1st Airhead Moment in New Zealand

So I was bragging to my good friend Michelle here on Monday how I haven't done one "airheady" thing since I have been in New Zealand. For years I hid my air head moments so well....ahhh those were the days (said in a sappy nostalgic voice)

Then all of a sudden it was as if I was doing one airhead thing after another. I spent a lot of my life being VERY controlled. I made sure what I presented to people was what they wanted to hear, see and/or experience. Therefore, it was much easier to not show airhead moments because I had thought through numerous times the way a situation or conversation would go. If I was going to say something dumb, or do something dumb I had already thought through it and just simply wouldn't do it when the conversation or circumstance happened.

Shortly after my explosion of airhead moments, some of my college friends and I were sitting around my parents kitchen table one Thanksgiving. My sweet roommate from college who I LOVE and am so glad has been in my life for almost 14 years (YIKES...did we really graduate college 10 years ago this April? WE DID!!!!) looked across the table with compassionate knowing eyes after my rant about how surprised I was at all the dumb airhead things I have done. In a gentle voice she said, "Well Dana I think that in your spiritual journey towards God and being a whole person you have just become who you are created to be and are finally okay with that person. So that is why all those years you didn't do airhead things, you weren't comfortable with who you were and who you were created to be."

Somewhere in there is a compliment....wait for it....wait for it.... :) I responded with, "So you are saying I have always been an airhead."

After our good laugh and me teasing her that she just called me an airhead, I did have to see her point a little bit. And to her credit she was genuinely trying to compliment me. She was so excited that I didn't have to calculate my life and give people what they wanted, but that I was just me.

Now I just know that there will be many airhead things I do in life and I actually kind of like them because they ALWAYS make for a good story. Like the time I got out of my car while it was still in DRIVE....Yep definitely did that and somewhere in the state of CA is a cute white Toyota 4Runner with a dent in the bumper to prove it.

On to my first airhead moment of my NZ trip. After I told Michelle on Monday that I was so impressed I hadn't done anything like that I had remembered that my friend Nichole's had just put a piece on her blog (she is in my list of blogs I like, but I don't know how to do that cool thing where I can make it so if you click on her name it will go to her site...) that if you want fuller hair put your hair up in a ponytail on top of your head and sleep on it, then presto! The next day you have full hair. So I tried that. Which meant that I didn't wash my hair that day. So while I was curling my hair, completely impatient about sitting there, I had to do something. I decided to read the back of the stuff on my counter. I was reading the back of my Anti Friz stuff for my hair that I bought in the states especially for my trip. It was a Beadhead product and it smelled SO good, and if I put it in while my hair was still a bit wet it would cut down on the friz. I definitely remember reading "when my hair was still damp."

As I glanced at the bottle this morning though, I realized it said a phrase I had missed--it's you greatest 2nd step....WHOA! Second step? What does that mean. Reading on I realized that it also said, "after shampooing put this great conditioner in and you will have no friz hair." I QUICKLY wipped the bottle around and read the front and it definitely said "anti friz" but not anti friz serum, but "anti friz conditioner" What the heck! Let me tell you that I thought my hair was a little weird and I also thought it was weird that Nichole puts it in when it is kind of dry when she does my hair at her salon. And what have I been doing for 6 weeks? Putting conditioner that is NOT LEAVE IN, into my hair and going about my day wondering why it felt a little weird, but chalking it up to being in a new environment. Nope I just read a part of the back of the bottle in my lack of patience and missed the most important part. Which to my elementary teachers (and my parents) credit, is what I was told my whole life: Dana is a great student but makes many careless mistakes because she rushes. Yep that is me still to this day. I have genuinely been working on this and know now that it is actually part of something that when used right I do well. In my need to do something fast,I can get things started right away when others won't start something or don't know how. Some call the trait "lack of patience" I like to refer to it as an "activator of society." Either way you say it it sometimes means that I do really "careless" (the nice way my teachers said it) or "airhead" (the more accurate description) things.

While I was so proud I had not done one airhead thing since I have arrived, in fact I had been doing it EVERYDAY for 6 weeks!!!

