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You are here: Home / Reflections on Life / Expat Adventures / Being an Expat / Good Morning New Zealand! Land of the long white cloud! | Migration Tales

Good Morning New Zealand! Land of the long white cloud! | Migration Tales

16th June 2018 By Jonelle

Wow! What a journey! I’m not going to lie. I still have this feeling that I’m going to wake up and realise that I had actually been dreaming. Instead, I’m still sitting in a Home Affairs office, fast asleep because I’ve been there for hours waiting for nothing to happen. Yeah being here is weird – in the sense that I didn’t think it would EVER happen! I started making plans for if things don’t work out – but here we are!

When I was 18, I visited New Zealand and I fell in love.

I fell in love with everything about this place. I remember sitting on the plane to Sydney on my way home, just sobbing my heart out. I cried and I vowed I’d be back.

When I got home, I applied to law school but I didn’t get in. If I had, I would have moved back immediately. As life often does, it showed me that my plans are not necessarily meant to be and so my life carried on.

Never give up on your dreams

Seventeen years later, a dream I had never given up on has finally come true. Just after midnight, the plane descended and I saw the lights down below. The city that will be home. We got back to our accommodation and I had a nap while the husband entertained the toddler. At 5, I woke up and it was his turn. Oden finally went to sleep just before 8am.

So I was sitting in the lounge listening to the happiest birds singing – watching the garden as night turned to day. Being Capetonian means seeing the green grass was a little bit shocking. It took me a minute to adjust to the colour! I’m sitting here alone, trying to take in every second of this first day.

View this post on Instagram

Good morning New Zealand. Wow, one hell of a journey to get here but here we finally are!! #home #newzealand #waikane #thisgreen

A post shared by Jonelle (@jonelledupont) on Jun 16, 2018 at 1:00pm PDT

The first day of the rest of our lives.

It’s weird isn’t it. The feeling of peace that can come from a new beginning. Somehow everything feels hopeful and filled with excitement for what is to come. New Zealand certainly will not be without challenges but I’m ready to tackle those on.

Saying good-bye to our life in Cape Town, our family, our friends, our home, our “normal” was so hard.

It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Saying goodbye to my house was heart breaking. It is just a house but it’s the house my son was born in. It’s the house we started our married life in. It’s the house we grew our family in.

View this post on Instagram

I built this closet when we bought our house. Today we swap our dream house for our dream life. I'm filled and overwhelmed with emotions. I'm excited but I'm terrified. This move has been something I've dreamed of for seventeen years and today that comes true. Deep breath. #welivedhere #movingon #migrationtales

A post shared by Jonelle (@jonelledupont) on Jun 14, 2018 at 11:18pm PDT

 

It was literally my dream house. It ticked ALL the boxes…and now, I’ve traded in that dream house for the dream life.

I’m so surprisingly calm right now. There is no panic. There is no stress. There are no what ifs.

It’s probably the jet lag, tomorrow I will no doubt be facing my new reality with different worries and concerns but for today, I’m just taking in this moment. For this moment right here, is perfect!

Hello New Zealand.

Thank you for welcoming us with open arms!

Filed Under: Being an Expat, Blog Tagged With: follow your dreams, following your dreams, life purpose, migration, moving countries, moving to New Zealand, New Zealand

Previous Post: « Final days in Cape Town | Migration Tales
Next Post: The first week in our new country! | Migration Tales »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam says

    21st June 2018 at 9:12 pm

    So glad you made it! South Africa misses you, sad we didn’t get to meet. Enjoy this new chapter of your life.

    • TyrannyofPink says

      21st June 2018 at 11:16 pm

      Thank you! South Africa will be missed and who knows, perhaps one day on a visit we will still meet <3

  2. Melissa Javan says

    17th June 2018 at 9:27 am

    Jonelle, it was possible! Welcome to New Zealand ?? I’m excited to hear how everything unfolds.

    • TyrannyofPink says

      21st June 2018 at 6:32 am

      Thank you so much!! I can’t believe it!

  3. Diana Studer says

    17th June 2018 at 12:56 am

    Can’t hardly believe it!
    I look forward to your unfolding story.

    • TyrannyofPink says

      21st June 2018 at 6:33 am

      Thank you Diana! I can’t hardly believe it myself! Thankful to wake up to the beautiful greenery though. You would be in awe of the lovely gardens and green lush areas!

  4. Taryn says

    17th June 2018 at 12:30 am

    Thank you for the inspiration my friend! I won’t give up until my dreams have become a reality. ?

  5. Taryn says

    17th June 2018 at 12:00 am

    “The feeling of peace that can come from a new beginning. Somehow everything feels hopeful and filled with excitement for what is to come.”

    This is what I am working towards right now. This exact quote above is what I am striving for with my dreams.

    Thank you for showing me that dreams do come true.
    Enjoy your new home. ?
    You deserve all the happiness in the world. ?

    • TyrannyofPink says

      17th June 2018 at 12:20 am

      Don’t you give up on those dreams! If you have enough determination, it doesn’t matter how long it takes to make them come true, it just matters that you do! Thank you my friend, all the love! xoxo

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Hi, I’m Jonelle

I write things, I make art, I like good food, wine, a whisky after a rough day and I’m always up for a new adventure. I believe we can all contribute to a better world and we should do it while living authentically. I answer to “mommy,” live in Wellington New Zealand with my family and work for Local Goverment. Welcome to my blog…

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