Long wait for hug from mum
After spending nine months juggling communication in opposite time-zones on different sides of the world, Madison Monk was most looking forward to a cuddle from her mum when she finally touched down in New Zealand.
But despite being less than a 10-minute drive apart, the family reunion took four long weeks to happen, with the country entering level four lockdown the day Monk landed back home in Christchurch. On Wednesday, Monk finally reunited with her parents, along with her younger sister, at their Bishopdale home.
Her brother, who lives in Bali, had also returned to the family home with his wife and two young children, making it possible for Monk to meet her six-month-old niece for the first time, and reunite with her young nephew.
Monk, 25, left Christchurch last July on her big OE, travelling in Europe for two months before settling in London. She secured a job, settled in to a flat and was planning weekend trips to Amsterdam, Germany and Paris when coronavirus concerns escalated in Britain.
‘‘I really didn’t know what to do but I was worried about being stuck in my flat in London by myself and then not being able to get home if I really needed to.’’
She booked a ticket home, travelling through Indonesia, and was en route when the news of New Zealand going into level four lockdown was announced. ‘‘I was in Bali when I started getting texts from my family ... that was quite scary because I didn’t really know what that meant for me and if I would even be able to get back in to the country so I was trying to find all the information I could.’’
Monk, once back from overseas, was required to spend two weeks in self-isolation before seeing anyone. With the family home full, she opted to spend the remainder of the four-week lockdown at a nearby flat. She works night shifts, in line with daytime hours in London, and her parents stopped by to drop off groceries and deliver Easter goodies.
They met her Kiwi boyfriend through the window, who returned from England with her, but it ‘‘wasn’t the same’’ as sitting down together for a meal and a catchup, Monk said.
Donna Monk said having her daughter home was ‘‘bittersweet’’,
‘‘I felt sad that this is not where she wanted to be having just started her big OE (but) once the decision was made I was looking forward to giving her a big hug.’’
Donna Monk had it was nice to have a full house again. ‘‘To take any positives from this experience is the privilege of such quality time with the family.’’
Madison Monk said she hoped to get back to London as soon as possible, but for now, she was enjoying spending time with her slightly larger bubble.
Each year thousands of Kiwis leave New Zealand for working holidays. Last year, almost 4000 Kiwis were granted a Tier 5 youth mobility visa to Britain, which allows under 31-year-olds a two-year working holiday.