In My Blood, by Aruni. A true story.

What does it mean, to me, to support GPs moving to NZ?

My dad was a doctor in Sri Lanka and he moved our family to NZ in the early 70s to get a better life.

Dad escaped political uncertainty and looming civil war in Sri Lanka, worried about his future and the future of his children.  He wanted us to have all the benefits of citizenship and education that NZ has to offer. He knew that we would grow up in a safe, beautiful and peaceful country and we would enjoy total freedom, freedom from corruption, tyranny and oppression. He wanted to have a balanced lifestyle, including time with his kids and his hobbies. He wanted us to attend university in NZ and gain internationally recognized qualifications. He wanted us to travel around the world with ease on a NZ passport. He wanted us to have a family of our own in NZ and that’s why he moved here. He made that brave decision, on my behalf, and I wasn’t even born yet.

My parents, Don and Nirmali, left Sri Lanka with very little, leaving behind a whole lot. They had lots of family and friends and a support system. They had a home, full of possessions and childhood memories. They had elderly parents they worried about and others who relied on them. They left all of that behind in search of a better life and opportunity.

I think about how brave they were to get on a plane for the first time in their lives and travel halfway around the world to arrive in Invercargill, New Zealand. It’s not like they had the internet or could google where they were going too. But they had each other and they had hope.

On arrival, they were welcomed by hospital staff who arranged a home and car for them. Mum says that she wore a sari and quickly realized as she disembarked the plane, down the staircase into the snow, that she would have to change her wardrobe pretty quickly. They spoke about how they were taken to their new home, fully furnished, beds made and a full pantry and fridge.  My dad didn’t work long hours so he had plenty of time to settle the family into their new life. It was with this support and care that they knew everything would be ok.

I often think about their journey, their courage and what they would have been feeling the first few days after they arrived. And that is what I think about when I’m talking to doctors about moving to NZ now. I’m so grateful for the support that my parents had when they moved to NZ and I can now support another family, just like mine.

I truly understand what it means to migrate your family to another country, all the hopes and fears. We’re not like other GP recruitment agencies, just looking to fill vacancies. We want to support your whole family to make the move and get a better life, to have time together to discover and explore beautiful NZ, just like my family did.

Email me, Aruni at info@doctorsnz.com to find out more about how I can support you.

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