Did you make the right decision moving from UK to New Zealand?

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Tahini Raving Weirdo

Let's answer this dialectically:

Yes, because...:

- Bigger houses
- Smaller mortgages
- Far away from where the madness is (good bye, apocalypse, sort of)
- more sunshine
- less precipitation (well, here in the South Island)
- serene place, full of solitude
- barely any YOBs, and even they are restricted to inner cities on Saturday nights
- considerably less crime
- with the exception of the ugly power poles, the towns and suburbs are absolute gems, very easy on the eye (not necessarily the case in much of the UK)

And no, because...:

- Car hooners drive me nuts here; and it's not just the odd Impreza Fiend, but you can pretty much expect everybody to be driving in a manner you'd associate with mass panic in the UK, on perfectly dangerous roads at that (sorry, my Kiwi-friends, but I have to say, driving here is an infuriating experience due to the common driving style; I'll choose queueing on the M25 over a drive through the country in NZ any time); don't believe me? Check the stats, NZ has a road fatality record that makes it as dangerous to drive in as Russia and Hungary. You're thirty times more likely to die in your car here than in the UK.
- Air pollution in suburbs through coal heaters in winter is oppressive, and yes, they do use them
- no IKEA
- shopping and food selection not as good as in UK
- central heating a rarity in homes, bring sweaters, you'll experience a loo at 5 degrees
- no more cheap and easy flights to Europe
- excessively collectivistic work culture can drive you crazy if you want to get things done quick and easy; designing by committee is everywhere here, and despots will be mobbed.

If someone walked up to me tomorrow and said: "Just say so, and you can go back to the UK," I would still say no, thanks - simply because I love the quality of the light, the colours, the fresh air (I live directly by the sea - no coal smog there), the ability to walk to a sandy beach to wallow in the sand with seals and sea lions and penguins, the ability to go to town by boat if I want to, living on my deck with a barbecue, and not having to lock my car or house every time I go to fetch something.
I had my problems with the Kiwis' reluctance to be as outgoing and professionally friendly as the Canadians or the British at first, but I have learned that they are actually friendly people, just not demonstratively so at all times. It also means you can give someone a blank stare some day when you're feeling cheesed off, and it's all right. They'll still talk to you the next day.

zee_prime

Yes. I thought so last time I went back to Britain in 1980, but even more so now. Since then, property in Britain has become even more unaffordable. Back then there were a few places in Britain where somebody on an ordinary income could afford a cottage; places like the north of Scotland and Wales, but now yuppies have bought up all those places as holiday homes. London is now the most expensive place in the world to live in. In the 1960s I used to bike and hitch hike around Western Europe during the school holidays. Britain and Ireland were by far the cheapest places to live, especially for food, but not any more. The only thing I occasionally miss about Britain is proximity to the continent, especially with the Chunnel and access to Eastern Europe. But then I remember that in 1977 my wife and I were working in Scotland, earning far more than the average household income, and even so we couldn't afford a trip to the continent, any more than we can now. And the class system and ethnic hang-ups in Britain are even worse now than back then.

rami #1

made the WRONG decision NOT moving to NZ......

If the chance arises again I won't be turning ti down! The UK stinks more and more each day

Are You Cereal? (Back for more)

Sure, but somehow I woke up in Los Angeles.

polly

In the long run yes i did but it cost me my marriage.Moving away from freinds and family is very hard.Even harder if you cant then find a job and make new freinds.U have to give it time and keep an open mind- these are the things i didnt do!
I now live a at the opposite end of the country to my husband but am glad to be here.Yeah it was TUFF but nz is a beautiful beautifull place but still has the same amount of probs as the uk.The grass realy never is greener!

Tainruadh

Drew bro, I'm not a Brit and we already spoke, but I accidentally deleted your YM. You can send it again if you want. BTW, I've never heard anyone from the UK complain about anything but the boredom, the wages and how long it takes to get anywhere. Its definitely not London but its a great place to bring up kids.
CU

simi

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

what do i miss............... nothing

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