6 months in
Hi All,
Well, tomorrow we will have been Kiwis for 6 months.
The journey from Western Australia to Wellington has been easier for us that many forumites - as Australian Citizens we could get automatic PR so we didn't have all the visa hoops. We did however share shipping dramas, budget blowouts etc. All in all 3 humans, 2 cats and 2 dogs made the journey.
All in all we landed on our feet. My other half did a reccie before we arrived and we bought a house before we left Oz. I hadn't even seen it, which was very trusting I thought. I had a job to go to as a doctor at Wellington Hospital (no relocation package for junior docs unfortunately), and I had some family here to help us settle in. While my other half initially wasn't working, we decided we needed some extra cash and she got a job at the local Bunnings 3 days a week.
Over all it has been a positive move.
Things we love:
The fresh clean air - it has made my son's asthma all but disappear and we love standing on our deck and breathing it in.
Walking - living in Melrose I can walk to the hospital everyday (a 5km) round trip. I get my exercise in for the day and it takes less time than the car commute I had in Perth.
Friendliness - We have really been embraced by NZers and have felt very welcomed
Early childhood education - my 3.5year old's day care is astoundingly good. In Perth daycare was a holding pen for children essentially, here Sam is learning and thriving.
The views - our house looks over the sea. Views like that in Oz would cost over a million $$.
Housing here is cheaper than where we are from, so mortgage pressure is lower (still there, but lessened)
Time - with short commutes and walking more often I get to spend more time with partner and child. As a family we have really become closer.
Diary food - the milk and cream here is gorgeous.
Things I miss
Heat - I miss seeing hazy lines coming off the road in 39 degree heat and feeling a bite from the sun.
Friends - Skype makes it easier
Italian and greek groceries - hard to find and expensive when you do
The smell of eucalyptus trees and the sound of kookaburras
Things I wasn't expecting
Moving costs - I thought I had it all budgeted out, but there were unforseen expenses and it generally cost a fortune
Power/Gas - arriving in winter meant massive power bills that we weren't quite expecting
Grocery costs - a little more than expected, though Oz grocery prices are pretty similar now.
Our initial plans were to move for 4 years (until I finish speciality training) and then see. At this stage, I can see us staying in NZ, though it is still early days.
Corinne
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