AHHH the joys of being okay with a little airheadness... Stacie was right. While in my journey to NZ and my journey in NZ I have felt the most alive, the most healthy, and the most ME I have ever felt in one place. I have had conversations I never expected to have in my own spiritual journey with God. I have learned so much about myself and so much about a God who is simply not spiritual and unactive in my life, but who actually is an active friend and father in my life. My life has been rich with learning about God, even though I grew up with an understanding of Him and at one point started a personal relationship with Him. At the same time, as that has happened I have learned so much about who I really am and who I am created to be.
So, at the end of the day does it surprise me that I do airhead stuff? Not really, because I think Stac was on to something. I am more okay with being who I am and part of who I am that might never change is funny airhead moments.

I am sure there will be plenty more "airhead" moments I have. (And I do have to be honest there is one that has happened here, but there is no way on earth I can put it on my blog...but it was rather funny, just not the most appropriate of stories for the blog world---feel free to ask me about that when I get home:)

Off for a jog and to enjoy the beauty of not only New Zealand, but simply the beauty of LIFE today.

Traditional Kiwi Day

What a day!

I went on a Tikki Tour (a way to say a little tour around pointing at all sorts of things) with Deby all afternoon. The day was rainy and stormy, so we set out to do some touristy stuff and quickly changed our minds and headed out for a typical Kiwi Day.

We drove about 30 minutes to a quaint little town, Cambridge, that resembles a small English town. It is full of a cute downtown with shops, cafes, and cobblestone streets. We went to old friend's houses and NO ONE minded us just dropping by. As we walked in the door of each home I was struck by the immediate excitement that visitors were there. They quickly put on the water for tea or coffee and had us sit down in the "lounge" (the living room).

I would have to say that my favorite house was Sylvia's. She raises Golden Retrievers. And currently has 4 (plus she was dog sitting a black lab). I am not joking when I saw there were dogs everywhere! I had to giggle as I thought of some of my friends picturing me in this situation in a small little house in a foreign country. Two dogs were full grown and two were good sized puppies and the lab was a small grown lab. Oh the things you do in foreign places :)

She was delightful! And loved showing me all the pictures of her litters that she had bred. There were pictures of Golden Retriever Litters all over the house. She was so sweet and made me laugh a lot. And I even let her dogs sniff me, lick me and touch me without freaking out too much:0 I did have to rethink the "hip pocket" idea I had. What is that you ask? I don't really love dogs, but I planned to have a secret in my hip pocket if when I am married with kids, and my family wants a dog. I will say no, but secretly when and if I can't say no any more I will negotiate with being willing to get a dog as long it was a Golden Retriever. I might still have that little sneaky plan, but 5 dogs in a little living room was enough to make me rethink that plan:)

We also went to lunch at a sweet little cafe that was an old pink church. It had been redone to be a store on the bottom and a cafe upstairs. It was yummy! And fun to shop in. Here is me and Deby on the stairs heading down for some fun shopping moments:



I was struck at how "small" New Zealand is today. I haven't lived in a small town for years, but had to admit that I missed it today. Deby would tell someone where she was living now by simply saying: 191 Crawford up in Te Puna. And they would say "Oh, yes." Remember we were at least an hour away at this point. So many times I have shook my head when someone tells you how to get to their house by saying the street number and the street....ie. 41 Ranch Rd. WhAt?!?! After living in LA when you give directions by giving the entire address, zip code included(sidenote: they don't even use zip codes here) so that we can map quest it OR we give directions by freeways (take the 210, to the 134, to the 5, etc...) I had to admit that I wasn't sure what to do with that. But it did make me smile inside the whole day.

We returned back to the Mount, so Deby could race to a birthday party and I went home to celebrate Uncle Neville's Bday. It was actually on Thursday (also the same birthday as my favorite 9 year old--ELLIANNA!!!) Family came over and we had Chop Suey...a little different but good. And then of course had to have birthday cake:



I ended the night sitting and talking to Auntie Ali for a couple hours in the kitchen over a cup of tea and hot chocolate. It has been such a fun time being here with them and I am reminded how incredible it is to have good people in your life.

It was a GREAT Kiwi Day

It's time for a little Flight of the Conchords

I thought it was time for another few video's to make you laugh...


