A Year in Auckland: A Thanksgiving

Muriwei Beach, and Flax, just about to flower

December 10

It is Friday night, the air has cooled significantly since the afternoon drive to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. With the end of school, the official summer holiday season has started in New Zealand. The backpacker (hostel/low budget accommodation) has many other guests, most of whom are sitting at the picnic tables outside my room chatting among friends. The hum of their voices, pierced by the occasion trill of laughter, penetrates the walls of the tidy room I am sharing with Stethanie.

A river runs into the bay in Paihia: made famous by the singing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Much as Memorial Day defines the beginning of the summer season, today, the last day of the school year, marks the beginning of summer, Christmas, and the national vacation period. To me, lost in some cultural and seasonal time warp, Christmas seems months away. Thanksgiving Day eluded me altogether. The day came and passed, a work day followed by a swim with a new Masters group and a meal of leftovers. It sounds a bit pathetic as I write, but the day unfurled exactly according to plan and I went to bed satisfied. Friday, over morning tea, I explained the holiday to several kiwi. I was proud to say that we Americans had a celebration of thanks, not just overindulgence. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to celebrate this giving of thanks, this year, Thanksgiving became a two week period of time that I attempted to pay attention to the myriad of blessings, friendships, experiences and circumstances for which I give thanks.

Pohutakawa flower. The tree blossoms in December as is colloquially known as the kiwi Christmas tree

Pohutakawa tree

Without the usual Thanksgiving vacation to mark the beginning of the Christmas season, Christmas shopping caught me by surprise; I started well after the mailing deadlines for air mail. I spent a lovely Saturday touring local shops in search of gifts, both kiwi and light. In the afternoon, it dawned on me, I had gone shopping the weekend following Thanksgiving, something I usually purposefully avoided because of the crowds. However, this was Auckland. The shops did not have the throng of people I had come to equate with Thanksgiving weekend shopping. I did not feel exhausted by the commotion, commercialism, noise, parking issues that has often defined my Christmas shopping.

scene from my front door

Above my apartment...Oops, can't rotate this.

Lilies outside my front door

rotational difficulties...

It was early afternoon when I got back to my apartment. The scent of jasmine, warm marine air and recent rain reminded me vaguely of my childhood. I could not locate the memory, likely somewhere in South America, but it filled me with warmth and familiarity. I live in a little slice of heaven and have been blessed with a loving family, and had the experience of living abroad as a child. Having almost completed my shopping for the family, I felt my good fortune of being able to work and earn a living that allows me to travel, shop and mail gifts to my family, all of whom were in good health. With my shopping complete, a celebratory bike ride was in order.

The mighty kauri tree.

I took a bike path to the western part of Auckland and biked amid farms, hills, and kauri trees of Waitakere Township. Within a half hour bike ride from home, I found myself on rural, chip sealed, low traffic roads somewhat reminiscent of Whidbey. I was reminded of all those who have contributed to my thorough enjoyment of this bike ride, from my parents and sisters who taught me to ride, to those who encouraged my cycling in my adult life,(Bill, my boys, Ellen dePrey) reawakening that joyous mode of transport. I thought of all the rides I had done on family trips, commuting to work and with my friends on Whidbey. I recalled Challis inviting me to join the DSR group, despite my lack of self confidence. She and Ed waiting for me as I struggled to keep up. My bike, a Cervelo, a gift given from Morgan, Caleb and Bill, a token of love and understanding in the midst of divorce. It all flooded back to me during my ride, the welcome advice, assistance and companionship on recent rides (from many including Brandon, Kurt, Frazer, Erin, Julie, Damon, Ron, Matt and more), the trips to eastern Washington, all of those people and experiences contributing to this one lovely ride. Thankful for the beautiful kiwi surroundings, for folks who have worked to conserve flora and fauna, and as well to those who toil in collaboration with the earth to provide food, I rode until the light became muted and the air thickened with moisture as the dew settled.

Overlooking the Waitakere Landscape

The following work week was busy with a new set of “house officers” (interns) experiencing their first day as doctors. Lovely to help them through that first few weeks and watch their confidence grow. Though work can be busy, it provides a fascinating interaction of cultures, language and medicine . Work consumes me at times, but I am fortunate to work in a field that interests, challenges, and teaches me not just about medicine, but the human condition. I lose track of time as I immerse myself in this work. I work with intelligent, caring, multi-talented folks. Over 22 languages are spoken by the nurses alone on the floor where I work. The junior doctors have similar demographics, hailing from India, Sri Lanka, Tonga, South Africa, Scotland, England, Germany, US and Canada.

pictures taken while running...

The patients in South Auckland are the most diverse in the greater Auckland area. The sector includes the most disadvantaged, and perhaps the most violent. This week I cared for two men attacked by extended family, one woman who brawled with another in a bar, and several folks who had inadvertent trauma related to intoxication. Good fortune has truly graced my life that I have never found myself addicted to substances or allied with friends or family with violent tendencies. I have grown up in a culture of privilege through my ethnicity and family. My life has been easier than so many others, thanks in part to the hard work of my parents and ancestors. Working in the hospital with this community of South Aucklanders has many gifts. A deep sense of family and commitment to community exists as well. Last night, as I was preparing to leave, I heard voices singing in harmony from one of the patient lounges. There, one of my patients was seated in the middle of the room, surrounded by at least three generations, all joining in song. She was beaming, singing when she felt able. I thanked them silently for the gift they gave her and for allowing me a small glimpse into their family. It truly is an honor to care for folks and be both trusted with that care and be able to guide them through difficult times.

On completion of her first open water series...

The following weekend, I signed up for the Herne Bay open water swim on a whim. While awaiting the start of short open water swim that started a few blocks from my house, I met a delightful woman, who had won a wetsuit as a door prize at her first "try a tri" event. She must have been in her mid to late fifties and the Herne Bay swim marked her first open water swim. Her son, a professional surfer, ran a surf school in her home town. She grew up surfing and invited me to try my hand. I did not get her phone number at the end of the swim, but I did venture to Muriwai , in the R5 with my bike in the “boot” the subsequent weekend. Once there, I rode the hills leading to Muriwei and then joined the beginning surf class with her son. Laughing in the waves, falling more than standing, it was a joy to play in the ocean. I am thankful to all of those who have welcomed me into their homes and their lives, both here in New Zealand and throughout my life.

Fellow beginning surfers

Surf school!


Murewei, also home to large gannet colony

The kiwi are known to be hospitable and friendly. From the flight to Auckland, to meetings with the Health Work Force NZ board, to friends of friends, to swimming with Masters, I have been invited to homes and events. I have traveled to Rotorua, Pauanui, Muriwai and now the Northlands and Whangerei and taken the hospitality offered, offering only a bottle of wine, a book, some small gift in exchange. At the midpoint of a long run on a hot day while touring the pocket waterfront parks of Auckland, an elderly couple offered to watch my things while I dipped in the cool waters of Waitemata Harbor. It was a delightful addition to my run. Perfect strangers ask after me, check in on how I am finding my travels. I am fortunate to be in such a welcoming place.

Paihia in the Bay of Islands

Thanks? Yes, I am thankful for my family & friends who love me, support me, email me, read my blog. The good fortune of health, of privilege, of what my parents made possible for me: housing, education, travel. The ability to read and learn. I have pondered loneliness, happiness, states of mind of which I can thankfully say I spend more time in the latter than the former. I will continue to endeavor to find the glass half full, to feel the locus of control is mine.