|
Fifty years ago emigration to New Zealand would have been a fearful and pioneering move. It would have involved weeks on a boat travelling around the world then arriving in a country you knew very little about. In many ways you would be forfeiting any contact with family other than by mail which would take weeks to arrive. In most cases you would be permanently abandoning your previous life, as visits home would be beyond the means of most.
Today emigration is quite different. New Zealand is a day's flight away with a range of airlines to choose from offering frequent schedules and discount prices. Books, magazines, the internet and television provide us with a wealth of information about the country. This enables us to carry out as much research as we like prior to making the decision to emigrate, even to the extent of looking at potential houses, cars and even jobs while still sitting in the comfort of our own home.
Technological developments with email, webcams and reduced phone costs also mean that you can speak to family and friends as often as you would when you were at home. There is no longer the need to feel isolated as the world rapidly becomes a smaller place. All these developments, combined with the natural beauty, wealth of opportunities and laid back lifestyle have made New Zealand an even more enticing destination for migrants.
New Zealand is a small country of only 4 million people and as it grows and develops it welcomes the innovation, skills and diversity new migrants can bring. The culture is so similar to that of the UK, Europe or North America that there is very little 'culture-shock' to deal with. As you can imagine the
dreams of an idyllic new life easily begin to take shape. However, prospective migrants can also get carried away with the idealised vision of what a new life in New Zealand means.
The key to successful emigration to a new country is to have 'open eyes and an open mind'. If you choose to read only the interesting and exciting information about emigrating you will be all the more disappointed and disheartened when you are faced with an inevitable problem or stumbling block. By being aware of the rewards and the pitfalls prior to moving you are able to anticipate situations and then react effectively when problems do arise. Also by having too many preconceived ideas of what you expect or want New Zealand to be, you may find you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
Many people who undertake emigration to New Zealand want it to be the 'same as home' and are upset when they find they can't buy their favourite brand of cereal they usually have. Others want it to be 'completely different from home' and are then equally disappointed when they find Coronation Street is only a few weeks behind the UK. The joys you will find in your new life will be made up of both the familiar and unfamiliar - the expected and the totally unexpected - and that is the fantastic experience of emigration to a new country.
If you choose to emigrate to New Zealand you can look forward to a wealth of new experiences and fantastic opportunities for you and your family. Relish in the unknown as this is what makes such a move so refreshing. By embracing the infamous laid back Kiwi lifestyle and the rich vibrant culture you can successfully make New Zealand your new home.
|
Rate This Article
Add Comments
Send To Friends
Print 
Download as PDF