You will never eat Jelly Beans without stopping to think of this little song and maybe even chuckle a bit as you pop those tiny bits of sugar into your mouth..."Albie the Racist Dragon"



Think About It :)




This commercial isn't Flight of the Conchords, but it makes me laugh every time. I think it is mainly because it is something I could see myself doing in 30 years...I can just see me and Sea Jay giggling each time we added more chocolate to our purses...EnJoy

Only in New Zealand (part 4)

My gray hair (I know aren't I too young for gray hair?? NOPE, unfortunately not) was a bit much, so I decided to try a new hair lady here in New Zealand. I was a bit nervous to not be sitting Nichole's chair, but was a so tired of seeing the gray hair, so off I went to a salon.

I saw a girl with cute hair and asked her who did her hair. She sent me to Kim at Enjay (conveniently located next to my FAVORITE ice cream shop). With high hopes I walked in and acted like it was no big deal. But really any female knows getting your hair done can be quite traumatic. I sat down and as she talked through what she thought would be best I saw out of the corner of my eye the lady next to me getting a hand massage while her color was processing. HMMMM, I thought maybe this is normal and I will get one of those too. I didn't get my hopes up but a girl can dream, right? Then as Kim was figuring out what color to use on my hair I glance down at her counter and saw: "Enjay Cafe List" Then beneath that was a list of 10 or 12 different drinks to choose from--are they free? Do they offer you drinks like a Maccachino (my favorite coffee in NZ--well if you can call it that, it is more like a hot chocolate with a tad bit of coffee in it) or Late, or a tea and on and on the list went. Hmmmm is this for real?

Kim finished choosing my color and asked me what hot drink I would like her to make for me. I was so stunned I said, "ummm." Yep that is all I said, so smooth, huh? She then said I could just get you a water. I respond with, "yeah that would be great."

We chit chat a bit about my life in LA, her life in NZ and the funny article I was reading about Katherine Heigel. A few minutes later a sweet lady came over to me and said, "Can I offer you a hand massage?" JACKPOT!!! I smile sweetly trying to act not surprised or too ecstatic. While secretly inside I wanted to scream, "YAY I do get one!" I am not gonna lie, though---in my American mind I secretly wondered if I had to pay for this. But decided to put that thought quickly out of my head once my hand massage began.


Then again out of the corner of my eye I notice the lady from before sitting in the chair where they rinse her hair. That isn't too strange, but this is.....it had been like 20 minutes. Hmmmmm was she getting a head massage? I soon found out---

YES SHE WAS AND NOW SO WAS I. But the head massage only came after I sat in the chair to rinse my hair and realized I had just sat down into a massage chair that was massaging me from my toes to my neck. And not only did Kim then give me a head massage for 15 minutes she gently played with my hair. I thought I was going to melt right there in that chair.

Kim finished my hair and did an amazing job! The color was great and she styled it very cute. I was able to take a huge sigh of relief (and text Nichole immediately telling her all was okay in potential hair crisis situation). As I got up to pay her I froze---AGHHH I forgot to ask one of my friends if they tip here in NZ. They don't tip waiters at all here, but do hair dressers get tipped? Well I was so impressed with how great she did I thought I would at least try and tip her. NOPE they don't tip and she got so embarrassed and would not take my money at all. Ooops....

And I paid so little for all of that! She even told me the price and looked at me and said, is that okay? Is that okay---OF COURSE is all I was thinking....you gave me a hand massage, sat me in a massage chair and then gave me a head massage. You could put pink in my hair and I would pay you all over for that experience. I kind of feel like I ripped her off it was so cheap (compared to LA prices).

So since she wouldn't let me tip her and had extra money in my wallet....I wandered over to the ice cream place and got a yummy ice cream.

What a perfect day! And only in NZ do you get all that and have them look at you with surprise that you are surprised by all that you just received--it's just a normal day at the salon for them. Oh how the little things make such a big difference!!

Everyone Needs A Rugby Coach

STRESS...man that words takes on so many different forms, doesn't it? Some days the stress of the mundane is overwhelming, other days it is the stress of change, and some days life just throws you curve balls and you don't know if you are going to breathe again.

I typically deal with stress in a couple of different ways: like the blog implies--desserts is one great way. Not always the best option since I find that they often give me migraines. But yet, I still fall into doing that some days. Another way is TEARS. Yep did that this week. And finally a good workout or run. I kind of mixed all three of those this weekend. But on Monday morning it all came crashing down. Mostly because a migraine had landed on my head, I came home from work Sunday night and instead of going to bed I ate cookies--that will definitely help the migraine, NOPE. Then I got up Monday morning at 5:50AM wide awake and stressed. So I went for the last option: a good long run down the beach and a hike up the Mount.

