Warped Drive or The Concentration Factor

Our arrival in New Zealand began with a beautiful aerial view of rolling green. As our flight descended, the green unfolded into endless hills laced with blue ribbon rivers and dotted with white sheep.

Touch down. We had arrived. I had been waiting for this moment for so long. But before we could enjoy our selves we had to negotiate the Auckland airport. It seemed as if everyone from everywhere had landed at the same time. First to baggage claim (our bags were the last), then to passport check, onward to immigration and to the red-tag customs line. The lines grew longer, flowing in waves around corners. Finally we exited the arrival area and in a rush of bodies entered a maze of confusion.

What to do first was difficult to decide. We needed money, we needed a car and we needed a place to stay. But before all else we had to obtaining a phone card and modem into Compuserve for our messages. We had been off line In Fiji for a week and were hoping to have a message from our friend Eric, who was also spending time in New Zealand.

Fourteen messages were waiting for us, and yes, one was from Eric. But he wasn't yet at the number he left, so we were on our own. After an hour of info gathering, questions and calls, we decided on a rental car and a general game plan for the night.

The Maui car rental van took us down the road, and the woman at the counter handed me keys to a brand new Hyundai. Like a typical American tourist, I casually walked to the passenger side and climbed in. The steering wheel on the other side stared at me. I think I even saw it grin. I glanced around, and then squeezed over the gear shift and under the wheel. Good, no one had seen that. John climbed in after me and I started her up.

"You want me to do what John? Roll down my window. WHILE I'm driving. You've got to be kidding. I need those left brain cells. They're helping compensate for the pull by my right ones."

"Watch out for the car!"

"Ok. Ok. He had plenty of room on the other side of the yellow line."

" "Hang a right here. No, left. Stay left! Stay left!"

"Oh God, the rear-view mirror is gone. No, wait. It's over here."

"Pull out. Watch your right. Watch your right. Good, good. You're doing great."

The whole ordeal took a bit of concentration. But eventually we were clear of the rental parking lot. We were all set to tackle the road.

Before I go any further, I'd like to ask one question. Who ever heard of going clock-wise around a traffic circle? May I have a show of hands please? But this is not a problem. I can adapt. I take no issue with circling for awhile. I can learn to glance left instead of right. I can correct when the curb has taken a wee bit of rubber off the left two tires. But what puzzles me is why everyone seems to be ignoring my turn signals. Oh, that's the wiper lever.

"Ok, New Zealand, cut me a brake, I'm new at this."

On Getting Lost, And Found

I had the driving thing under control in no time. A right turn was like a left. A left was like a right and circles were backwards. I bet no one could tell I was a rookie. They didn't seem to be noticing at least that my wiper blades were doing double time.

The game plan we had developed earlier called for buying a map, buying a newspaper and buying a car. All, we hoped, to accomplish within three days before the rental car was to be returned. With newspaper in hand we headed out to the Wednesday car auction. John navigated and I focused every ounce of energy on the left side of the road. But, lefts got confused with rights and traffic circles popped out of nowhere; before long we were lost.

Nerves already frayed from the backward driving were near frazzled when we pulled into the town of Panmure to ask directions. With some local help, we found ourselves on the map but we were too tired at that point to bother with the car auction. So we located a phone and tried to find a hotel. But lucky us, the Eagles were in concert on Saturday, not a room was to be had.

The woman who had given me directions must have sensed our frustration. She asked if we needed any help. One thing we have noticed in our short time here is how friendly New Zealanders are.

"I'm just trying to find a hotel," I told her. "They all seem to be booked."
"You can stay at my house if you like," she said.

This being something unheard of where we live, the invitation of two total strangers to stay the night, left me a in shock.
"It's just down the road," she said. "I've packed up shop, why don't you follow me."

So we spent our first night in New Zealand with Dayle and Simon. It was wonderful. They had a beautiful house and treated us to pancakes, a laundry machine and a much needed shower. We spent the evening talking about computers, New Zealand, America and travel. In the morning we bid them good-bye and with renewed energy headed out onto the streets of New Zealand.