Making the long trip home....

Ive been out of NZ for 2 years now (being in Japan and Canada) and will be heading home for a bit in 2 weeks.

Ive done 4-5 months stints o/s to return and while I have made a couple of trips back over that time for a week or two Im wondering how I will adjust being back in NZ.

Obviously things will have changed (especially myself), and friends may have drfited away (or still be o/s themselves).

But Im wondering how people have dealt with it overall and whether they get itchy feet again.

Im not ready to settle down as such but I do plan to spend a few years in NZ before looking into Europe and London.

Thoughts/comments/advice?

haven't done it myself yet, but I think I would struggle to go back to NZ long term for at least 3-4 more years (been in London just over 2 so far)...

I will probably get bored of London before then, but it'll be Australia or somewhere else next. Aus is kind of the best of both worlds, because you're close to home (friends / family) but still not in NZ

Will definitely be back to NZ one day, but no rush...

Maybe that didn't really help in answering your question tho

I just think what it will be like being back in NZ after a month.... and i dont want to go back. when it appeals i guess i will.

well from my experience having been in london for just a month (long term i know har har) you will fit back into life without a care, but you will know that you are back home...get me? you will realise that the dollar means nothing and youve had fun overseas.

in reply to mutant's comment about aus, i have always found it too hot and too much like home...but thats just me...

Me and my boy returned to NZ about a year ago now from a couple of years in the UK. Didn't feel ready to leave and it was a shock to the system going back to NZ, had a couple of panic attacks at the thought of seeing old friends which was a bit strange.

Anyway, within 2 weeks of being back we knew that it wasn't where we wanted to be, so we treated it as a summer holiday, caught up with family and friends and saved up to move to Melbourne.

Been in Melbourne for almost 4 months now and haven't looked back. I can't ever see myself returning to NZ live, its just way too small, weather isn't as good as OZ, more opportunity here, better salaries etc. As Mutant said, OZ is definately the best of both worlds (well Melbourne is, haven't yet checked out the other cities) you have the big city feel, fantastic public transport, loads to do, so many bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants, but you also have the friendlyness and culture and a better quality of life that you dont get when you are living in the UK. Also being able to own a car again is great!

Everyone is different and want different things from life, I thought I was going to love being back in NZ but I was very wrong. I think once you get out there and start travelling then you definately get a taste for it and want to see more of the world. I cant wait to start exploring OZ, there is so much of this country and people often overlook it and head onto the UK and Europe.

Good luck with the trip back home Ravingmad, hope it all works out for ya.

Well, its certainly a process that I will be entering into very shortly. I share the same concerns as you Raving, and I guess time will tell as to how I will find it. No doubt I will post some of my experiences and wisdom on this site in the next 3 months

I have just applied for a different visa so I can stay in the UK for at least a couple more years. If I don't get it I'm not sure what I will do. The thought of going back to NZ doesn't turn me on. Mind due, it is still early days - I have only been away a little over 5 months, but I think that's long enough to realise just how small NZ is and how other countries have so much more to offer.

I've only been here for a month and I don't want to go home just for a few months before heading overseas again....Auckland bores me unfortunately...

I got back 3 weeks ago and am finding it a little hard to readjust after bumming my way round europe/uk for 7 odd months.

Mind you the weather has slowly been improving and trips out to NZ beaches are hard to beat. I'll still be heading back to europe at the end of the NZ summer though.

Cheers for the input so far, I`m with Mutant on Australia as an alternative, and like Breakme, we were looking at Melbourne. I want my partner to get NZ residancy first just so that we have NZ as an option later on.

Twisted Sister- you could maybe look at doing a year in Ireland on a working holiday visa.

Breakme- what part of NZ were you in before you left for Melbourne?

Will post my first impressions on being back.

Wellington - born and bred

Its funny reading these posts. I cant help but agree about the thoughts of going back home.

I've been here around 2.5 years and heading back in Feb for a holiday, I dont really miss NZ that much, but fuck I miss my family.

For me people make the place.
Ive been back just over a week now and I have to say that leaving Canada to come back to NZ and almsot been a flawless transition.
One factor being the change of seasons (as opposed to going from winter to summer)- except all the rain
The fact that Canada has a lot of similarities to NZ (apart from being 100x bigger)
And the cities I lived in both Canada and Japan were around the same size as Auckland.

Granted its only been a week so far, but provided I keep busy I dont see a problem being back for a bit

I was overseas for about 2.5 years. Came back to NZ November 2005, but didn't really attempt to find a proper job until May 2006. Quit that in September though, and have been drifting ever since ...

I'm still finding it hard, and ask myself regularily if this is where I want to be.

I think if you come back and re-ignite good friendships, and get a job you like, you'll probably be happy to stay

Yeah well I was coming straight back to a position and it was much better than the one I had in Canada.
Havent had a chance to catch up with everyone I knew before as yet but havent wasted anytime in getting out and about.
I was in town the first night I got back (after flying for about 24hrs and 12hrs worth of stopovers).
I went to Chemistry last weekend with some friends and also saw some other familiar faces. This weekend Im planning to get to the mountain before it closes (weather permitting) and Im keeping busy.
In saying that I have gone back to the same old routine in some aspects and I think its important to try and avoid those if you can. Travelling changes you as a person and if you go back to the exactly the same thing you are likely to be unsatisfied.
If you are regualrly doubting whether you made the right decision you probably did, but you have the ability to change things for the better. Whether that means going abroad again in order to do that is something you have to determine for yourself.

Yeah, I agree ... I've just had a lot go on since I came back wiht my Japanese g/f leaving me and my dog getting run over and killed. I either need to find a proper job and get really used to being here again, or maybe just piss off overseas alone so I can think about what I really want

Yeah, her parents put the hard word on her and made her leave me .... how fucked is that?!!

At least we can go spading together now. Divide and conquer - you get everyone over 5'6" and the rest are mine

That sucks Itchy.
Just remember the Japanese culture is built on tradition, not logic.
I think NZ is a good place to settle down but now that you are a free man again the world is again yours for the taking.

When the time comes for me to have to leave London I know that I'm going to find it really hard as I love living here.

In an ideal world I would live in London for another couple of years but in reality I will end up in Aust, probably in about 6 months time.

Hahaha


Although sorry to hear about that. As someone pointed out, logic aint a strong point for a woman and the Japenese.

However, there will be a bach trip in January which I demand your attendance for.

Deal and deal! I am so gonna spade any women you manage to find

Raving mad: I was honestly very close to thinking fukc it and heading back overseas