Niceties
My favorite sign. I smiled at every one.
Some of the niceties to which I've grown accustomed here in New Zealand:
1) No billboards. Anywhere. Just a few little reminder signs on highways to take it easy. My favorites: "Take a break, drive fresh." "Winding road, be patient." "Tired and grumpy? Take a breather."
2) Public toilets. They have them in every town and city I have been to.
Free. Clean. Space-age automated public loo in Raglan
Often there are "Superloos" that also offer clean, private showers for $2.00NZ.
I have come to believe in the virtues of such simple amenities. They are among the earmarks of a healthy society.
Some big libraries.
3) Accessible public libraries. Again, signs of a healthy community. Here there's a library in every town, sometimes just a small one-room hut staffed by volunteers. Most are open evenings.
Some small.
4) A state-wide commitment to No Smoking. Only 16% of New Zealanders currently smoke cigarettes. The government's goal is under 5% by 2025. There are no ads for cigarettes -- anywhere. Biggest deterrents: $25-30! a pack. Seriously. That's about $20-24US. And every pack has a terrifying image of a cancer-ridden human mouth on it. Ick. Not gonna even take a picky of that. This is what happens with no insurance or tobacco lobbies. And they have national health insurance. Hmmmmmmm.
5) Simple Courtesies. I was in a shop in Whitianga. Two kids in line ahead of me, buying candy. The cashier said, "what have you forgotten?" holding the sweets ransom. "Thank you," said one boy. "Thank you" said the other. I mentioned it as she rang me up. "If their parents don't teach them, someone has to," she said, quite chuffed with herself. There's another word I love. Chuffed.
And, as I'm reminded again here in Auckland, always say "thank you, bus driver" as you debark.
6) Consistency and skill behind the counter of every cafe. Baristas go to school here to learn the art of coffee making.
Roasters train the employees of every establishment that sells their roast. Never have I enjoyed coffee as much as I did this trip. Thank you, to every one of you who enabled and supported my coffee indulgences this trip. Truly a pleasure to share such peaceful happy moments with you.
All this and so much more. Never mind that they do without street name signs and address numbers on businesses and residences. I've gotten everywhere I needed to go and some places I didn't.
Winding road, be patient.
