Antipodal Posting – Seven Stars of Matariki

Antipodal Posting – Seven Stars of Matariki

Happy…Canada Day, Independence Day and Matariki

Celebrations seem to be underway everywhere we look.

I’ve never been the most enthusiastic of global citizens in terms of embracing indigenous culture and ceremony. Probably because I’ve never found the connection and often find the promotion of one culture over another as self-serving. Nevertheless, due to our travels, I continue to find myself unexpectedly learning things once considered unforeseeable.

Geothermal Forces

Unsurprisingly, Maori culture is one such thing, and something that I still greet with mixed feelings. A language once on the cusp of extinction roughly thirty years ago, the Maori is taught in schools as one of the three official national languages (the other being New Zealand Sign Language – a distinct form of signing from American Sign Language, Australian Sign Language (both referred to as ASL) European Sign Language and the roughly 300 distinct forms that exist.

Why sign language hasn’t merged into a few ostensibly similar forms to facilitate the relatively small population that uses it I’ll never understand. Especially when there are such strong examples of the Scots and Italians using four or five clear gestures that are universally understood. But I guess this isn’t an immediate issue, as Spencer isn’t learning NZSL but rather Maori. A language of limited geographic scope, but like the forms of sign language, shares some familiar ground with other Polynesian languages. But still…

Geothermal Geyser 

Because of our move to New Zealand, we’re exposed to the Maori culture through local popular culture and Spencer’s education. While not particularly keen about Spencer learning a language of limited use, such as Maori, rather than something more broadly practical such as an Asian or European language, we take it as it comes. All as a part of living in New Zealand and accepting the culture of our current home. I suppose that all learning can be considered positive if put in the proper context.

For Spencer this means that she is learning a handful of words and phrases, such as numbers and colours, but also local traditions. Again, probably a positive lesson in understanding our world, tolerance, as well as empathy and perspective.

Last Friday was the Matariki celebration at Spencer’s school.

Passage from beach to the Three Sisters

In addition to a reminder of how painful these obligatory school events are, Matariki marks the Maori New Year through the return of the tangible and intangible. A convergence of things that can be directly observed and those, which are only observed through reflection. During this period, the constellation we refer to as Pleiades becomes more visible in the Southern hemisphere. The Matariki legend refers to the seven stars of Pleiades as the Stars of the Seven Sisters. It is the returning of these seven sisters that serves as a reminder of claims the spiritual return of those we’ve forgotten. A reflection of the past and future of our lives.

Strangely, I like this idea. I appreciate the idea of making direct observations of celestial bodies and noticing how the world is always changing, moving past us. The idea of seasons of remembrance is good as well. This allows us to make the loss, or the distance, in a measured and important manner, but then also moving beyond the past and into the future.

Three Sisters at Low Tide

It’s amazing how various societies have turned to the stars for guidance, both physically and spiritually. As amazing as the stars are beautiful, they serve to guide us to new worlds, through familiar waters and reflective pursuits.

Matariki provides me with a reminder of the losses that we’ve experienced, missed opportunities and the things that remain incomplete. However, the idea of an annual reflection also spurs me to take the losses in stride, to mourn them and move on. Perhaps most importantly, to not only move beyond, but to learn and look forward to the year ahead.

Time marked geologically

For Spencer Matariki marked the memory of all the Princesses she met at Disney who she now misses. For me, it was lamenting the time I waited in line to see the Princesses, sometimes while Spencer had fallen asleep during the wait.

In the observation of Matariki, I hope that you all have a great Canada Day or Fourth of July, or both. As we look upon the stars in the coming week, weather permitting, we’ll have you all in our minds. Hopefully our stars will align and our paths will cross again in future days. For our friends in Calgary, Stampede Week will soon be upon you and memories will again be fleeting.

Be well.

For all that's behind us and for everything that lies ahead...

Antipodal Post - Lessons We Learn

Antipodal Posting – Lessons We Learn

One of the commitments Nicole and I made leaving Calgary was to change our lives in as many positive ways as we could. To learn what we could, wherever we were. Adapting in such a way not only facilitates our movements abroad, but also results in experiences that make these moves enjoyable.

So far? Well…so far, so good. While there is always room for improvement, we are finding living as expats rewarding and full of rich experiences that we might have otherwise missed. However, there have also been some unexpected results from this adventure. Most notably our general awareness of the world around us.

On one hand this makes sense, after all living abroad, in largely unfamiliar cities and countries, you don’t have the same historical familiarity to draw upon as when we were in Calgary. There’s no “remember that park when…” or “just down the street from Steve’s…” we simply don’t have those benchmarks.

