Whether you’re an international executive taking up a role in New Zealand or a family migrating to a new life, there’s so much to learn and do when you first arrive.
It’s normal to feel a range of conflicting feelings, often changing by the moment as you adjust (and eventually master!) living in an unfamiliar environment.
Based on our experience resettling thousands of new Kiwis, we’re sharing these 5 simple tips to help you get through those first, frantic, two weeks.
1. Prioritise.
What key tasks will help you feel most settled and connected to your new home?
For many of our clients it is securing a house. Others might need to find their new local watering hole or join the perfect CrossFit community.
Prioritise those things. And feel no guilt in pushing other tasks to the next phase of getting settled.
2. Practice makes perfect.
When you find yourself struggling in a particular area, invest in doing it repeatedly.
Difficult to find your way around? Put away Google Maps, and take time to get lost and discover the best route
Feel awkward at the local cafe? Make a point of eating/drinking out as often as you can until it feels comfortable.
Is driving on the left giving you nightmares? Spend your free time going for drives and building muscle memory.
You've got this.
3. Create familiarity
Make your own familiarity by building a routine.
Get a coffee from the same cafe. Cycle the same route. Catch the same train. Take your kids to the same park.
Choose a brand and make it yours, whether it is a brand of breakfast cereal or a type of shampoo.
Soon, you’ll find comfort in the familiarity you’ve made.
4. Making time for rest
Your brain is working overtime making serious and mundane decisions. Where will I live, work, send my kids to school? What will I drive? What’s my new phone number? Where do I buy a vacuum? Which side is the driver’s side? What should I call that garment? What’s the difference between all of these different breads?
In the early days, very little runs on autopilot. Pay attention when you feel fatigue, and give yourself some rest.
5. Use social media strategically.
If you find yourself overwhelmed with nostalgia for the place and people you left, you may want to take a break from social media to be present while you jump into your new life and connect in this community.
Or, social media might be a good way to connect into your new Kiwi community - from job seeking to interacting with fellow parents at your kids’ new school.
Either way, ensure that you use it in the manner which is going to benefit you.
For many migrants and expats, summer is when everyday New Zealand routines are most visible. It is informal, local and strongly shaped by place.
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand!
Mobile Relocation connects you with what you need to thrive in New Zealand. Contact us today to talk about how we can carry your relocation burden.
If you are a recruiter or HR Professional bringing international talent to NZ Mobile Relocation has a range of settlement support services to suit your candidates and your business - from baseline support to meet Immigration New Zealand’s AEWV Accreditation requirements (Kiwi Launch Pad) through to personalised programmes to support your most valued international employees.