A common term used here as often as “Hey Dude” in the states.
For the first time two weeks ago I was cornered by Kiwi's and Aussie's about my accent; how funny it was how I said things. If the US had Pizza Hut, Taco Bell or Burger King... What?!!!! For twenty minutes I was started at like I was some quirky toy at a gift shop. And yes, “ I do think you have an accent too.”
I have also noticed many people fill in the dead air gaps in conversations with, “mmmmmm.” could mean yes, could mean I agree, or really nothing at all. Maybe it is because everyone ends there sentences in 'eh? (ay?) Which then someone feels the need to reply with mmmmm. I have found myself doing this now. Also been using 'keen', 'I am not fussed' (I don't care) and Zed for Z's.
Life here still has me in a funny out of this world experience. When we flew here I thought we were leaving the Earth. I still am in awe when I go outside my flat. Engaging contradictions continue to amaze me. The landscape, the city the people, criss-cross them any way and they could all be within blocks of each other.
I am working part time, painting and sleeping in these days. Still looking for a job within a firm that is secure and there is a licensed architect to teach me the ropes. Time off when you are not really wanting it can be a blessing in disguise.
My current theme... BIRDS!
Another observation that makes me smile but feel sorry for the kids: every school kid here is dressed in a suit coat, knee high socks and a tie which all three at one time can be ridiculously stripped in varied directions and widths. Then add the shorts or the skirt that is one color or plaid. Cute on the smaller kids but when they are in year 10-12... who can take them seriously!??
People are from everywhere and sometimes I really feel like I am back in time. The nineties with “just do it” and air Jordan, European hairstyles, skinny jeans and then add some leather boots... or gumboots with the farmers. - Engaging contradictions in people watching too. Out of all the friends we have made, 4 are actually Kiwi.
Been driving lately and have a feel for driving on the right side. Been headed in the wrong direction once, on a side street turning right in the right lane. The car coming my way just smiled and waited till I figured it out. Ooops. I did not really notice until I was driving that all the convenience stores are called Dairy's. And they are on almost every other intersection.
A few weeks ago we were offered a trip of a lifetime to heli-raft the Wanganui River. Knowing people who know people I'd call it “one heli of a trip”. 14 people came from different directions to meet at the take off point. Two by two we were taking heli rides up river to the location were we would put the kayaks in, and not to much further down was the raft put in.
We began to hike with a nights worth of food, alcohol and sleeping gear. The hot pools were calling us as the 3 hour hike up river to the Smythe Hut was much longer than anyone expected. No complaints we all had smiling faces. Who could be grumpy when you are surrounded by so much beauty and such wonderful people. Climbing over boulder after boulder and through some degrading terrain, our bodies were on auto pilot to get to those hot pools. The hot pools were everything we imagined. Terraced and hot to really hot, social to semi-private, we made the best of the daylight to midnight hours we shared in those pools.
The crew was a great bunch of laughs, stories, jokes and together as a team made for fun. The next day in light of drinking every drop of alcohol we made our ways down river, finding paths not taken up and getting soaked in the rain. We all saw the river as we flew over it and with all the exposed rocks we all hoped for the river to rise overnight. With the rain pouring down without a break for warmth of the sun; we got what we asked for. Cold and wet we were given a lesson in the raft, the thunder claps and we soon get on our way. Kayaks and those in the rafts all were all about helping others, watching for the rapids and directing each other were to go. Never been rafting before I was smiling from ear to ear. Energy, encouragement and not knowing what to expect at all times this was great fun. The tiny wakes down river turned into large meter rapids and the raft was catching the waves. Splashing water in and creating a bunch of whoa, whooooo, and whawhooos! Each had a turn up front to get wet and we took one drop that made Steve do the superman... we all screamed Hurray! When he landed back in the boat. We stopped at the hot pools near the end for a warm up just before we had to endure the pouring rain as it picked up with wind. Pelting our faces and the wind making us work hard, we earned this trip, for all that it was worth.
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