It's probably part of being older and not on one's first OE (overseas experience) but news of and from family especially when it is on Skype or on a video always gives us a real lift.
We take close interest in things Kiwi be it in the newspaper or on the TV. Any news of home is of interest, although many times the headlines make for sad reading but newspapers seldom put good news on the front page.
In conversation when asked if we are English, the instant reply is mais non, nous sommes neo-zélandais or nous sommes de Neo-Zélande. Sometimes this leads to talk of les All Blacks, especially here in the south where rugby reigns.
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| David flying The Flag |
February 6, Waitangi Day, a holiday at home but a normal working day elsewhere in the world means as Kiwis abroad we have to celebrate our nationhood in our own way. Back home we open our house for any friends or family to come and celebrate being Kiwis in Kiwi-style and of course, as it is summer, there is the barbecue and a good time eating and enjoying a drink or two in the outdoors.
Here, a barbeque is not really the way to celebrate in February and there are a distinct lack of Kiwis around but we did celebrate being Kiwis in our own small way with our friend John and his lovely wife Sylvie. John was NZ born but left for England and then ultimately France with his family when he was only 12. However we claimed him to be one of us on Waitangi Day and we had a toast to Neo-Zélande with a beautiful red French wine.
Earlier in the day David had hoisted the NZ flag on a temporary flag pole on the gloriette frame. We didn't attempt to fly it higher as from the tower in case there was 'trouble' with the local authorities. Apparently earlier Kiwi guardiens had been asked to take down the NZ flag when it was flown up high.
Being a Kiwi abroad makes us more appreciative (and also critical) of home. Photos of fabulous summer weather while it is freezing here tend to make one wish there was a way of being teleported for a day or two! Sometimes we ask ourselves 'why can't the make it easy like home?' But, as anywhere, it's getting to know how things work.
For the French their cultural heritage is very important. I guess for us it is what makes France different and what outsiders enjoy about France. Their history with châteaus and castles, old churches, old towns and villages as well as their gastronomic history with the food, the wine and continuation of doing things in a traditional way (but using tools of the day) as well as the 'tradition' of national strikes etc! These are what makes France stand out. They are a proud nation - proud of what they have; proud of who they are. Some may say arrogant and while there may be arrogance, it is this national pride that makes France and the French, french.
Perhaps it is with a touch of envy that we see this pride on show. We did see a little of this sort of attitude during the World Cup in NZ when we were 'on show' to the rest of the (rugby) world.
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| A toast to home (figured out David's sweatshirt?) |
No barbecue but we celebrated with some of the best cheese in the world and a really good local wine.
One thing done in France which we could easily emulate is les Journées du patrimoine. National monuments, museums, historical sites are open free to the public each Sunday during September. This gives everybody an opportunity to visit places that are special to France. This is something we could do in New Zealand, perhaps during February when, for a short while around February 6 , we do actually think about what it is to be living in New Zealand.
So with that to ponder.... I'll say à la prochaine.
