Lest We Forget

 

"IN REFLECTION WE FIND 

A SENSE OF HISTORY, 

A SENSE OF PLACE, 

A SENSE OF WHO WE ARE..."

 

25 April is ANZAC Day to commemorate the Australian New Zealand Army Corp's landing on Gallipoli Peninsula in the first World War. 8,500 NZ troops landed, 4,800 were wounded and 2,700 bravely perished. Australian forces did not fare any better.  From that, ANZAC Day was born (so to my American audience, our equivalent is Memorial Day).

Guard them flags Flag Cadets

There are no gaudy New Zealand flags being handed out, or those ridiculous people dressed in flag colours with their faces painted, or groups shouting patriotic slogans. This was a value-oriented ceremony that largely promoted peace. Throughout the speeches, there was never a mention of "protection" or "freedom" or 'it's our God given right to spread our ways to the world' mentality. Instead speakers focused on remembrance, unity and general peace - and the folks only used the phrase "current conflicts" when referring to America's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Attending this ceremony was the first time I kept my head down close to my shoulders and certainly did not tell anyone I'm from the States. I honestly started questioning the media, political and general patriotic American sub-cultures in wondering what the hell is their agenda? Sounds like a bunch of treason?



 Left: Wreaths laid in remembrance

Right: "From The People of the United States of America to the People of New Zealand in Commemoration of ANZAC Day 2012"












Still a moving and eye-opening experience to witness. Other factoids picked up:

• there is a special Maori unit for only Maori folk 
• Sun glasses are also referred to as "sunnies"
• New Zealand has 2 national anthems - the first half of one is sung in Maori (and half the crowd at this particular ceremony were easily able to sing along)
• The red poppy is used as the flower of remembrance 

Now be off and enjoy your 25 April America!

Cheers,
:D

P.S. If anyone is counting, I've been here a solid month and have observed 4 public holiday's thus far. And I know Queen's Birthday is just 'round the corner! :-D

You know you're an honorary Kiwi when....

• You love your Watties sauce (still a hardcore Ranch fan here!)
• "Sweet As" is not just a phrase, but a state of mind
• You walk barefoot through the middle of town (No shoes, No shirt and I still get service!)
• You address other people as "youse fullas"
• You support any team playing against Australia
• Meat Pies are an essential part of your diet (even better tasting at 4am)
• You've met someone on Shortland Street 
• "Yeah, nah" is an answer to any question
• You've thrown plastic beer bottles at a rugby game (now added to me bucket list)
• Marmite is a delicacy on white bread (No. Vegemite may be though)
• You finish every sentence with "aye" (not "eh", mates)
• You spread Marmite on your toast in the morning (and then promptly spit it out)
• You don't think Salmonella Dub is a type of food poisoning
• You pay for things using your EFTPOS card (You still have to PIN for that McDouble)
• You think Jandals will match anything you are wearing

  

  Toilets do not flush counter-clockwise here. They gush.

A Note to Me Mates

You may be thinking "why in the Sam h-e-double hockey sticks can he not spell?" or "Derek doesn't really speak like that...." Well, immersing yourself in another culture certainly forces some adjustment.

• NZ - pronounced "en zed"
• Harbour - harbor 
• Organisation - organization 
• Tyre - tire
• Heaps - a lot
• Mates - friends
• Chips - fries
• Biscuits - cookies
• The Warehouse - a very run-down Wal-Mart 
• Fillet - said with a hard 't' 
• Lamb - it's everywhere and on everything. and it is delicious.
• Subway - literally everywhere
• No making a turn on a red light - no exceptions!
• "Get On" - this one confuses me. 'How long are you on for?' or 'How did you get on with your previous co-workers?'
• The metric system - why can't Amurica adopt it already?

My very Minnesotan vowels are disappearing. O's and A's are not as long. 'Auckland' is pronounced like 'Oakland' folks. My only issue is the word bag. Minnesotan's simply are not able to pronounce it like the rest of the world. Plus, I need to maintain some of my own MN personality by dropping one of these from time to time:

• "Kiddie-corner"
• Oh yeah, you betchya 
• Eh
• Drive faster! 
• Miles, inches, pounds...

Calories are counted in Kilojoules here. This is one adjustment I will refuse to make. Therefore, whatever I eat has no caloric intake so it's like I'm eating absolutely nothing all the time! Such a food-lovers paradise!

Now I've a massive craving for a hot dog that really needs to be taken care of. Plus I'm impatiently waiting on job news.

Cheers,
:D 

Wellywood

Last time I was in NZ, there was a serious effort to change the name from Wellington to Wellywood because it's where the film industry is based; and obviously they love Hollywood so they must compete!

