"I was not looking for a job as such, but just said: 'I'd love to come and meet you to help me understand the industry in the US and the opportunities there'."
Of the people she met, she especially liked Tom Hennes, principal of Thinc Design, a New York-based consultancy specialising in exhibition design.
Close to two years later, Hennes offered White a role at the Manhattan firm and she is now its senior interpretive planner, working as an exhibit designer, responsible mostly for content.
"I had a couple of wonderful references who were known in the US, which was very useful," she adds.
Amanda came to the US on an H-1B visa, sponsored by Thinc Design, and her husband, Andrew is on a O-1 visa, which allows him to do project work. The couple, and young son, Luca, are doing the Green Card lottery every year and will just renew their current visas in the meantime.
The work community in New York has been wonderful, says Amanda.
"The day-to-day working environment is inspiring, frenetic and tough but it's broadened me enormously, my knowledge, resilience and energy. I feel incredibly privileged for this opportunity -- everything is done in a team environment and I love that.
"I feel like I'm moving forward every day," she adds.
Her work community includes consultants - experts in fields to do with the exhibit.
"I've got colleagues at the Smithsonian, I worked with chefs recently for a project," says Amanda, who has just finished an exhibit for a museum in Jordan.
Luca, who was 5 when he left New Zealand, has settled in very well, says Amanda.
"He's a very positive, energetic and vibrant kid - he suits this environment," says Amanda.
Their part of Brooklyn is diverse, with Mexican, Jamaican and Jewish Orthodox communities living close together. The school is just a block away from their two-bedroom apartment surrounded by big trees and it is a 40-minute commute to work for Amanda to Manhattan's West Village.
"New York is an amazing place. It is all about the people. I have witnessed so many acts of kindness and cruelty here," says Amanda.
She and Andrew have been pleasantly surprised by the living costs.
"We have found that the cost of living is lower -- rent is the most comparable to New Zealand -- but food and household items are much cheaper.
"It was wonderful to discover you can have a good life here."
Healthcare insurance can be a rude shock for internationals, but necessary, with the cost of medical care in the US. Fortunately, Amanda has cover through work.
The hardest thing about being in the States is being away from family, she says. She has recently lost a close family member and that was very difficult to cope with from New York. But she has a New Zealand community to draw on if required.
Fellow Kiwi, Lorene Taurerewa, came in 2006 to work as an artist in New York. She couldn't manage dividing time between her her job and her art and finally gave up her tenured position at Victoria University in the design school in 2009.
Her husband, Warwick McLeod, has continued to teach at Victoria University as a senior lecturer in architecture, but the installation artist and printmaker comes to New York for six months of the year.
The way Taurerewa sees it, she can do her work anywhere in the world.
"I wanted to go to another place where there was a good art scene, and thought it would be Berlin or New York."
The internationally known artist is one of the lucky ones, getting her Green Card through the lottery system in 2005. Taurerewa has exhibited in Seattle, Washington DC and her work has been featured in the Washington Post.
She and McLeod have had the same rent-stabilised Brooklyn apartment for nine years. They have kept the family house in Karori and the apartment in Brooklyn has an attached studio.
"We went from middle-class life to living very much a typical New York life," says Taurerewa.
She says with such a big art scene in New York, she could spend all her time socialising.
"New York is a huge big art city. Everybody we meet here is involved in some kind of art form whether it be dance, fine arts or photography. I keep to myself because it's very easy to get caught up in going to events."
Taurerewa does support openings of local Kiwi artists.
"I am co-owner of Room Artspace NYC, a not-for-profit gallery space in Brooklyn. We represent New Zealand artists Rob McLeod, Warwick McLeod and Matthew Couper and Australian artist Selwyn Rodda."
Taurerewa is usually working towards a deadline for a show somewhere in the world.
"I am working on a new series of large-scale drawings for an upcoming exhibition with This Is No Fantasy gallery in Melbourne." She is also represented by Milford Galleries in New Zealand.
To other Kiwi artists looking for inspiration and perspective she says: "I say to people: get a ticket and get out of New Zealand."
