View Full Version : We're moving!
So, we are moving to the US!
I know, crazy, right?
Well, we love Wellington, and the business is doing great (6 figure revenues!), but immigration said that we simply weren't doing well enough to get the visa. We went through all the processes at our disposal, and ultimately the answer is no.
Thus, we are excited to go and sad to leave.
A friend is taking over the business here (sort of as a franchise), I'll be carrying on the business in a new form in our new place. And, DH has not only found and applied for several jobs, but people are making noise in his direction, too.
Also, we get to completely declutter and start over again. So exciting! LOL
Yes, still in shock, but overall. . . feeling good. We've known for about a month, but we needed to get everything sewn up before telling our clients.
How does it fit here?
We're looking at going "japanese inspired" as we furnish going forward -- really practicing our minimalism. I'm psyched. :)
fidgiegirl
8-12-13, 10:44pm
Wow, Zoebird! I'm kind of shocked! Sorry it didn't work out the way you wanted, but glad you have an upbeat attitude about it. What area of the country do you think you might land in?
Yes, shocked sums it up. Surprising that they make it that hard to immigrate. Good luck with the big move.
I am surprised and sorry to read this. You all worked so hard for achieving whatever status they wanted. Just a damn shame, although the US will be lucky to have you.
iris lilies
8-12-13, 11:12pm
ah, too bad, NZ's loss!
I'm sorry, I thought you guys were going to make it, I enjoyed your Little Engine that Could updates, small increments of success in a forward moving direction.
Yeah, we totally reached all of our goals, but when they changed fees, there have been some changes to the policy, too. And, even though there's a "discretionary" element, there's this huge social/political issue going through that is basically "we're afraid anyone who immigrates is going to go on the dole." Even WETA -- which usually gets visas in 5 minutes -- is having trouble getting visas for their workers. Nearly everyone I know who isn't partnered to a kiwi had their residency visas denied, too. So, pretty major policy changes from what we can tell.
We've been living with the news for about a month, so we've been able to emotionally turn the corner.
We do feel positive.
My core value with the studio here was the community would keep on going. The studio is very healthy, and after looking over the books and everything, my friend was happy to take over. This made me very happy, too, because it means there is continuity for our clients. I'm also running a virtual studio to help my friend in any way that I can, and also still have connection with clients here (as well as my clients who have moved all over the world and/or who live where I used to in the US).
We're going to pittsburgh -- low cost of living, high quality of life, close but not too close to family, lots of job opportunities for both of us, and a steiner school for the kiddo. My sister and her family lives there, too, so that's kinda cool. DH went to university there, so he really loves the city and is really looking forward to being there again. And, we have friends relatively close by, so we'll be able to visit with them.
I've already written my business plan and through contacts, I might have a few contracts set up before I even land. So that's exciting.
Luckily, we have enough savings to move (flights, 3 months in an apartment), so we are good to go on that end.
Yes, it's sad and difficult, too. But we do feel positive about our future.
Zoe, sorry to hear you have to leave, but glad things are falling into place.
Pittsburgh is on my list of possible places to move if I decide to move.
ApatheticNoMore
8-13-13, 1:11am
A pity, coming back to this country, I don't envy you :~) NZ sounded really nice, a much higher quality of life (with the beaches, and all the local produce people were growing - it all sounded so nice), but it is what it is, all the things you cannot change.
I'm so very glad to read you will have strong family support and familiarity with where you are moving. That will make a huge difference.
My experience with returning to the states for a year or so before coming back to Japan was a bit painful. I didn't even know the going rate for a pound of potatoes, LOL!! Using a pricebook app I was able to get myself on track but there are definitely a lot of things available in the states that are unreasonably difficult to get when overseas.
