Kiwis leaving the shaky isles ...

[Raphael85]

I just found out NZ govt have changed their policies under Working Holiday Programme. I should have applied for the 6mth visa under 2009 when i got the chance. :(

 

[neddy]

i know where you are coming from, it makes more sense now. Choosing where to stay first is important before all the other necessary parts will fall into place. Start well, good to go. Start bad, oh crap..



Good perspective on the seasonal climatic issues. I feel more grounded and certainly looking at the whole picture from another point of view. Time to adjust some plans..

"Start well" from a Singapore point of view, or a Kiwi's point of view? Because local knowledge is important.

I have been through this before. I think it is a good idea to visit the country if you want, BUT NOT make the decision based on that one visit. My second big move from Perth to Auckland will be more relaxed. I did some dumb things from Singapore to Perth.

 

[Raphael85]

"Start well" from a Singapore point of view, or a Kiwi's point of view? Because local knowledge is important.

I have been through this before. I think it is a good idea to visit the country if you want, BUT NOT make the decision based on that one visit. My second big move from Perth to Auckland will be more relaxed. I did some dumb things from Singapore to Perth.

Neddy, I don't quite get what you mean by Kiwi's point of view. Any advices or tips to look out for?

 

[neddy]

Neddy, I don't quite get what you mean by Kiwi's point of view. Any advices or tips to look out for?

I am using Australia as example.

Eg In Singapore, people do not really like white colour furniture because they turn yellowish very quickly. But in Perth, because of the dry climate, the white coloured items takes a much longer time to age.

In Sydney, people are getting used to living in apartment and own pets in these apartments. But in Perth, apartment living is still a novelty.

Also something do not change. Eg, my house is still red-brick, looking rather "traditional" and not rendered like in Singapore.

We do not paint the exterior walls of houses. Rather, the paint is rendered into the mix so we do not need to repaint the exterior.

Finally, many people living close to MRT or city centre but in Perth, we stayed away from the city centre and try to avoid train stations if possible. I enjoy living in the suburbs and shop in the suburbs.

I enjoy doing drive-ins to bottle shops and Hungry Jacks.

We also do not like living close to shopping centres - too noisy early in the morning with delivery trucks, and may be troublesome with drunks at nights.

 

[Raphael85]

Thanks neddy, your views are much appreciated. Plenty of culture shocks waiting for me once i am there. Guess the 1st year of landing always make or break the new emigrant.

 

[neddy]

Thanks neddy, your views are much appreciated. Plenty of culture shocks waiting for me once i am there. Guess the 1st year of landing always make or break the new emigrant.

It is like getting to know a new girl.

My first year was a Honeymoon of the joy of living in a different place and getting to know the place. The new experience thingy.

It was only when I got down to the business of living like the rest (2nd-3rd year) that I began to see the darker side. That was also when I kind of miss the familiar (eg friends, Singapore). This period was a trial because I was also looking for meaningful work. There is nothing like work that defines a man.

There may be a period when you think Singapore is better (you missed the grass). Usually, a trip back to Singapore will bring your focus back to why you wanted to leave in the first place. The same shit back home just got worst while I am getting better in adapting to the new country. I build new relationships within the Asian community as well as getting to know people from outside the community. The Aussie who helps my citizenship application is now like an elder sister to me. She has retired but still help out in the op shop.

If you can overcome that, usually when you establish a home (not house) and has a reasonable steady income stream, things will get better.

I think the 7-year inch applies to migration as well. If so, just treat it as your experience of a lifetime. No life experience is really ever wasted if you mature and broaden your knowledge, test your character and understand yourself better.

Your sole objective should not just be getting out of Singapore because of politics there, but it has to be something for yourself and your family.

Hope I helped.

 

[Raphael85]

It is like getting to know a new girl.

My first year was a Honeymoon of the joy of living in a different place and getting to know the place. The new experience thingy.

It was only when I got down to the business of living like the rest (2nd-3rd year) that I began to see the darker side. That was also when I kind of miss the familiar (eg friends, Singapore). This period was a trial because I was also looking for meaningful work. There is nothing like work that defines a man.

There may be a period when you think Singapore is better (you missed the grass). Usually, a trip back to Singapore will bring your focus back to why you wanted to leave in the first place. The same shit back home just got worst while I am getting better in adapting to the new country. I build new relationships within the Asian community as well as getting to know people from outside the community. The Aussie who helps my citizenship application is now like an elder sister to me. She has retired but still help out in the op shop.

If you can overcome that, usually when you establish a home (not house) and has a reasonable steady income stream, things will get better.

I think the 7-year inch applies to migration as well. If so, just treat it as your experience of a lifetime. No life experience is really ever wasted if you mature and broaden your knowledge, test your character and understand yourself better.

