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Thread: Two years in...

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    Default Two years in...

    Can you believe it? We've lived in New Zealand for two years already!

    I'm really very happy here. I have found great friends, have settled in nicely, and even started up doing a new hobby (Roller Derby of all things).

    I'll try to do a more in depth post within a few days, I'm suffering from a bit of brain freeze right now.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    The Beautiful South
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    Thumbs up Good On Yer, Matie!

    Awesome!

    Hearty cheers for many more good years to come!

  3. #3
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    Sep 2008
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    Great Post and fantastic photos.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    haha I was on total brain freeze! I forgot to mention the pics. These have all been taken within the past couple of weeks. The first is rainbow falls near Kerikeri, the second is Tongariro (I think?) and the third is some ferns near rainbow falls.



    Top 5 things I like about NZ:
    People are generally genuinely friendly
    beautiful/diverse scenery
    fresh foods
    easy to get away from people
    more relaxed pace

    Worst 5 things about NZ:
    Cost of just about everything
    Not being able to go out to eat at 2am (besides McDonalds- ick!)
    no insulation
    windy, windy roads (bad for me because I'm easily motion sick- but they're fun to drive!)
    lower pay rates than other countries
    Last edited by dilanium; 6th July 2010 at 10:47 PM.

  5. #5
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  6. #6
    Manks's Avatar
    Manks is offline Serial procrastinator and general busybody
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    Aug 2009
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    Glad you're still enjoying it May these feelings continue for a very long time

  7. #7
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    Mar 2009
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    Asheville, NC
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    Two years! That's great!

    It's good to hear about the good and the not-so-good. Did you adjust to the not-so-good, or is it still difficult?

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by magcats View Post
    Did you adjust to the not-so-good, or is it still difficult?
    Cost of just about everything
    I did adjust to this. I also learned where to go to get things for less, and changed a lot of my priorities (ie- I don't NEED those really expensive blueberries)

    Not being able to go out to eat at 2am (besides McDonalds- ick!)
    Most of the time this isn't a problem, it's just those rare occasions that I'm up studying or drinking that I REALLY want to have a place similar to Denny's. I tend to keep frozen junk food in the freezer for this sort of occasion.

    no insulation
    I've kinda adjusted to this- heating one room, towels under the doors, long curtains. But it's still really cold sometimes!

    windy, windy roads (bad for me because I'm easily motion sick- but they're fun to drive!)
    I'm better than I was when I first arrived, but there's not much I can really do about my motion sickness except take pills. (Or eat ginger, but I can only stand so much ginger).

    lower pay rates than other countries

    I haven't really had much direct contact with this yet. I work part time for extra money so it's not really affecting me yet. The kicker is when I graduate. There is pretty much no way I will be able to stay in NZ and pay off my student loans with what young vets make here. I have to leave. I suppose this is due not only to the lower pay rates, but also to my international student fees (but it would be about the same total in the end if I had gone to my in state school (Ohio State)). So I pretty much have to leave NZ to get out of debt. I am planning on coming back eventually though.

  9. #9
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    you came just before us by 6 minths I remember

  10. #10
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    Wellington, NZ from US
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    Thanks for sharing all your thoughts and experiences, very good info!

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