10,000 miles away

There has been another eventful weekend in the Richards family.  Jason's little brother Trevor, and his wife, Terri were sealed in the temple.  We were really pleased to make it to Hamilton for the sealing.  It's always so special to be together in the temple as a family. 

 How grateful I am for the temple. It's the most peacful and comforting place on this entire earth.  I also love how I''m 10,000 miles away from what I call home; yet when I enter the temple I feel home more than anything else.  Amazing.

Speaking of 10,000 miles-this time next week I'll be doing the following things:

• soaking up the dry heat of Arizona like nobody's business
• adopting my nieces and nephews
• driving on perfectly straight and huge roads on the right hand side
• stocking up on all the products I refuse to pay ridiculous amounts for in New Zealand
• eating green chile and salsa for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• running in the desert filled with tumbleweeds and brown dirt for miles
• listening to radio stations that play nothing but country music
• going to Wal Mart (yes, I included this. if you had to go without Wal Mart you would understand)
• counting American flags
• missing my Love while he is in Auckland slaving away
• most importantly, being there for Moni's wedding and seeing my family 

and just for kicks,

Jason has been asked if he is American quite frequently. He hates it.  I love it.  Funny how I move to New Zealand and don't have the slightest trace of a kiwi accent. Jason moves in with an American and gets asked if he's American by New Zealanders and Americans alike here. Priceless.

See you next week.   Cheers!

Greeting Kiss

An element of New Zealand culture that I’ve been happy to embrace is the greeting kiss. At first I was totally awkward about kissing people on their cheeks to say hello and goodbye.  

It seems like my head would aim for the wrong cheek or I would pretend to kiss but not actually do it or my height would make things awkward all together. 

It occurred to me the other day that I now say hello and goodbye with the cheek kiss subconsciously now.  It was so mechanical at first and I’m sure I came across as being a little on the rude side. I'm very much over the American personal space idea by now. 

There is a certain protocol for the system and I think I have it down-nearly-by now. 

When greeting elders or relatives you always give an actual kiss on the cheek.

Acquaintances and people you’ve met for the first time would call for a meeting of cheeks rather than a kiss on the cheek.

Knowing these 2 facts has been half the battle in avoiding awkward half cheek half kiss situations. 

There’s something rewarding about embracing other cultural elements and feeling like you don’t look like an idiot in the process! 

I wonder what would happen if I kissed on the cheek in America?  

roundabout denial

Pedestrians never have the right of way in New Zealand. Up until recently I have been in denial about this truth.

Let me explain...

• When we first moved to New Zealand I remember running with Jason. We were crossing a street and I proceeded to run as normal. I was aware of the cars around me but was confident all would yield to me as I ran though the intersection. Isn't that what always happens? Nope. I ended up stuck in the middle of the road with cars honking and Jason wondering why on earth I didn't give way ( or yield for Americans)? Well, because pedestrians can basically cross the street as they please and cars know that? Wrong again.

Since I've been here I've had several mishaps while running and every time I am boggled that

New Zealanders didn't get the memo on who does what at an intersection.

• Just this week I was walking to work wearing high heels, skirt, and carrying 2 huge bags-you know the kind of thing you don't want to be wearing when it pours with rain? I enter the intersection because the car that is approaching has no blinker on. Wrong again. He tuns in front of me and honks for about 88 minutes at me. Are you kidding me? It's pouring rain cut me a break!

Turns out I'm the one who didn't get the memo. Because New Zealand has roundabouts, and not stop signs, there is a continual flow of traffic at intersections. Pedestrians are expected to wait until it is clear. They do not have the right of way. oops.

The only time a car gives way to a pedestrian is at Zebra crossings. If you've been to any British influenced country then you know all about these:

note taken.