Nicola
30th October 2005, 06:53 AM
Just thought that I would update you all on how our move to Hawks Bay is going. Everything has been really great so far. I love Havelock North and the area around it. We went out for lunch on thursday to the Black Barn, sitting in the 22 degree heat in the middle of a vinyard looking out over hawks bay, eating the best food I have had in ages, drinking the local version of champagne, it felt very close to perfection.
Obviously not everything is brilliant, I miss the familiarity of the UK, I miss my friends and family and the ease of understanding everything. Here I do not always understand jokes or even the accent sometimes! There is that whole thing of shared jokes about the past in New Zealand that I just do not get. My middle son is now down to asking if he can go home twice a day instead of 20 times a day. Even though he likes the school and he has made tons of friends already.
What I really like is the service in shops, nothing is too much trouble. Staff are friendly, talkative and helpful. I have not been sneered at once. Even the teenagers on checkouts can hold a decent conversation, not like the grunts you receive in the UK, and they smile. Both kids say that at school it is the same the other kids are really friendly.
I also quite like the schools. I have been helping out in my 5 year olds class one morning a week. I am really impressed with the way they teach over here and their attitudes. They take the time to encourage the kids to get up and talk, what they have to say is listened to and appreciated no matter how small. Maybe this is just the school that Callum goes to, but I think that he is settling in really well.
We are still in a lovely rental house, but are about to put in an offer for a house in the coming week, I hope it will be accepted.
I do not have time to log in very often but will keep you all updated again when we reach another milestone. Maybe the 6 month mark.
Cheers Nicola
Obviously not everything is brilliant, I miss the familiarity of the UK, I miss my friends and family and the ease of understanding everything. Here I do not always understand jokes or even the accent sometimes! There is that whole thing of shared jokes about the past in New Zealand that I just do not get. My middle son is now down to asking if he can go home twice a day instead of 20 times a day. Even though he likes the school and he has made tons of friends already.
What I really like is the service in shops, nothing is too much trouble. Staff are friendly, talkative and helpful. I have not been sneered at once. Even the teenagers on checkouts can hold a decent conversation, not like the grunts you receive in the UK, and they smile. Both kids say that at school it is the same the other kids are really friendly.
I also quite like the schools. I have been helping out in my 5 year olds class one morning a week. I am really impressed with the way they teach over here and their attitudes. They take the time to encourage the kids to get up and talk, what they have to say is listened to and appreciated no matter how small. Maybe this is just the school that Callum goes to, but I think that he is settling in really well.
We are still in a lovely rental house, but are about to put in an offer for a house in the coming week, I hope it will be accepted.
I do not have time to log in very often but will keep you all updated again when we reach another milestone. Maybe the 6 month mark.
Cheers Nicola