How easy or hard is the change from SA to NZ

[Toi]

Hi everyone, 

We are in the process of applying for a job in NZ.  So we are right in the beginning of the road 

Any advice

Regards
Toi

[dievissers]

Hi Toy & Family (?)

To start with  to the family, and  on the road ahead.  Each one of us have a different view and experience, but a couple of things we all agree on, is read as much as you can (on immigration's website and this forum, these's loads of info, and will take some time to go through but well worth it in the end    ) and coming to NZ or any other country I would reckon for that matter, is loosing the "support" system you currently have ie. friends / Family / the known.

In my case our entire move to NZ happened within three months.   My OH started work within a couple of days of arriving, I on the other hand didn't (wanted to wait "to help kids adjust" (as if they needed it....    ))  I really struggled and got so homesick sitting at home even doing things to keep busy, it was real hard for me.  I found that everyone around me that had something to keep busy with (work & school) coped with the transition way better than I did.

But in the end we are truly happy!  We are free!  And we love what NZ has to offer.  You just need to come with an open mind and not expect things to be like in SA, as this is not SA and that's basically it.

Get all your docs you know you'll need asap.  IE unabridged b/certificates, unabridged marriage certificate, passports, get your qualifications assessed etc.  There's a whole lot you can do and get ready even if you don't know when you'll be making the move.  Get doc's translated, get the proof of previous work experiences / timeframes / what you did / etc. 

We're not looking back and loved every minute of our nearly 4 years in NZ.

So my advice..... sit back, get a    and start reading.

Good luck again.  It will be all worth it in the end.
 

[Toi]

Hi dievissers
 Sorry  ons is 4 ek en manlief en 2 seuns 4,5  en 6 jaar oud.

Jong en het ek al gelees , en gelees en gelees, die website is absoluut fantasies 

Did u use a advisor ?  With witch company did you move ? 

I have started getting all the doc's but what an excersize 

Thanks for your welcome !!

Regards
Toi

[Chan in Wellington]

  to the forum...you'll find everything you need here, we sure did!  Long road and I am told all worth it.

[dievissers]

Hi dievissers
 Sorry  ons is 4 ek en manlief en 2 seuns 4,5  en 6 jaar oud.
Did u use a advisor ?  With witch company did you move ? 

    - Nou ja dan was ek reg - welkom aan die hele gesin.

My man se werk was op die "skill shortage list" en het ons vir 'n WTR aansoek gedoen.  Alles self gedoen.  Immigrasie was altyd meer as behulpsaam met enige vrae/onsekerhede wat ons gehad het.  Ons het met my ouers se PR aansoek (nou onlangs) 'n agent gebruik en toe dinge "taai" raak het ons anyway self oplossings en ander maniere gekry, so in my oe is die hele agent ding "over rated" en 'n groot geldmaak issue.  Maar dis my persoonlike opinie natuurlik 

Sterkte en ja dis 'n moeilike proses, maar sterk staan want dis die moeite werd

[Savayla]

    I think the most important thing is to have patience.  Apart from all the reading !!  And no, you can do it by yourself.  By applying for all the documents, you are half way there.  The rest is simply filling in forms, getting your clearances on time (not too early, not too late ) and doing your medicals.  An agent cannot do any of that for you.  He simply fills in the information YOU have given him, and then posts it off.  Please don't pay someone to do that.  Rather hire a teenager who needs the money    to buy an I pad 2. 

Just having done this all, be prepared for a lot of stress, and for playing the waiting game.  Don't be afraid to pick up the phone or email NZIS.  They are fantastic and will do their best to answer your questions.  We still phone them to ask them things relating to jobs, etc.   Don't be shy asking questions here.  We are a friendly bunch who love to help and give support   

And like the Nike ad says JUST DO IT !!!  It will be worth it. 

[Rockhopper]

The change is very difficult and hard on everyone, but the journey is worthwhile...

During your application process, you will find that things happen in spurts - there will be lots of activity in one or two days, then you will sit and wait for three weeks, then again you will have lots to do in a day or two, then there is silence again, and so it goes on.  There will be plenty of times when the silence and non-action will drive you crazy.  Use this time to read up on everything (peruse this forum properly) instead of pulling out your nose hair one by one.

As for adjustment, what to bring, preparing yourself, etc -- it's in this forum somewhere.  This forum IS advice - every topic (except maybe for my incoherent rants) has some good content in it.  Which leaves me with nothing else to say, so I hand over to Baz Luhrmann to give you some very applicable advice re immigration to NZ:
   

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering experience…

I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.  But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself. Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..

Dance

…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

[frodo/maya]

Wow Schalk! what an awesome  quote!


Welcome to the forum Toi,

Agree with the others read and read and loads of patience. Try to cross your t's and dot your i's.

All worth it in the end, we have not looked back one day.

The one thing that I can say is love you loved ones and spend as much time with your family as possible. Tell them you love them every single day and tell them that although you are leaving they should not see it as rejection.

Goodluck with all the emotions, it is scary but very exciting at times 

[Toi]

 :)Thanks everyone for making us feel so welcome.  We have decided to do the whole paperwork thing ourself. After I have done some extensive reading here and on NZ own site,  I am sure it is not that hard.    But first things first,  the CV was emailled today so now it is the waiting to hear if we got the job ,  then all the song and dance will begin.

And to Rockhopper     I absolutely love that quote  so very true 

O yes the emotions    I think the scary thing is that one realise that you are taking steps to leave your country.  And that is WOW and scary all at the same time,  but I suppose you all know that  LOL

[SA3001]

  Toi.  I have found it surprisingly easy to make the adjustment even after living in the same place in SA for 39 years    My teenage son, who had attended the same school and had the same group of friends since he was 5, has also made the adjustment fairly easily.  Our daughter, being only 3 at the time and now 4, remembers and comments on the strangest things, but she is very happy here.  We found Flings chips the other day and she was so excited she clung to the packet until they were finished  The most difficult part for me is missing family and friends, but it helps knowing that my mom will be coming over next year for at least 3 months.  My kids miss their granny very much    One of the decisions we made before we left is that we would save $200 every month to buy an air ticket for my mom every year until she can move here permanently and so far so good     

[Evita]

Best wishes... we have all been through the long drawn out paper work process to get the long white cloud !!! Hang in and may the new chapter enrich you immeasurably !!! Evita   

[Gypsymom]

  Brilliant quote.  My children's primary school motto was "Do it now". I was telling my neighbor who is 87 about taking a trip and she said to me - "Do it, none of us are getting any younger, do it while you still can". 

[Tui]

No regrets at all - a beautiful Country, with terrific people, really, what more could one want! We are loving it here, and the move is as hard as you make it.......baby steps, deep breaths and you will be fine!    and all the best!


x

[Evita]

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