We Have a Place! Also.... Schools

Well, we have a temporary place. We booked a furnished AirBnB for a few months to bridge us until our container with our home goods arrives. Hopefully, by then we’ll have found a long-term rental or a house for purchase but the market is tight. TIGHT. The AirBnB is in a great neighborhood, near family, and enough space for us all. Bonus is hubs has an office. He’ll be working California hours for a while so he definitely needed a room with a door, not just a desk somewhere in the house.

The kids are enrolled in the fourth term of grades 6 and 7 when it starts in October. The primary school we are zoned for was incredibly helpful. Very simple process to enroll both kids and they’ve been able to answer all my questions so far.

It’s been an emotional rollercoaster to say the least. One day I am completely not worried about the kids and their integration into a new school, and the next it’s the top of my list. On the one hand, they are essentially missing 6 months of a school year and it will take them a while to catch up. They will likely need some tutoring and extra work. On the other hand, they are both pretty good students and while I’m sure it is going to be difficult, certainly high school would be harder. Plus, they both have a math tutor right now over the summer to keep them on track. I mean, surely math would be the hardest thing to keep up with, right? I don’t know what else to do to make this a smooth process for them other than jumping in and giving them all the support they end up needing. Especially with math because Lord knows I stopped being able to help with any type of math after their fourth grade. I understand the Ministry of Education can also supply some grade-appropriate materials in MIQ as well so we’ll see how that goes.

Also, friendships. The emotional part in my opinion at this age is more important than the academic. Being the new kid is hard at any age. Our kids are great. Funny, interesting, kind and smart, and I’m really confident they’ll make new friends. But I also remember what it was like when I was the new kid. I’m definitely an introvert and I struggled to find my people. I still do. But I don’t think my kids will have the same struggles. I’m hoping video games, bikes, and pizza will help break the ice.

I don’t know what else I’m missing but if I learn anything new I’ll let you know.

I’m on a few Facebook Groups for kiwis immigrating home and let me tell you, if you don’t already know, every kiwi and their dog is trying to get home. Literally dogs. MIQ spots are scarce, booked through December as of now. There are so many people trying to get home to see their families and loved ones, and the process is daunting and strict. Hubs and I have talked of moving back to NZ for years and the timing was never right. Honestly, I am the one that dragged my feet, but that’s a whole ‘nother post. In January 2020 we set the wheels in motion to ‘make the move’ in late 2021. We know how 2020 panned out and the first half of 2021 has been better but still cringy. Thank goodness for vaccinations. The pandemic made everything more difficult. All of a sudden there were so many more visa applications. Stress on the supply chain made fewer shipping containers available so the cost of shipping containers has increased. MIQ is a thing. Fewer flights out from the US. In fact, as of today, there are exactly two flights a week that fly out of the entire US to NZ. In the beginning of the pandemic, one of my biggest fears was that we would be leaving and I wouldn’t be able to safely hug my family goodbye.

Now my fear is if I leave to visit, I won’t be able to come back.

But one thing at a time. We have flights, MIQ reservations and a place to stay once out of MIQ. The kids are enrolled and hubs has a place to work. Thanks honey!

So the question is, what the heck am I going to do with my time there since I can’t work right away?