Now we navigate based upon posted names and distances to the nearest 10m. In fact we’ve often found ourselves lost, staring a signs only to be told, “Yeah, mate, it used to be called something else….” Pure awesomeness.

How Far We Have Travelled -
Spencer's first art interpretation projection

We strain to catch the local nuances in vernacular, accents and cultural references. A challenge more difficult than we anticipated and often I think how taxing it must be for immigrants that also have to struggle with a new language as well as new geography and nuances.

Among all the changes that we’ve experienced, I continue to be surprised how much and how often Nicole and Spencer change. Not much of a surprise with Spencer, she’s growing and absorbing information like a dry sponge, and because of the combination of travel, multinational friends and school we are besieged with interesting conversations. Conversations such as “if the sea formed the earth, where did the water come from?” or “does Canada have a North and South Island like New Zealand does?” to discussions of the differences between lo-fi and hi-fi recordings (Spencer doesn’t like lo-fi). There are also more introspective discussions like when Spencer shared her feelings of a painting we have on our wall.

For Spencer it has reminded her of a recent visit to Ayers Rock / Uluru National Park. In particular the colour of the sky as dawn faded and then again later as dusk settled. The tracks across the painting, which I've always assumed was a grain field in Western Canada, (something Spencer has only a limited reference to), reminds her rather of the sands in the desert coming alive in the light and the paths that she spotted during our trip. Amazing little brain that always astounds us with how much is going on in there, clearly something she gets from her mother.

Spencer also inquired one day about the meaning of “fitness”, resulting in the “Princess Fitness Challenge”. A discussion that I’ve managed to manipulate into a renewed commitment to eat better and exercise more.

Racing the Sunset

"What’s fitness?" She asked.

"The ability to do more without getting tired," was the best I could articulate.

“So like I could walk further without complaining and needing a rest?”

“Exactly.”

"OK. Let’s get more fit so if I go to Disney I can see all the Princesses without getting tired!"

With that, we’ve become committed. Like a puppy that wants to play in the park regardless of the weather; in all the lessons that are at my disposal from Pavlov to Icarus to Frankenstein, I’ve failed to avoid creating a monster.

What started as a 4km (~2.5mi) scooter ride to our surf beach with a race up the stairs at the end has now become further than 6km (~3.5 mi) effort at a sub 50 min 10km pace, with Spencer wanting to chat most of the way.

Princess Challenge in full flight

Rather than accepting the prevailing position that we should discourage our daughters from being drawn to princesses, I’ve taken a different stance. Princesses don’t have to be silly and vapid, they can be kind and responsible and they can inspire us to be more than we currently are, plus there will be lots of examples from Nicole about how successful you can be by using your brain.

What Spencer doesn’t know is that we’ve projected a Disney trip to something “after her next birthday” but is actually going to happen during our return from our upcoming trip to Calgary. Next week. She doesn’t know, which will be part of the fun of landing in LA. So please, please, please don’t say anything. We’re telling you here as part of the fun for everyone else.

Strangely, I also continue to be surprised how far Nicole has come (and also that she’s kept me with her the entire time). Always a capable engineer, Nicole has and continues to elevate her game. Growing from drilling technically complex wells in Alberta to leading a small team in Brisbane, Nicole is now managing a larger team of drilling and completions engineers as well as managing and mentoring the graduate program. The graduate program is something that she’s actually championed and is designed to take baby propeller heads from university and turn them into fully functioning super geeks. I suppose there are never enough engineers around.

Other lessons are less meaningful, but interesting all the same, such as that from our German Au Pair who demonstrated why the Germans are destined to dominant the world markets. A model of organization and pragmatism; she gave Nicole birthday gift of a night at the movies. Her $30 gift certificate translated into an $80 babysitting gig. Kirsten is now in charge of our investing advice. 

In the end, we’re living in a beautiful country. A place that while it’s raining and cloudy a lot of the time, it’s blessed with more rainbows here than at a Pride Parade. It seems like there are lessons and rainbows behind more clouds than you’d guess.

I’ve also learned that I like sharing these experiences with all of you.

Rainbow Capital of the World

Rough Seas 

Rains so often you hardly notice

Antipodal Posting – No Man Is An Island

Antipodal Posting – No Man Is An Island

No man is an island, John Donne famously said.

We live in a world of increasing connectivity and mechanised social interaction, where isolation is more and more difficult to achieve. Ironically perhaps, the Winter Olympics demonstrates both the proximity that we share and the importance of engaging. In fact it also provides an example of a positive outlet for nationalism.

Nationalism has long been the source of conflict and xenophobia; justifications for continued isolation. But now, with the Winter Olympics marking the first time that we’ve had television service since leaving Calgary, Spencer is reminding us of the celebration that the Games are supposed to be.