As I got ready I was talking to Uncle Neville and telling him that I had a migraine and that I thought it was a mix of stress and the food I was eating. He responded quite quickly and concisely, "you might want to figure that out and learn to let go of things because if you keep doing that to your body you will damage it and that is no way to live." Well, good morning DANA! Not what I expected at 6AM, but true nonetheless.

I jogged out the door down to the beach--just to remind you, it is only two blocks away:) I started jogging next to the water and instantly the tears began. I felt like I could run for miles. I cried some, I whined A LOT, and I cried some more. I got to the Mount feeling a tad bit better--clearer head and not as teary. I climbed up the Mount and was reminded how hard it is right before the top. I WANT TO QUIT EACH TIME, but for some reason I don't. Maybe because I know what is coming--that amazing view.



I sat up on the top just looking at the beach. I have a personal relationship with God, so I thought that I would have a conversation with Him about what was going on and what I was stressed out about. I sat up there for about an hour. What was I stressed about? I take myself entirely too seriously for starters. I love what I do but I think about it constantly. I am in the unique and incredible position of Consulting and Coaching a place through some team development and leadership development applications. A little like Human Resources mixed with team building dynamics, done through things like personality assessments, talent indicators and time spent with people in the organization. It is such a unique experience and to do it in Paradise...is a nice plus.

So at the end of my time on top of the Mount, the conclusion was stop taking yourself so seriously, remember that the Sun will rise and set tomorrow without you doing one thing, and chill out a bit. I was able to do that as I headed down the Mount. Not quite sure how to really let go and trust that I don't have to have all the answers in this job. In my experience I cannot do it all and what I know about God through my life is He cares deeply about people and uses me at times, but people's growth is not dependent on me. So I trudged down the Mount not sure what end was up but felt a little different, a little more hopeful than when I began.

I decided to walk home a different way and passed this little coffee shop on my way. Someone called my name and as I turned around I saw a friend. He is from the states and has been dating a Kiwi (I met them through Beks and Greg) They have been all over but currently they are living here while he coaches Rugby (as an American...that is a tricky thing in Rugby Country) As I sat and chatted with him, we talked about coaching and how similar our jobs are. And as he talked it was as if he was putting into words what I was in conversation with God about on top of the Mount. Funny how life works....I felt so much more sorted out in my head and actually knew what direction to head with my job.

I headed home with renewed vigor and received a phone call from my supervisor and mentor Janice from the States that encouraged and challenged me minutes later. I hung up the phone and continued my walk home and thought:

DANA, PERSPECTIVE PLEASE!!!

Yes you were stressed, but you jogged along the beach as you were destressing. Yes you didn't know what to do, but you walked up a Mount with a breathtaking view. And Yes you were unclear what to do in your job, but you live in PARADISE!!! Get over yourself and gain a little perspective. I could be sitting with this same stress in LA traffic or I can be sitting in a beautiful beach house overlooking the beach where my soul seems to come alive. Ummm....I think I have it good.

The stress subsided and the work continued and I grew in my professional skills and I think this week I grew in my listening skills and people skills, as well. Isn't that what life is about: not staying the same? Remembering that there is so much more to us than meets the eye? Acknowledging that you don't have all life's answers? And in the midst of that you seem to grow a deeper compassion for humanity.

Much like the walk up the Mount I wanted to quit this week. It seemed so hard and overwhelming. But now the week is over I am so glad I didn't because like the view from the top, I was privy to see incredible insights into the organization I was working with and even forward think seeing how influential they are going to be. Not to mention all the growth I saw in myself. Just like the moment my running shoe hits the top of the Mount and my eyes overlook the Beach, I was so thankful I didn't give up. How sad to have gone all that way and quit right before you see the beauty.

A long run, a confused mind, a beach in paradise, a conversation with God, and a Rugby Coach....Funny but I kind of wish everyone had a Rugby Coach that could sort them out like my friend did with me.

Lessons on Cricket

I didn't receive lessons from a cricket....but last night I learned my fair share of how to play--or watch the sport Cricket.

