn't work out for you. Sometimes they just need to realise that people return TO something as opposed to FROM somthing. Good luck to you and I hope you feel better soon.

[David with a dream]

I every one it seems I have opened a bit of a can of worms in relation to cost of living in NZ. Any one who is considering emigration go for it because you really do not know until those massive steps are taken if it for you. One bit of advice I would offer is go and have a look first. OK it costs an arm and a leg to have a holiday in NZ but really if I had my time over again that is what I would do. Pin point 2 or 3 areas that you fancy and really look into cost of living, housing, schools for the kids etc etc.
Good luck to all............D