I want to thank Susi, who suggested this article. 😊
Here and there I have mentioned that I like the ways of the people here. After spending 3 months here (seems like 3 weeks however) I would like to put it into more binding words. Those relate to the New Zealanders rather than to travelers.
If you were looking for that mass of friendly people that await you upon arrival and welcome you straight to their hearts, you must realize, soberingly, that they are still human over here.
There is the quiet businessman striving past you in his wafting suit, there is the strict mother who impatiently tries to teach ‘Pardon?’ to her daughter, there are shady people that you wouldn’t like to cross.
There is the Work-o-holic who makes for a not to be underrated danger on top of his tractor, there is the scruffy and whacky looking lady who zips through the supermarket beyond any speed limit, there are also people who don’t respond to your hearty greeting.
BUT there IS a substantial shift in the ways of these people. A shift which lets the Kiwis outstand.
It is the relaxed and always positive attitude towards life and the utterly small barrier to engage in a conversation.
The latter often happened. Whether you only ask for the way and get a lift to your hostel as an effect and gain lovely friends by the way, or you get talked to in a random place, have a nice talk and never see each other again.
You learn in utmost comfort that anybody likes to communicate and that there ought to be no unnecessary boundaries.
Besides, the most knowledge, the most tips and the best bargains are given away by trivial asking.
The interest in the other seems to be greater. You care for one another, you always ask how one is.
When asked something, it is put in the most discrete and friendly way, always estimating the best. To my sorrow this waters down the clear and direct commanding tone and misconceptions arise. But it’s nothing that isn’t solved easily after asking a second time… 😊
The most shining feature are all the phrases, or maybe all those saying used redundantly.
Everything is ‘sweet as’ (yup, one S), ‘good as gold’, ‘cool’ or plain ‘sweet’ with a thumbs up, you become anybody’s ‘mate’ or ‘bro’. Trifles or the ‘sorry’ when passing someone is being answered with a smile. You can shout out a friendly salute to the leaf-blowing-specialist over there and it come back as hearty.
Not one traveler can miss the most recognizable saying regarding the Kiwi Way of Life. It is often used after a ‘Thank you!’ and in any situation, that makes the other person look caring. It plays a crucial role in the daily life. It is: ‘No worries!’ (for the rest of your days)