Your sole objective should not just be getting out of Singapore because of politics there, but it has to be something for yourself and your family.

Hope I helped.

I liked your matured views in terms of how you define yourself in a foreign place and the ways to cope with the situation at heart. Adapting to a new place and integrating with the cultural community take time and effort. Nicely summed up.

Well, in my case, my mind and heart is somewhere else and i know there was much more out there in life, so I doubt there is anything that i would missed back in tiny dot. Dealing this void of familiarity was the first thing i did because i knew that if i wasn't strong enough to make this trip, then might as well forget it. The point is once the decision has been made, there's no turning back.

I believed the feeling of emotional attachment may appeared from time to time and these are the happy memories of the past that we once remembered being that way. Other than that, i am happily looking forward to CA/NZ recce trips.

 

[Leongsam]

I believed the feeling of emotional attachment may appeared from time to time and these are the happy memories of the past that we once remembered being that way. Other than that, i am happily looking forward to CA/NZ recce trips.

The Singapore you knew and loved has already been destroyed anyway so what is there to stay on for. You might as well proceed to the next chapter of your life.

 

[neddy]

I liked your matured views in terms of how you define yourself in a foreign place and the ways to cope with the situation at heart. Adapting to a new place and integrating with the cultural community take time and effort. Nicely summed up.

Well, in my case, my mind and heart is somewhere else and i know there was much more out there in life, so I doubt there is anything that i would missed back in tiny dot. Dealing this void of familiarity was the first thing i did because i knew that if i wasn't strong enough to make this trip, then might as well forget it. The point is once the decision has been made, there's no turning back.

I believed the feeling of emotional attachment may appeared from time to time and these are the happy memories of the past that we once remembered being that way. Other than that, i am happily looking forward to CA/NZ recce trips.

Met an ex-Singaporean pensioner at a Perth pharmacy today. He is having a heart condition and need this $249/month medication. But he paid just $5 for the medication. (Aussie Health care card holder, Medicare card holder would have paid $31) It is one of those PBS-RPBS Authorised prescription.
He told me that this medication will not be affordable to his Singaporean friends.

Lucky fellow!

 

[IWC2006]

I liked your matured views in terms of how you define yourself in a foreign place and the ways to cope with the situation at heart. Adapting to a new place and integrating with the cultural community take time and effort. Nicely summed up.

Well, in my case, my mind and heart is somewhere else and i know there was much more out there in life, so I doubt there is anything that i would missed back in tiny dot. Dealing this void of familiarity was the first thing i did because i knew that if i wasn't strong enough to make this trip, then might as well forget it. The point is once the decision has been made, there's no turning back.

I believed the feeling of emotional attachment may appeared from time to time and these are the happy memories of the past that we once remembered being that way. Other than that, i am happily looking forward to CA/NZ recce trips.

There's pros and cons in every country, living abroad from time to time you'll learn to appreciate your home country more - at the same time you would also embrace your adopted country ie.Australia.

Put the crappy Sg govt system aside, the accessibility and convenient to food and services in Sg is one of the very few reasons we miss the little red dot apart from our family & friends. Other than that, the general obsession of achieving top grades and elite status / social class in Sg is a 3rd world culture at best. Not forgetting most Sporeans can't even command a good standard of language be it English or Mandarin.

I'm in my 4th year here, yes I think I'll relocate to Sg for a few years but I have a strong feeling I won't stay long. Reason being I want to spend more time with my ageing parent, cos who knows how long my dad would live?Second is to use my abroad experience to have another push in my career(Sg, after all is a regional hub for financial services so the job scope / opportunity is broader than Oz which is very domestic-driven) However, at least I have an option of moving back to Oz. I have already gained the local experience and have had worked for big corporations here. A lot of aussies work abroad for a number of years and move back, often they'll get disappointed with the limited job opportunity here (I'm talking about financial services) but the pros is they get a more balanced lifestyle, space, and access to the beautiful environment eg. weather, parks, beaches(free!)

Culture shock is overrated these days , there's really nothing shocking about Oz's culture other than it's openess to freedom of speech, media, sex etc. Integration is really not that difficult after all, yes, there's many asians here but you really don't want to spend your whole life socialise with the same community where you originally come from!

 

[Raphael85]

Met an ex-Singaporean pensioner at a Perth pharmacy today. He is having a heart condition and need this $249/month medication. But he paid just $5 for the medication. (Aussie Health care card holder, Medicare card holder would have paid $31) It is one of those PBS-RPBS Authorised prescription.
He told me that this medication will not be affordable to his Singaporean friends.

Lucky fellow!

That's one of the healthcare benefits and joys of being an Aussie PR. He made the choice early in life and this sacrifice is now repaying him back in various ways. Good for him.

