[Mildred]

I know there have been loads of posts about saying goodbyes etc, and what happens when you get into NZ but whilst on board the plane how did you feel? Were you scared, excited? Did you want to turn back half way into the journey? Did you keep looking out of the window taking in your last glimpse possibly of the UK?

Incidentally when I went to Oz many many years ago they came round and sprayed everyone before they were allowed off the plane. Does this still happen?

[Marie P]

Frances it was 6 weeks today since I got on the plane .

The only wobble I had was way into the first flight,as you have your own little screen to watch movies on ,they have a map which shows where you are ,so I could see how far we had flown and how far we had to go .My thoughts were "oh my god ,what am I doing here ,What am I doing with my kids ,I have left everything and everyone I know ."

But then I was fine again ,really excited and looking forward to new and different experiences.

Marie [Who is loving her new life :raebanana ]

[wanderingoregonian]

Can't answer the first bit, but on the spray question. I have not been sprayed any of the times I've visited NZ. Doesn't sound pleasent.

On the flip side, once I flew into NZ and the airline had tons of fresh fruit left over from the dinner service and we all got to gorge ourselves on it before departure - as they'd have to dispose all of it. Messy but WONDERFUL.

[Carol]

I remember very clearly - even 9 years on - a steward on the Air NZ flight saying to us - "You are doing exactly what my parents did for my brother and me 20 years ago - and I still thank them to this day for taking us to such a wonderful place to grow up".


Any doubts about why, where, what, who or how just disappeared at that point.

They DID come back later!! But I often think about that guy and the effect his words had on me at that moment.

[Wiggy]

With regards to spraying - it depends what country you stop at on route to NZ. I've made the flight many times from the UK thorugh LA, Tokyo, Seoul etc and was never sprayed. However, my last trip with Royal Brunei (stopping at Brunei) meant that we were sprayed - not a nice experience!

[Kim39]

Jeeze, i had plenty of thoughts running through my head from the moment i handed in my house keys to the estate agent, to touching down at Auckland. I think you wouldn't be human otherwise. You are just ditching all the comfort zones and security you have built up over the years.

The hardest part for me was watching Elaine say goodbye to her brother at the airport as he took us up with one of our friends. They talk about capturing moments, but how do you capture emotions? I have had a few jolts since we arrived and have asked the girls and Elaine about returning, but this was due to my sisters passing. Immediately they said " your going back on your own" Well i think that says it all really.

Kim

[Kim39]

Oh and as for spraying.......if it was champagne for our arrival;) then it wouldn't have been a problem, but for spraying me for something else, i don't think so. So no spraying on me.

Kim

[Smiler]

We were sprayed on arrival in Dubai in feb, it made me wheeze.

I started crying as soon as I saw the Heathrow sign and sat clutching my boys hand all the rest of the way. I carried on at the airport, on the plane til half way to LA when I was too exhausted to cry any more. 10 rounds with Bruno would have been better.

I looked out over Slough and felt no reason to stay or that it would be my last glimpse, I was just broken hearted at leaving my son ( and parents etc).

But I didn't feel that the plane was taking me away rather that we were starting our new life together. On board the map thingy was flashing and when my eyes stopped leaking I watched with interest and then got really excited. We made some plans on the plane and thought about this new time coming.

When we left LA we were both like 5 year olds, excited, fidgety, are we there yet? The weepy stuff had stopped and we heard those magic words at Auckland 'Welcome to NZ' and then we just hugged and kissed because we had made it. :raebanana :raebanana

Like Kim says it's our comfort zones that we are out of. But it didn't take us long to find new ones, did it?

Deborah

[Moorf]

The hardest part for us was standing outside my flat after giving keys to rental agency and realising that, for the first time in adult life we had NO KEYS TO ANYTHING.... not even our suitcases as they were combination locks.. weird feeling!

My personal take is that adventures start with the journey, not with the arrival, and I was excited from the get-go. No tears, just big grins :D and I've barely stopped since leaving Heathrow !!!

[Mildred]

I remember very clearly - even 9 years on - a steward on the Air NZ flight saying to us - "You are doing exactly what my parents did for my brother and me 20 years ago - and I still thank them to this day for taking us to such a wonderful place to grow up".

Thanks for all your replies. Particularly loved Carol's quote

[K&CS]

Really interesting thread, this. I can only imagine how I'll be feeling when it's us in 6/7 weeks time. I even managed a cry when I was half way there last time on a visit, so God only knows how I'll be when we're going for good (think that was caused by lack of sleep though and by dd1 waking me when I'd finally fallen asleep for the first time in 15 hours to tell me that she couldn't sleep!! - kids, dontcha just love them?. All I wanted was to be back in my own bed at home at that moment!).

I think you're dead right about comfort zone. That's what's the most scary - to be leaving that and going into the unknown, even if what that holds is really good.

Kate

[Debbie]

Carol,
Great story about the steward, you can't put a value on an experience like that. A few kind words sincerley said can be more powerfull than anything. Those kind words at the right time have obviously ment so much to you and have given inspiration to me and others on the forum.
I am dreading the flight over already and we haven't even sold the house. It's the thought of having to remain calm enough so that the kids don't get upset by me being upset.
We will cross that bridge when we get there.
Debbie

[veronica]

Wouldn't be human if you didn't have the odd considering moment on the flight. I know that I thought "well we've done it now. onward and forward" Its mainly exciting though.

[jubjub]

I'm with Moorf, the key thing was well weird, handed over my last set of keys about three days before i flew, and felt like I had lost something for a few days, also handed dog to GA at that time too, so kept looking for him as well.

Journey over was maybe a bit different to others in that my hubby was already here, so that was the focus on the journey, not that fact I was leaving my old life, but going to see him again after 6 wks.

[woo]

I know Im gonna cry!!!
However im so excited about our new life.
Hubby has a second interview in the next few days!
Hoping to be over there in the summer!
Better tell the kids soon huh!
How did you tell your kids?
How did they react?
I dont know how they are going to take the news.
Bit worried .