the Ministry of Education states they will randomly inspect you. We went 6 years without being inspected. I don't know if they don't bother with it anymore, but our last year, they DID come to our home and inspected all we did. They notify you in advance. I think they gave us a 2 week heads up. It went smoothly. They are pretty nice and want to work with you. They just want to check that you are doing what you stated you will be doing on your application among other things stated in a previous post. But, they do check. I just don't think they check often. Regarding racial tolerance, I am Asian and never felt descriminated against while we were there. But I had an American accent. So that might have helped. Funny, whenever we were talking in public, everyone especially children would turn and stop to listen/look at us. I just thought they enjoyed hearing real live American accents like on their tvs! :001_smile: Something interesting... NZ is very trendy and up on fashion by the way. It's hard to find really plain clothes! I had to hunt around. But that's probably because I just didn't know what stores had what being a foreigner and all. I was totally surprised to find our little country town so fashionable! Please, let us know what you decide.

We were originally from Southern California. We were looking for a better environment for our children. We had a friend who lived in NZ. We researched it and found it to have a lot of things we thought we'd like and could live with. We were planning to live there permanently and got permanent residency. We lived there for 7 years and decided it no longer was a place we'd want to live. So, we moved back. We now live in Texas! We actually lived in a small town 2 hours away from Dunedin. We traveled to Dunedin almost every month for hospital/medical reasons, bigger and better shopping, tourist stuff, etc. I liked NZ. I agree with the pros given from other posters. And I agree with the cons given. I like it but I was homesick the moment we stepped off the plane. I was excited to move to some place different because I lived in California almost my whole life. So, it didn't hit me until we got there that it is far away from my extended family! Also, I missed out on the last 2 years of my mother's life. So did my children. When making the decision to move to another country, I never factored in that someone in my family would die while I was away . It is something I will always regret! I enjoyed all the pros of NZ, especially making wonderful friends. I coped (but not very well) with what I thought were the negative sides of NZ. BUT, if I had factored in my extended family... I personally would have not wanted to live there long term. If I had the money, I would do what some of my American friends that I met while in NZ do.... 6 months here, 6 months there!!! For me, it's as the saying goes: It's a nice place to visit. But I wouldn't want to live there (permanently). :o One more negative that I don't think anyone has mentioned is that their type of government, Parliamentary, is too liberal (we're very conservative), "in your face/home", and the referendums are non-binding. For instance, and I don't want to get into a debate, they just made it illegal to spank your own child! 80% of New Zealenders disagreed with this law, and enough signatures were gathered to make a referendum. But the government did not budge! The conservative party even compromised their first position of being against it. But it is a pretty place! :o We homeschooled the entire time we were there. Bought a SMALL home there. We freighted our belongings back and forth as well. PM if you have any questions.

But then God literally stirred up my heart. This happened when I was about a Christian for more than 20 years. I felt like my Christian walk was on cruise control and nothing "spiritually" exciting going on. I'm not saying our faith depends on feelings, but something was somehow missing. We were even planning an exciting move to another country. That excitement disappeared about 3 days after the move. Then it hit me! Everything familiar was now gone. I didn't like it one bit. My heart became increasingly sad to the point that I knew all I had was to rely on God. My world was shaken up and not on cruise control anymore! I'm not saying this may be you. But for me, I had to be given a chance to react the way Scripture teaches. I was living the Scriptures not just reading/believing it! It's been almost 8 years since then and we've even moved back to the states. But I'm still being put in unwanted situations where I am relying on Him and His Word! Even though I had a strong faith in God already, I become so much closer to God when I have nothing but to rely on Him. I hope this makes sense.

With my first, I just leaked slowly all day long. I didn't think it was my water but I went into labor that evening and the nurses said that it was my water. I didn't know it could happen that way! Best wishes to you and your family, Aubrey!!!! :001_smile:

We eat a lot of lamb that I have cooked. I love it! I'm not sure if your meat is spoiled but it DOES smell and taste worse (IMHO) as the age increases of the animal before it is slaughtered and the amount of time passed after the slaughter. My first experience was eating mutton. YUCK! YUCK! I couldn't stand mutton. Mutton is older. BUT I love lamb!! That is good. I had to ask my farmer friends about the types of meat. There is lamb, hoggit, mutton. I can't quite remember the order, but lamb is the youngest. Also, fresh butchered hoggit and mutton actually taste good as well. I think my first taste of mutton was not fresh!

One of which is in heaven. I would have liked more. But my body is done making babies (early menopause). I hope we can adopt!

