Getting here is half the fun

It took more than a dozen years to make the trek to the island of my dreams.

"You'll love New Zealand buddy" those resassurances came from many of my CBC colleagues in Cape Breton Nova Scotia truly one of the most beautiful islands in the world. A place I have regretted leaving for my other career in the very flat prairies.

"If you like it here you'll love the Kiwi nation." Everyone kept telling over and over finally I decided to go and find my NZ.

So after qualifying to work in NZ, I decided last winter on a particularly bad day at work to book my trip. First I searched for a place to live for a month after watching "The Holiday" where the principal characters exchange homes on HomeExchange.com I decided to do the same. Within minutes I found a flat in Martinborough NZ a little over an hour from Wellie (Wellington). I then booked a discount flight and the deed was done.

The next morning I questioned what I had done. Going halfway around the world trying to find a place in middle of the NZ countryside trusting that all would go well, I was placing myself in the hands of fate and the travel gods. Not to mention I would have to do the trip on a miserly budget of approximately $85/day. Could it be done?

My hosts the Potters kindly explained that I was coming over in the dead of winter. "It is cold here it's our winter and we don't have central heating as you do in Canada" they warned.
"No problem I am a hearty Canuck if you have even suffered through our Manitoba winters not much in the way of cold weather can dishearten us." Was my naive reply. I would soon be corrected on that misnomer.

The place was mine for the month of August. The trip was booked the details done, at least so I thought. I put the trip out of my mind and finished off the school year. Suddenly my departure date loomed large I had my stash of Canadiana packed, the obligatory ID, almost $2500 in cash, and 2 reasonable suitcases. After a stop in Chicago to bother my brother and his family I was off on my dream holiday. Armed with a few sleeping pills for the plane, a care package courtesy of my sister in law, and a lot of bravado my adventure began. My bro escorted me to the right counter (he knows my penchance for wandering and wanted to make sure I made it out of the city. I caught my LA flight.

I am not a comfortable flier as a matter of fact I loathe flying, love being there, it is the getting there aspect which makes my stomach churn and my head ache. I managed in spite of myself and landed in lala land, it had been many years since I had been to Hollywood my last sojourn was a six month screenwriting contract that didn't work out. I wandered the airport after passing through security I somehow managed to leave the secure area and had to do the security process a second time. One of the chaps at the x-ray machine gave me the once over with the look of "do you like doing security checks?" I just kept moving with a half hearted smile. Jacket off, shoes off, and then I was selected for the full body scan, I was horrified.

Once at the gate, I had somewhat in the neighbourhood of 8 hrs to kill so I hopped on the net and tried to skype my bro. No luck, damn now what? I really needed to get some contact info from my email as I was supposed to go tangoing that wknd in Wellie. A walk about with my luggage led me past the Air NZ VIP lounge. Hmmm they'll have a computer I thought and stepped through the sliding glass door into the world of the privileged. I approached a chap behind the desk.

"Would you mind if I checked some important email I am on the Air NZ flight to Aukland" I inquired.

He looked down at me, obviously approved and let me in. It does help at times to wear a sports jacket and slacks when travelling as much as it is a pain in the ass to manage nice clothes keeping them natty if you know what I mean. I roll my luggage past the free booze, food, showers and luxuriously appointed leather chairs. In short order I had my contacts off the computer. I forgot to leave though and wandered around settling in a comfy chair with a Kiwi newspaper and a drink. This is the life I thought ah I wonder what the proletariat are doing? I savoured the good life reading and people watching wondering what some of these folks do that makes them VIP's living the good life. After about an hour I wandered up to the reception desk to ask a question forgetting my tenuous status in the first place. The greeting I got shocked me.

"Are YOU still here? " The booking agents eyes bored through me with obvious disdain. I was oblivious to his demeanour and was taken aback at the affront to my dignity.

"I beg your pardon" I blurted out the top suitcase sliding off my luggage pile.

"You told you wanted to check your email for a few minutes" He snarled.

"Oh yes I seem to have forgotten my apologies I'll leave thanks" I stuttered my face turning a crimson colour, I was truly embarrassed imagining all eyes in the room where on me.

"Well I am charging you $55 US for using this lounge." Was the haughty response.
"I'll get my charge card and pay the bill no problem." I was determined to mitigate the issue at hand by simply paying the bill. I dug around for my plastic, luggage sliding to the floor my rucksack falling off my back I was truly struggling. He lost patience with me and left to attend to something else. His mate working at another terminal smiled at me.

"Once you pay you are welcome to stay sir." He smoothed over the awkward moment.

"No I am too embarrassed" I stammered "I'll be leaving now." I produced my charge card which he waved away.

"If you aren't staying no worries about paying mate have a good day." The smile was genuine and I relaxed. "Thank you." Was all I could manage and left.

My first kiwi encounter had been less than stellar I wondered if this was a harbinger of things to come. I joined my fellow passengers downstairs in the uncomfortable chairs.

The flight was late. Why am I going to NZ on my own? The question had been plaguing me since I left. I had nowhere to stay in Wellie until I could get to my country flat what the hell was I doing and where was I going to live for the wknd???