The story of my NZ dream…

Welcome to my page… I created this blog to share to all of you my adventures, my dreams, and my thoughts. I hope you will be together with me in discovering my new country New Zealand.

It took me almost ten years before I finally decided to come here and make my dreams come true. In short 10 long years of thinking, considering, planning and dreaming.

New Zealand dream knocked once in my door last 1994 but I still do not have enough knowledge of what this country could offer me. New Zealand then was unknown to me, at that time migrating is not my ultimate goal. The chance passed by and so as time.

 Some of my friends tried their luck, they arrived in this country and was able to settle down very quickly. While Ana continued her usual life as Food Technologist and got married, settled down and had two beautiful daughters.

Years past by and soon I got in touch with my friends in New Zealand, they were telling stories of how beautiful the country is; the nice places; friendly people; promising career and economy. With those story and also due to the increasing needs of the family the NZ dream begins to come alive in my heart in the year 2000. But due to the points system, I was not able to gain the passing mark.

Knowing that I did not pass the point system, I did not lose hope. I researched alot regarding gaining additional points, about the country, about immigration policies. I think hard how to increase my points.

I told myself one day I will set foot in that country and have a good life. I continued working to gain additional experience. During that time Food Technology is not included in the shortage list yet, culinary is the one in demand that time. That is the main reason why I tried studying culinary short course and pushed myself to learn so much about cooking and baking. I have continuously dreaming and planning about how to be ready for that country.

When I was employed at Max’s Restaurant I got the chance to go to singapore for a food expo. It was my first time to leave the country and I was so excited but I did not forget to see if there’s a chance for me to visit NZ. I asked my boss if after the trip to singapore is it possible for me to go to New Zealand for 3 days. Lucky enough all of the top management gave me the go signal. What a great opportunity I told my self. But due to lack of funds, lack of time and preparation I was not able to get the visa before I leave to singapore. If that trip pushed thru I was suppose to have a scheduled interview with one of the food company in NZ. My friend gave me a sponsorship already and everything is set but God did not allowed it to happened.

I told myself maybe it is not yet God’s time…. Still, the NZ dream is in my heart. I continued working, doing the best. Learning all the things I can to improve my skills and ability.

The opportunity knocked once before and it never knocked again but well infact the point system looked like as if I do not have a chance any more. But I know policy will change soon and I know my profession will soon be included in the shortage list because I know NZ is an agricultural country.

True enough after 4 years, when I checked the website food technologist is already included in the shortage list, the point system changed. When I checked my points it is already more than the required pass mark. I jumped with joy because it is a clear sign that this is the time I have been waiting for. I started filling up the Expression of interest on line (2004) but since it was so long and I am so busy managing a big group of people I was not able to finish it. After few months I got hospitalized and got operated. The NZ dream shuttered for awhile due to my condition. I resigned from my job to recuperate well. While resting at home I tried my best to open my account at NZIS web site but I cannot remember my password. I tried for 6 months but nothing, my memory is failing me.

So I tried to forget the dream and concentrated applying for a job again. Good enough God answered my cry again, He gave me a good job in one of the biggest and best bakeshop in the Philippines. I was enjoying my job there but still the NZ dream keeps on knocking in my heart. One day I tried to log on again at NZIS website, just trying my luck if I could remember my password. I was shocked when finally I was able to open my account. From there (november 2005), I started to continue filling up the EOI form again, when I got finished I submitted and finally got selected last December 2005.

Last december I told myself that NZ dream will not sleep and it has to come true. I applied left and right for my profession. I researched for good CV formats, covering letters and other things that will give me better chance.

There were several companies who are interested and one day with my quest of searching for facts about NZ I came across the yahoo group of pinoy2nz. With that group I have found a family, family of filipinos who help each other to meet one goal, reaching NZ for better life.

I prayed alot and prepared all the things I need, money, passport, everything and finally applied for visitor’s visa and take the chance…. and the rest is history.

Now am still on a struggle, struggling to fight the loneliness, the limited funds, the fear of things after this. But since I have my pinoy2nz family supporting me, I do not feel alone.

My life is an open testimony of God’s work, God’s grace one’s life. Truly He is a living God, a God of all creations. For every trials and struggles He is giving me He never fails to send His angels to help me. I see God’s face in each member of pinoy2nz group, I see God’s face in every people who helped me here regardless of race or culture.

God never slept… God is alive as long as we try to surrender our fears to Him.

Thank you to all who have been the wind beneath my wings…