大象传媒

Since meeting, Persephone De Magdalene and Debbie Santa Clara have shared a dream of emigrating. Their main motivation is a better work-life balance. Debbie is a doctor and worked up to 80 hours a week, so it fell to Persephone to put her academic career on hold in order to keep family and home life going. But never being a part of family life took its toll on Debbie who decided to cut down on her hours so she could spend more time with her partner and children. But that brought its own set of problems, mainly money problems. With only a part time wage coming in, life became a financial strain.

Their desire to move across the world is more than just about money. As a gay couple, they want acceptance and tolerance and believe New Zealand is a more attractive culture and society for same sex couples. The time is right for a trial week. If they were to go now it would dovetail perfectly with the children moving from primary to secondary school as well as Debbie neatly reaching the end of one training period and about to start a new one.

The two children have a close and loving relationship with their father but he has given his blessing to a move. Nonetheless, Tilly and Raphael know they would miss him hugely. And Debbie is very close to her mum too, so there will be tears.

A trial week gives them a sense of the life they could have and afford in New Zealand.