La rentrée... or what has become a yearly ritual after Summer vacations in Europe. The end of Summer, to come back home from foreign, distant and faraway lands, to resume work, to take kids back to school... When it comes, everyone is concerned, everyone talks about his or her rentrée...
For us la rentrée takes place in its original meaning: la rentrée des classes, when children get back to school. The kids seem to have enjoyed their rentrée: the sun was shining all day and there were cuddles and hugs in the morning as they met their classmates after the long Summer break. It was beautiful to see them happy to be back at school. Very exceptionally, Mom and Dad took them to school this morning and went back in the afternoon to take them home. Very exceptional, but it was la rentrée...
Most certainly, their last rentrée here ...
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Monday, 1 September 2008
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Premature nostalgia
That does sound contradictory, I know. We have not left this country yet, we have no precise date as to when we will set foot in New Zealand and yet... The idea - and repercussions - of leaving Europe and ultimately the idea of leaving the proverbial home has struck for some time.
Curiously enough this was one of my first concerns since we were mulling over the idea of emigrating to New Zealand. I remember asking the question in a forum, "were you not homesick going to the end of the world and leaving Europe behind?"
This can be more or less understood. To live in Europe was not a fact of chance - I was not born here - but a choice, I chose to live here. I have had the experience of living in and leaving a few countries and the process requires a certain amount of adaptation and personal investment. Moving to New Zealand will mean leaving the old continent and its history engraved in the walls, in the ground, in the way people act and react here. History is something so palpable when you walk through the streets here. And history is but one aspect of it all.
But yeah, the decision has been made: I'm giving my resignation to my boss next Monday, Guy will be doing as well shortly; the first floor of the house was painted, we are going to put the house for sale on the Internet and things progressively move to the fait accompli.
Curiously enough this was one of my first concerns since we were mulling over the idea of emigrating to New Zealand. I remember asking the question in a forum, "were you not homesick going to the end of the world and leaving Europe behind?"
This can be more or less understood. To live in Europe was not a fact of chance - I was not born here - but a choice, I chose to live here. I have had the experience of living in and leaving a few countries and the process requires a certain amount of adaptation and personal investment. Moving to New Zealand will mean leaving the old continent and its history engraved in the walls, in the ground, in the way people act and react here. History is something so palpable when you walk through the streets here. And history is but one aspect of it all.
But yeah, the decision has been made: I'm giving my resignation to my boss next Monday, Guy will be doing as well shortly; the first floor of the house was painted, we are going to put the house for sale on the Internet and things progressively move to the fait accompli.
Thursday, 29 May 2008
New Zealand, here we come!
It's been two weeks today, 29 May, that we know we are allowed to migrate to New Zealand. "We" is a family of four: Rosângela, Guy and our two sons.
More than two years after our initial decision that New Zealand is the place where we wanted to live and work it was with a mix of relief and incredulity that we read the letter starting with: "I am pleased to tell you that we have approved in principle your application for a New Zealand residence visa."
The purpose of this blog is mainly to register this milestone period: the various aspects of a transition from a life in Europe and the move to New Zealand. If it can help other prospective migrants, it would definitely add value to this blog.
Kind regards,
Guy and Rosângela
More than two years after our initial decision that New Zealand is the place where we wanted to live and work it was with a mix of relief and incredulity that we read the letter starting with: "I am pleased to tell you that we have approved in principle your application for a New Zealand residence visa."
The purpose of this blog is mainly to register this milestone period: the various aspects of a transition from a life in Europe and the move to New Zealand. If it can help other prospective migrants, it would definitely add value to this blog.
Kind regards,
Guy and Rosângela
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