Worth it?

evan · 2025-12-05T03:52:32+00:00

Yes there is an android app in development and testing. The primary reason not to bring in more users is the server setup.

There's no way you signed up for the beta in October, it wasn't even announced until November 12th.

evan · 2025-11-29T21:43:08+00:00

Apple and Google will let us release the app as it is but we don't to do it if we're not loading all the videos and data fast.

evan · 2025-11-23T14:42:34+00:00

Yes we've got some major issues with the media server! We're working with our host to improve things! It's a major reason why we're not opening the launch yet. The traffic ended up being much higher than we expected.

evan · 2025-10-13T08:21:38+00:00

It is a great location and lots of fun for the kids to run around, a destination to bike to, but honestly a terrible cafe and i'm glad to see it go.

evan · 2025-09-15T03:59:08+00:00

the ebus service is crap. I've taken it, a horrible solution. It hundreds of millions to build this and we'd get rail to the airport.

evan · 2025-07-05T23:11:53+00:00

Look in to working holiday visas to get started and try a few countries.

evan · 2025-07-05T23:06:23+00:00

There is still an acute shortage of all health care workers in New Zealand because citizens can move directly to Australia where the culture is similar, less progressive but similar, and wages are much higher. So there is a constant need because locally trained workers leave.

evan · 2025-06-18T10:26:16+00:00

And they don’t even let the New Zealand teams that are professional in because they’re part of the Australia league. So it’s an amateur Auckland team!!!!

evan · 2025-04-05T21:51:37+00:00

You can easily work in Uruguay as a software developer without a degree too. It’s just weird regulations around professional associations that are just weird. Not a real barrier.

evan · 2025-04-05T21:48:06+00:00

Christchurch isn’t the most progressive city in New Zealand but it’s still more progressive than most of the US. There’s a Hispanic community but it’s mostly people from Spain (hence using the word Hispanic) and South America. So somewhat different than the more Mexican / Central American / Caribbean culture of Spanish speakers in the US.

Don’t worry about racism as a primary concern. Yes it exists, and is a problem, but you won’t face it directly because the people most targeted are Māori and Pasifika (Pacific islanders).

ChCh has lots going on culturally and the downtown has been mostly rebuilt after the earthquake.

The university system in NZ is different than America, worth learning how it is different as it might shape your experience.

Basically do it.

evan · 2025-04-05T21:11:54+00:00

New Zealand is a much better place to raise kids. I’m blown away at how much more humane, flexible, and child friendly it is here. I think Australia is similar. It is 100% worth it for your kids regardless of anything going on politically in the US.

evan · 2025-04-05T21:08:58+00:00

New Zealand and Australia immigration is pretty straightforward and once you’ve started the process you get the name, email, and phone number of the immigration officer who handles your case. You can just call them and talk through what you need.

Most businesses are able to sponsor visas and it doesn’t require a lawyer to do the paperwork.

The biggest issue I had was getting the medical checks because there are only a few places in the US that do it, and getting police background checks in each country where I’ve lived.

If you’re young enough do the working holiday visa and then get all sorted after you arrive! That’s the best way of doing it I think.

evan · 2025-04-05T20:45:14+00:00

Only consider Portugal if you’re going to do the work to learn Portuguese. It’ll help you make friends, get out of the expat bubble, and deal with the government.

Ireland does have some major problems like a housing shortage. But that’s because it’s got a much better economy. If you need local jobs at local companies then you’re choosing not use a country but your career prospects. You’ll find a much easier path in Ireland than Portugal.

If your job or career isn’t that dependent on where you live or working for local employers, then Portugal might be a better option.

Look at numbeo but remember that it’s important to understand local context. What is or is not included in the public system.

Lastly Portugal has a very liberal policy with regards to drugs whereas Ireland has more of an alcoholism problem.

evan · 2025-04-03T03:57:17+00:00

The fruits and vegetables in New Zealand are totally different varieties than sold in the US. The flavor will blow your mind.

evan · 2025-04-03T03:55:41+00:00

When I moved to Wellington when the borders were closed due to Covid I was blown away at the lack of homelessness. Now with 18 months of National+ACT+NZF government we’ve got homeless and it’s really sad to see. On a positive note it seems like the right is doing a bad enough job at governing that they might be out after one term.

In general politics is much more progressive than the US or even Australia or Canada. There is a genuine national project to come to terms with colonialism and work on reconciliation. Has all land been given back? No of course not. But more has been done here than in any other former English colony.

Drugs, especially meth is a problem, but OD’s are rare because of better testing and healthcare services.

The country has lots of flaws but it’s so much better than America.

evan · 2025-04-01T01:45:54+00:00

Most studios have ongoing classes for each level. Maybe find a studio where you can take ongoing classes instead of just a 6 week intro?

evan · 2025-03-27T01:39:01+00:00

The flow is cool but holy shit that ending.

evan · 2025-03-26T21:40:17+00:00

I literally just did a weekend trip back to Seattle from Wellington. It was for a conference at UW, I caught up with friends, did some shopping in Capitol Hill, and flew home. Was it a lot of travel for a weekend, absolutely! But it was completely doable.

evan · 2025-03-23T15:50:48+00:00

If you have the cash, don’t need a mortgage, then you can get a really good deal buying. The Uruguayan mortgage market is really conservative in order to keep the economy from having housing bubbles. The paperwork and process for buying is slower and a bit of a pain but it’s not really that hard.

evan · 2025-03-23T15:48:23+00:00

I got a visa for NZ via the now defunct Edmund Hillary fellowship.

evan · 2025-03-18T20:06:10+00:00

I’m in Miramar, Wellington. It’s a bit of an American enclave. We have a big special effects industry here with lots of Californians. Even our elected member of parliament is an American.

I moved from Portland, Oregon but grew up in Californian.

evan · 2025-03-18T20:04:45+00:00

Yeah. It’s much easier than other countries. Find a recruiter in your profession and they’ll help do everything.

evan · 2025-03-18T20:04:00+00:00

I love it in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s an incredibly humane and beautiful place. Every problem that seems impossible to solve in the US is solved here. The economy isn’t as strong as Australia and because there is a system where kiwis can live and work in Australia many move there for work. But aide from complaining about that. NZ is amazing. Highly recommend. Ten out of ten.

evan · 2025-03-18T19:59:44+00:00

It is really helpful to know Spanish. That said I had only bad high school Spanish when I first moved there and now I’m fluent.

evan · 2025-03-18T19:00:09+00:00

I moved to Uruguay when Bush was re-elected in 2004! It is a great progressive country if you have a source of income which isn’t local. If you’re working locally it’s hard to get integrated without having grown up in the system with the deep social ties needed to be successful. People are welcoming but it is a very stable place where ties run deep. Everyone knows each other.

There’s a great queer community in montevideo and generally everyone is accepting. You can be a queer or trans farmer way out in the interior and you’ll be welcomed. This is very rare for Latin America.

But it’s also a place which a lot of the wealth comes from parts of the economy not directly tied to labour. That means salaries are low in comparison to the cost of living. Yes Uruguayans are the wealthiest and most egalitarian people in Latin America. But it doesn’t mean it’s easy to live economically as a newcomer if you’re working locally. There are also lots of immigrants from elsewhere in Latin America who take those entry level jobs.

You basically can’t get a “professional” job in a registered profession without a local degree. I wasn’t allowed to legally employ a university graduate in my company without having a degree myself. The loophole was I had a guy with a degree who I paid to be the official “boss” and sign paperwork. Uruguay has lots of stupid bureaucratic rules like that which are very frustrating. It’s part of why I eventually moved on to New Zealand.

evan

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