My people watching skills are not deployed in vain.
There is a significant possibility that I just encountered my first kiwi couple power walking past Starbucks. The thick accents coming from the AirNewZealand gate and raised voices yelling how many U.S. dollars remain to get rid of before returning home is the major clue--call me Alias Kelsey, call me Harriet the Spy, I've got a talent. Although I should say further investigating remains before my suspicion is confirmed. I don't want to have to deal with an international lawsuit on my hands or anything.
I already met my first (confirmed) Aussies on the flight over. They were extremely nice as they dictated the entire last two months of their travels in the U.S. without prompting, reassuring me between turbulence shakes that I would love New Zealand although I will be very cold.
I'm starting to worry about the cold comments as anyone and everyone I encounter who has a connection to New Zealand warns me of the same. My cool half-Slovenian half-Norwegian-Swedish-German-Liechtensteiner-basically-every-Freezing-European-country-with-a-resemblance-of-a-winter blood and weathered Native Minnesotan skin has to put its restraining muscles to use as I try not to brag just how cold of weather I have endured in my day, (I not only lived but trick-or-treated through the famous 1991 Halloween Blizzard by golly!) but I manage.
My trip so far has not been limited to encounters with the international.
I and my fellow Phoenix airport-ees watched in disbelief as we witnessed a child (age unknown would guess 2 or 3) straddling a suitcase with the ease of riding a shetland pony as her mother ran with it dangerously galloping behind her. I would not have been surprised to see her pull out a lasso and swing it over her head as she rode by. I suppose I should have been afraid for the little girl's safety. But she was letting loose the most infectious giggle known to airport travellers worldwide--not even the man painted in tattoos from eyelash to pinky toe could resist smiling through the shock.
Needless to say, my journey has begun.
Although it was hard to leave my wonderful friends and lovely family behind, I am now feeling the excitement overtake the effects of goodbyes and airport stress. I hope to be able to detail a bit of my travels in New Zealand here for all you friends and family, so that you can share with me through writing what I sincerely wish we could all share together in person. A week of orientation in the North Island is up first. First to Auckland, then to Rotorua, and then to find out just how comparably cold a New Zealand winter on the South Island is...I'll keep you posted.
As the Kiwis say, Cheers!
