Hi from down under!
Hi folks, i'm Pen from NZ, i'm wondering how many 'down under' women are on this forum. I'm in my 50s, i started finding out about AS about 5 years ago, when working in a school as a teacher aide and being put to working with a young girl with AS. I started to do some research on it, and to my shock recognised myself as well as my student!
Initially i rejected it (who, me? autistic? No way!), it was a slow process of exploration, discovery, and finally acceptance of myself as an aspie. I have one adult daughter, not on the spectrum (tho we are both convinced she has Sensory Integration Disorder, as does one of my nephews), i don't currently have a partner. I'm into writing, art, language/s, history and genealogy, and of course finding out all i can about AS and autism.
Hi Pen! Not sure about NZ, but there are several of us on here in Australia (including me!). I'm an Aspie with 2 kids on the spectrum. Welcome! 
Welcome, Pen!
Hi and welcome :-)
I am half Kiwi, have dual citizenship Oz/NZ and have studiedworked/lived in both countries, currently living in Melbourne... I have only one cousin in Oz, all the millions of other rellies are in NZ, but there's no need to feel alone with forums like this one eh! I look forward to your posts!
Thanks folks. I have quite a few rellies in Oz too, especially my favourite brother, in Perth, with his lovely wife and gorgeous young son. (This is the nephew that has SID.) I miss them like crazy. They all have dual citizenship too now. Lots of Kiwis across the 'ditch' now, eh! But i did wonder if there was anyone actually in New Zealand, i do know a few Kiwi aspies from other forums. But no-one in my part of the country, alas.
Hi Kiwipen & welcome to AWN!
If you do keyword searches on our site (top of page -right side) then you can find links to our various members. One of our members from New Zealand is Fen & you can find her introduction here.
Hi Pen, welcome to the forum.
I'm over the ditch in Sydney.
Thanks Sharon, i know Fen from a couple of other aspie forums. Also Facebook. She's a lovely person but unfortunately not in my part of the country!
Welcome Pen! 
Good to meet you and so wonderful to see that we're getting more contacts around the world. The hard part is to find our sisters locally...we keep trying though ;) Hope you enjoy the site here make some good connections.
Blessings,
Tricia
Hi Kiwipen: I had the same initial reaction a few years ago when oddly enough my fiance suggested that I might be on the spectrum. In hindsight, I think I had fallen prey to the same perceptions about autism spectrum disorders that the general public has -- namely that only males are affected. And when one says the word "autism", people tend to think of classic, or Kanner's autism...and I know I did when he even mentioned the word. Since I am verbal, and I can function well and get around, I poo-poo'd the idea away. Three years later, I'm looking for the mustard to eat my words with.
And welcome. I'm over in the States, in Ohio. Glad to meet you.
-Nicole
Hey Pen,
Nice to see you here!
KiwiFen 
And you too, 'KiwiFen!' 
Evening! I've just joined, but I'm in Brisbane :) So not close, but not as far either.
I had a pretty negative reaction when my stepmother suggested Asperger's Syndrome to me when I was young. Oh how time changes perspective, nostalgic moment, etc etc D:
Hi Minna, welcome to the forum! I'm from Sydney - just down the road from you. :)
Welcome Minna! I'm in the NT
(that's the Northern Territory, not Neurotypical Land! hehehe 
)
See ya 'round the forums...
Hi, I've just joined up. I'm in Sydney sometimes Melbourne depends on the time of year and which city has the better weather.
I'm somewhere between Aspergers and NLD (Non Verbal Learning Disability) not really quite sure which one I'm closer too and everytime I was tested I'd show up as either or both, found out while going through high school exams.. not exactly the best time but it helped that pieces started to fit.
anyway I think I might go explore the rest of the forums and see who I might bump into.
Franki :)
Welcome Pen, hope you enjoy the site and find the support thyat you need. My name is Mish (Michelle), I'm from Canada. :)
Serenity (Mish)
Single AS/ADHD Mom of Two Sons on the Autism Spectrum
(9 1/2 yr old with Autism, 7 year old in process of AS dx)