[MikeandCez]

Hello everyone,
we've been viewing this forum for some time and have found it really useful. Just received our ITA on Friday and that has put everything into perspective!! Lots of heart searching is now being done-do we or don't we? Neither of us have job offers over in NZ and we have 2 children aged 6 and 9 to consider. However, we spent 5 weeks over there last year and fell in love with the place, the culture etc etc. We know we will go for it but I hope you all understand that from time to time the jitters appear.
The other thing is where to move to. We don't want to settle in one place only to find that job offers then force us to uproots and move again-kids schooling to think about. We're not looking for answers just thought we'd get it off our chests!!!! :P

[sarahw]

Firstly, Congrats! :cool

Secondly, its good to get things like this off your chest and share with other people going through the same thing. We are lucky, my partner's sister is emigrating at Xmas to Australia so we have someone close to home who can relate to what we're going through - although this forum is great!

Although we don't have kids to relocate I can relate to how you feel - its tough leaving everyone behind.

We're not going until January, but I've already started bursting into tears when I know I won't see someone before we go, or for no reason at all - just that I'm going to miss things.

We've taken our decision to go and I guess if we don't do it now whilst we have the opportunity we don't want to be in a situation in 5, 10 or 20 years time where we are kicking ourselves for not taking it...

Good luck, I'm sure everything will work out well for you :hopeso

[veronica]

Hi mike and cez, Its hard choosing where you want to live with only limited experience of a country. All you can do is read and research and after all that be prepared to admit it if its not right.
(We don't want to settle in one place only to find that job offers then force us to uproots and move again-kids schooling to think about.)
In my opinion kids tend to be quite happy as long as they are in a secure environment, ie with loving parents, moving isn't really an issue for them. It may be for you. With regards schooling, at the age they are its not that important, what they learn as they make the 'moves' more than compensates against 'book learning.'

[xanctus]

Mike and Cez, congrats on the ITA...
You said, that you guys do not have a job offer. May I ask, when did you get selected? I wonder if maybe we all have similar/close time frame.

again, thx for sharing the info and excitement :nice1 :cheers

[AliJax]

Lots to feel good about Mike and Cez. Well Done on your ITA :nice1 your more than Half way to getting there.

I agree with Veronica about the kids being in a secure environment - and you can see NZ through fresh eyes (kids have such a different way of looking at things).

Our ITA came through last Friday and we are well on our way, I'm glad because we initially had out EoI rejected and its been a stop and go to get where we are now.

I'm sure you've both looked at possible opportunities in your fields of expertice and don't forget employers in NZ may not have the experiences that you take with you. I dont have a job offer but in my field I know that NZ employers will look at my CV and see I've had tons of experience (maybe a little cocky there).

One of the hardest times for us was to choose when to push on, choosing that date to have a fairwell party, start to de clutter yourself, buying the Airfare tickets, selling the house - it goes on ride it out teamwork (I know I dont do enough of it).

But people here in this forum will always give you a little push if your feelin in the dumps.

Look at a map - thats what we've done, and found the area with the strange name, or best amenities etc.


do it...or you'll never know

[Lil]

Hi Mike and Cez - Congratulations!

Could you share with us your selection dates, points and what line of work you are in. As you have no job offers like ourselves and lots of others are trying to get their heads around the time line.

We went to the NZIS seminar today at Earls Court and were told that we had a 3 to 12 month wait ahead of us. They are just so non-comittal, there's a vast difference between 3 and 12 months and they obviously just have no idea how long it will take. Could it be that your jobs are on the POL or OSL? We were told that these would be processed first and us the "great unwashed" (NZIS words) will be left at the bottom of the pile unless we get a job in the meantime.

[jesselyn]

hi mike and cez,

welcome to the forum :smile
congratulations!!! :clap

jes :angel

[MikeandCez]

Firstly can I say a big thankyou for those of you who have replied as ever very helpful :clap
I'll try and reply to all the points raised:

SarahW thanks for being so understanding. I do have a sister in Auckland so I will know people out there. I agree the oportunity has presented itself and we, like you, would only regret it if we didn't grasp it.

Veronica again thanks it's nice to take stock and realise that kids do cope so much better than those of us who are supposed to be more mature :wah

Xanctus and Lil: We were selected from the pool on 4.08.04 with 115 points. Both my wife and I have degrees which managed to get us to 115 without job offers. I'm a fire officer here and my wife is a college lecturer so I'm not sure whether Cez's qualifications have had a bearing. However it did take what seemed like an eternity from being selected to getting an ITA. Just before receiving the ITA I got an e-mail from NZIS asking how my degree related to my job and whether it had helped me progress which I responded to and received the ITA the next day-hope this helps!!

AliJax- Many thanks for the reality check. I really like your idea of looking at the map and finding an area with a strange name-sound advice. Where are you heading to?

Jesselyn-thanks

If I can answer any more questions I'll try and I'll certainly keep you all informed of progress. We're sitting down this evening to discuss all the possibilities before finally deciding although I really think the decision has already been made. Just need to bottom out pensions etc especially since I work for the public sector.

To all of you thanks again for the advice and encouragement :P :P :P

Cheers Mike :cheers

[jesselyn]

yvw...