[Voice]

I have just returned home from one of the nicest events I have been to since our arrival in New Zealand (over 6 months ago now - I can't believe it!) and I just need to share it, so I hope that you don't mind.

The event in question was the senior prize giving at my son's high school. Normally this kind of thing is very dull and it helped that said son was being presented with three awards, for coming top of the year in English, Maths and Physical Sciences (which is what they call physics and Chemistry etc) Anyway, the whole event kicked off with a traditional Maori 'Mihi' and a performance by the Kapa Haka group. Now I didn't know this before I got here, and I'm sure those who live in NZ now do, but for others, there are loads of Hakas, not just the old "Ka mate! Ka mate!" one we all know from All Blacks matches, and they are all incredibly powerful to be close to, loud and raw and very very unBritish! I just love them, they are so impressive, as are the kids that perform them. Anyway, it was stunning to watch.

And then came the singing of the New Zealand National anthem, first in Maori and then in English. I'd never sung it before, and as we stood there, in the blazing sunshine (it's been baking here today) with all these wonderful proud voices singing their national anthem, I came over all emotional (just for a moment) and the hairs stood up on the back of my neck and I looked at my little family and I thought "God. We got here. We actually did it!"

The kids have achieved brilliantly, not just in academic terms but socially, adapting to a totally alien way of life and making it their own. I came home today to find my boy and two mates from school desperate to get in the pool (The rule chez Voice is that there has to be an adult at home first!) so they all piled in there for an hour, after which they came and dripped water all over the kitchen floor while they emptied the fridge of all edibles and generally made a huge mess...it was lovely!

Anyway, I'm a happy bunny and a proud Mum tonight, and I really love New Zealand :)

[Charlosparky]

Nice one. We are halfway through our ITA return and going thru the :( fedup/cheer up :) stage and i was just saying to my OH last night that after all this effort i will actually feel proud to be there because its something that has to be made to happen, nice to know that feeling actually exists in real life. Cant wait. You have now got me back on a cheerup vibe! Thanks :nice1

[StevieD]

Funny you should mention the anthem thing. Here's a thought. I was at the England v Northern Ireland under 16 football match last week. My son, Kieran, was a mascot.
When it came to the time to sing the national anthem, guess who were doing the singing? The English? Not a chance. The only ones who did sing the anthem with gusto were the Northern Ireland supporters! (And there was even one sad individual in the crowd waving a New Zealand flag, who shall remain nameless, won't you dear ;) )

Steve

[willsken]

Thanks for the positive post. I really helps to read tings like this, just to keep the good spirits topped up!! :D

We have had our ITA and I have every thing ready to go now, we just have to wait until the end of Nov for our medicals. Once they are OK we will put the house on the market. It feels like tempting fate to do it before!!

I just can't stop saying "I can't wait to go, I can't wait to go" I think most people think I have gone a little stir crazy with all the waiting around :roll

[kiwidollie]

What a fab post! You really hit the spot with that one Voice. I've been feeling very down lately. We've had our Visas in Passports since June, Hubby's job is waiting and we are dying to get over there but the housing market is holidng us up big time. We haven't had any interest for weeks now (house been on the market since April) and I have felt my dreams starting to slip away. However, a call from the Estate Agents yesterday to tell us we have a viewing on Saturday cheered me up no end, and your lovely post has done me a power of good!

I feel all optimistic again now so will you do me a favour and keep your fingers crossed for me on Saturday?

Cheers

Alison

[driver]

Lovely post voice, can't wait to feel the same.

Good luck on Saturday,kiwidollie, we have a viewer that day too, i'll keep everything crossed for you.

[Babette & Andy]

You have the right to be a proud mum Voice!! What brilliant results - made all the pre-move / Pre-PR stress all worth it! Thanks for sharing your upbeat experience. Hope I'll be in a position to write a similar one in years to come.

Alison - ditto - housing market seems to have ground to a halt. Fingers crossed for Saturday.

Babette

[K&CS]

That sounds brilliant, Voice. A really nice positive post.

Alison/Babette - ditto for us too- housing market dead here too and very frustrating it is. Good luck for Saturday - it just takes one....

Kate

[StevieD]

OH yes, great post by the way, had to rush out of the house before I finished, didn't realise the time!

[Voice]

Aww well, I'm glad it cheered some of you up. I know what the roller-coaster that is the emigration process is like, one minute you're up, and the next...you are wondering why you bothered getting involved with it in the first place!

It's just nice to be able to report that there really IS something on the other side of that. It can be a bit of an anti-climax I think, you work so hard to get here and jump through so many hoops, that by the time it happens you are just so knackered out by the whole process that it's hard to enjoy it....at least at first. But little moments like that are sheer joy and really do make it all worthwhile :)

Good luck to all of you currently on the ride :nice1

[kiwidollie]

Thanks for all your good wishes folks.

I'll let you know how we get on - good luck to everyone who is in the same boat at the moment. I'll be sending out lots of positive vibes to you all :o)

[David with a dream]

Hi Voice, fantastic post. Lesley (OH) is a teacher and I have just read out your story to her..................I think she liked it!! Yeah so up lifting makes me want to jump on a plane tomorrow, well after the Rugby on TV has finished!
Good on you.............David