 

[Raphael85]

The Singapore you knew and loved has already been destroyed anyway so what is there to stay on for. You might as well proceed to the next chapter of your life.

That's what i am doing now before i crumpled further under the policies of the myopic govt

...
There's pros and cons in every country, living abroad from time to time you'll learn to appreciate your home country more - at the same time you would also embrace your adopted country ie.Australia.

...Culture shock is overrated these days , there's really nothing shocking about Oz's culture other than it's openess to freedom of speech, media, sex etc. Integration is really not that difficult after all, yes, there's many asians here but you really don't want to spend your whole life socialise with the same community where you originally come from!

Hello IWC2006, i am glad to hear of your overseas experience. Instead of Oz, I am considering CA/NZ to absorb the sights and sounds as part of the foreign cultural experience.

If you are considering to return in the near future, I think you will have to be prepared to deal with the reasons why you choose to leave in the first place. The 'shit' is still here in a more serious fashion (no pun intended). Do look into the employment visa and dual citizenship issue before coming here though.

Life on the other side of the fence tends to broaden our perspectives and expand our viewpoints towards a well-developed and globalized mindset. I have read many accounts of successful individuals who have used overseas employment as a launching pad towards success in their mid-career progression. Go for it if you can.

 

[axe168]

Well done ! We can enjoy in SG together... hehe.

There's pros and cons in every country, living abroad from time to time you'll learn to appreciate your home country more - at the same time you would also embrace your adopted country ie.Australia.

Put the crappy Sg govt system aside, the accessibility and convenient to food and services in Sg is one of the very few reasons we miss the little red dot apart from our family & friends. Other than that, the general obsession of achieving top grades and elite status / social class in Sg is a 3rd world culture at best. Not forgetting most Sporeans can't even command a good standard of language be it English or Mandarin.

I'm in my 4th year here, yes I think I'll relocate to Sg for a few years but I have a strong feeling I won't stay long. Reason being I want to spend more time with my ageing parent, cos who knows how long my dad would live?Second is to use my abroad experience to have another push in my career(Sg, after all is a regional hub for financial services so the job scope / opportunity is broader than Oz which is very domestic-driven) However, at least I have an option of moving back to Oz. I have already gained the local experience and have had worked for big corporations here. A lot of aussies work abroad for a number of years and move back, often they'll get disappointed with the limited job opportunity here (I'm talking about financial services) but the pros is they get a more balanced lifestyle, space, and access to the beautiful environment eg. weather, parks, beaches(free!)

Culture shock is overrated these days , there's really nothing shocking about Oz's culture other than it's openess to freedom of speech, media, sex etc. Integration is really not that difficult after all, yes, there's many asians here but you really don't want to spend your whole life socialise with the same community where you originally come from!

 

[neddy]

There's pros and cons in every country, living abroad from time to time you'll learn to appreciate your home country more - at the same time you would also embrace your adopted country ie.Australia.

Put the crappy Sg govt system aside, the accessibility and convenient to food and services in Sg is one of the very few reasons we miss the little red dot apart from our family & friends. Other than that, the general obsession of achieving top grades and elite status / social class in Sg is a 3rd world culture at best. Not forgetting most Sporeans can't even command a good standard of language be it English or Mandarin.

I'm in my 4th year here, yes I think I'll relocate to Sg for a few years but I have a strong feeling I won't stay long. Reason being I want to spend more time with my ageing parent, cos who knows how long my dad would live?Second is to use my abroad experience to have another push in my career(Sg, after all is a regional hub for financial services so the job scope / opportunity is broader than Oz which is very domestic-driven) However, at least I have an option of moving back to Oz. I have already gained the local experience and have had worked for big corporations here. A lot of aussies work abroad for a number of years and move back, often they'll get disappointed with the limited job opportunity here (I'm talking about financial services) but the pros is they get a more balanced lifestyle, space, and access to the beautiful environment eg. weather, parks, beaches(free!)

Culture shock is overrated these days , there's really nothing shocking about Oz's culture other than it's openess to freedom of speech, media, sex etc. Integration is really not that difficult after all, yes, there's many asians here but you really don't want to spend your whole life socialise with the same community where you originally come from!

Good for you.
Some Aussies who migrate to Singapore are enjoying life to the fullest over there. Other than some nasty experiences with petty sour-grapes locals, they tend to mix with foreigners and more open-minded funky cosmopolitan native Singaporeans.

 

[IWC2006]

That's what i am doing now before i crumpled further under the policies of the myopic govt

Hello IWC2006, i am glad to hear of your overseas experience. Instead of Oz, I am considering CA/NZ to absorb the sights and sounds as part of the foreign cultural experience.

