My company has a position open in New Zealand (I’m currenlty in Boston, MA). I’m considering applying, under the notion that it’d be cool to see the world and stuff.
So assume I’ll get the job. I’ll be dragging the Mrs and 4 kids under 10 along with me.
Should I? Why or why not?
Sounds to me like a question for the Mrs.
Right, but you Dopers make a great sounding board. You guys might think of tons of cool and not-so-cool things that I wouldn’t.
Besides, she already said yes.
That kind of thing sounds absolutely amazing to me, but I could never do it. I only have two kids and they wear my wife and I both out. It would be very difficult with out family, much less family being 10K miles away. The loss of family support would be very hard, not to mention if I tried springing this idea on the grandparents (bothsides), I’d find myself in some sudden accident which would prevent us from going.
If you guys are OK being “on your own”, so to speak, and the pay/job/etc makes it financially feasible, go for it. I’ll be slightly envious of your courage, but also glad that babysitters are just a phone call, rather than a plane ride, away.
I’d do it. It would be a great experience for your kids. Some of the most interesting people I know are then ones who have grown up in more than one part of the world.
Your wife says yes?
Then absolutely yes, Beelzebubba. HELL yes.
What a great opportunity for you and for your family, one that very few get (meaning the chance to live abroad).
It’s nice over here in NZ Beelzebubba.
Good for kids, nice outdoors. Where would you be posted specifically?
Do it, I reckon. Would it be a permanent posting or just a few years? NZ’s lovely and an interesting place to live. If you’re paid US style money while living there, you’ll be doing well financially as well.
If you’d already have the job, as you say, then it’s worth it. New Zealand is an absolutely wonderful place. (If that wasn’t the case, and you were hoping to get a job when you got there, then it would probably be a big risk)
We NZers have a funny accent - I recommend you listen to the LOTR DVD commentaries a few times to get used to it. (I’ve been in Australia for four years, and the Kiwi accent now drives me nuts)
Have you looked at the practical considerations that are specific for you and your family? Is this job like the one you have, or would you be doing something new? Is there some kind of guarantee for you? If it doesn’t work out (you don’t like it or they don’t like you) do you get your old job in Boston back? Would they at least move you back to the U.S.? How would your long-term benefits (401K, pension, stock options) be affected? Does you wife work? If so, will she be able to find work in New Zealand? What do the two of you have to do to get work permits, etc? How does the NZ educational system mesh with the U.S. system for your kids? Do any of you have any medical problems that require treatment or medication that would be hard to get in New Zealand? What would your day/week in NZ be like? As the cliche goes, there are a lot of places that are great to visit, but hard to live in.
If you can afford it, take a family holiday over there for a week to check out the place. If not for you, at least for your wife’s and kids’s peace of mind. Also, contact the NZ Embassy; they should be able to answer all your immigation questions.
Are you moving into a city or rural areas? The rural lifestyle in NZ can take a lot of time to get used to. And no, I’m not just talking about sheep buggery :p.
I’ve known a couple of American lecturers that moved over here, and they seem to like the place.
Medical problems should not be an issue – NZ is hardly a third world country. Do any of your kids have special needs? That is one issue which would need careful thinking about. I know that it’s been much easier dealing with my kids in the Q ed system than in the NZ system.
What Rabid Squirrel says about rural areas is very true. We were in South Canterbury and I have never been so grateful as to leave the place.
I’m voting no because you have 4 kids and you would be completely uprooting their lives. This is apparently an optional thing for you, and I don’t think a fun job/interesting experience justifies moving young children to the other side of the planet. Sure, kids are resilient and adaptable but why move them away from all of their friends and family if it can be avoided? They can see the world later, and so can you.
If your wife is willing, go for it.
Your kids are young enough that it shouldn’t be too stressful. It’s not like it’s their last semester of Senior year.
Multinational companies usually go a long way to smooth employee transfers. I have a few friends whose parent companies did a lot of hand holding during the process.
FWIW, my husband and I took our 3 kids (all under 5) for two weeks last year. We based ourselves in Canterbury but took a lot of side trips. I found it to be a great place for the kids and they loved it as well. Fresh air, great food, plenty to do, low crime. Very child positive. Now, it’s not Boston but it’s not ButtF*ck, Nowhere either. If we hadn’t already committed to moving back to Ireland, we’d be in NZ in a heartbeat.
If I were in your position, I’d do it.
During the 70s, my father’s job dragged my mum and us 3 kids over to Texas, and it was utterly wonderful for us. The only problem I ever had with it was leaving.
It’s tough to make a move with nothing at the other end, but since work and (presumably) accommodation is already assured, then you’re laughing. Your kids are young and therefore adaptable. People will be looking out for your interests at the other end.
It’d also be giving your kids a great opportunity to exist in another culture and geographical region for a while. And from what I’ve heard, there’s very little to rival NZ for beauty and standard of living.
If I were in your position, I’d probably do it.
OTOH, we had friends who did just that 20 years ago, and ended up returning to America. She was a Kiwi, he an American, and they moved to New Zealand with their young daughter. Apparently they were just too citified to adapt.
I would not worry too much about the kids, especially since they are all under 10.
Would you be paid in local currency or in U.S. dollars? If in U.S., keep in mind that movements by the greenback against its Kiwi counterpart could have a dramatic effect on your local purchasing power. (Unless your employer adjusts for this by, for example, adding dollars to your paycheck if the U.S. currency weakens against the Kiwi.) The U.S. dollar has dropped 19 percent against the New Zealand dollar this year after sliding 20 percent in 2002.
I’ve been living outside the U.S. for a decade now so I’d say go for it, but then I’m single. Having a family makes the question much more complicated.
If the currency converter I used is correct, your US dollar still goes farther in NZ, say, than Canada.
I only spent a week on the South Island, but that was enough to make me think about living there. I’d say go for it!
If you’re asking what we would do, I’d have to say I’d pass. I and my family are pretty much homebodies. We like having family nearby. I can go to a local graveyard and count back at least 5 generations. My wife is having a hard time now because her mom is being transfered to a city 5 hours away by car. I can’t imagine what she’d do if we were to move halfway across the world!
OTOH, it would be tempting for a short term (1-2 year) assignment.
My wife and I went to NZ a couple of years ago to visit her family. We stayed for a couple weeks. It was the first time I had ever been there.
We traveled all around the north and south islands. It’s a very beautiful country. But then again, so is the U.S. I also saw my share of “less desirable” stuff, e.g. gang graffiti. (Graffiti was everywhere, even in the smallest towns. It really shocked me.)
So while I certainly look forward to going back, I can’t think of a single reason why I’d want to live there…