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Where I’ve Been

So first, I want to apologize for my growing absences from this blog. It is not intentional, but there is a lot of reasons behind it, and I want to bring you up to speed.

I’d like to say by absence is just an unfortunate reality of having a full-time job for the foreseeable future. Yes, almost immediately after my last post I got offered a long-term contract with the company I am temping for. Funny how that worked. (Heck, I even am getting paid time off!) This is all great news as I have one less thing to stress about, but it also means I am much busier than I was when I first arrived in New Zealand, and that means I have less time to explore, and therefore a lot less to write about. (I do want to mention, however, I am still exploring in bite sized amounts and have a lot of fun adventures lined up in the future, so stay tuned!)

But as I said, this isn’t the only reason I’ve disappeared. I’ve also disappeared because I am struggling with the cold. (Yes, it’s the end of summer for most of you, but in the Southern Hemisphere it is very much still winter.) This is making me very homesick for warmer temperatures, and particularly Florida, to the point I was making plans to return there as early next month. My bags were all but packed, and I didn’t write because this reality was a hard one for me to admit, but one I think you should know. As excited as I am to have this time in New Zealand, it is also not an easy transition, especially now that life is becoming a bit more routine.

The homesickness is more than just the temperature. It’s hard seeing my friends in the States go through big life changes, both positive ones, and negative ones, and not feel like I can be there for them. Sure, the internet makes this a bit easier these days, but I am still 16 hours in the future, so that means when most people I love in the U.S. are free to chat with me, I am either asleep or at work.

I am also missing my old life and frankly, having a career. I miss having a car and a place to call my own. I miss having a freaking closet, central heat, and even a video game console. These are all things I would’ve said didn’t mean much to me before I left but once I got here, I find myself daydreaming about these simple and strange things.

Don’t get me wrong, I would not trade my time here in New Zealand for anything. Even though it hasn’t been all positive, it has been great. Wellington is as amazing as everyone says it is, and many of the friendships I’ve made here are ones I will take with me for life. I’ve even bought hiking boots because, well, it’s an activity I’ve actually come to enjoy and one that’s hard to avoid here in New Zealand. (Honestly, even some of the walking paths here are basically mini-hikes.) But it doesn’t make missing my friends and family any easier, and it doesn’t mean I prefer hiking to Disney World because let’s be honest, Star Wars Land is going to be epic.

So where do I go from here? I’m not entirely sure, and I guess that’s always been part of the adventure. I am making strides, however, and learning to embrace my new surroundings in both old and new ways. To combat the chilly winter, I have started going to the gym again, something I did regularly in the States. I’m also meditating and saying “yes,” to opportunities to experience new things both in and outside the city. I’m also trying to find things to make the tiny space I live in feel more like a home because living out of a suitcase has been really difficult.

To end on a positive note, I plan to make a photo post soon of all the “mini adventures” I’ve taken throughout the area. Also, know that I do plan to get back to updating this now that I am in a better space, and ready to get things back on-track instead of just “existing.” I mean, I did buy hiking boots.

Cheers to better days from Titahi Bay
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The Reality of Finding Work Abroad

Anyone who thinks it is easy finding a job abroad either works in tech or has never actually tried it.

I have been in New Zealand for over 2 months now, and just finally found someone who will pay me to work. And while it is a good gig, it’s only on a temporary basis, which means unless they continue to have a need for me, I could be without a job again come October. And for anyone who enjoys a sense of security, that’s a tough pill to swallow.

I’m a good candidate with lots of experience and I like to think a decent online presence. I come with passion and a somewhat ridiculous work ethic. I have written some incredible cover letters and have applied to dozens and dozens of jobs since moving here. And what has that gotten me in New Zealand? Two interviews and one job offer. (Unfortunately, the job offer was based in a distant suburb of Auckland on weekends, and would almost definitely require me to have a car so I had to turn it down.) This, of course, has affected my confidence and has sort of caused me to withdraw back into myself. It has caused me to walk away from this blog, and spend most of my time wondering why I moved here in the first place.

I have been asking around, and the most common answer I get from anyone is that immigration is a big political issue here at the moment and that I probably won’t be able to find permanent work of any kind until after the election, and employers know more if I am a candidate they can invest in.  Meanwhile, I am missing having a career and upward mobility. I am missing creating but at the same time avoiding it because this inability to even just get interviews is new to me, and makes me wonder what I am doing with my life. It makes me think maybe I should return to the States, where I can find work, health insurance, and a sense of stability.

Is any of this New Zealand’s fault? No. Like the States, it only makes sense a country wants to provide for its citizens first before making room for new people like me. I get it, I do, but it doesn’t make my struggle, or any other immigrant or expat’s struggle any less valid. (Or any less frustrating.)

So what am I to do here if I want to stay? Well, I have always loved spending time on the computer since my childhood. (Seriously, ask my family how I would take over the family computer and build websites during middle and high school.) So, I have thought about going to school to learn coding or some other skill in the tech world to make me more appealing to employers. I know it is something I would enjoy, but student debt is a hard reality I am still dealing with and not something I’m sure I want to incur more of.

So what is the point of writing all this? Well, I think people have this misconception that being a qualified candidate makes it easy for you to live anywhere you want. That if you work hard enough, you can achieve whatever dream you have for yourself. But the truth is that this isn’t possible to some extent, as there are external factors at play, especially for people seeking a life in a new country. Short of starting your own business, opportunities are few and far between unless you have a skill that can’t be found in someone else who already has residency or citizenship — or two things you can’t get anyway without a job offer or a native partner.

I am sorry if this seems political, I don’t mean it to be. I simply needed a post to explain where I’ve been for the past few weeks. I have plans to get back into this blog, but I really needed a break while I dealt with some of these issues. Obviously, they haven’t been fixed but I am at a much better place now than I was a few weeks ago. I also wanted to give you some reality into what it is like looking for jobs outside of your country of residence, and just how hard it is to find a job when you are a foreigner, even if you speak the same language.

On another, happier note, the working environment here in New Zealand is quite different than that in the States. (For one, I drank beer in the office yesterday!) But I’ll save that for another post.

Drinking a cider at my desk as part of “Friday drinks,” a tradition in many New Zealand workplaces