So... what's the story, you ask? Well here it is.
J, being naturally amazing and intelligent, has been promoted! Starting at the end of April, instead of driving around to lots of different meat packing plants to inspect/audit them, he will be the Supervising Veterinarian at one plant. It is a great promotion in general, and an amazing compliment to him that it happened so quickly, but the very best part of it is that he will not have to work evenings, nights, or weekends any more! Yay!!! It has been so hard these past few months to have him always at work or sleeping when I am home, and unable to even hang out on the weekends, because he is working and/or still on a nocturnal schedule. It will be so absolutely wonderful to have him home in the evenings, so we can get back to cooking dinners and eating together, or reading together, or just being able to be together and talk about our days. I am truly looking forward to that.
New Plymouth is slightly bigger than Whanganui - 53,000, as compared to 43,000. However, New Plymouth has a lot more suburban areas, and when you include the whole area, there are 74,000 people. If you look on this map of the North Island, you'll find New Plymouth on the south-western corner. (Whanganui is in small print, between New Plymouth and Palmerston North).
New Plymouth is famous for being an extremely bike-friendly city, and it has a beautiful boardwalk that runs all the way up the coast. The city is built right on the coast, so most of it is just a few minutes from the beach. (Whanganui is very close to the beach, but is actually built around the river, so the beaches are a little way out of town). People in Whanganui keep telling J and I that there is a lot more to do in New Plymouth than here - concerts, festivals, events, etc. In fact, there is a festival of lights that runs for several months every year that is apparently quite stunning. The beaches are great for surfing, and on the west tip of the island, just south of New Plymouth, there is a beautiful mountain, on which you can ski/snowboard. The resounding opinion of people in Whanganui is that we will absolutely love New Plymouth!
So... I should be happy, right? I should be jumping for joy... but I'm not. I think I will eventually, but not yet. Selfish as it is, and spoilt as I know I am for complaining about something so wonderful... I don't want to move again. I don't want to quit my job that I love and start a whole new job search. I want to stay and enjoy the hard work I have put into building relationships at Noah's Ark, and I don't want to face more time being useless and unproductive. I just barely got over that here, just barely got to the part where everything was going right, and now I have to start all over.
Of course, as I keep reminding myself (with varying degrees of success), I am not back to square one, because I have a job for the next two months, and can be looking for one in the meantime. I am hopeful that I will have something set up by the time we move, but I am also trying to be realistic. Like Whanganui, New Plymouth has no ECE job postings at the moment, so I will just have to see what comes up. I will be making a trip to New Plymouth in the next few weeks, and I will go to the Kindergarten Association there and start making connections. I find the mere thought utterly exhausting, but I will do it, and it will be fine.
I am thankful that my colleagues at Noah's Ark have been supportive and understanding of the situation. I feel like I am letting them all down, but they are being wonderful. They are genuinely sad that I'm leaving, which makes me feel appreciated, but also makes me feel guilty. But I know I would be devastated if they didn't care that I was leaving, so this is the better option.
In conclusion, this is really wonderful news, and some part of me knows that, and the rest of me will get there eventually. I know that it will be okay, and I know that whatever happens, I am so proud of J for doing so well and being recognized for it, and I will be so happy to have him home with me, in any town!
Kathy Lee here: Well, I am just gobsmacked. Do they use that term in NZ? I am of course so happy for J that he's doing so well and being recognized for his hard work. I am also thrilled for you both that he will have more regular hours. But I totally get why you are bummed! Your situation at Noah's Ark sounds ideal and you worked very hard to get into a situation you love. You have every right to feel what you feel. Of course you will adapt and thrive, there is no doubt about that, but you have had so many changes!! Anyway please pass our congratulations on to J!!
ReplyDeleteGobsmacked is a very good word, although one I have not heard very much anywhere. :) Thanks for both the congratulations and the support. I think that it will all be good, but it's not always easy. J says hi!
DeleteI am very happy for both of you on your next adventure! I am also sad that you will have to leave Noah's Ark and all of your friends you and J have made. Being J's mom, I am so very proud of him. He has worked hard for this wonderful promotion! You will be able to take up skiing now! I wish both of you the best. Hope to see you all some time soon. Now on to the worst chore of all, packing. Thank you for the latest update. Love you both very much!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim. I am proud of J, too. And we will have lots of fun in New Plymouth, and we still don't have very much stuff, so packing shouldn't be too bad.
DeleteRichard Harris
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Jay! That's wonderful. It sounds like this will be a positive move for your family after things sorts themselves out (i.e., you get a good job there). I can understand you also being a bit bummed out at this point, though, Emma. I was in New Plymouth briefly on a day trip and remember it as seeming to be a pretty attractive and interesting place--will send some photos if I have any good ones.
Have a WONDERFUL time with your dad visiting. He's probably there by now. I know he was VERY excited about this trip.
Thanks, Richard. We are have a fantastic time with Dad, and so far he seems thrilled with everything we're doing, so I think the trip is living up to his high expectations.
DeleteYes, I think once I get a job, and we are settled, we will be thrilled with this move. I am very happy that the part of our lives where J has to work nights will be fairly short. I am feeling pretty good about it now, although I am still upset about having to leave my job. But it will all be okay.
Wow! Congratulations to J. Very well done. At the same time I understand your side. It will all work out, of that I am sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lionel. As always, you are very supportive and positive.
DeleteOh my goodness - in just 6 months look at all you have experienced! How fantastic... and now you get to experience even more. Take what you have learned so far in NZ and use that info to make your next professional decisions. Remember it's not just the children but also the other teachers who benefit from your knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm about early childhood. How fortunate for New Plymouth to gain you as a member of their education community. I am happy to hear how well J's career is progressing and am confident that you will find another very satisfying professional position in New Plymouth! MD
ReplyDeleteHi Mary. As always, thank you for your support, and for your confidence in me. My fellow teachers at Noah's Ark have been very vocal about their appreciation of my contribution, which feels so good. I also feel more comfortable branching out, having this experience under my belt. I might be asking you for a reference again soon, so be ready! :)
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