The Preparation....

When we were on holiday here in July last year we had already decided the businesses we wanted to set up, now it was just a matter of timing and when we would do it. While we were here we took our children to the Port Vila International School to see what we all thought...this was key as if it was not a good school and we didn't get buy in from the children it was going to be questionable as to whether we all moved.

Thankfully the school impressed us and although the children were, of course, apprehensive of the prospect of leaving NZ we decided that it was definitely something we could and wanted to do.

A very funny moment on day one of this term when we read the school sign...hmmm might teach spelling at home! Just joking it is actually a fantastic school!

Lagoon Beach Apartments - the resort we have stayed at for the  past 7 years when holidaying in Vanuatu - highly recommend! 

http://www.lagoonbeachvanuatu.com/

We returned home thinking that we would prepare to come over in 2015! However, opportunities in Vanuatu presented themselves quicker than we had anticipated and the principal of our NZ school suggested that Year 6 for our eldest son Jack would be a good year to do something like this.

The wheels were set in motion and planning started, Jono of course focusing on the business working with Jason and myself on the logistics of leaving our house, animals and school.

It was an extremely busy, and at times stressful, 7 months!

Our friends and family have been incredibly supportive and to be honest there were times pre leaving last month I thought that if I hadn't had their support it would have been a whole lot harder for us. I will miss them a lot but I am also looking forward to meeting new people and creating new friendships.

My very supportive and gorgeous friends! There are many more of them...these are the girls that I headed to Auckland with for a friends hens party just before leaving NZ.

Understandably the children have been apprehensive, especially Jack who at 10 was very worried about not meeting any new friends and feeling like his friends in NZ would forget him. It doesn't matter how many times you tell children that 6 months is not that long, in their world it is a life time. There have been times that I know Jack has thought we are the worst parents in the world taking him away from his secure, country life and from a wonderful country school of only 160 kids.

I have had many moments where I have had to suck up the guilt, ultimately knowing that we are making the right decision for these gorgeous kids and that one day they will hopefully thank us!

And I know that even though we will miss elements of our life in NZ the long term benefits for our entire family will out way those times when we feel like going home....

Summer 2014 - family photo in our Vineyard