Back at home, life was either school or work. There was no in-between for me except for the long commutes, where life is being wasted away in traffic. The longest that I was unemployed was only for about a month. During my entire work life, I have been quite diligent and have rendered long hours simply because I felt compelled to. It's like I owe it to my employer. It felt hard when I had kids. I always felt guilty for coming home late everyday, not having enough time to play with my little ones.
Here in Auckland, it's different. Personal life is very much at the core of things. We work because it pays the bills, and that's a given. But sometimes, we do it because we want to or simply because we want to support a colleague. It doesn't feel like we are forced to. I think if you have a supportive environment wherein people understand the demands of a growing family, then it's ok. My colleagues deserve my 100% during work hours. It will be a bonus if I do more.
Having a permanent role helps me manage all those school obligations, and in figuring out what to do during school holidays. I can say that as soon as I step out of the office, I have already switched into a Mom mode. And on weekends, it's all time with the family, and friends. Perhaps it's the weekend sports that the kids are enrolled in. Or the occasional catch up with the girls. And definitely the weekend visit to the parks and playgrounds here in Auckland. Mall visits are rare, and is mostly confined to when we really need things.
It can get a bit scary to change the routine. Will I have a park on the new workplace? Will I be able to get to the kids in time should there be an emergency? Can I make it home in time to make dinner?
It's manageable right now and I have a sense of control. I can hold my time and I never thought it was ever possible. I suppose I am quite comfortable.
The next big obstacle is in securing a house. I'm still not sure if we can do that in our lifetime given that exorbitant house prices. I'm sure there's always something that we can figure out. But other than that, life in Auckland for me is comfortable.
Comfortable because I can go wherever I want. I now hold a Restricted License! i just need to have enough guts to explore the roads. I feel secure whenever we're outside. I do not worry about getting held up by a knife or a gun along the streets. I do not even worry about snatchers or pickpockets. And while driving, I feel confident in getting to my destination so long as I follow the rules. My car is insured anyway.
We do not have much in our savings but we do have something set aside. We are still paying up for our second car but the balance is manageable. We have so many places and events to go to that doesn't force you to spend money. We can always bring a picnic which the kids love. We have so much space that I have now started to feel a bit nervous when I'm faced with a crowd during rush hour at the CBD. And CBD crowd is not even half of Manila during off-peak.
I suppose it's good for me to be able to write again. That I am able to experiment on recipes whenever I feel like it. And that I actually have time to spend not just for me, but for my family. We are renting a small space in central Auckland but despite that, we are able to make a life here. We are far better off than when we were in Manila. Hence, I can say that things are indeed comfortable.
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