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Archive for August, 2008

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Upside down once again

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

I had a tradition to keep up:  leaving for a trip with a sachet of nerves and sadness, excitement and procrastinated packing.  Hauling too heavy bags that make onlookers in airports ask: “How many bodies you have in there?!”  The strange disorienting flights, sipping Quantas hot cocoa in my complimentary slippers while watching Kung Fu Panda.  Then, HERE I AM.  I arrive in Auckland airport and the immigration officer says:  “Welcome back Cynthia. Cheers, Mate!” I know that I am in the right place after all and casually collect my complimentary tea while I wait for my bodybags.

Since my flight arrived at 4:45am, I had the treat of watching the sunrise, cornily symbolic, on my way in to Hamilton.  A gorgeous transition—streaky dawn bits, fog crouching down through the hills, sheep tumbling down into it.  I could even see the cows’ breath as we drove by and somehow that served me a bit of peace. 

I was told it’s been raining here for the past 5 weeks.  A cold, flooding rain.  But, for my first day, I had sunshine.  As I biked from potential apartment to potential apartment I marveled that this looks like no winter I’ve ever seen.  Really.  Flowering trees, green grass, and they say the snow in the mountains a couple hours South is FANTASTIC.  Good thing I paid for that 70lb snowboard bag to come with me!

However, as I swapped cellphones today—cheap American Nokia for cheap Kiwi Nokia—I was reminded again what’s painfully missing from the Southern Hemisphere.  I just hope that they all know how much I love them.   

Posted in New Zealand | 1 Comment »

Southernized?

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

I spent 12 years in Mississippi my photos albums tell me. I SHOULD have become a damn good Southern belle in that time—sweet buttercream accent, impressive make-up collection, able to bake and fry anything for a last minute pot-luck. But, unfortunately my accent, a patient tells me, “is more like the Northeast somewhere,” my makeup could fit into a snack-size baggie, and I don’t even own a deep-fryer.

When I first arrived in Arkansas and told my co-workers I grew up in Mississippi, one of them let out a giant sigh of relief and said, “Thank Gawd yer not a Yankee!!” But, after it became obvious that I’m more North than South he amended, “Well, we’re gonna have to Southernize you!”

Despite daily, rigorous study in the areas of speech, religion, and gastronomy, I’m afraid that what wasn’t accomplished in 12 years also wasn’t accomplished in 2 months. BUT, what a restless high schooler’s eyes couldn’t be grateful for, I can now appreciate as some of the more unique points of the south:

Cuisine: In the OT Gym, the Food Network plays daily. While patients pedal, lift, bat and loaf, Paula Dean (who matches her outfit to her kitchen to the theme of her meal) whisks and sprinkles and tenderizes. Fittingly, last weekend for my going-away party, my coworkers threw a huge Southern Feast: fried porkchops, fried chicken, fried okra, country-fried steak, corn, baked beans, red beans and rice, CheezWhiz crab bites, apple cobbler, and cherry pie. Actually, come to think of it, we’ve been celebrating my “going away” with two weeks of eating, culminating (so I think) with chocolate gravy and biscuits for breakfast tomorrow.

Wildlife: This may refer to the snakes, armadillos, deer, or the turtle on my doorstep. Of course there’s also The Razorback Hawgs that have people “sooueeeing” with pride. Guess it could also be my glimpse of The Electric Cowboy nightclub that plays songs like, “My Baby Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.” Truly though, it’s most fitting to describe my co-workers during a game of pool, Guesstures, or a late-night footrace in the street. Either way, my image of the South as being a bit “too well-behaved” is humorously crushed.

Language: I stifled a giggle when I heard myself slip “reckon” into a serious discussion with a patient. I’m fixin’ to get myself into a pickle when I cain’t stop talkin’ like this and the Kiwis look at me cock-eyed. But ma’yonnaise a heap of fun things to say down here.

Weather: Everyone is amazed that I could stand Alaskan winters for so long. But, for the last month it’s been so hot outside that the seatbelt buckle burned my hands, “Max AC” didn’t take effect for 15 minutes, and I actually considered driving my car across the street once. Isn’t that the same thing….but inverse? Well, now the incredible heat has been washed away by rain. In fact, it’s even raining INSIDE my apartment (a puzzle since I live on the bottom floor). I think that’s my sign that it’s time to board my raft like an ark (with two of each bug life?) and make my way out of Ft. Smith. I certainly will never forget though these two months, the people, or, of course, the food.

Posted in US of A | 4 Comments »