Friday, March 11, 2005

The NZ Dream

Yes, we plan to migrate down under, to the land of the long white clouds, where the sheeps out-number humans, where the air is fresher and the government cleaner. We've been working on it since 2002. Ang tagal na pala. So how did this all started? Mahabang kwento po... Here it goes.

In 2001, Henry and I thought that we are almost at the peak of our careers and we feel that we are not yet financially ok. Di naman kapos pero sapat-sapat lang. The thought of having a second child worried us. Mabigat na yon. Canada is too cold. US is too fast-paced. Australia is a good option. We already started researching about the place and how to move there. Until one day, I received an email from a classmate in high school - Len. She's settled in Auckland since 1995. It wasn't very difficult for us to consider NZ. It's such a great place.

First step is for Henry to take IELTS exam in April 2002. May 2003, we sought the assistance of an immigration consultant refered by a friend who is also in the same process. Dagdag gastos pero gusto naming sigurado ang moves namin. Pero nagbago ng rules ang NZ Immigration Service, naisang tabi ang application namin. Our points would not qualify us anymore. Ang chance lang namin eh magkaron ng job-offer. Dito kami nagsimulang maghiwalay ng landas ni bading na consultant. Wala syang maibigay ng job offer. Kiwi companies would not welcome applicant from overseas. Muntik nang gumuho ang mundo ko.

June 2004, we came up with Plan B - Henry to go to Auckland on a visitor's visa. Sa kasamaang palad, denied sya. Bago kami makaisip ng Plan C, naging mabait na sa amin ang NZIS. The points were lowered to 100 (110pts kami!!!). Mahaba pang kasunod nyan. The story has just started pero sa susunod na edition na yung iba.

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