Living overseas is not always easy, it is full of highs and lows, homesickness as well as adventure. Having moved to Wellington 3.5 years ago there is a lot I have learned about going through the motions and emotions of emigrating that I wanted to share with you here.
Here are 7 big things that living overseas has taught me.
Things get easier.
When I first moved to Wellington, after the initial excitement of being somewhere new, I found it extremely hard to settle. It was a bit of a shock to me that I felt like this as I have moved around a lot and expected to cruise through as usual. But for the first year, maybe even 2 years, I was very homesick and confused about what the hell I was embarking on. There was no endpoint to my time in NZ and I was now with an Aussie and the whole thing was looming and intimidating.
But after 3.5 years of being here, I have sort of just gotten used to it. This is life now and I am making it work and thriving. We, humans, have a great capability to adapt and I think I have just adapted, simple as that.
Its is possible to have more than one home
The concept of home is such a weird one. We associate it with where we live, but when you become an immigrant it has more than one meaning. For me, home will always be York, where I grew up, but it is now also Wellington too, where I live my life. I know it won’t always be Wellington though and at some point, I will have a new home after which Welly too will have its own special meaning.
I think what I have learnt through this is to take the sentiment lightly, home is where you are and where you want it to be. All the special places you live throughout life make you who you are and there can be one or many homes.
Family will still love you
Your family won’t forget about you when you move overseas! This is something I have learnt. It’s very hard not to have family in your immediate life but it doesn’t mean they forget you. Just as you don’t forget about them.
I have learnt the importance of getting used to this new form of normal and to respect the emotional energy it takes out of the family who are left behind too. This aspect is never a finished product – it is an ongoing journey full of ups and downs!
Material things don’t matter
Having moved away with just a suitcase and getting rid of all my own stuff it is safe to say that I have realised that material things have little value. Of course, in 3 years we have built up stuff again but it goes to show that you can find what you need. We have furnished our house really cheaply and with predominately second-hand stuff and it has been super cheap as well as fun. People sometimes feel so attached to their things but at the end of the day, none of it really is important.
You will make friends
This is a tricky one, especially in later life, making new friends in a new place can seem like such a huge task. And let’s be honest, it kind of is. When you move somewhere new without a university course or school to attend, the only obvious place to meet people is at work and that can be limiting. I found it quite tricky to make friends when I first moved to Welly but somehow over the course of 3 years, it has happened. Funnily enough, we met our best friends here camping in a backcountry hut. You just never know where you will meet people. The trick is to stay open and not be afraid to suggest swapping numbers.
There are plenty of people in the same boat
I have learnt, through moving to Wellington and especially through writing this blog, that there are so many people in the same boat. There are so many people going through the same emotions, having the same issues and challenges and it’s helpful to know that you are not alone. Moving overseas is such a common thing these days, there is always someone who can chat about the same experiences with you.
There are many people who would love to be in your shoes
Whenever I am going through a challenging patch in life, I often think about how lucky I am to be in the position that I am in. I have managed to emigrate to New Zealand with little to no practical issues. This is a position that so many people would love to be in. Finding a way to emigrate for many people is not an option, I am lucky to have options and I cherish this. I do not take it for granted and although a lot of it can feel hard, I appreciate this unique position and all that it brings.
I hope this provided some value to anyone going through the highs and lows of being an immigrant!
Thank you for being here.
Come back soon!
Josie x
