No Frenchie Left Behind

Yes, I finally received "Living and Working in New Zealand." I am also getting the Australia version, since J has decided he wants to keep that in the mix. We are really confused by the points, because from what we can figure, J would get a residency offer from OZ, but just be put into the general pool (from which random people are selected) for NZ. That makes no sense, because NZ is supposed to be much easier to get into?

Anyway, I think A (his old boss who lives outside Melbourne) would love to have J around, they email back and forth about computer programming every few days. *roll eyes*

In fact, J really is more gung ho for OZ now, and it looks like we are canceling our desert trip in October, and hitting Sydney and Melbourne in early 2008. I would like to do something in the Red Center with J, or go along the coast (which I know has a title, but I forget what it is, the one from Melbourne to Adelaide), but if we don't have time, we don't have time.

This is still really not final. Last night, J kind of panicked and asked me why we were doing this. I told him my reasons for wanting to do it, and he was like "Oh, yeah, me too." LOL! I told him that if he didn't want to do this, to tell me, because the more research I do, the more excited I am going to get. I understand we may be refused by the countries, but I don't want to do all the work (and I would be the one doing paperwork, setting up appts., etc.), and then have J decide not to accept an offer.

If it is really true that J has enough points for OZ that they would make us an offer of residency (assuming we meet all other criteria, my bipolar thing may actually be the biggest obstacle), we may try to get a visa before we go, under the assumption that employers will look more kindly on that. The problem is, the criteria change September 1, and we cannot get an application together before then, so we might as well wait to see what the new rules are.

We can always send J over with a couple of suitcases, and I can follow a month or two after.

Did you know they actually *seal* the pet crates with FDA stickers? If we do this, I am definitely using a professional service to get Violet overseas. The vaccination and medical exams start 6 months before she can leave! The services give you a time line, fill out paperwork, and handle the dog once you turn it over to them. All dogs have to go through LAX.

So, as you can see, I have been obsessing. Bipolar is good for some things (i.e., planning: I have been reading that bipolar people are notorious over-planners)!