Spencer has delighted in the special occasion of a) having television, b) watching winter sports that she has no idea of, c) getting to eat meals while watching television and d) being able to cheer at the events of the day. In particular Spencer has learned to identify specific flags with people and places: Canadian flag – our family; German flag – our au pair; French flag – Paris etc.

Oh, Canada

In addition to the billion questions that freely flow from Spencer, she is also announcing the results to us. “Mom! Canada is number one AND number three. Canada is winning and that’s good for us, because we’re winning too!”

This is the first time that I’ve really recognized that Spencer has identified with Canada, because she typically relates to her home being where we’re living. A desire to fit in or make sense of our world I suppose. Regardless of the motivation it has reminded us of the examples that we see around us and how spectacular the Olympics can be. They provide an outlet to inspire each other to be the heroes we want to be. A Nation of exemplary people without resorting to violence, segregation or isolation. A place where the innocence of children informs the decency of adults. Beyond the thrill experienced by our daughter here are the highlights that make me proud to be Canadian:

·      Gilmore Junio stepping aside for his teammate Denny Morrison who would have otherwise been left out of the 1,000m race due to a fall during trials. Junio didn’t race, Morrison won silver;·      Denny Morrison who campaigned for teammate Gilmore Junio to be the flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony;·      The jubilation, mutual celebration and camaraderie that appears to exist in the freestyle skiing and snowboard events (in particular) where the athletes celebrate each others performances as peers and friends, without regard to nationalism;·      Canada's cross-country ski coach, American, Justin Wadsworth lending ski to Russian skier Anton Gafarov, allowing Russian athlete to complete race after crash;·      Latvian goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis turning away 55 shots in a losing effort in ice hockey against Canada. Latvia lost 2-1, after being discounted as the underdog against the Canadian favorite and being out shot 57-16 (a margin greater than 3-1);·      Alex Bilodeau pulling his brother across the barrier to celebrate his Gold medal performance together (again). Bilodeau has found inspiration in his brother’s 15 year struggle with cerebral palsy and has in turn inspired others. 'Just like you or I, he has dreams and most of them are not realisable to him but he does dream about it, he talks about it and he never complains that it's not realistic to him,’ Alex said of his brother.
·      Oh, yes and of course, everytime we (Canada) trashed the US (them).

Success isn't a measure of how much there is still to do, but rather than which has been accomplished. Sochi marks the first occasion that Olympians from North America have competed in an Olympic Games hosted in Russia (or the Soviet Union).

We should also all be very proud of the Harper government who’ve shown drastic improvements, not only in support of Canadian athletes, but being able to do so without proroguing Parliament and democratic functions in order support the athletes, like in Vancouver four years ago. This recent Olympic Games really should be considered a triumph for all Canadians.

The excitement of it all has been best articulated by Spencer, “If I was there (at the Olympics) I would buy a Canada flag and wave it around all crazy too.” Thanks to Team Canada and Spencer for making these last few days so much fun.

It’s not what we achieve, but how we conduct ourselves that inspires others. Let's hope that the heroes continue to encourage new heights after the Games. 

I hope that you all enjoyed the Games and the after glow of your 8am (MST) Gold Medal Men’s Ice Hockey hangover.

Reflecting upon our own gold

Pixies in the Park – Antipodal Post

This year I’ll try to have shorter updates so that you can still enjoy the randomness of them, but also actually read them.

Kindles, iPad, old skewl book and original art

Also, as a quick plug, the Kindle version of The Death of Rock ‘n’ Roll, The Impossibility of Time Travel and Other Lies is now finally ready for download. For those of you who have asked, thanks for your patience and support. Here it is. If you’ve purchased the physical copy of the book, you should be able to get the Kindle version for free now. Please let me know if this isn’t the case, but now you can enjoy it anyway you want it. Same deal as before, double your money back if you don't enjoy.

  

Pixies in the Park – Antipodal Post

“You want to go see Pixies in the Park tonight?” Nicole asked me.

Immediately, I start reflecting upon the legendary alternative band from the late 80s, I had heard they were back at it, but in New Zealand; I had no idea. “Yeah, of course.”  It turned out to be perfect examples of hearing what I wanted to hear and also of how much my life had changed.

Sunset from our patio, our remote part of life on the edge

Still seeing the Pixies in a park, any park, was something to look forward to and would make for a great evening.  Legendary. But I was confused. It didn’t seem right that the Pixies would be in New Zealand let alone New Plymouth.

