Na Nový Zéland sme sa rozhodli ísť aj z jedného dôležitého dôvodu. „Zélanďania neriešia hlúposti, len k životu podstatné veci.“- povedal nám bratranec, ktorý tu strávil tri mesiace pred tromi rokmi. Presne to sme hľadali. Nájsť v svete reklamy, obchodov, politiky, značiek, výhodných hypoték, krásnych domov…to podstatné. A prezradím vám, že sme na správnom mieste!
Pomoc je samozrejmosť
Bola som od malička vedená k tomu, že druhým treba pomáhať. Asi ako väčšina z nás. V čom je to tu, ale iné? Že o pomoc nemusíte ani požiadať a Zélanďania pre vás všetko zariadia. Prvá vec, ktorú mi mladý český pár pri našom stretnutí porozprával, bola ako nakupovali v obchode olej do auta. Predavačka sa ich opýtala, či si ho vymenia sami. Oni, že nie. Dvihla telefón a obtelefonovala štyri autoservisy. Zistila, ktorí je najlacnejší a “ukecala” automechanika, aby im olej aj napriek zaneprázdnenosti vymenil. Waw? Aj my sa niekedy nestíhame diviť. O to viac, pretože tu dobrovoľníčime u cudzích ľudí. Z ich úprimnej ústretovosti a ochoty nám padajú sánky.
Francis a jej manžel už šesť rokov hostia wwooferov. Afi, ktorý je teraz ich posledným wwooferom, si ich dobrosrdečnosť nevie vynachváliť.
Nemajú sa o čo báť
Životná úroveň je tu veľmi vysoká. Inak povedané, ľudia sú tu ďaleko za vodou. Napriek tomu jazdia aj desať rokov na rovnakom aute a pritom majú na nové. Ale načo míňať, keď to staré šľape? Kvôli susedom? Za celý mesiac som si tu všimla iba dva obchodíky s nábytkom a prázdne miniparkovisko pred nimi. Navštívili sme viacero domácností a našli sme poväčšine to isté – staré skrine, komody rôznych štýlov, farieb, ošúchané fotelky, improvizované kuchyne a zo stropov im namiesto štýlových lustrov visia len žiarovky. A viete čo? Ja im to málo závidím! Je to obrovská sloboda. O nič sa nemusia báť. Nikto im nič vzácne nezničí, nevezme. Môžu mať spokojne aj šiestich wwooferov vo svojom dome, bez obáv o svoj majetok a ešte aj ušetria na nábytku!
A čo, že je každá stolička iná, keď na nej sedia pohodoví ľudia.
Jediná vec, s ktorou tu bojujem
Majú dostatok voľného času. Kde získavajú drahé minúty? Napríklad aj tým, že neupratujú toľko čo Slováci. Teda aspoň tí, ktorých sme spoznali. Je to jediná vec, s ktorou tu bojujem. Moje soboty v detstve vyzerali vždy rovnako. Celé dopoludnie sme utierali prach, vysávali, umývali kúpeľňu, kuchyňu atď. Ani teraz to nie je iné. Teda je, lebo upratujem určite ešte viac. S deťmi je to jeden obrovský kolotoč! Navyše nepoznám slovenskú rodinu, ktorá sa pred sviatkami nejde zblázniť kvôli predvianočnému upratovaniu. Zélanďania, ktorých sme stretli však takéto starosti nemajú. Idú si zabehať na pláž.
Nie je krajšie vybehnúť si v sobotu na takúto pláž?
Rozťahané tričko
Keď som balila kufre, musela som myslieť na všetko. Dostatok oblečenia, teplého, letného, no všetko tak, aby toho nebolo veľa. Zlaté skúsenosti z našich dobrodružných potuliek svetom s batohom na chrbte som naplno zužitkovala. Ale! Pekné oblečenie nesmie chýbať, veď ideme na „bohatý“ Nový Zéland. Aký klam. Farmári, ktorých stretávame, vidíme na uliciach či, v obchodoch si veľmi na oblečení nepotrpia. Pracovné a pohodlné oblečenie dostáva prednosť pred krásnym, značkovým. A pritom väčšina na to má. Neriešia. Neriešia hlúposti, a preto som šťastná, že som práve tu. Nechcem riešiť viac v živote hlúposti, ale len veci, ktoré za to skutočne stoja.
We had one important reason why we had decided to go to New Zealand. “New Zealanders don’t deal with rubbish, but only with things that are important for life,” said our cousin who spent here three months three years ago. That was exactly what we were looking for. In the world of advertisement, shops, politics, brands, favourable mortgages, beautiful houses, to find the important. And I betray that we are on the right place!
Helping is natural
Since I was a little girl, I was taught to help others. Probably like most of us. But what is different here? That you even don’t need to ask for help and Zealanders will arrange everything for you. The first issue that was told by a young Czech couple when we met was how they were buying oil to their car. The shop assistant asked whether they would change it by their own. They said no. She took the phone and called to four garages. She found out the cheapest one and roped in the mechanic to change the oil for them, although he was busy. Wow? Also we are surprised many times. The more because we are volunteering here at strangers. We are really astonished with their honest helpfulness and willingness.
They have nothing to fear about
The standard of living here is very high. In other words, people here are on easy street. Despite that, they drive the same car for ten years even though they can afford a new one. But why spending if the old one still works? Because of neighbours? During the month spent here, I have noticed only two little shops with furniture and empty little parking lots in front of them. We have visited several households and mostly we have found the same – old wardrobes, dressers of various styles and colours, worn out armchairs, improvised kitchens and bulbs suspended from the ceiling instead of stylish chandeliers. And do you know what? I envy that little! It’s great freedom. They have nothing to fear about. Nobody won’t take or damage anything precious. They can have also six wwoofers in their home, without concerns about their property, and they even save on furniture!
So what that each chair is different if nice people are sitting on them?
The only issue I fight with here
They have enough spare time. Where do they get precious minutes from? For example, they do not clean so much like Slovaks. I mean at least those ones we met. That is the only issue I fight with here. All my Saturdays at children’s times looked same. The whole morning was spent with dusting, vacuum cleaning, washing the bathroom, kitchen etc. And it is not different now. In fact, it is, because I definitely clean even more. It’s hustle and bustle with children. Anyway, I don’t know any Slovak family that is not crazy from pre-Christmas cleaning. But Zealanders we met do not have such troubles. They rather go running on the beach.
Isn’t it better to go running on such a beach on Saturday?
Extra large T-shirt
When I was packing, I had to think about everything. Enough clothes, warm, light, but not to have too much. I have fully used golden experience from our adventurous backpacker’s trips around the world. But! We must not forget fancy clothes, we are going to “rich” New Zealand. What a trick. Farmers we meet or see on streets or in shops do not care much about clothing. Working and comfortable clothing is preferred to beautiful brands. And most of them have enough to buy it. They don’t deal. They don’t deal with rubbish and that’s why I am happy I am right here. I do not want to deal with rubbish any more in my life, only with issues that are really worth it.