3 Months in

Helen · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

Hi Wendy,

I have just been learning what a wonderful climate Napier has. I am just a tiny bit envious of you. I do hope you will continue to post your thoughts on this forum when you arrive so we can all share in your discoveries.

martwend · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 11:56 pm Post subject:

Hi H. Bowen,

Do you have a first name we can use?

I will try to post thoughts, impressions etc. once we get to Napier but it may be a while before we get a computer up and running again and connected to the internet.

I can use the net and do basic computer stuff but I am not sure that thois computer will work in NZ so we are selling it along with everything else and buying new when we arrive. A computer might be quite far down on the priority list!

Something that occurs to me as I read all the postings is that the decision to move to NZ is more to do with the mental leap to do it rather than all the practicalities. We spent a good six months weighing up all the pros and cons in moving but the main deciding factor for us was that if we didn't go for it we would look back, in the future, and regret it. I don't want to end up as one of the 'if onlys....' and when we make it to NZ I definitely don't want to be a 'when we....' Yes

Wendy

Helen · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

Thank you Wendy.

Helen's my first name. I actually wish I had just used Helen on its own as my log in. Never mind. Hmmm

andy · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 7:33 am Post subject:

Computers will work fine here. Infact better, because they dont have a £ on the keyboard here and thats a pain when you are emailing the uk!

ENZ · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 8:30 am Post subject:

Helen · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

JCM · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2003 9:26 pm Post subject:

martwend · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 4:49 am Post subject:

Hi

Re Computers

I don't have a laptop so would it be better to buy one and take it with me or are they cheaper in NZ?

Wendy Razz

andy · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 9:46 pm Post subject:

Not much cheaper, depends what you want and what you have and what you sell it for!

gordster · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 23 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

ISP's are cheaper in NZ too! NZD 20/month for 250 hr of dial up. They don't cut you off after 2 hrs either, plus you can use the same dial up number at different locations, not like the UK where it is linked to one number.

however, Broadband is much more expensive, basically as NZ telecom have a bit of a monopoly going! Similar to the position BT occupies in the UK

justbishop · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 4:44 pm Post subject:

What about internet service through the cable company? We have that here in the US, and it is SOOOOOOO much faster than dial up, plus you are connected all the time for about the same price

I don't mean to sound like a dumba$$, but I'm really just beginning my discovery of NZ!

dan-ish · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 11:28 pm Post subject: Query

Hey John and Andy,

First of all, I am very, very jealous, but congratulations on making the move Clapping

I was just wondering how you are coping with regards to family? Are you missing them a lot? Stupid question, I know Embarassed

How often do you contact them? And how? Do they plan to go to NZ or vice versa anytime soon? Do they complain about you not being 'home' anymore or are they supportive?

Just wondering

Dan-ish

andy · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 9:50 pm Post subject:

Hi Dan-ish

I am pleased to say that my parents were given residence last week under family catagory. They will be arriving in a few weeks. Razz

My inlaws miss us, expecially the kids. We have a video meeting online with them every week and they call at least once too. They have a holiday planned here later this year. We are looking forward to them going home and telling everybody that 'they get it now'. Clapping

We miss our friends heaps too. Its just one of the few downsides to living on the other side of the world. You get used to it and soon realise that life back home goes on and everybody is still doing the same thing day in and day out but you have made the break and most of them envy you.
A computer with a mic and a web cam makes the world a very small place, you should nag everyone to get one before you leave!

karltsmith · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Andy

We are trying to get web cams set up for our mothers but we have no experience of using them for web chats...what is the picture quality like and is broadband essential?? Any recommendations you caould make would be gratefully received!!

Karl

andy · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:08 pm Post subject:

Hi Karl
We used MSN messenger to do the link ups but have just changed to yahoo messenger. The link is sometimes choppy depending on the connection quality. The picture and sound quality would be far better with broadband but I have not been tempted enough yet. Best thing is to set them up before you leave and run through the linking process several times.
I have been using a web cam for about 4 years, as I had family here in NZ before I got here. It is not easy to conduct a good conversation on them but its just the seing thing. Its not so bad not seeing them because you can picture them in their house, but you however are in a strange place and they have no mental picture. Seems to make a difference.
We also have a digital camera and we email the family pictures taken the same day, with no worries about making copys and postage.