In 2003, I would have traded my lifestyle with a capuchin monkey mired in quicksand. I was in the middle of a divorce with a man who thought he was the Buddha. I took a job in Phoenix and found I couldn’t breathe. I spent months gasping down more steroids than oxygen. My weight ballooned and I was hardly Kate Moss to start with. My job often left me with tears in my coffee, tears in my coffee. And it didn’t help that I’ve never much liked Carly Simon.
One day something clicked. This wasn’t about diets or weight. This was about LIFE. I wasn’t going to wait to get skinny to have fun anymore. I decided to trade Netflix DVDs watched on a cheap sofa for a life of ACTION and ADVENTURE. But movies had given me an idea.
It’s the Hobbit’s Fault
Or maybe Viggo Mortensen’s. Either way, the Lord of the Rings sucked me in like Alice into the Looking Glass. So never having visited and knowing no one, I packed my bags and moved from the USA to the REAL Middle Earth. I vowed that when I got to New Zealand, life would be more than Twinkies and tears.
The plan worked.
In my years in New Zealand, I’ve jumped out of a plane at 12,000 feet, snorkeled with blue mao mao and stingrays in one of Jacques Cousteau’s favorite dive spots, black water rafted by the soft blue light of glow worms, climbed volcanoes and ridden in stunt planes just for starters.
I haven’t magically transformed into a slim Lothlorien elf, but this plump Hobbit has had many fine adventures.
Don’t let being round keep you down. Join me in living life beyond size and get off the couch with confidence.
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Melanie,
I love your blog! I am seriously considering doing what you did for many and varied reasons. Do you think I should visit NZ first or just go for it? From your experience, what do you think? Did you have much money when you moved? Did you buy a house right away or rent? Was it easy to make friends? Did you like your work?
Am I asking way too many questions?? hehehe
I’m doing all kinds of research on my own, I’m a librarian after all. There are librarian jobs available that I’ve seen online. Do you recommend doing the paperwork yourself? What do you think about these assessment companies that charge you money?
Hope to talk to you soon!
Cheers! Pepper from California
Hi Pepper,
I’ll send you an email!
Hi Melanie,
I’m considering making the jump for similar work/life balance reasons. Your immigration series of posts were very interesting – I actually have a number of the same questions Pepper above did. If you have the time I’d love to trade emails and find out a bit more about your experiences with both the immigration process and life as an expat in general.
Cheers!
Jon
Sure Jon. Drop me a line.