Reflections..
26
October 2002
It's been the type of fortnight where each week has started with good intentions but my body has had other plans i.e. it decides to be sick or just wants to sleep.
Maybe it is something to do with the dramatic change in weather here. My daily outdoor clothing is always accessorised with a scarf and coat now. New York appears to only have two distinct seasons. A hot humid summer and a freezing cold winter. I don't know what happened to Autumn…or Fall but they are kidding themselves if they think this is it!!! It's a bit off putting too when locals say to me, 'you haven't done a New York winter yet? You are in for a shock'. Thanks guys. I will never moan about a New Zealand winter again! (Thank god for steam heating in apartments.)
One thing I have noticed
over the past two weeks is the repetition of response to where I come
from. The one thing worse than, 'Oh do you know such and such then?'(yep,
at my last birthday all 3.8 million people in our country turned up! It
was just for close personal friends you know) is, 'Wow, you're from New
Zealand, why would you want to come here?' And yes unfortunately they
all demand an answer. I'll start making up reasons soon. It is the most
annoying question because everyone who asks is basing their strong point
of view (of…I must be nuts to leave New Zealand), on what they have
seen in our movies…specifically Lord Of The Rings. They have never
actually visited New Zaland…arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I am not a particularly patient person, can you tell?
These same people cannot and I mean CANNOT be convinced that our country is anything BUT what is shown in LOTR. I myself felt that the scenery shown in LOTR deserved an Oscar just for being so stunning. However, I also know that that is not a representation of all of New Zealand, just as I also know that 9 ¾ platform does not exist in the Kings Cross station (or whichever station it is Ms Rowling had in mind)…as much as I might want it too!!
Here is the perception of New Zealand. We live in a fantasy land far, far away that if it wasn't for the odd kiwi found lurking around the shores of other countries no one would believe New Zealand exists. Sad to say not many Americans know where New Zealand is, which just adds to their belief that NZ is some magical country dreamed up to give hope to others. We live in villages. Yep, and everyone is honest and fair and good hardworking folk. Naturally the women are beautiful and the men are strong tough types who go out hunting and drink a lot of beer (well that part is true isn't it? About the women I mean). It is an extremely mountainous country with a warm temperate climate all year around. No one goes without and we are a simple race with an exotic accent which Americans love…why!????. When in our own country we speak in our native tongue…New Zealand. Unfortunately because we are so isolated no one else bothers to learn our language hence why we have to speak in English when in other countries overseas. Hmmm.
Wow!!! I want to go there! Based on their extensive knowledge of New Zealand and the main source of this knowledge I have to wonder what they expect to see when they arrive? What, they get off the plane and are greeted by Hobbits? Dwarfs work in the banks? Goblin gangs wear patches and harangue the local villagers after dark? Elves teach children in school? I'm dying to know! And what would happen if they saw, The Piano? Or Heavenly Creatures? Or Bad Taste? Would the perception of New Zealand then be of a wet dreary, behind the times country populated by out of control viscous teenagers and exploding sheep? With over 60 million sheep the odd one exploding won't have too much impact on our export business will it? Oh dear.
I am a HUGE fan of
anything magical or fantastical and as a kid I was always hoping I would
get whisked away to the land of Narnia (C.S Lewis) and have great adventures
with the talking animals. Unfortunately it never happened and as an adult
I had to reluctantly concede that the country of Narnia would only exist
in my imagination. I guess it's great that so many Americans imagine New
Zealand to be their 'Narnia.' It can only be good for tourism right? Personally
though, they should try just once, just once, not to sound so ignorant…or
go and talk to someone with more patience than me…
(You can also read about what I am up to on www.nzoom.co.nz under entertainment - rant.)
Regards,
romiley
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