On a more cereal note, Wellington is the capitol city. So very serious stuff occurs down yander [funny it was so cold whilst I was there. Oh yeah, Parliament was not in session].

Popped on the cable car to head up the bluff. Some very delicious views! [oooops, I may or may not have forgotten me camera.] But just trust me, the views were as delicious as a Grandma-made pumpkin pie, or Mums apple crisp or the first bite of an absolutely moan-tastic meal. Ahh, delicious.

However, Steve Jobs gave us iPhones to take pics.

City was full of character and charm. Well, at least the buildings were. The people residing there really needed a Joker or something funny.

Doings

• Visited Te Papa Aotearoa (Museum of New Zealand in Maori). 6 hours later we left.

• Toured Parliament with Bill. Bill was keen on pointing out to the only American on the tour that New Zealand has Absolute Freedom of Speech. It's different. An MP Committee Member will let any global citizen sit (or stand) and talk for as long as they please about an agenda issue relating to specific legislation being considered. This means hours of sitting there listening, politely. Have a conversation with Bill. Post a letter to:

 Bill, Tour Guide

Parliament

Wellington, NZ

• Saw Battleship. Of course it can't be in a cookie-cutter theatre like Amurica. It's a Cinema in this 20th century historic theatre with all the decor maintained.

Cheers,
 :D

Art Deco

Oh Lordy was it treacherous driving from Gisborne to Napier. The 4 hr journey brought me through the hillsides of the East. The heavy rains caused many slips and the road washed away a few times - I'm literally talking the roadway crumbled down the mountainside even as we were driving over it! I'd have taken pics but I was Facebooking Jesus for obvious reasons.

I <3 Napier! It's basically a tourist enclave with a variety of activities all within close proximity. Plus the entire centre of town is built in Art Deco style thanks to a 1931 earthquake. But it's gorgeous being a hop and a skip from the ocean side!

I've met many new travelers here as well. Everyone basically hails from Europe on these circuits. It is very true that Kiwis celebrate more things British than the Brits themselves do! Example: New Zealand has a public holiday for Queens Birthday. Britain has none of that.

Honestly, who isn't creaming themselves right now?!

Doings:

1. Tried marmite (a yeast extract spread). Stuff tastes like poop. Too bad the only factory that produces the stuff was damaged in the earthquake last year. There is an actual advertising campaign telling people to remain calm. The stuff also sells for hundreds of NZD online (just in case ya wanna try some).
2. Napier Historic Prison Tour - oldest prison in NZ. Said to be haunted. Is also a backpackers. Will I stay there? Absolutely not. 
3. Art Deco Tour. Basically their entire town centre is built in Art Deco. End o story.
4. New Zealand National Aquarium:
1. saw a pacu fish - absolutely massive!
2. Piranhas have a school-house leader
3. I saw an actual Kiwi Bird!! Time to come home now? :)

Nahhh, j/k ;) 

Jesus Says Goodnight from the Napier Harbour

It's Gone Rain!

"Skies are grey today,

Rain is falling hard and soft,

Wind is blowing hard."

That lil Haiku is something I wrote in Mrs. Lano's 6th grade English class. It describes perfectly the weather conditions in the Gisborne area. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the sunrise because of it but I was still able to view:

1. The spot the Europeans came ashore in NZ for the first time in 1769. Today known as Poverty Bay. Capt Cook wasn't able to obtain needed ship supplies due to a skirmish with local Maori so he rightfully gave it such a name.
2. Meet some fantabulous locals in a harbour view cafe. I can fool anyone as being a local...until I speak ("are you from Canada or America?" to which I always respond "Minnesota").
3. Walk up 144 steps for panoramic views of the city....I'm defs a city kinda guy!

Now if the road to Napier is cleared of the slip by tomorrow a.m. my journey will rightfully continue.

Cheers,
:D

Lovely.

More Holiday!

Now that my obsession with being so freakin' close to the harbour has subsided it is time to venture out and introduce myself to the outside world of Aotearoa and not become JAFA-like (Just Another F&#*ing Aucklander). Plus, I'll be travelling naked via Nakedbus ;-)

Auckland > Gisborne > Napier > Wellington > Auckland.

• Gisborne - I'll be the first to see the sunrise of the new day! Don't worry, I'll share it with ya! :-)
• Napier - After a turrible earthquake in like the 1930's, the city feverishly rebuilt everything in Art-Deco. Delicious architecture I must say.
• Wellington - Yeah, I'm hittin' up Welly Wood and buzzing around the beehive.

No worries Uncle Mike, I won't be picking up any wooden nickles