Good Luck with your move =)
shadowmoss
8-13-13, 4:51am
Best of luck. Yeah, moving back from Honduras there were some things that blindsided me at how unfamiliar they now seemed. Took awhile to feel back 'at home'.
gimmethesimplelife
8-13-13, 5:53am
I have heard very good things about Pittsburgh overall - housing is very affordable there, it is very green (nothing like it's former self as the steel capital), there is good mass transit there, and the economy is really not all that bad there! Best wishes with your move and I'm sorry NZ didn't work out for you - although we have never met I feel bummed out for you as your posts were so positive and so inspiring. I'm of the opinion that it's going to be much easier going forward to get visas in places like Chile or Uruguay or similar up and coming developing countries than in the developed first world. Probably for the reason you mention - developed countries don't need new people on the dole and will be screening heavily for that kind of thing. Anyway, Pittsburgh's gain! Rob
WHAAAT!?!?!? Is NZ NUTS!?!?! Politics -- what a racket. Or maybe they know what they are doing. You busted your butt to build a solid business that will now be turned over to a Kiwi.
Totally admire your attitude. You guys so rock. I am trying to be more like you -- when stuff happens, take a deep breath, smile and carve out a path in the new reality. Really inspirational. Sad I won't get to visit you in NZ some time, though...
You should pop an email to long-time forum member madgeylou. She doesn't post so much here anymore, but is still in Pittsburg. I bet she'd be psyched you're headed that way, and I think you guys would hit it off.
Good luck with everything and keep posting when you have time! Looking forward to hearing how this all turns out for you guys.
One thing we gained moving here was the ability to really "roll with the punches." There were a lot of difficulties and surprises here, which we turned to our advantage and which strengthened us.
Yes, we were sad and upset and frustrated and disappointed. But within a week, we were dusting off and onto our next plan. We were able to organize everything very quickly, which gives us a good 8 weeks to transition the business to a new person and also organize ourselves in the US.
One thing that really excites me is the opportunity to declutter! We've already gone through clothes and papers. We need to do books and toys next. Basically, furniture is staying with the house because the person moving in purchased it from us in a bundle (put down a down-payment, and will pay the rest before we go). When we get to the US, I'm going to go through our remaining boxes with DH, and hopefully we can streamline down even further (i know that of my 4 "books and stuff" boxes, at least 2 can probably go! I've lived without them for nearly 4 years; I can't imagine needing them now.
For me, this is the best part. DH has a tougher go of it. In irony, I was thinking for about three weeks before we got notice that we really, really needed to declutter. Well, there ya go! :D
I'm excited to try to live even more minimally!
Zoebird, I totally get your excitement on getting to declutter more! :)
I've lived in Pittsburgh all my life so if you have any questions, let me know.
Wow! That's a surprise! But you guys seem to be landing on your feet. Good luck as you make the transition!
Lifelong Pittsburgh girl here too...I grew up on Mount Washington overlooking the gorgeous view of the Pittsburgh Triangle/The Point. Pittsburgh is a very friendly place to live, housing is extrememly affordable, and the universities and hospitals bring a lot of cultural diversity to the area. There are more and more things to do and places to go every year. We no longer are the city with the smoke from the mills, but a technology, educational, and medical spot with a heart! Welcome! :welcome:
When life throws you a curve ball, hit it out of the park! What a graceful exit.
Lifelong Pittsburgh girl here too...I grew up on Mount Washington overlooking the gorgeous view of the Pittsburgh Triangle/The Point. Pittsburgh is a very friendly place to live, housing is extrememly affordable, and the universities and hospitals bring a lot of cultural diversity to the area. There are more and more things to do and places to go every year. We no longer are the city with the smoke from the mills, but a technology, educational, and medical spot with a heart! Welcome! :welcome:
Hi, Valley! Lifelong Northside resident here. And yes, what Valley said!
Gardenarian
8-13-13, 7:31pm
Zoebird - I am so impressed by your ability to pick yourself up and carry on. It's really inspiring to find someone take what could be a negative situation and turn it into all blessings.
Definitely, NZ' loss.
Life is an adventure and the curves that unfold are usually a great gift, in my experience anyway. Have fun!
try2bfrugal
8-13-13, 9:46pm
Sorry NZ didn't work out for you ZB. Their loss! Good luck on the move back.
well...I'd wondered why you'd been kind of quiet lately.
