There are some worldview-altering things I’ve learned during our latest trip through South Asia and New Zealand:
Texas has a reputation. Since COVID hit, Texas has become quite well-known throughout the world. Almost everyone we meet seems to think all Texans own guns and wear cowboy boots. No matter where we go, one of the first questions we get is “Where are you from?” To which we reply, the US. The next question is, “Where in the US?” Answered of course, by telling them we’re from Texas. In New Zealand, the reaction seems to be an almost-visible disappointment. A bewildered Russian here replied something like, “How do you live there with all those conservatives?”
I had to leave my pistol, AK-47, revolver, and grenade at home for this flight and the one to NZ. 🙂 Boots are allowed, if clean!
Hot water in the kitchen is a luxury. Forget about a dishwasher; hot water in the kitchen is not common everywhere in the world. When we arrived in New Zealand, it felt incredible to have hot water in the kitchen after 2.5 months of traveling in countries without it.
In NZ, you won’t find A/C, or much privacy in the bedrooms. When we first arrived, we frantically searched our AirBnB from bedroom to bedroom looking for an air conditioner, only to realize they don’t install them in the bedrooms here, and you’ll pretty much only find one in the living area. Opening windows throughout the house will be your only option, which demands a sacrifice of privacy as you’re surrounded by neighbors who are within earshot. One evening after dinner Robert and the kids were exercising to music in the living room, and Noah heard a voice a few feet behind our living room requesting “a little quiet, please?” I was mortified, and happy to remember the perimeter of our yard at home is a little larger than they have here in Auckland, both for the neighbor’s sake and mine.
It’s always a change of pace and mind in every country to which we travel, but I’m willing to work with it. (I’m their guest, after all!) In exchange, I hope they’ll give me a chance too. We may not be quieter (still trying!), but hopefully we can at least show them Texan Christians are less crazy than they imagine! 😀
