The Down Side?

karltsmith · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 4:05 pm Post subject:

Hi Lisa et al,

Latino chick eh! ...or is that chique?

Romanum Eunte Domum thats what I say!

I live in Torbay and shop in Browns Bay so I've probably run your friend over on a Friday in Foodtown!.

We will pobably end up buying in the East Coast Bays region with a small mortgage. It's expensive yes but when you equate what you get to the UK market you have to compare it to say Bournemouth/Poole area which has some of the most expensive waterfront property in the World!!

So it's important to keep a sense of perspective and draw accurate comparisons when you are trying to justify it all!

I certainly wouldn't go back to a 3 bed semi in Birmingham thats for sure!!!

susanlin · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:21 pm Post subject: things i hate

The TV programmes are DREADFUL!!

Clothes shops are just not like the UK - I have found lots and lots of hideous shapeless clothes in terrible colours! I am missing Next so much!

Boy racers in clapped out cars

no central heating

no Sainsbury's, Argos, M&S or decent furniture shops

no quorn (someone at work told me to try "quorn on the cob" !!!! when I asked if there was any veggie stuff here)

no UK newspapers and gossip mags with all the naff trivia

no Fern and Phil !

karltsmith · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 8:53 pm Post subject:

Hi Susan,

You can get the international Daily Mail at Foodtown (and probably elsewhere) Its quite a good read although about 1-2 weeks old in terms of UK news! I think it's printed in Oz. Nice One

I agree about the clothes stores! I'm a NEXT fan aswell but I don't buy my knickers at M&S!!!! Embarassed

Quorn yep

! I miss that too....I'm not a veggie but in the UK I only ate Organic/free range and no beef for about 10 years (you guessed it BSE).

I often used quorn because it was just so yummy!!!! I haven't found a kiwi alternative so if either of us please post it I'd love to know about it!

Quorn Sausages eh..........yum!!!! Razz

sesame · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 4:51 am Post subject:

what is quorn?

oh, and Karl - how does your signature maori saying translate?

markkellaway · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 6:06 am Post subject:

Hi All,

This is a really interesting thread. I think you can agree with all the opinions here, it's a matter of perspective. Yes some things are relatively expensive compared to salary, but other things are not. If we are lucky enough to get the elusive job offer we are looking at buying a house near Christchurch for about $350k, we'll have a small mortgage of about $130k just so we can keep some money in the bank but that is about a third of our mortgage here in Poole. If you buy fresh food it is much cheaper, canned food etc. is not ( so be healthy! Nice One

).

I'm not sure I agree about the furniture thing either, we visited friends in Blenheim while we were over and went to a few furniture shops. Saw some lovely REAL WOOD tables and chairs, 6 chairs plus table for around $1200 if my memory serves me correctly, and I'm talking real quality, where could you get that in the UK? Customer service is still alive and well in New Zealand too, people in shops actually TALK to you!
For clothes there may not be Next but many clothes shops have some pretty good stuff and, once again, the quality is good (not a fashion guru though!)

All in all, as I've seen in this thread I think and elsewhere on the forum, you have to look at the whole picture, the move should not be just about finances (although if you go over to a reasonable job and have a huge mortgage in the UK, which seems to be the norm, you may, as we will (assuming I get the job offer!), be better off).
Walking around and feeling safe, being able to eat out at reasonable prices, breathing fresh air and living near mountains AND the sea, having your kids involved in sports and other outdoor activities, the kids being at schools where they aren't afraid of litigation so much that camping trips etc. still happen, these are all things that we think make the move worthwhile.

Just my 2 penneth worth, I've probably rattled on enough already. Will there be a downside, yes but nothing comes free in this life or we wouldn't be thinking about the move anyway. The biggest risk is, I think, homesickness as is being experienced by Susan, none of us knows how bad that will be until we try and it is entirely subjective, everything else can be worked out and rationalised.

Good luck to everyone and do take the "risk", life is too short, you've got to grab it with both hands while you can.

Mark.

sesame · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 8:20 am Post subject:

Hi, Mark,

it is a matter of perspective and finding that balance ... which is different for everyone. we, for one, have a wonderful life here in new mexico - my husband has a great IT job that he LOVES, the weather is good, our friends dear, the land gorgeous (ever seen a western movie?), ....
........
flipside: the press has recently announced a "summer of terror" nationwide; crime is high in this town (a murder a week), fear is rampant in this country, it is the foundation of this society, and the intention is to keep it that way - that's apparent....

the quality of life we can offer our son in nz is unmatched (unmatchable) in our opininon - and he'll be utterly happy wherever we end up - ...my husband builds with cob - so down the road that's our plan ..... meantime we rent and budget and cherish the fact that we had/have this opportunity.

we are all so fortunate and having money in the bank is only one small part of the picture - but a HUGE bonus if kept in perspective.... i for one find it amazing how much value - like here in this country - is placed on how many doors your garage has or how many square feet the house - my mother in law lives in a 5000 sf2 mansion and is miserable.

we happen to practice voluntary simplicity. it suits us and allows us to focus on what we need to focus on.

like you said - now is the time to do it - and if your path has heart, isn't that all the better?

sesame~

susanlin · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 12:21 pm Post subject: things aren't too bad!

Hi Mark, Sesame and Karl

Thanks for your replies! I enjoyed reading them! My gripes are only minor compared to what NZ has to offer! You are absolutely right - it is a matter of perspective. I guess I am just on a bit of a downer at the moment - homesickness REALLY bad! Saying that though, I have just moved into a lovely house, bought for a fraction of what it would have cost in UK, I enjoy my job, the kids are happy, hubby won't stop smiling (he is not homesick one bit!) so have nothing to complain about really.

