07 July 2015

 

I almost can't believe we've made the decision to go and are able to follow it through!

Returning to Germany has been a dream I have held dearly for a quarter of a century.  Yes, 25 years!

We've got our passports; are watching Skyscanner daily; have made a short list of what we absolutely have to get done before we go; and have been earnestly finding out about what to do, what to see, and how it might all work.

It's times like this you're grateful for checklists.

 

We thought we'd ease the children into the possibility of culture shock by landing in an English-speaking country first - which may as well be England as flights are economical.

Then it's off to Tuebingen (Germany) and beyond.

Using the bi-lateral visa waiver agreements that New Zealand has with specific European/Schengen countries, we can stay for up to 3 months per 180 days.  I wish we could secure a Residency Permit for Germany that allowed us more time and greater flexibility there but you need to have an offer of work, a study placement or a spouse/immediate family member there to re-unite with to even have a chance.  Some countries accept a prescribed amount of funds as another method of longer-term entry, but that's not the case with Germany unfortunately.

 

My focus is on making Tuebingen home so that is where I am currently trying to find accommodation and have been looking into family-friendly activities too. 

Housing if we are fortunate to find the right place will still be 3 - 4 times what we were paying on our mortgage and about double what we might be able to rent our home out if furnished.  At the upper end of the market housing in Tuebingen is around 8 times dearer.  That's hugely disproportionate before we even start to look at food, transport and activities.

 

Anyway I thought I'd jot down a few ideas about how you might decide on a place to call home:

  • Do you want to go somewhere similar or different?
  • Are you happy about coping in a place where the language / currency / customs / weather are a change from what you are used to or not?
  • Do you want access to specific activities / events / resources?
  • Do you have special criteria based on your health, vocation or family status? ie must be easily walkable, or have stable wi-fi
  • Are there images you've seen or recommendations people have given you that pique your interest?

 

While for some there may be a 'right' or a 'wrong' answer, I would venture to suggest that any place will be a valuable experience!

 

Once you have a few guidelines for what you want to find you'll want to explore and eventually narrow down your options.  So:

  • Take a cursory look at the country's national tourism website and media.
  • Find the regional and local tourist information bureaux websites.  Scrolling back through any social media site they have will show you what activities and events happen at the time of year you want to be there.  Scout out the calendar of upcoming events too.
  • Look at photos on Flickr or via a browser image search - this is a good way to gauge the weather.
  • Find the local government website where an introduction to new residents to the area might be written detailing it's services; and most often there are useful street maps to download. 
  • Search ex-patriot forums & websites of people who live there for inside tips, opinions & raw observations. Remember though that you will need to filter everything through your own unique situation.
  • Think about the things that you (and your family) like to do in your own area, and find out if they are available in your prospective home too.  A local inner city business marketing agency website is a help to finding specific products and services 
29 May 2015

 

After more than 2 years keeping an eye on the market it seems ever-increasingly remote that we will be travelling around New Zealand in our own mobile home (despite writing the e-book below!).  We did look at rentals but didn't find one that was seat-belted and slept seven let alone capable of sustaining a freedom-camping lifestyle.

The next idea was home-stays (holiday homes) which we still might be able to do, but after letting our options sit and reflecting on our situation the long-term goal of travelling to Germany/Europe came back into focus again.

 

Over the last few years we've saved at least a third of what we've been told to budget for a year-long adventure.  It's enough to get us to Germany for 3 months and back again - that's all.  Obviously we still want to see other countries after going all that way so we are selling anything we can on Trademe, have launched our e-book and a GiveALittle campaign to bring our dreams to life.

The more we raise the longer we can travel and the more experiences we can share together as a family while we are away.  Here's what we are thinking about the different scenarios.

 

Both Trademe and Gumroad (where our e-book is hosted) take a commission on sales, whereas Give a Little doesn't charge any fees for fund-raising.  You've got to love them for that!  What we'd like to do with Give a Little is run a Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK) fund-raiser.  You know how much we love RAOKs - they were our entire focus every week last year!  For your donation you can claim a RAOK for someone else get a little something in return.

CHECK IT OUT

 

One other way to support us if you need to buy contact lenses, glasses, books, natural health products or anything from Cafepress is to click the link from our website, so we might receive a reward for referring you to places we use ourselves.  

 

WILL THESE FUND-RAISING IDEAS WORK?  Perhaps.  Maybe.  We sure hope so.

 

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BY SHARING OUR DREAM WITH THE WORLD

BUY OUR BOOK     BUY OUR STUFF     GIVEALITTLE

 

♥ THANK YOU ♥

30 September 2014

Sculpture, Wellington

 

Keeping safe while you are away is something on the minds of all of us, not least those travelling with minors or visiting countries where there is known unrest.
 
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have set up the SafeTravel website to help Kiwis venturing overseas with:
 
 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides advice on security and safety risks in many destinations. This advice is based on information from a number of sources. It reflects risks, and our assessment of what these might mean for New Zealanders.

Our assessment may also take account of the actions local authorities are taking to minimise the risk, and our ability to provide you with assistance.

 
  • advice before you go
    Quick checklist and tips, Disability information, Going to Australia?, Health and travel, Passports and visas, Travel insurance, & Work and income benefits.
 
 
  • what to do if things go wrong  
    Arrest and detention, Death, Financial difficulties. Hostage taking and kidnapping, Illness and injury, Internet dating scams, Internet fraud and international scams, Lost, stolen or damaged passport, & Missing persons.
 
 

SafeTravel is the official registration facility for New Zealanders travelling or living overseas. If you register with us, we're able to relay important information and account for your safety and wellbeing, as part of New Zealand's consular response to an overseas emergency.

Registration is free, the process is easy to follow and all New Zealand citizens and their families are entitled to sign up.

 

Alongside using SafeTravel carry with you the contact details for the NZ embassy in your overseas destination(s) - fold it up and keep it in your passport or documents folder.  Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.  Bear in mind that staff at embassies can give you advice with the aim of helping you to help yourself.  You still have to do the leg-work.

 

Image credit Nick James CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 

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