stephen p
25th October 2005, 10:11 PM
Hi to everyone, this is my first post but I really wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who has posted on the forum. I used a lot of the information and advice on here when making plans back in the UK, you guys are all awsome.
So this is a little of my story. By accident I got in contact with an old friend who was already out here working, we both work in Pig Production . At the time myself and Lee, my wife, were desparate to get out of the UK, just completely fed up, bored all the reasons that most people feel for leaving.
So when a vacancy came up , I applied, and through a long drawn-out process, telephone interviews, video interviews, was finnaly offerd a job.
Then all hell broke loose, as it does, it took six months from my application to actually landing in Auckland, never been before , never seen anything, no idea what we were letting ourselves in for.
But I would add , having read a lot of posts on the forum , we have been very, very lucky. My job, Farm Manager is on the Skills Shortage list so this greatly increased my chances , and speeded up my Visa .Once all the paperwork arrived from my new employer i had my work Visa approved and on its way back to me in under 24 hours, how quick is that. My new employers also gave me the following, $4500 nz to pay for relocation, we have a really nice house, for a very small rent, $90 /fortnight, a company vehicle , and a fuel card to go with it .
So here we are , been here since May 2005 , and its been really brilliant . Like everyone , we had our doubts, worries and we do miss people back in the UK, our children are grown up and stayed behind,there were some heartbreaking scenes at the Airport, they will come out when they are ready. We live south of Auckland near Tuakau, ten minutes from Port Wiakato, and Sunset Beach, we went down yesterday and watched the sun go down, and hardly a sole in sight ,what can you say.
To those who are in the middle of the waiting, I feel for you all, but be brave, be clear why you are coming ,and hang in there it is woth it, this country is like nothing I have ever seen before. The pace and way of life is totally different, we have just accepted things as they are and immersed ourselves in the Kiwi way of doing things.
and thanks again to you all, you are alll stars
steve.
So this is a little of my story. By accident I got in contact with an old friend who was already out here working, we both work in Pig Production . At the time myself and Lee, my wife, were desparate to get out of the UK, just completely fed up, bored all the reasons that most people feel for leaving.
So when a vacancy came up , I applied, and through a long drawn-out process, telephone interviews, video interviews, was finnaly offerd a job.
Then all hell broke loose, as it does, it took six months from my application to actually landing in Auckland, never been before , never seen anything, no idea what we were letting ourselves in for.
But I would add , having read a lot of posts on the forum , we have been very, very lucky. My job, Farm Manager is on the Skills Shortage list so this greatly increased my chances , and speeded up my Visa .Once all the paperwork arrived from my new employer i had my work Visa approved and on its way back to me in under 24 hours, how quick is that. My new employers also gave me the following, $4500 nz to pay for relocation, we have a really nice house, for a very small rent, $90 /fortnight, a company vehicle , and a fuel card to go with it .
So here we are , been here since May 2005 , and its been really brilliant . Like everyone , we had our doubts, worries and we do miss people back in the UK, our children are grown up and stayed behind,there were some heartbreaking scenes at the Airport, they will come out when they are ready. We live south of Auckland near Tuakau, ten minutes from Port Wiakato, and Sunset Beach, we went down yesterday and watched the sun go down, and hardly a sole in sight ,what can you say.
To those who are in the middle of the waiting, I feel for you all, but be brave, be clear why you are coming ,and hang in there it is woth it, this country is like nothing I have ever seen before. The pace and way of life is totally different, we have just accepted things as they are and immersed ourselves in the Kiwi way of doing things.
and thanks again to you all, you are alll stars
steve.