There are always endings, beginnings, and changes and attitude makes all the difference between 'adventure' and 'oh no'. It's wonderful quickly and smoothing things are changing for you. Our change is taking a lot longer but it's at least beginning and I'm looking forward to finding out where it lands. I've always liked Pittsburg when we've traveled through that area for art shows - enjoy!!!
yeah, LOTS of things to organize VERY quickly. The first week was just getting lawyers and accountants and politicians involved -- just checking all avenues. Then second week was selling the business (well, getting the contract hammered out). Third week was applying for jobs in the US and sorting things for our move (tickets, my BIL is helping us find an apartment, etc). Week four has been "announcement" week -- just telling everyone bit by bit.
so, i've not been on my haunts much more than 10 or 15 minutes a day!
overall, we feel really positive about the situation, and mostly we now hold the shock and grief from our clients, friends, and so on.
There are things we will miss, of course, but we are looking forward to the opportunities in our future. I really think my business will do well in Pittsburgh, and I know that DH will find somethign quickly (there are *a lot* of jobs available).
Love to talk to locals. :D WE should start a simple living group on the ground. :)
rosarugosa
8-16-13, 7:58pm
Good luck ZB! Organic Gardening magazine recently had a great article on the green renaissance in Pittsburgh. It looks like there's a lot of good stuff going on there. At the very least, you will love US grocery prices as compared to NZ!
Yes, we just discovered the community garden in the neighborhood that we are considering. :) It looks great.
And yes. so far, we are loving *all* of the prices. A couple of months ago, I started pricing booster seats for DS (for the car). I couldn't find one less than $80 -- and those weren't the good ones. So, I decided to put it off (since he can still use his car seat), and then we got word from immigration.
We'll leave our carseat here (plunket is an organization that takes them and gives them to families in need, and the whole "history of a car seat" thing here doesn't seem to matter, btw), and I thought I'd order a booster and have it delivered to my IL's since they'll be picking us up from the airport.
I basically got the best on the market for $50! And, it'll last from now until he weighs 100 lbs, which will be a few years I think. :D
Oh no!! Well it's NZ loss but Pittsbergs gain. Good luck on the new life I'm sure it will be wonderful.
I think Pittsburgh is great--just coming out of a sleepy time in its history, but moving forward. I know that housing is very affordable, but there's also a lot to offer there.
Nice airport, too.
Hi, Zoebird, congratulations on your upcoming move....at least I think that's the word to say, given how beautifully you've taken this whole thing on. I was away when you made your announcement so I am a bit behind the times. But wishing you all the best, and thinking about how now you'll have an international franchise business perhaps even sooner than might have been.
I was also thinking you'd like the food prices (whenever I start to complain internally about Canadian prices I think of yours in NZ). Best wishes!
iris lilies
8-23-13, 10:06pm
The Victorian architecture of Pittburgh reminds me so much of St. Louis. Only Baltimore is more like St.. Louis.
Yeah, it's a pretty cool place. We're still looking for housing. It's difficult to negotiate from afar, and americans have such a different sense of space.
Found a place that is about 500 sq ft, one bedroom, and the apartment above the owner of the home. Great price, etc. She said that she felt the place wasn't large enough for us, so no. Not for three people. I thought that was strange. I figure she just didn't want ot rent with a little kid in tow.
Zoebird,
I strongly suggest you email madgeylou -- you can send her a PM through these forums, I think, or through the Mister Money Moustache forums. She is more active over there these days. She has just moved into a great apartment in Pittsburg after spending time in a neighborhood that had a lot of issues. She probably has a good sense of what neighborhoods are good value for money.
Her apartment looks awesome, btw. She posted a picture on the MMM forums recently.
lhamo,
cool. I did send her a PM here -- maybe it didn't go through. :)
My BIL is pretty facile with the area; he's lived in PGH for the last 15 years, and he has preferred neighborhoods. :D
Update!
So, I thought i'd give you an update of what's going on!