I have met some lovely people - kiwis are so friendly and welcoming - I have been so grateful for their kindness as I have struggled to settle in.

It is really good to read all your posts - it reminds me of how I felt before I got here, so full of excitement and optimism. NZ hasn't let me down - it is truly a wonderful place - I just need to overcome my strong feelings of homesickness before I can really say I am happy here.

Sue

I am on the look out for quorn - quorn sausages are YUMMY Karl - I won't eat anything else! Looks like I will be on salad at all the b-b-q's this year!

karltsmith · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:36 pm Post subject:

Hi Sesame,

I knew someone would ask eventually! You get the prize! It's a verse from PoKareKareAna a famous moari love song transcribed for you below in full.

My bit goes like this

Tuhituhi raku reta..............I have written my letter
tuku atu taku ringi,............I have sent my ring,
Kia kite to iwi....................so that your people can see
raru raru ana e..................(that I am) troubled.

PoKareKareAna

Maori..................English translation
Pokarekareana...................They are agitated
nga wai o Waiapu,...............the waters of Waiapu,
Whiti atu koe hine...............cross over girl
marino ana e......................‘tis calm.

(Chorus)

E hine e.......................Oh girl
hoki mai ra..................return (to me),
Ka mate ahau i.............I could die
te aroha e....................of love (for you).

Tuhituhi raku reta.........I have written my letter
tuku atu taku ringi,.......I have sent my ring,
Kia kite to iwi...............so that your people can see
raru raru ana e............(that I am) troubled.

(Repeat chorus)

E kore te aroha............(My) love will never
e maroke i te ra,..........be dried by the sun,
Makuku tonu i..............It will be forever moistened
aku roimata e..............by my tears.

(Repeat chorus)

Whati whati taku pene...My pen is broken,
ka pau aku pepa,..........I have no more paper
Ko taku aroha...............(But) my love
mau tonu ana e.............is still steadfast.

(Repeat chorus)

A lovelly tune!

Enjoy it when you get here!

Karl Nice One

markkellaway · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:40 pm Post subject:

It is really good to hear that you are settling in Sue, with a job and new friends I'm sure the homesickness will soon become easier to handle.

Sesame mentions something else that really isn't talked about on the forum but that does have a real impact on my choice of destination, politics. The way things are in the UK and US these days does make the future look bleak there, NZ somehow feels far seperated from that. Is this an incorrect perspective on my part?

I have a colleague who lives in Boulder, Colorado. He thinks I should go there and he is right, it is a beautiful place with plenty of opportunity but you can't escape the US politics, strange gun laws etc. Are there any "equivalent" issues in NZ or are the "down sides" really so superficial?

Mark.

sesame · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 4:41 pm Post subject:

Hi, Karl,

thank you .... thank you ..... i am touched ..... (tears)
today is father's day here in america - and i thought of you and your little girls when i found this lullaby ...

Shy

HINE E HINE

Princess Te Rangi Pai 1905
A lullaby

E tangi ana koe
Hine e hine
E ngenge ana koe
Hine e hine

Kati tö pouri rä
Noho i te aroha
Te ngäkau o te Matua
Hine e hine

You are weeping
(Little) girl, (little) girl
you are weary
(Little) girl, (little) girl

Be sad no longer
There is love for you
in the heart of the Father
(Little) girl, (little) girl.

http://folksong.org.nz/hine/index.html
(... for the sheet music)

http://folksong.org.nz/tihore/index.html
(this is such a sweet children's song)

sesame~

karltsmith · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Sesame,

I am truly touched ........this is also one of my favourite maori songs and I know it well. It was recently released on the PURE album sung by Hayley Westenra!

Karl Wink

Moorf · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 2:15 am Post subject:

Wow - what beautiful songs. Goosebumps... Yes

One of the things I am keen to do once in NZ is to learn all about the Maori (have already started!) and to get involved in something representing their culture / history.

I am a great lover of archaeology but am a little disappointed that Otago seems the only area that offers archaeology courses etc in the Christchurch area Hmmm

Anyone out there know of any Christchurch-based courses / projects that I could look into?

karltsmith · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:10 am Post subject:

Hi Sesame,

I forgot to mention what Quorn is! It's a vegitarian meat supplement madse from mycoprotein and once tasted you may want to reconsider the meat diet....it,s yummy and has a texture very similar to meat depending on how it's processed. The suasages are terrific and are very easy to digest! No fat no cholesterol ....what more can I say Nice One

Karl

sesame · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:22 am Post subject:

Made from mycoprotein, Quorn™ foods are a healthful, wholesome choice for everyone. Mycoprotein is derived from Fusarium venenatum, from the fungi family, as are truffles, morel and other mushrooms, originally discovered growing in a field in Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom. In the late 1960s, initial research and development of mycoprotein began, recognizing its potential as an efficient and effective protein source.

Interesting, Karl - thank you!

when i first read mycoprotein, i shuddered just a tad (remember i'm an organic 'farmer' Wink

) - but then i realized that the whole maufacturing process is closely related to the fermentation of beer, wine and yogurt ...

i ferment foods all the time - love to make cultured veggies (like sauerkraut and kimchi) - i'm careful about using mushrooms though - leave those to the experts! (even in harvesting...)

cheers,

sesame~

sesame · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:27 am Post subject:

http://www.maori.org.nz

maybe this will help, Moorf? (but you've probably already looked there .....)