CA and NZ is a world apart, I wonder what's your decision to rule out Oz. NZ is a beautiful country but it's economy size is too small, even Oz's economy is small in my eye (apart from mining), unless you are using NZ as the springboard crossing over to Oz. You have to make up your mind is CA or NZ.
If you are considering to return in the near future, I think you will have to be prepared to deal with the reasons why you choose to leave in the first place. The 'shit' is still here in a more serious fashion (no pun intended). Do look into the employment visa and dual citizenship issue before coming here though.

I don't need to deal with the reason cos my goal has already achieved. The good thing is if you have a PR visa and having working and living in OZ for a couple of years; you can always move back. Nothing is for sure these days, never say never.

Life on the other side of the fence tends to broaden our perspectives and expand our viewpoints towards a well-developed and globalized mindset. I have read many accounts of successful individuals who have used overseas employment as a launching pad towards success in their mid-career progression. Go for it if you can.

I think you have to move where the job/or career opportunity is - in this age and time.

 

[IWC2006]

Well done ! We can enjoy in SG together... hehe.

I don't know about that, i would have preferred HK though and closer to my partner's family, but economy is slowing down in HK as well.

 

[IWC2006]

Good for you.
Some Aussies who migrate to Singapore are enjoying life to the fullest over there. Other than some nasty experiences with petty sour-grapes locals, they tend to mix with foreigners and more open-minded funky cosmopolitan native Singaporeans.

Of course, the renumeration they get in SG is absurb in which they would never get at home(Oz) even for a mediocre talent - plus the low tax and affordability of domestic services - I have a few Aussie friends working in SG; they only want to return when they are about to retire or spend more time with their family ie. kids.

 

[neddy]

Another day, another story of Kiwis swapping ferns for the southern cross.
But I am swapping the southern cross for ferns.

Kiwi family chase the FIFO dream
by: Phil Hickey From: PerthNow
May 21, 2012 2:36PM

NEW Zealander Nelson James felt an immediate connection with Perth after visiting earlier this year and will soon join a growing band of Kiwis calling Australia home.
New figures show a record number of citizens from the Shaky Isles - more than 160 per day - are packing their bags and making a new life in Australia.

New figures obtained by PerthNow today show that in the 2010-11 financial year there were 8013 New Zealand citizen arrivals who said they intended to live in WA.

Mr Nelson, who will venture to WA to live next month with his wife and kids, said he felt like he belonged in Perth after briefly visiting in February this year.

Like many Sandgropers, the 45-year-old hopes to secure fly in fly out work in the Pilbara.

His wife Christine and two children, aged 12 and 9, are also making the big move from their home in Tauranga in the north island.

“You guys have no idea how lucky you are there,” Mr James told PerthNow.

“Perth was so clean, organised and I felt straight away like I belonged here.

“We plan to sell our house here and bring our money over to help buy a place there.

“We all look forward to being there long-term.

“Of the Kiwis I know there (in WA) none have any plans to return to New Zealand.” **Correction: One kiwi returning and 2 Aussies (Neddy + wife) going there**

Mr James said the quality of the education system in WA was also an important factor in deciding to move his family to Perth.

The total number of New Zealanders heading to Australia increased in April, according to Statistics New Zealand, with 4500 Kiwis leaving for Australia just last month.

Latest figures from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship also show that between July and December last year the number of permanent and long-term arrivals from New Zealand to Australia was 21,544, significantly higher than 15,650 in the same five months in 2010.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/business...is-migrate-to-oz/story-e6frg2qc-1226362052916


Floodgates open as Kiwis migrate to Oz
From: AAP May 21, 2012 8:47AM

THE number of New Zealanders packing their bags and heading to Australia accelerated in April - with a new record number of annual departures at 53,462.

Some 4500 people left New Zealand for Australia in April for a net loss of 3500 in the month, according to Statistics New Zealand.

That took the annual net loss to 39,800, almost 13,000 more than the same annual exodus a year earlier.

"Annual outflows to Australia have been at record levels since the November 2011 year,'' Statistics NZ said.

The overall net loss of migrants in April was 2300 for an annual outflow of 4000. That annual figure was made up of 83,800 new migrants arriving, and 87,800 leaving.

People have been quitting New Zealand for Australia for years - seeking higher wages and a better standard of living across the Tasman.

That diaspora has been captured in a controversial NZ On Air-funded reality TV program The GC, which follows a group of young Maori who migrated to Queensland's Gold Coast. It has been likened to popular MTV program Jersey Shore.

 

[axe168]

I don't know about that, i would have preferred HK though and closer to my partner's family, but economy is slowing down in HK as well.

What nice surprise ! Our dad can limkopi together too ! HK is also not bad..

 

[neddy]

............................neddy's adventures in prc.

That is old story. Yawn!

You want to hear more of my adventures in PRC. Stay tuned.