1. New Zealand:
Tying up in NZ has been going well. It's been emotional, but also surprisingly easy. The sale of the business has been going very well, and the transition has been great, too. All the chattels go with the business there, keeping things simple. A friend is taking over our cottage (so we found a tenant for our landlord), and as she doesn't own any furniture, she's buying our furniture in a bundle. We made a donation of clothes, books, and toys to the relevant donation spots. And, gave away anything to folks that we thought would enjoy that stuff (asking them first, before making donations. Now, we basically have to pack and find a buyer for our car (we have two strong leads), and we're basically done here.
2. PGH
DH has a job interview (they contacted him 1 hr after he submitted his resume!); I also have a lot of things on the line for my business. The school that we want DS to go to is open to a transfer and also suspending the fees until we are grounded. So, it looks really positive that we'll hit the ground running.
Now for the funny parts!
My family has been helping us find a place. It was causing lots of drama. Basically, everything that we wanted was causing them frustration, and everything that they wanted to do/provide for us was causing us frustration.
So, after working through my frustration a bit, I decided that everyone was really just trying to be loving and helpful, and that I might as well just let them do that. I told them so, and here is what happened:
1. my sister found an apartment within 10 hrs.
basically, we're living down the street from her. the place is nice, clean, and affordable. it's a 20 minute drive (without traffic) to where we plan on working, and a 45-60 minute bus ride.
2 my parents found two cars for us.
my sister has her old car, which she was going to sell to a friend, but instead they reconditioned and are giving that to us. But, they felt that that car is really too small to be a family car, and having just purchased a new SUV, they're going to give us their old one. because it's just too far of a commute by bus (hey, that's why we wanted the neighborhoods that we wanted! LOL).
3. everyone and their grandmother is giving us stuff.
so far, my sister has collected donations from various friends and family (everyone is just giving, she's not asking). We have 3 dining room sets (all of these include table, chairs, and china cabinet). We have two living room sets (sofa, love seat, side chair, tables, and lamps). We have 4 bedroom sets (two for children; two queen sized) -- did i mention it's a two bedroom apartment?
in addition, we've been given 4 sets of dishes (two "everyday" and two sets of china -- all service for 8 or more), as well as various kitchen items such as 3 food processors, 2 blenders, 1 juicer, and 5 sets of pots/pans/bakeware. We also were gifted a lot of "decorative items" including paintings/photographs, fake potted plants, holiday decorations for a variety of holidays.
The thing that is so freaking ironic to me is that we are minimalists, and now we have enough stuff for -- 2 households? 2.5 households?
Anyway, my sister -- who is hilarious -- has decided that she and my mother are going to decorate the apartment this weekend (since they just signed the lease on our behalf). They're going to put in the furnishings that they like, and anything else they're going to donate to charity. I connected them with jewish family services which provides housing for refugee and immigrant families, and they often need full sets of furnishings for households.
I think that all of this is very sweet, but also very funny because I wonder -- do they even know me? Like, at all? I guess not.
Anyway, in addition, my sister has decided that I need the following things: dental appointment, gynocology exam, hair cut, facial, and manicure/pedicure. My parents are paying for the first two; my sister is paying for the last three. I find this particularly hilarious. mostly because i wasn't asked, i was informed. Here are the appointment dates and times, and if you need to change them, do that by X date. LOL
My sister has also already decided when our date night exchanges will be. They like to go to karaoke on Saturday nights, and haven't been able to do that in a long while, so we'll be watching their kids at least two saturday nights a month, and then they will be willing to negotiate on one or two nights a week for us. they are busy, you know, so they may not be able to do two nights, and they definitely do not want Friday or Saturday nights becuase they get too tired. LOL!
No, seriously, I do laugh about this.
Finally, we have halloween, thanksgiving (and the day after) planned for us, plus early december (something about polar express?), plus also christmas/new years. Basically, we've been informed as to what the protocols are. I'm not exactly sure how DH's family fits in, but they have informed us of what time each dinner/event will be so that we can "make arrangements to be there." So, apparently I'm going to be in two places at once.
Anyway, the whole thing has me giggling away.
At least it's going smoothly.
