21.09.
At about half past ten we set off for Thames. As in the last days, the weather was rather unstable. We had to drive right through Auckland, what gave us an impression how extended this city is. Very few skyscrapers, though, in sharp contrast to what we've seen in Hong Kong. Most Aucklanders seem to live in their own house. Each of the numerous quarters was fitted with at least one shopping centre or at least a row of shops which look a bit like those we see in Wild West films. We had lunch in a motorway restaurant, McDonald's. Fast food is very popular in NZ, first of all several Burger chains, furthermore lots of Sushi restaurants and grills. The rest of the route to Thames reminded us a bit of landscapes around the lake of Geneva. Very green, pastures, many cows (few sheep!) and the vegetation with a mediterranean touch. When we where about to enter Thames, a splendid, distinct rainbow stood over the town and even touched the ground below the horizon. We had never seen it like this and interpreted it as God's affirmation: I have travelled before you and I am already waiting for you to welcome you here, and I will bless you here, more, I will pour my blessings over you and I will use you here for My plans.
Hugh welcomed us heartily and introduced us to part of the staff, and to two other new doctors who were going to start at the same time. He told us that he had organised a Maori welcome for the next morning at nine o'clock. We were then driven to our future home, which will be free from 27th September. It is a big wooden bungalow, painted in white, with a garden behind a neatly cut hedge, positioned on a rather steep mountain slope and with magnificent views over the sea, situated only about 2 km from the health centre and as close as this to suitable schools for the kids. Then he accompanied us to our preliminary home, a small house directly by the sea, the plot reaching to the gravel shore, about 10 km north of Thames. We drove back along the beautiful coast road and had dinner at KFC, to celebrate our arrival at our destination.
22.09.
The day began with the Maori welcome. Typically for us, we arrived a bit late. The welcome was a decent ceremony according to an old rite. We were led into an assembly house. There we were seated opposite the hosts, in two rows, the women behind the men, like our hosts themselves. At first, the women sung a song. Then speeches were held - in Maori, and only partly repeated in English. As we new about the ceremony by a culture guide (a book I had bought in Germany), Elena was prepared to respond properly with a Spanish song. We had to introduce ourselves, then the staff (not all Maori) introduced themselves in detail, and further songs were sung. Then they gave us to eat, a buffet of typical NZ food – rolls, crackers, hummus (a chickpea puree) and cakes. It was very moving.
Then, shopping at Pack'n Save, the giant supermarket – so much choice, but mostly a bit more expensive than in Germany. Spaghetti for lunch. Exhausted hang-out in our beach house. We spend the evening grotesquely in the Warehouse (a warehouse as you can imagine), buying a few things - just because we were to exhausted to do anything else. That was all.
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