The Same ... but Different

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When people ask us, “How are you finding New Zealand?” we often struggle to answer the question. A move into a different culture and climate has its ups and downs, and the array of feelings is hard to capture in a short reply. Instead of blurting out a lengthy response, we have coined the statement “It is the same … but different.” We have not moved to a third world country, where we might be lacking in the finer conveniences of the western world. In fact, in some ways we have upgraded. We can’t imagine how we ever lived without high-speed internet or an electric kettle.

What we do find is that New Zealand doesn’t sell Stoneyfield yogurt or Teddy’s peanut butter ... but we are getting used to Meadow Fresh yogurt and Sanitarium peanut butter. The eggs are in the bread isle of the grocery store, and Johnny rings are non-existent in the hardware store ... but life continues. The telephone company didn’t hook up our service for three weeks, but the electric company shut our power off after only two days of service. The services are the same, but the rules of access are different. Living in New Zealand has challenged what we have taken for granted to “be the way things are done”.

So we have embraced our new, simpler life. We still do the laundry, but hang the clothes out to dry on the clothes reel. We still mow the lawn, but “Goldie” doesn’t need petrol to power up. We still get to work on time, but arrive on two wheels instead of four. We had a birthday dinner for Bryan, but our friends had to bring their own plates. We were initially annoyed by our refrigerator’s hourly chatter, but now Leonard’s songs are a source of comfort.

As the weeks have passed, life has normalized. It is exciting to explore all that Christchurch has to offer. We have been go-kart racing, rock climbing, bicycle riding, and walking on the beach. New experiences are awaiting us as the seasons change and our network grows. We are happy to have you as our visitor, but just remember, the guest mattress is on the floor …just like ours.

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Photos

Clothes Reel
Our washer broke 3 times, but our dryer is more reliable.

Goldie
Sparkling gold cast iron wheels and blade, long black shaft, wooden roller ... for NZ$150, she came with all that pizzaz!

Brithday King
Siobhan decorates Bryan and Dave looks on as we celebrate a new decade.

Bryan in Purple
The Rimo go-karts are new to Christchurch - formerly owned by Ralf Schumacher. Bryan and his partner finished in last place because of 3 penalties.

Silke Climbing
Our German friend, Silke, leads a climb at Albert Terrace. We had Domino's pizza delivered to the craggs!

Halswell Quarry
The Halswell Quarry has gardens from CHristchurch's 3 sister cities. It is a nice place for a picnic or to watch the dogs exercise.

Sand Dancer
Peter Donnelly performs his skills in the sand every Sunday at low tide on New Brighton beach.

Guest Room
Brian Gonci was the first brave soul to try out our guest bed.

Comments

[Lynn Skoglund]

Just found this blog with help from google! What an awsome experience for you both! Keep the stories and pics coming so we envious types can drool!!

[Brian Gonci]

It was simpler then home.
I have been waiting patiently for a blog about when I was there. I see my humble Bungalow of a room was pictured. It was a reasonable price and the company was out standing!

[Lynne]

Wonderful Reading
Your dad just told me about your blog (my first ever) and I loved all of it. The pics are great and the narrative is fun to read. I envy you your experience. Keep it coming.