We've arrived!
Hello from Christchurch, New Zealand!
A little over 24 hours ago we touched down at Christchurch International Airport, after more than 30 hours of vans, buses, airports, and flights! We had a total of 18 hours of time in the air on three different planes, so I can assure you, I have never been as happy to be out of an airplane as I was yesterday morning!
Our experience was night and day between the US and NZ. Roughly speaking, most of the people we dealt with in the airports were rude and unhelpful at worst and impersonal and business-like at best. The only exceptions were our ticket agent at O'Hare and a couple of the flight attendants on United.
However, once we began encountering Kiwis it was a different world. Everything changed. People were friendly, helpful, outgoing ... really what I was hoping for but couldn't believe was really true. For example, as we were going through customs here in NZ, the customs agents took our luggage carts for us so we could carry Evan and Connor. They were smiling and joking with us and we wrangled the boys, 8 suit cases, 2 car seats, 2 laptop bags, and a backpack of toys! Earlier in the morning, the stewardesses on our flight from Auckland to Chch were apologizing to us because the rules wouldn't let us use Evan's booster seat on the plane ...
Nigel from our hotel came by and picked us up, loaded and unloaded all of our luggage, and had our room ready for us at 8:00 am! One of Debi's on-line friends came to the hotel and brought toys for Evan and Connor, along with a bottle of champagne and snacks for all of us ... every person we have met so far has been remarkably nice. Nigel offered to introduce me to the principal of Christchurch Boys' School. It's been everything that I had hoped, and if the rest of my time here is like the first 24 hours, I don't think I'll ever leave!
Well, that's got to be all for now, since I haven't been able to get connected to the internet at our hotel and Debi's wrangling the boys at the nearby library. Much, much more soon!
A little over 24 hours ago we touched down at Christchurch International Airport, after more than 30 hours of vans, buses, airports, and flights! We had a total of 18 hours of time in the air on three different planes, so I can assure you, I have never been as happy to be out of an airplane as I was yesterday morning!
Our experience was night and day between the US and NZ. Roughly speaking, most of the people we dealt with in the airports were rude and unhelpful at worst and impersonal and business-like at best. The only exceptions were our ticket agent at O'Hare and a couple of the flight attendants on United.
However, once we began encountering Kiwis it was a different world. Everything changed. People were friendly, helpful, outgoing ... really what I was hoping for but couldn't believe was really true. For example, as we were going through customs here in NZ, the customs agents took our luggage carts for us so we could carry Evan and Connor. They were smiling and joking with us and we wrangled the boys, 8 suit cases, 2 car seats, 2 laptop bags, and a backpack of toys! Earlier in the morning, the stewardesses on our flight from Auckland to Chch were apologizing to us because the rules wouldn't let us use Evan's booster seat on the plane ...
Nigel from our hotel came by and picked us up, loaded and unloaded all of our luggage, and had our room ready for us at 8:00 am! One of Debi's on-line friends came to the hotel and brought toys for Evan and Connor, along with a bottle of champagne and snacks for all of us ... every person we have met so far has been remarkably nice. Nigel offered to introduce me to the principal of Christchurch Boys' School. It's been everything that I had hoped, and if the rest of my time here is like the first 24 hours, I don't think I'll ever leave!
Well, that's got to be all for now, since I haven't been able to get connected to the internet at our hotel and Debi's wrangling the boys at the nearby library. Much, much more soon!
posted by Jon A at
12:07 PM
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