Kapiti Kids Connect ...From Belgium to the Kapiti Coast (15)

                             

Mon amie Maryanne, que vous connaissez certainement tous maintenant, vient de créer un site internet appelé "Kapiti Kids Connect". Ce site reprend toutes les activités (playgroup, plaines de jeux, crèches, balades, restos"enfants admis") et d'autres évènements susceptibles d' intéresser les parents et leurs enfants en bas âge vivant dans la région de Kapiti.
J'ai été témoin de la création du site et j'ai participé, avec passion, aux discussions y attenant.






Elle m'a demandé d'écrire un article relatant mon expérience de jeunes parents migrant à la "Kapiti Coast", expérience susceptible d'encourager ou d'inspirer d'autres personnes.
Voici donc l'article,que vous pourrez retrouver sur le site : www.kapitikidsconnect.co.nz.
Vous trouverez aussi quelques photos d'Emilie, de Lucy et d'Abbey.
(vous verrez qu'elle m'a rebaptisée " Catherine Cardyn"!)












From Belgium to the Kapiti Coast

Catherine Cardyn tells of her experience moving from Belgium to the Kapiti Coast.  

Catherine has been inspirational and one of the driving forces behind the Kapiti Kids Connect concept.  Though she will have only been on the Kapiti Coast a short time she has most definitely left her footprints in the sand. Thank you! 

Travelling and living so far from ones family is an experience we had never had before, my partner and I decided to make the move to New Zealand for a little less than a year. He found a job as a GP and I decided to look after our daughter Emilie, she was 6 months old when we arrived.

We chose to live on the Kapiti Coast because of its long beaches and its attractive possibilities of watersports. We both love nature, watersports and travelling.

I will always remember our first journey from Wellington by train, crossing green-yellow hills, with such different vegetation from what we were used to, with sheep and cows as well!  From the train, we had an incredible view of the Coast and the Tasman Sea and finally of Kapiti Island: what a must ! We got off at this small train station, our final destination: Paraparaumu.

I will always remember the wind which blew up so strong. I will always remember how, from the very beginning, all the people we met, made us feel at home!

Right from the start I was completely blown away by this lovely town, the nice weather, the view we had of Kapiti Island from our appartement, the easy access to the beach.  I was really looking forward to discovering everything and meeting people in this new life…but beginnings are not always really easy ; we are suddenly by ourselves…

As a new mum, I was primarily concerned about Emilie. I wanted her to be happy, to get into a routine, to find her feet and to feel at home.

The first 4 weeks, I was really isolated ; no internet, low access to the phone, no car, and being by myself with my little one. My solution: I walked! I’ve never walked so much! I discovered by foot the whole town of Waikanae Beach! Meeting a nurse from Plunket was the first thing I did by myself and was the first step outside the house to meet someone and have some connections to the world.

I will always remember trying to explain in my best english how Emilie was doing, what she was eating,…I didn’t know if she understood any of it but I was reassured to see someone and to know she was going to keep in touch with me , to know I could call her anytime.

We also decided Emilie would attend day-care twice a week and finally, and maybe more importantly, I wanted to find some nice activities for Emilie and I.

Finding some activities such as lessons” Learn to swim” and a playgroup,… was a relief for me and a good way to meet people.

Having a child and some free-time gives me opportunities to meet people easily.  As parents, I realise how we are pretty all concerned about the same  preoccupation, issues, joy, question,…This makes us feel  close to each other. We all would like to give to our child the best in life. We all want to see them happy and blossom.  And happiness as a human being happen by socializing with people and making bonds, links, connections.

Through the playgroup and my partner’s job, I have met so many nice people.They are still there to help me, to suggest me some activities, to invite me, to spend some time with. They introduce me to new people. They are so generous to our family and to Emilie.

Isnt it such a good feeling to be able to wave to someone you know in the street or in a shop, or talk to him/her ? you just feel recognised as a  « citizen », as Emilies’ mum, as Catherine, as a member of the Community.

Isnt it a great feeling to see your child happy after beeing at the daycare, to see her/him enjoying a playgound or having fun with other kids in a playgroup while you re spending your time chatting ?

This gives me the feeling of belonging to this place, and makes me feel at home.

This inspires me to « give something back », in other words, this inspires me to do the same for the people who just arrive from somewhere else and " who are finding their way ».

I realize,with the time, how many things already exist for children in the Kapiti Coast, how many nice playgroups there are , how many nice places there are and how many nice people are concerned and  doing their best for the needs of the Community.

No need to tell you we have had a really great experience of life here, Emilie, my partner and I! Time goes fast and in three months, we have to go back to our country! We have tried to enjoy every moment, to discover every bit of the wonderful Kapiti region, and we know there are still so many things to do, to see, to live…

I hope those words could inspire you to enjoy life on the Kapiti Coast!

Thank  you to all the people who have helped us to feel at home. Here we have learned the meaning of the word « Community » and we will never forget it.