Hi there
Have been so busy these past few weeks, that I have not had time to post my "Here a Year" post!! We were a year here on Monday!
I am writing a blog for people back home so thought I would copy in here my thoughts for people who are looking to make the move.
A bit of background: I am married to a kiwi with two young kids (5.5 and 2.5!)
We moved to KeriKeri up in the Bay of Islands, Northland 3rd October last year. We moved from the suburbs of Dublin, Ireland.
Reason: Hubbie was sick of the Irish weather (he had been there for 10 years and many a bad summer) and wanted to come home. I had no problem with the move as always loved it here and wanted a good, easy-going, outdoor life for my kids.
We are lucky in a sense in that his sister, with small kids too, lives in the same town and has been instrumental in our settling in and meeting new people. Hubbies parents only live 2 hours away too which is a "good" distance in all ways!!! Ah no, they have been wonderful and helpful since we have moved.
I have to say we are settled in so well, loving it here, and the other day, as I was driving along, I thought; if someone said I had to go back to Ireland to live there now, I think I would find it very difficult. If the years to come are half as good as the past we will be doing well!
So here goes as to what I am liking, what I am getting used to and what I miss! I know a lot of it also has to do with moving from the suburbs of a capital city to a small country town!
Likes:
- The warmth (winter wasn't too bad - we only really had 2 very cold weeks)
- The friendly and accomodating nature of everyone
- The relaxed feeling about the place
- No traffic jams (if there is one - you know something serious has happened)
- Rush hour meaning all of 10 cars on the road instead of 5!
- Honesty boxes outside people's houses for their fresh fruit and veg
- Living just that perfect distance from the tourist mecca where I can cash in on them but also being able to enjoy the beauty and not being that far from the epicentre of it!
- Free medical care for under 6's
- Fresh veggies from the garden - esp our yummy corn on the cob and peas in a pod... the cucumber was tasty too (looking forward to planting again this season and have learnt what worked and didn't work etc)
- The fact that all fruit and veg tastes like it should - honestly you really notice the difference when you leave Ireland/Europe. A carrot tastes like a carrot, an orange tastes like an orange etc etc..
- Hanging clothes out to dry and they are ready within the hour (well not on v. humid days but other than that it rocks!) And even in Winter on a sunny day!
Still getting used to:
- The tax system (had only just got my head around the Irish one - so maybe, by the time I want to retire, I will have figured out the system here!!) (Had to get my head around it pretty quickly for tax returns in April, but still miss some of the things we could claim back on in Ireland such as medical expenses, non-routine dental work, rubbish collection etc - oh well we aren't taxed as high here at the moment so can't really complain!)
- The humidity that Northland can have - totally different to just plain high temperatures!
- Shops closing about 3:30/4 pm on a Sat and not opening again till Monday (Still sometimes get stung on that one but have got a lot more used to it!)
- Walking through town on a Sunday and being the only person there (Ok so I avoid town on a Sunday now!)
- Lack of convenience stores like the Spars and Centras back home that are open early till late (however, the petrol stations have come into their own on one or two occasions recently and have stocked things I thought they wouldn't have - I am adapting to non-convenience and trying to be more prepared or "do without".)
- Having only certain fruit and veg available "in season" - mainly this applies to fruit. Having to watch not being ripped off with them..
- Not having the many parks to go to with the kids as I had become accustomed too. (I got a mountain buggy for the off road tracks here to beauty spots) This is definately something I miss - sometimes, I just want a stroll in the park with the kids..
- Not being able to claim back (expensive) dental work on tax!
- The silly give way rule to cars coming from the right while driving. Although this is changing next March - just as I get to used to it - I predict carnage on the road..
- Taking shoes off at everyones house. I always have to remember either to have the toes painted or matching socks with no holes!!
- Saying awesome all the time. Its the new "grand"!!!
- Its ok to phone someone at 7am - but not after 9pm! Took a while to get used to the 7am phone calls!!
What I miss:
- Missing not being able to just pop into Mum and Dad or my sister whenever... but Skype has helped ALOT.
- Proximity to Europe, easy access to several countries, cultures and low fare airlines. It kills me to have to shell out so much for an internal flight here, let alone for one "across the ditch to OZ". I know we all complain about Ryanair, but what O'Leary did to travel in Europe is HUGE!
- Decent Chocolate! and Decent size packet of crisps.. They are either tiny or oversize here!
And thanks to this forum for all the help over the past year and half! Here is to many more!