No ordinary thing

One year. One year in Christchurch. One year in New Zealand. Though the idea of being here has progressively become less of a novelty thing (I wonder less and less "am I living on an island, Down Down Under, on the other side of the word, at the far end of everything?"), it is still much no ordinary thing.

My love, no ordinary thing. This is no ordinary thing.

This song (No Ordinary Thing), sung by Opshop, a group founded by Invercargill born and Christchurch bred Jason Kerrison, symbolizes very much this year: no ordinary thing.

The beautiful side of things: the kids. They did not know English and now they speak - and correct us - when we do not pronounce words in Kiwi English ("No Dad, it's not eleven, it's eliven."). It is amazing to see how quickly they have learnt it and it is so beautiful to hear them. They have integrated well and are doing well at school.

These are difficult times and the recession has hit us hard: my husband still has no job and our house in Belgium remains unsold. I work for a telco company, which was also a new area to me, but one which I appreciate as I have learnt a few things.

The language. This is indeed a big factor in terms of integration for a non-native English speaker. Although I thought I had a fairly good command of the English language, it is naturally something else to live the everyday life and work situation. Specially when most people "speak like a machine gun and talk in their moustaches" to use two French expressions for "they speak very fast and do not articulate". Add to that the different culture, in its subtleties and fine distinctions and one realizes that his year has been a whole process of learning and adjusting.

What else?... The nostalgia... still very strong (were I to follow my gut feelings I would be taking the next flight back to Europe) but I suppose this is part of the process and it takes time to adapt.

So... on to the next milestone.

Left home... and arrived home.

Left home, Belgium, old continental Europe a week ago to fly an endless 19.850 km to Christchurch. It is interesting to realize how far New Zealand is when you know that the circumference of the Earth totals 40.000 km. Down Under is far, very far, indeed...

Some brief highlights of this long journey:

- stopover in Hong Kong: arrived in Fragrant Harbour (or it appears that this is what Hong Kong means in Cantonese) after a short night on the plane. We were served a copious brunch and landed at warm Aberdeen Harbour (aka Hong Kong) in the afternoon, local time. We all get off the plane and only one hour later, at 5.30 pm, the sun, a big red ball of fire, sets down among the green Hong Kong hills. And it is time to board the plane again to Auckland.

- arrival in Auckland: it is curious how our memory usually associates present experiences with past ones. Landing in Auckland in a warm, sunny day, I have recollections of times when I was heading to Summer holidays in the South of France. Then I repeat to myself that no, no this is New Zealand and I have come here to start a new life, look for a job and a place to stay.

- arrival in Christchurch airport: it is early in the afternoon and the sun shines. Passengers get off the plane by going down a ladder. I step on the ground, stop and look around. It was a mild and fresh 19°C Friday afternoon. The airport buildings lie in front of me and on the left side I can see the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps on the horizon. I say to myself, "well, this is what home should now be", and the thought gives a warm feeling of hope.

On the practical side of things, I am lodging at a B&B, looking for a temporary fully furnished rental to welcome my husband and kids when they arrive on January 1st (the container will only arrive end February). Meanwhile bank accounts, IRD number have been sorted out and interviews for a job are lined up.

Christchurch is a beautiful and pleasant city and it deserves its Garden City alias. Kiwis are easygoing, relaxed people and most of all they are available to give you some attention and to politely answer a question. As a non-native English speaker I wondered whether I would have much difficulty in understanding the Kiwi accent. To my surprise, so far so good, although I do have to pay extra attention and be all ears when I talk to somebody who speaks either too fast or does not articulate very well. It does strike a note of strangeness though when you hear

- Ear New Zealand for Air New Zealand

- siven for seven

- are you feeeling bitter today for are you feeling better today?

but we are all creatures of habit and I might as well pick up the Kiwi accent in six months or in a year's time, who knows?

Summer here... Winter there

I will indulge to making some remarks about the weather and the temperature... Ah, the preferred subject of many Europeans, indeed.

July 21st, at the height of Summer in these Northern areas and the car thermometer shows 14°C (although the official meteorology site had announced a mild 17°C rainy day).

Let's open the New Zealand Herald to check temperatures Down Under and particularly those in Christchurch: we realize that at the height of Winter, the day temperature today in the Garden City was... 14°C.