Before we arrived people kept telling me how friendly kiwis are. When I think of friendly I think of Sandi, my aerobics instructor in Tennessee who would have us do a kick line to our aerobics finale “I got friends in low places” by Garth Brooks and then high five everyone on the way out. Kiwis are much more reserved. However, when our car broke down at a busy intersection this weekend within 10 seconds of having our hazards on a man had pulled over, ran over to our car and helped Brad push the car off the road. Then, when Brad was with the tow truck and I was wandering the streets with the kids waiting for him and it started to rain, a man who was painting an office came out and said “I saw what happened, you can sit in my van to wait if you want”. When you try to thank people they shrug it off and say “No worries”. Also, when meeting other moms, they’ll often say something like “Well, it would be nice to catch up with you so why don’t you come over for morning tea on Thursday if it suits you” and before I know it I’m having tea with them. So, I agree with all of those people who will tell you how nice people from New Zealand are.
Yes—-Kiwis are kind. There was the motel manager in Franz Josef who discerned I was stressed and stood in the office and chatted quietly with me about quilts and how they hoped to retire in Geraldine. She showed me the baby quilt she was making, calmly talking me down off the ledge without making any inquiries or violating my privacy. There was the husband of the motel manager in Alexandra who stopped by our cottage on his way home from work to speak to me as I shucked corn on the edge of the driveway. There was the jewelry store clerk in Hokitika who searched diligently in her odds and ends drawer until she found an earring back for Alex and giving it to her for nothing, said, “No worries. We all lose ’em.” And everywhere there were hardworking men and women who noticed me enough to make me feel special no matter whether they were guiding traffic around roadwork, minding the counter in the dry cleaners or serving tea from a small shop. Small kindnesses everyday from people who didn’t know much luxury. One remembers and is so very grateful.