I am still learning! My most recent lessons have been to not be selfish, self-centered, and impatient. Things aren't always about me, me, me/what I want!

But here are our stats: ds born at 11am dd1 born at 6pm dd2 born at 1pm They will go to sleep around 8:30-10pm and wake about 8-9am. Times dependent on events. The noticeable thing about my kids is that their sleeping rythms are in sync for the most part. Please post the results! :001_smile:

My dad is in a nursing home too. So, I can relate.:grouphug:It IS very hard to see how life is in the later years.

is homeschooling vs. public school. Those against homeschooling will jump on situations like this to prove their point. This does not occur only or even in mostly homeschool situations. I think this is not a logical conclusion.

GOD IS GOOD!!! Glory to His name! ....and it inspires me to see how you were faithful and trusting God eventhough you couldn't see how things were going to work out! I praise God with you. I'm listening to praise music right now and in the worship mode already. So, reading your praise report was an added and unexpected blessing and testimony to me! :hurray:

jelly! ick!

But I am! I need to chill out sometimes because I WANT everyone in the house to be like me.... Alas, I'm the ONLY one around here. :001_smile: Any hints on how to get others to be like that? or maybe it is just a personality thing, huh? and we need balance in the world!

I wanted to thank you and rep you... but I have to spread it around before I give you more! :001_smile: That's frustrating......

Here in NZ, from a farmer it's usually around $NZ 3.50 for a dozen. At the store, about $NZ 3.39-3.99. For 25 eggs, $NZ 6.99. I think the conversion rate right now is about $NZ 1 = $US .76. I guess this is something I should put under the "irrational fear" thread. Eventhough they say that they wipe it with a papertowel, I still see the chicken stuff on a few! Freaks me out. I was always washing the eggs with a bit of soap and water then dry with paper towel. Maybe I will just wipe with damp paper towel, no soap? I didn't know what was best!

Sorry for this dumb question. But, when I receive/purchase fresh eggs from a farm, am I suppose to wash them, wipe them? If so, what's the best way?

nt

Eventhough I think some of my college education classes were useful, the most memorable lessons I have learned were from student teaching and being mentored. Watching, listening, and gathering info from actual teachers also contributed to my education!

Hope all works out!

I have had chronic conjunctivitis (not the contagious kind) because of dry eyes since I was a child! Problems come and go. I even had abrasions/ulcers come about over a two-year period several year ago. That's cleared up (Thank God!) but left a small scar on one of my eyes that impairs vision a great deal. Anyway, I found that taking omega-3 fish oil has helped tremendously with my dry eyes! I know you weren't asking about that.... sorry. I just wanted to share in case you haven't tried that yet because it has helped heaps! :001_smile: Now, back to your original question! I use those cocoon sunglasses and have clip ons as well. I like having both. Before I had clip ons (just this year), I always used the cocoon ones. It was convenient because they are easy to take off and on. I don't mind the way they look either. I kind of liked the way they looked on me anyway. Maybe because I don't have a strong fashion sense I guess! However, when I DO want to look a little more fashionable, I like the clip ons (or if I can't find my cocoon ones). For clinical reasons, I'd wear the cocoon ones. And it helps. I'm not sure if I helped but that's my experience with the two. :001_smile: Can you get both or do you have to choose? I wasn't intentionally getting the clip ons. I needed new glasses and just happened to like the style of the Magic Clip brand. So the clip on sunglasses were just an added extra at first. I just don't like the hassle of taking it off and on. I even scratched my eye glasses the first time I tried to take the clip ons off. It was tricky. I purchased the frames/clip ons only on-line for about $95 if I remember correctly. Oh, and someone told me that big sunglasses are in right now (movie stars are wearing them???). Not that it would matter to me....

Can't wait to read your intro! And if you want, PM if you want to ask any questions about NZ! :001_smile:

He was on a navy ship's phone in the Pacific. We were talking about how the word "girlfriend/boyfriend" doesn't seem to fit what we are to each other. So, then he cleared his throat.... and proposed over the phone! :001_smile:

We went driving everywhere (my sister's house, the beach... all over the city); all night as well! I didn't want to go back to my apartment because my roommate was mad at us for laughing too loud the night before. We kept her up! At the end of our driving adventure around 6am, my dh told me he liked me! :auto::001_wub:

You are not alone!:grouphug: Praying that you be strong, calm, hopeful, encouraged, teachable, self-controlled, wise, in His peace, and most of all focused on the Lord through all that you are going through! Singing this helps me focus back onto the Lord and not the situation: Turn your eyes upon Jesus.... Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace! In Jesus' name, Amen!!!!

nt