Life has been this way; confusing because of how quickly things seem to move, but also because life just keeps moving. As you know from the other updates, during the last year we’ve moved from Brisbane (via Canada) and travelled to Europe and Australia. We’ve managed to relocate most everything to New Zealand (still no iTunes and therefore we can’t close our Australian bank accounts - seriously) but art, professional qualifications and we’ve even managed to stock back up on certain coveted “North American-centric” items such as freezer bags, Crest toothpaste and other things that seem ridiculous to try and procure.

Actually if you looked at the energy we’ve spent getting proper Tylenol, salsa, freezer bags and Crest alone into New Zealand you’d think we’re in training for drug trafficking. I can assure you that the only thing more ridiculous that the efforts we’ve undertaken to source such items is living with the local substitutes.  Really. Currently we have a standing order for salsa that includes full purchase price, plus a loaf of homemade bread per jar.  The alternative is unbearable, just one of the many challenges we face in remote New Zealand.  Life on the edge in deed.

Will 2014 be the year our boats come in?

One of the biggest challenges that we’ve all noticed has been the local nuances. Like the difference between Pixies and Fairies, but more on that later, it is interesting that this is the third English speaking Commonwealth country we’ve lived in, but still find so much that’s different.  Some of these things are challenges and others merely things as parents we manipulate.

Recently, Spencer caught us out in what would have been a bald faced lie in Canada but, in her mind, is a “regional nuance”.  One of our friends had suggested calling certain vegetables “super foods” in order to get Spencer to eat more veg. Unfortunately for us, Spencer saw through that trick in less time that it takes to score on the Flames; leaving us stuck with frozen peas or corn for her only non-meat food.

I later tried telling her that broad beans were simply big or “super peas”. That’s right, frozen broad beans that usually taste like neoprene the same as the delicious little sweet garden peas.  But she went for it. Happily. For years, at least until she gets to school here and some other little bastard kid decides to tell her the truth.  Bless my little girl and all the travel she’s done, because at dinner she announces, “you know how you say ‘elevator’ for ‘lift’ like I do, and when you ‘sweater’ instead of ‘jumper’; well in New Zealand, ‘super peas’ are called ‘broad beans’. Isn’t that interesting? Funny heeay?”

“Yes honey, very interesting…” (We don’t mind the “heeay” as much as pronouncing ‘ing” as “ink” in the local manner.)

Our life in New Zealand has been that of managing the nuances and even the understanding of the world seen through our daughter’s eyes, not really much different from your life wherever you might be reading this I suppose. But still it’s the exercise of reconciling our expectations with our realities that presents the challenge.

Now in the height of summer here, we’re at the beach as much as we’re able, but usually with long sleeved shirts because the wind often has a child. Sure, hardly something to complain about but certainly a departure from what is anticipated.

It's really just not the same here (no carrot -
chilli is from our garden though)

There is also the entire Christmas experience which is different from what we’ve come to enjoy and how Spencer understands it should be, like building snowmen. Spencer had a Christmas wish to build a snowman. But on the beach. On a beach that’s covered in sand, where the average daily temperature has been around 20c. The worst of it all is that I’m a sucker for her challenges.

In the end she was happy and it’s provided another new experience for us.

Something else that we’ve noticed looking at the recently released “Happiness Study” the Legatum Prosperity Index has identified Canada, Australia and New Zealand as consistently in the top 10 for various categories. Admittedly, the criteria is more subjective (like mine when I say our daughter is so great) rather than critically objective (like mine when I say my wife is so great), but it’s interesting because life is still a lot of work. Even in places that are supposed to be enjoying high levels of happiness, or freedom, or entrepreneurial spirit, things still take a lot of energy and attention. As much as our lives have changed with our moves, many things remain relatively static.

But, back to the Pixies.  Getting to the park I should have known something was amiss.  Spencer was just as excited to be going as I was to see the Pixies in the park and when we arrived I understood why. Missing was Black Francis and anything resembling the loud jangling guitars I was expecting, but rather scores, certainly more than a hundred little girls running around in frilly dresses with wings, some carrying bespangled wands.

“Nicole, I thought you said the Pixies were playing?”

“Did I say Pixies? I meant fairies, but is there really a difference? Look at all the fairies playing.  Spencer should we dance with the fairies and blow bubbles?”

Where was my mind indeed? My mind was now watching our lovely little girl flit around a playground that had been transformed by fairies.  It was still a great night. Just different than anticipated.

We are hoping that you are all well, that 2014 proves to be a good year and that we have the opportunity to see you as we move through time and space.

By this time next year, Spencer will be hooked on the new Pixies album, just don’t tell Nicole.

Sangria for Christmas isn't much of a
hardship. A new tradition is born!