Out and about: an email from New Zealand

Out and about is a column in which we chat with people who currently live abroad or who used to live and work abroad. This week we chat with Miranda Boshoff who lives in New Zealand.

Hello, Miranda. Where in South Africa are you from and why did you decide to move abroad?

I am from the beautiful Lowveld – Nelspruit to be more specific. I was born and raised there.

As a teenager I dreamed of working overseas, I never knew what I wanted to study like my classmates did. Therefore, I decided to go au pair in the USA. While everyone was on their way to enjoy their matric holiday, I got on my first flight to the USA for one year.

Once I returned, I realised how much truth there is in the saying: “If you’ve tasted better water, you wouldn’t want to drink anything else.” Because that is when I realised how we just accept everything in South Africa. How we always say, “It could have been worse,” or the well-known words “Luckily we weren’t hurt or killed.” No, not luckily, it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

I decided I was going to finish my studies and return to the USA, since I was already familiar with the country.

In the meantime, I met my husband, we got married and together we decided to emigrate. I contacted the school that the children attend who I au paired for, and the principal offered me a job. After finding out all the logistics of the process we realised that my husband would not be able to work for three years, and we decided to rather consider other countries. How do people survive on one salary during these times we live in today, anyway?   

We considered Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Canada was my first choice, as it would give me the opportunity to return to the USA and show my husband where I used to live.

So we went through the process, did a lot of research, wrote English tests, and started getting documents ready that usually take a long time, such as unabridged marriage and birth certificates. A few times we almost fell victim to so-called “immigration agents” who run away with your money. As the process continued, we realised that there was just too much on the line. You have to sell everything and then be able to support yourself for three months (in dollars!) while there was still absolutely no guarantee that my degree would be accepted there. There was just too much on the line.  

Our choices were narrowed between Australia and New Zealand, and just as we decided to let go of the Canada plans, I was contacted by a recruitment agency in New Zealand, who wanted to know if I was looking for employment there. It was the easiest option between the two countries, so we started putting everything in place to fly over there within three months.

Guess what? Then Covid hit … two years later and my New Zealand teacher’s registration was about to expire, and we weren’t even there yet. My recruitment agent had also lost his job, and nobody were able to enter NZ.

I decided in 2022 that Covid had to come to an end sometime, and I started sending out CVs non-stop. My goal was at least ten a day. Finally, the interviews started lining up and I found the right employer who fought for me to get in on a “critical purpose visa”. It is how the Lord’s grace works … in March 2022 we embarked on our new life journey to New Zealand. Did we make the right decision, well who knows?   

What are the emotions you experienced the most during your emigration journey?

You experience every single emotion known to exist. Feelings of guilt because you are leaving everything behind because you want a better life for yourself and your future children. Some days you feel you are making the best decision of your life and other days you cry and wonder whether you are doing the right thing. Especially because we went into this blindly without ever being to New Zealand before. It is like a whirlwind. Many questions and what ifs … what if it does not work out? Having to sell all of our stuff was one of the worst things we had to do, also, having to leave our “child”, Mowgli, our cockatiel.

What is the one thing you wished you were able to pack in your suitcase when you emigrated?

Honestly, I would have packed even less because you can find everything here that you need. I was told the quality of clothes here are not the same, but I do not agree. The choices are endless, and you can import clothes from almost any country. And China and Japan are quite close. In the end most goods are produced in China anyway.  

How does the cost of living compare with that of South Africa and were there any hidden costs you weren’t aware of?

I earn a lot more money than in South Africa, not because I convert it, but because of how much I can do with my salary and how much I can put away at the end of the month. Property rental is very expensive and groceries costs almost the same. Dining out and luxuries are quite expensive. Cars are very cheap, and you can settle your vehicle loan within three years. But I earn dollars, so I don’t think you should compare it.

There were no real hidden costs – rather things one doesn’t necessarily think about, such as your licence that needs to be converted, buying and re-registering a car, and the visas you need to get, like residency. Everything happens quite fast. You have to be ready for things that may come up while you are still settling in.

How is the weather in New Zealand?

We haven’t experienced a summer here yet, but everyone says the summers are nice, warm and sunny. Winters are cold and wet, and this winter was supposedly extra wet, which doesn’t help when one is feeling homesick.

Do you still speak Afrikaans?

Yes, of course! We will give our children an Afrikaans upbringing, it is who we are, and I feel sad that the South African children here do not really speak Afrikaans. I am so scared our language will disappear.

What are the five things nobody told you about emigrating to New Zealand?

1.
Emigrating will be the most difficult thing you do in your entire life, and nothing and nobody can prepare you for it.
2.
Don’t think everyone will stay in contact and come to visit as they promised. Out of sight, out of mind. Even family forgets you and you will only hear from people who make a concerted effort. Everybody’s life goes on.
3.
You cry a lot. Even though you know you do not want to go back, it will be difficult and strange for a very long time.
4.
You cannot trust all South Africans just because you think they understand your situation. Were you able to trust everyone back in South Africa? I rest my case. There are also people here with bad intentions. Not everyone has a good heart like you do, even if you want to believe it.
5.
Teaching in New Zealand is not at all like what we are used to, and it was a huge shock and adjustment to get used to the way things are done.

Anything you would like to add?

You are welcome to read my blog on my Instagram @miranda_verster and to contact me with any questions. I will gladly help. I know how difficult and confusing it was for us.

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