On Wednesday, once both Mark and myself were home (March 7th) we started calling our family and friends to let them know the good news.
A word of warning - two twenty-somethings should never call their family at a strange time in the day and start with "We have good news"....no matter how much squealing and how loud you follow that up with "Mark won a scholarship to study at the University of Auckland, in New Zealand" they will still ask "When are you due?". At this point you *sigh* and repeat "Mark won a scholarship to study at the University of Auckland, in New Zealand" and then add on "We're moving to New Zealand"
Our parents and friends have been really supportive of the whole idea thus far - we shall see how crazy they think we are once we get closer to the big move. I think there are some out there who truly believe this is the time for us to try everything once - we currently do not have kids or have large commitments to the Saint John area. People are generally excited for us, and we are just as excited. I think there are others who feel that we will never come back once we live so close to the equator.
We are hoping that we will see a few of you "down under" as we know we will be there for 3 years. What a better time to travel to such a splendid place than when you have friends/family who you can stay with?
Currently, Mark and I have plans to return to Canada ... (who knows...perhaps even dear old Saint John), but we are willing to keep our options open. Mark wants to teach at the university level so we shall see what adventures that will lead us to in the coming years.
Mary-Ellen
Saturday, 17 March 2012
We're going where...?
Here it all is...the background, the history and the excitement behind "The BIG Move to NEW ZEALAND".....
Mark is finishing up his masters degree (his MSc.) and started to look for opportunities to study for his PhD. One that caught his eye was a Dr. Jeff's at the University of Auckland. He has similar interests and areas of study in the same fields Mark wants to study in for this degree. Mark contacted him and he let Mark know about a scholarship that he could apply for.... fast forward a year.
Mark applied for the scholarship and WON IT!!!! We found out on Monday, March 5th, pretty late in the evening (thank you 14 HOUR time change!). I was actually out of town, so Mark called me to tell me the good news. I picked up the phone to hear "You're going to New Zealand"....there were no "Hello's", or "I love you's", or I miss you's" ... Just "You're going to New Zealand". It took me a minute to have it all sink in. We weren't able to celebrate until Tuesday when I got back and we did that with rootbeer floats!
Us ---going to ---New Zealand!?!?!!? (Pretty much my main thought at the moment)
Since we found out, our life has become one big office of paper work. I feel like I work for the government (oh wait, I do!). It is form after form, letter of reference after letter of reference and certified copies of everything --- including the high school graduation certificate.
We are hoping to send out the first round of paperwork this week as it can take over 35 days (from the time they get the paper work) to go through it and come to a decision. The first round is myself applying to have my teaching credits transferred so that I am able to apply for a teaching license (ergo, teach in New Zealand).
We have also started to do more in depth research (the stuff other than, "hey, that looks neat...if we ever go to New Zealand we should visit that"). A few funny tidbits - when you lease a "flat" the landlord is only responsible for supplying you with a stove. Think about it...that's right .... no fridge! We also are responsible for paying "green fees" which are lawn care fees. Rent is paid by the week and the main meat consumed is lamb. The weather looks mild (a very big positive for one who hates feeling cold!), but wet.
Mark will be working primarily out of a marine station (in Leigh, New Zealand), we hope to rent somewhere close to there. We are planning on selling our car here and purchasing something over there. We have been told by our New Zealand penpals that we will want a car. Leigh is pretty much close to nothing and is a small touristy town. My dear New Brunswickers, think of Saint Andrew's. The small town only has one elementary school and the middle school students study at the universities satellite campus. They do not actually have their own building. High school students are bussed near by.
Mary-Ellen
Mark is finishing up his masters degree (his MSc.) and started to look for opportunities to study for his PhD. One that caught his eye was a Dr. Jeff's at the University of Auckland. He has similar interests and areas of study in the same fields Mark wants to study in for this degree. Mark contacted him and he let Mark know about a scholarship that he could apply for.... fast forward a year.
Mark applied for the scholarship and WON IT!!!! We found out on Monday, March 5th, pretty late in the evening (thank you 14 HOUR time change!). I was actually out of town, so Mark called me to tell me the good news. I picked up the phone to hear "You're going to New Zealand"....there were no "Hello's", or "I love you's", or I miss you's" ... Just "You're going to New Zealand". It took me a minute to have it all sink in. We weren't able to celebrate until Tuesday when I got back and we did that with rootbeer floats!
Us ---going to ---New Zealand!?!?!!? (Pretty much my main thought at the moment)
Since we found out, our life has become one big office of paper work. I feel like I work for the government (oh wait, I do!). It is form after form, letter of reference after letter of reference and certified copies of everything --- including the high school graduation certificate.
We are hoping to send out the first round of paperwork this week as it can take over 35 days (from the time they get the paper work) to go through it and come to a decision. The first round is myself applying to have my teaching credits transferred so that I am able to apply for a teaching license (ergo, teach in New Zealand).
We have also started to do more in depth research (the stuff other than, "hey, that looks neat...if we ever go to New Zealand we should visit that"). A few funny tidbits - when you lease a "flat" the landlord is only responsible for supplying you with a stove. Think about it...that's right .... no fridge! We also are responsible for paying "green fees" which are lawn care fees. Rent is paid by the week and the main meat consumed is lamb. The weather looks mild (a very big positive for one who hates feeling cold!), but wet.
Mark will be working primarily out of a marine station (in Leigh, New Zealand), we hope to rent somewhere close to there. We are planning on selling our car here and purchasing something over there. We have been told by our New Zealand penpals that we will want a car. Leigh is pretty much close to nothing and is a small touristy town. My dear New Brunswickers, think of Saint Andrew's. The small town only has one elementary school and the middle school students study at the universities satellite campus. They do not actually have their own building. High school students are bussed near by.
Mary-Ellen
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