Lately, I've been thinking about what to talk about on my Instagram account and what exactly you'd like to read here. More than obvious you want to know more facts and so here we go - I'll release what exactly I did to make this reality (only a dream before) come true or how I found myself in New Zealand!
Queenstown, New Zealand Photo by an amazing german photographer Jana Maertins
It's 100 % truth - I'm now living in New Zealand, at least for a year. At the moment I still have 9 months to spend here, if I decide to not expand my visa for 3 more months. Time really flies!
Everything started with an idea and inspirational Instagram photos from friends. Not even the closest ones, but when you come from a small city in Latvia, everyone really knows everyone. As soon as I kept on looking at how different New Zealand is, and understanding how far I would have to fly - that was the moment "it's challenge time", this is what I want to do. You already might know that I love challenges. Everything that is not typical to daily routine and asks for extra discipline, anything that might help me become a better version of myself.
Time to change
It's never easy to make that final decision, especially if you're like me, never been away from home for more than 16 days. Hilarious, right? I spent 16 days on a trip to the US and Canada last summer, thanks to my previous job. Still missing my awesome colleges.
Venice Beach, LA, summer of 2019
I didn't want to get too excited about the opportunity to go to New Zealand just yet. Every country issues quotas for how many people can get a Work & Holiday visa for a year. For Latvians, there are only 100 visas like the one I hold at the moment. Yes, I got lucky!
Visa allows me to work and travel in New Zealand for a year. I can work for one employer for max 3 months and I can live in whichever city or place I want.
Steps to make before moving
Changing life upsidedown of course takes some nerves and guts to say NO to so many things. It's crazy if I go back to the time I made all these decisions I'll line up just in a second for you. I think everyone has to prepare themselves for lifechanging moments, it's not easy even to say it out loud. The emotional part is also very important - that I understand only now because I thought it will be much easier.
Telling family - very important to begin with this one, because imagine what they'd think if accidentally someone else would tell them faster than you do! That wouldn't be pretty. The family includes all the people you love and they love you unconditionally. They care about you the most, although sometimes they might seem a bit "cold". As soon as I decided to apply for a visa, I slowly started to mention that I might be trying something new, traveling New Zealand for a while. Result: by the time I had to leave, everyone knew everything and didn't have to experience the shock effect.
Leaving the hobby - definitely the most difficult part for me. I used to dance since 1st grade, which makes it at least 15 years of dancing. Last 6 seasons I spend dancing in Folk Dance Group "Dizdancis". This was the case when hobby grew into an almost like a 2nd job. There I understood and learned the lesson - the more you do, the more people will notice and judge you. Being a part of this amazing Latvian folk dance group gave me not only the proudest moment of my entire life (so far) but also let me learn some tough lessons.
Part of the project I managed "Dizdana 4 seasons", summer of 2018 Proto by Kalvis Liepnieks
Everything started to go the wrong right in the biggest event in Latvian cultural life "Dance and Song Festival". I could talk about this event and folk dances forever but this isn't the right time or neither the right post. The hard times came, I started to feel disrespected and it was time for me to leave people I called my 2nd family. I still love them very much and believe one day I might be back!
Latvian Dance and Song Festival, Riga, 2018, right after the final concert
Saving up the money - trust me, this is very important. Money is a tool that can change and affect people. Moving to a new country (especially if the wealth level is higher) isn't cheap so I started to save up at least 6 months before moving. Still, it wasn't enough so I end up taking a loan just to be sure that I will have the money till I find a new job. Fact: New Zealand Work and Holiday visa require to have 2,4 k EUR on bank account when entering the country.
Montreal, CA, summer of 2018, part of my business trip. Time is money, maybe treat both the same way
Quitting the job - for the last year I worked in an amazing Latvian company. I became a part of Draugiem Group, which I really wanted since I remember myself looking for a job. It's definitely one of the best places to work, the best places I can imagine myself working for someone. My role was, of course, related to sales (Account Manager). I helped companies' biggest clients to grow, maintain relationships, and succeed in print-on-demand business. Here I learned so much and a bit more than I'd ever imagine. The decision to quit came suddenly, about a month before I had to leave. Remember the company is relying on you so you can't just leave, be responsible, give the 1 to 3-month notice. I remember feeling very sad on my 1st day off - I officially had no job. Somehow it made me go to an extremely dark place in my mind for 2 days.
Sales team, Printful - Latvia, October of 2019
Saying goodbye to your home - as I didn't have my own place, so I just had to decide when would be a good time to be without my own place, which for me was 3 days before leaving Latvia. It took one day to pack the whole apartment and one more day to get all the stuff to my moms'. Most of the things I sold, some gave to charity and the rest just left in my old room. Never know, I might use something when I return.
She's amazing, my mom is always there for me and she thinks I'm awesome! Celebrating Midsummer 2019, Latvia
Ready to go!
I did get the visa approved, I went to doctors for some signatures and checks. Also, right before I left I was free from a job, with no on-going hobbies or extra activities. The last stop was a shop. I went to get me a proper backpack (imagine backpacker without a backpack), some last-minute small things I was missing.
It's not hard to actually leave the country, it's hard to make that decision and step up! I know it might be scary but as soon as you start moving and doing, you change to the best, your mind opens up. No one will ever take away the experience you have and it's worth more than any loan you can take for yourself.
Me and the new backpack, at the airport, right before the trip started, Riga - Latvia, November of 2019
Thank you for supporting me! Also, thank you organization "Jauniešu Celojumi" for helping out with 1st step. If you're from Latvia, they're amazing, be brave and apply for any of their programs.
In the next post, I'll write more about how is life here. What to expect, and how New Zealand can change your point of view.
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