Nothing makes us happier than people reaching out and sharing their experience of making a move with a little help from Teleport - and why would we keep them to ourselves? Let's kick it off with Anthony, who recently Teleported from Paris to Auckland. Everyone say hi!
Hello! Who are you?
Hey there! Anthony here, 28 year old software engineer born and raised in France.
And where are you now?
I’m currently living in Auckland, New Zealand.
Check out
the view. Now check out the shirt.
Why did you decide to get moving? Was there something about where you were before that you didn't enjoy or were you just looking for adventure?
The idea had been in the back of my mind for a few months. One day after I woke up, I just said to myself: “OK, go for it”. I was looking for adventure, getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things.
Which services/help/apps did you use for discovering different locations as well as actually making the move?
I found Teleport Cities even before the idea of moving had popped into my mind, and used it for my exploration of available cities. I did not use others services/apps because I rapidly found that I wanted to try Auckland. I’ve called a few travel agencies to plan my trip though, and Airbnb for the accommodation.
What were your biggest fears before the move?
Actually, there were none. I was so eager to move that I had no fear, only expectations.
Was there something unexpected that turned out to be difficult?
Speaking a language that is not your native tongue can be hard - trying to follow my flatmates discussions can be really challenging sometimes!
What has been your biggest challenge after the move?
Administrative challenge: try to open a bank account in New Zealand with a working VISA. Challenge accepted! Took me 3 weeks and a lot of visits in a lot of banks. Their policies are very strict.
What's been the most pleasant surprise in your new location?
The people. They are so welcoming and kind!
What's been the worst one?
25$ for a pack of cigarettes! Are you serious? Well, at least I quit smoking.
Can you name a cool place you've discovered in Auckland that you think everyone should visit?
Rangitoto Island. The youngest volcano of the Auckland area, 25 minutes away from town via ferry. The view from the summit is just amazing.
Amazing
is a pretty good word.
What are some of your favourite locations around the world and where do you definitely want to go in the future?
I’ve only been to UK/Quebec during my studies and I would definitely recommend to visit Montreal. There are so many places where I want to go - I’ll just name a few: Japan, Iceland, Peru, Nepal...
What do you miss most about home?
Cheese! Cheese! Cheese! There's only cheddar here, come on!
What's the last book you read?
Tales of the Cthulu Mythos by H.P. Lovecraft.
What's the most useful piece of advice you have ever received?
“You can do anything you want to do, if you put your mind to it”. MacGyver told me that.
How many cups of coffee a day?
Only one in the morning, the lifesaver. Otherwise, 2 or 3 cups of tea.
Something you can't live without?
Oh, it has to be music. Who could live without music?
Linux, Windows or OS X?
Linux all the way !
If you were teleported to a deserted island right now and you could only take three things with you, what would they be?
A knife, a fire starter and a watch (yes, I’ve watched all Man VS Wild episodes).
What do you think the future has in store for you next?
I don’t know - and I think it's better that way! I tend to think that happiness isn't at the end of the road, happiness is the road.
Have you got your own Teleport story that you'd like to share? Drop us a note at story@teleport.org - we'd love to hear from you!