This is why I made it a habit to spend the first few hours back in the US at a casino to get myself mentally back. There I was around people who speak English, but I didn't have to make any decisions or communicate. I have assured my Mom that I don't have to do that now that I'm back in the US permanently, I can go straight to her house from the airport.
iris lilies
9-8-13, 8:38am
Anyway, in addition, my sister has decided that I need the following things: dental appointment, gynocology exam, hair cut, facial, and manicure/pedicure. .
Well sure. Because you've been in a foreign land. You didn't have access to all of that there, being in that third world country and all.:laff:
I think your family is SO sweet to jump in with both feet like that. Shows how welcomed you will be, and how excited they are to have you back among them. Nothing like a few pairs of open arms to make a difficult move so much better.
fidgiegirl
9-8-13, 11:51am
I'm glad you can laugh . . . as we'd say in Minnesota: Uffda.
I agree that your family is being sweet and also that you are a WONDER to be able to relax and appreciate it. Good for you, good for them, and good for everyone for not REACTING with horror when people don't meet our expectations.
I hope your model will be good for your families when you and DH and DS arrive and start to lead your own lives.
Best wishes, zoebird. I hope you end up really enjoying it, all of it.
I think they are being very sweet and loving and welcoming, too. It's also very funny.
I know that once we get there and we get sorted, we can find our own way. It's always like that, really. I was excited to find two community gardens within walking distance from our apartment, and one of them is just starting a beekeeping process! I'm so excite to work with bees.
I'm also excited to forage, because there are chestnut trees across the street, blueberry bushes, raspberries and blackberries at the back of the one park, and my sister has a largely un-picked mulberry tree, too. And, my BIL says I can set up some compost bins in their garden. :)
I do keep having these anxious dreams about our flights -- the first that I missed the flight; the one yesterday is that I forgot all of my luggage/etc.
Zoebird, I have to agree with you that this is very amusing.
I had a chuckle to myself earlier today wondering if they're going to "over furnish" the apartment and you'll end up getting rid of some stuff? :)
My mom and sister are really good decorators who can make anything work, but they both have a very. . . ornate. . .style.
Lots of furniture, lots of stuff on the furniture, lots of decorating at holidays -- like a christmas tree in each room that has a different theme, plus also garlands on bannisters and mantles and the like -- all matching the tree themes, and special christmas cushions for the chairs/sofas, and also some special christmas paintings/arts that replace other seasonal art pieces that get switched out each month to six weeks.
My mom is thrilled with their current place because there's a big room on the first floor (which is front door, entry hall and closet, full bath, "bonus" room and garage), and that's where she organizes her seasonal dishes/decorations/stuff. She's proud though, because she used to have that room AND a big storage room. BUT she gave her storage room of seasonal decorations (or roughly half of her decorations) to my sister, who uses them in her home, which is much larger than my mom's current house. My sister and my mom also did an estate sale and each sold about 1/4 of the stuff that they'd kept in the division of the stuff into halves. They used that money to go and buy some new decorations.
I do love them. They make their houses *really* lovely during the holidays. Or any time really.
So, I'll arrive to a place that is very well appointed -- even with a lot of hand me downs and overs and what not -- and it'll all be way more ornate than I prefer, but I'll keep it that way for a fair bit until we get comfortable/grounded. It will sort of be like staying at their houses, but without them there. So, quieter.
Then, other than a few pieces that my BIL insists on "loaning" to us, I have permission to let go of whatever I wish, however I wish (craig's list, here I come). If I don't want what BIL has loaned us, then I have ot give it back to him.
I think that, over time, we'll find what works.
Our plan is to stay there for a bit and save up as much money as we can and then buy a home/income (one of the older houses split into two in our preferred neighborhood), so that we can live on the first floor (generally a two-bedroom), and then rent out the second floor (generally a 1 bedroom). Some of the places we are looking at for down the track have a studio up top. I think that would be awesome. DH agrees, and then when it's paid off and if we want, we can get another house or whatever. The other option is a twin like DH's parents have (but they only have one side) -- buying both sides and living in one. Pretty cool.
So, that's a short-range goal. I think we'll get there swiftly.
DH is lined up/prepped up for his interview tomorrow morning. I moved forward with our buyer, and also got my resume to two studios who asked for it (audition is already set up though).
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