Michelle and Jared came over last night to have dinner and watch a movie after a long week of work. But I actually ended up learning a lot of new things. Let me share some of the things I Iearned:

*I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PICK ALCOHOL WHEN HAVING PEOPLE OVER FOR DINNER (I guess that isn't a new thing I learned it was just reinforced)--Jared told me exactly which beer he wanted--so I didn't get the wrong one:) So that wasn't too hard. But Michelle just said red wine--so after sitting in the wine section wondering how to actually pick one when you don't drink wine, I asked the friendly grocery store worker in the section which was good. He was no help he didn't drink wine either. So I text Jared and asked him. He gave me a broad answer. So I opted for the next best thing...which one looked the cutest? And guess what Michelle said it was very good. I kind of like my system.

*YOU DON'T PUT RED WINE IN THE FRIDE--Who knew? Not me. I was so proud to have it all 'chilled' for Michelle. Oh well she still liked it.

*CRICKET IS THE LONGEST SPORT THAT EVER EXISTED--We watched a lot of Cricket and we really didn't see that much in the whole scheme of the game. It last for a whole Day! And sometimes there are 5 Day Games!!! Yikes

*THERE ARE 50 OVERS (these are equivalent to innings in base ball) PER TEAM!!! And each "over" is 6 bowls (kind of like pitches in Base Ball) Are you starting to see why the game is so long?

*CRICKET FILLS GUYS "TANKS." Uncle Neville and Jared were like little boys in a candy shop as they watched a few hours of cricket--yes I said a few hours....(and it wasn't even close to being over)

*MICHELLE LIKES LOOKING AT PICTURES--since Cricket was on, me and Michelle wandered in another room and ended up looking at my pictures so she could see all of you back in the states:)

*BAKING CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES IN NZ ISN'T QUITE THE SAME AS IN THE STATES. I LOVE baking, but for some reason my cookies didn't look like they do at home. It couldn't have been just me, so we will blame it on being in a new country. Though they said they tasted good--maybe they just didn't look good but tasted the same??

*CRICKET HAS A LOT OF RULES AND IS VERY LONG---I know I said that earlier, but seriously it is long. It actually was kind of fun to watch, but I love any sports, for the most part. It just takes a long time that is for sure.

*NEW ZEALAND NAMES EVERY NATIONAL SPORTS TEAM "ALL BLACKS"--Okay well not every team, but each team has some variation of that. They have a Country Color for their sport teams---BLACK--which is not a color on their flag. (Do we have that in the states?) So last night I saw the NZ Cricket team and had to ask: Is the Cricket Team called the "All Blacks" too (the name of the national Rugby team)? Because it looked like the Rugby All Black uniforms. They aren't they are called the Black Caps. So much different:)

*JARED ISN'T THE BEST "PICKER" OF A MOVIE--he might have to redeem himself after the movie we watched. The Fountain--don't highly recommend it. So if you ever sitting at the movie store or on Netflix wondering if you should get, just don't do it. I will give Jared another chance though :)

*HANGING OUT WITH FUN FRIENDS MAKES ME SMILE--even watching hours of Cricket

*And last but not least: NZ COMMERCIALS ARE VERY WITTY (FYI--Togs are swimsuits)



I actually had seen this earlier, but thought it was a great excuse to show you something that makes me laugh here. Why does it make me laugh, other than it is really funny? I encountered this scene in real life my first week in NZ. So my friends here couldn't wait to show me this commercial. I thought I would now share it with you!

Have a great day!!!

Happy Valentines Day To Me

How sweet are my Mom and Dad?

These showed up for me today:




It is late on Feb 13 in NZ and I am so happy the flowers came the day before Valentines Day because now I can enjoy them longer!

Aren't they GORGEOUS? I feel very loved and special!!

I MOVED

Well I officially moved to my second house in New Zealand. Yesterday I left Beks and Greg's house, and now I am staying with Auntie Aly and Uncle Neville. Though it was sad to leave Beks and Greg, I am super excited to spend some time here.

Here is some pics of the new place:

(the new place)


(having dinner in the kitchen with Uncle Nev and Auntie Aly)


(one of the views)


I have made some GREAT friends here so far and I realized I need to start posting pictures so you guys can see them. Here are some fun friends that I deemed my fun and social friends. Well....actually I asked them if they would be my friends:) (they said yes...yay for me!)





Jared and Michelle are some of the key leaders I get to work with here, but they quickly became more than just work friends. Their care for people and character was talked about before I met them and after meeting them I see why so many people think so highly of them. Plus we just LAUGH a lot and I always keep special LOLLIES in my office for Michelle.

Only in New Zealand (part 3)

Does Dana hold a baby kitten for 5 minutes and smile the whole time.
Ahh the joys of being in a new place and making a good impression...

Bride Room Dreams

Hairspray, laughter, makeup, and a white dress filled the small Bride's Room in a church in Northern California. We all spent the morning in our blue dresses making sure that our beautiful friend stayed gorgeous and perfect in her white dress. The goal was simple: a flawless relaxed bride walking down the aisle. Simple enough.... There were quite a few moments that day that went not quite the way we planned and as a bridesmaid I can say that I did something I have never done before to guarantee that my friend's moment was ideal.

Ironically 10 years ago in that small room and in the midst of my friends big moment I felt like I new what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I didn't totally understand it then and actually don't fully comprehend it now. But this I know, I get excited when I think about, I love when I catch glimpses of me doing it, and I think about how to do it better all the time. As I have come to know God one of the things that I have done is read the Bible. One of the things the Bible states is that God thinks of the church as his bride. Kind of a weird analogy to me, but it's the way it is described. Interestingly enough, I kind of get it now that most of my friends have got married. Each wedding there was this look that my friend's husband would get at the end of the long aisle that she was heading down. I actually love to catch the moment when the groom sees her for the first time. It is as if words cannot capture how full his heart is to be connected to her for the rest of their lives.

Could that really be how God sees people? Does He say the Bride is his church because it is full of people? For the sake of argument what if that was true? I have had a relationship with God over the years. It hasn't always been easy--I am relating to an invisible God that has visible effects. That is just a bizarre, but since it is my experience I know it is true. (maybe I am the bizarre one?:) I have had a hard time understanding who God is, and what He really wants for people. Sometimes I struggle with knowing that He is in control of the world and what that means. And most often I struggle with trusting that He loves me and looks out for me. At the end of the day though, I know that He is real and has loved me in tangible ways.

So ten years ago while standing in that Bride's room I had this feeling that I would get to help, not only my friends look amazing on their wedding day, but to stick with the illustration that God used in the Bible, that I would get to spend my life helping the church "look" or more accurately be beautiful and perfect. It put words to what was inside me--strange experience, but I was filled with purpose not knowing what that meant but excited to live life.

I realized this weekend that I have spent the last few years doing just that. It is a part of what I am doing in New Zealand. It hasn't looked AT ALL like I thought it would. It has been very hard and, in fact, I have been more hurt in my attempts to help in churches than I have outside of churches. A hard concept for me to grasp is that I am not perfect, but feel so strong about helping in churches. I have worked on my "craft," so to speak by learning about communication, care, management, leadership, and the way others outside of the church do those things.

While it hasn't been easy because I have seen people in deep pain and I have been in deep pain, I would have it no other way. Because along the way I have learned so much about myself, I have seen all different parts of the world, I have met incredible people, I have seen people's lives change dramatically, I have seen people experience love and hope from God for the first time. I watched a lady this weekend realize that there was a difference between religion and having a relationship with God. She asked such poignant questions and at the end she didn't want the illusion of God through religion but wanted a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

What a privilege. I never get used to watching the God of the universe care about people, and I am so humbled that He lets me see it and be a part of what He is doing. So while I am no where close to perfect, I am so thankful that God lets me see not only how He works, but how He loves people.

Dana had a little lamb....

As Promised....

The sheep that I see each day at the Mount. This little guy ran right in front of me as I was climbing




"Everywhere that Dana went the lamb was sure to go..."



(don't mind the sweaty Dana in the photo, but do notice the little sheep in the background on my way up the Mount yesterday morning)


But here is what I saw when I got to the top



Have a GREAT Day guys!

Sweet As...

Two major accomplishments for this week:

#1. I used a New Zealand coin without having to inspect it to see how much it was worth. I was so excited I had to tell the girl I was giving the coin to at the cafe. She just smiled...I guess I wrecked my "I finally fit and don't look like a tourist" moment. I was so proud though:)

#2. I used the phrase "Sweet As" in it's proper place this week. Sweet as what you might ask? NOTHING is the answer to that question. Sweet as is the way that many Kiwi respond to someone in a conversation. It took me a a few days to figure out what they were saying because with their accent it sounds like they are complimenting my bum. (and I am sure some of you are quite positive that would never happen, as was I, so I new I couldn't be understanding them right) Have you figured out what it sounded like? Sweet A** hehehehe

Once I figured it out I had to laugh. Then I had to ask, sweet as what? Sweet as nothing, just simply the way the say "no worries" or "that's cool." Well yesterday someone text me to tell me they were going to be late and I responded with Sweet As and felt so proud of myself.

Little victories....Definitely worth celebrating!

Only in New Zealand (part 2)

Only in New Zealand do you jog down this beach:



Towards this Mount:



Run with the sheep---I am so not kidding and I promise I will get pictures soon. It is as if they are just part of the scenery munching on the grass as you jog by.

And get to eat this most YUMMY candy: Raspberry Chocolate Logs



I have to confess I had two today! I wish this blog was scratch and sniff or like the samples at Costco. Then you could reach into your computer and taste just how yummy these chocolate filled licorice really are....

I think this really might be a little slice of heaven....seriously, great candy, beaches, running with sheeep

New Zealand At Its Finest

There are so many exciting things to take in as one enters another country. Some of my favorite things to discover are the little idiosyncrasies of the culture: what is the grocery store like? What candy do the kids eat? Where do the locals hang out? But by far, my most favorite thing (with eating the new candy of country coming in at a close second: current favorite is chocolate inside a raspberry licorice) are the cultural norms of people--ways people interact with one another, what makes people embarrassed or uncomfortable, what makes people laugh, what is okay in public, what gets you certain looks when you say or do things, etc.

Often times these are discovered by watching and listening, to what is spoken and unspoken. It is important to study people because in the learning comes the knowledge of how to value another human being. Why I am not an expert on the heart of a Kiwi, there are key characteristics that are beginning to surface with such great clarity. My friends have modeled strength, ingenuity, initiative, hope, fierce independence, and a calmness that is an underlying virtue. Not much seems to ruffle their feathers, so to speak, because if it does they know that they can do something to change it. There is always another way to accomplish anything. There are virtually no road blocks in New Zealand.

There is a encouragement silently whispered through the Islands of New Zealand: You can do this, you can accomplish that, you will not fail, and you will find a way. My sense during my journey towards this country and once I arrived has been that of great leadership, a forward thinking, a call to what humanity can accomplish. Kiwi's silently communicate to the world one simple word: perseverance. The word is full. Full of hope, disappointment, failure, success, frustration, exhaustion, exhillaration, peace, chaos, the known, and the unknown. One feels inspired and capable of taking on any size of challenge.

Much like the human soul, though, there is a dark side. Might that be true of this culture's personality? The beauty of humanity lies within its complexity. This complexity is as understated as a Kiwi. New Zealand is in the future, greeting each new day before the majority of the world. This ability to make life happen regardless of circumstances makes a Kiwi a Kiwi, but it also can hinder our world. With their insights into life and "never say die" mentality has also come a fierce individualism that has the potential to limit the leadership New Zealanders are capable of in our world.

We are in a new season with the age of the internet and technology at its highest; there are new ways to see humanity, so much so, I can talk to my friend's kid over the computer while looking at each of them on a Thursday and for them it is a Wednesday. But only seeing humanity with our eyes this will be our greatest danger as a society. What if we begin to see humanity with our ears as well? What will the Kiwi do with their persevering strength of a "never say die" attitude mixed with an individualistic mindset? What will we choose to learn from them? What will happen if we choose to learn from a part of the world that sits on the edge of time?

What sparked all these thoughts? I sat with Beks and Greg watching an ICON of New Zealand: What Rider


(http://www.whaleriderthemovie.com/start.html)

On the surface it is the story of a young Mauri girl, but really it is the story of the human soul. I HIGHLY recommend this film, not to just learn about New Zealand culture, but to learn from this film what sometimes only a film can teach us by its non defensive approach to story telling. It was brilliantly written and filmed, but more importantly it captures the conflict of humanity, the beauty of strength, the clash of the natural and the supernatual, and the hope of more. It allows an outsider into the heart of not only a New Zealander, but perhaps the heart of each person who chooses to be responsible. And for that I will ever be changed.