Letter to Students 17 January 2009

Dear Reader

I am sitting with Han as he watches a television programme about a plane which is on a path to disaster as the control panel is not working correctly. All the passengers and crew died in this disaster which reminds us of our own mortality.  Han loves watching documentaries on aeroplanes as much as he enjoys flying.  What kind of television programmes do you enjoy and what is your favourite programme?  I think what we are able to watch on our free to air television are boring in general.  However, tonight I enjoyed sitting with Han watching a programme on the Dutch community who are living in New Zealand.  It was part of the “Here to stay” series, and it traced the Dutch from the first explorer Abel Tasman, who literally put New Zealand on the map, and gave the country the name of New Zealand in 1642, if I remember correctly.  I am not good at remembering dates.  Are you?  Abel Tasman had tried to land in GoldenBay, but when four of his crew were killed by Maori, he fled as soon as he could, naming this infamous bay ‘Murderers’ Bay.’  It was not until the late 1950 that the first wave of Dutch migrants arrived in New Zealand, being encouraged to leave their country by the Dutch government, where unemployment was high, and encouraged to come by the New Zealand government as workers were desperately needed.  It was a perfect match.  The Dutch, although of similar colouring to the Pakeha New Zealanders, were still considered Aliens for many years, and had to go through intense police investigations before being able to apply for residency.  Coming from a culture where coffee was drunk every day in cafes, the Dutch found it strange to arrive in a country where only tea and milk shakes were drunk in milk bars, and coffee was unknown.  In those days, there was a custom known as the “six o’clock swill,” where bars were only open from four o’clock till six o’clock, and only men went to these booze barns to drink as much as they could in this short time.  The Dutch were used to dining at restaurants, and having a glass of wine, and it was a Dutch man who urged the government to change the law and allow licensed restaurants in the early 1960s, or at least that is the date I remember.  This particular Dutchman was given the first of only ten licenses granted at that time. I know that I worked for the exclusive licensed restaurant, called La Scala, when I returned from the United States in 1974, and this La Scala was the first restaurant to be given such a license in the 1960s in Dunedin.  How young and confident I was in those days when I applied for a job as steward at the age of 17!  Little did I know how difficult it would be, but how it stood me in good stead for my future life.  I will tell you more about it in my next letter, so long as I remember!!

I find it fascinating to learn of the changing cultures of a country, and the influence of the migrants who help to change the face of a nation.  It is wonderful to see the fabric of a culture change as other threads are interwoven into the host culture. So much has changed in New Zealand society since I was a child, and I am happy with some of the changes, and disappointed in others.  The variety of food now available is wonderful, but the weekends which were sacred for families, is now a time when parents are often forced to work, and I believe this is to the detriment of the children, and to the essence of family life.  I have such happy memories of playing sport all Saturday, and being watched by my parents, and then going to church on Sunday followed by a big Sunday roast at my grandmother’s house.  As I grew up, my parents stopped going to church, but we always went for a drive somewhere and had a picnic on Sunday afternoon. My sister and I took turns at choosing our destination, and my sister always wanted to drive inland, and I wanted to drive to the coast. It is interesting that Vicki lives in town and I live by the sea.

Last night, we popped in to see good friends on our walk around the neighbourhood.  Because we had a lot of leftovers, we asked them if they would like to join us for a casual dinner, and we decided to have dinner at our cottage which is located next to our home. Han lit the fire in the fireplace, and after a dinner with hilarious conversation, we sat around the roaring fire and chatted till late.  I love nothing better than doing this with family and friends.

Do you enjoy reading?  What is your favourite book and what is it about? I have so little time to read, but I love it when I have some time.  On Saturday, Han and I spent a fabulous day pottering around the house, just doing simple things, but enjoying each other’s company. In the afternoon, I found an interesting cook book which written by a chef who travelled around New Zealand, and wrote about the Kiwi cooking which was a part of my childhood.  I loved reading the different recipes, and a little stories which accompanied the recipe about the person who shared it. 

Today, Han and I decided to get out and make the most of the good weather after I returned from making a quick trip into town. We went down to the Portobello market to buy some fresh fish, and then took our kayaks out onto the OtagoHarbour before the rain arrived.  However, we didn’t retreat inside when the rain arrived, but sat on the verandah of the cottage and watch the clouds engulf the sky, glimpse the lightening, and listen to the thunder as it rumbled around the hills.  I love the energy which charges the air.  Our daughter and her family dropped round to enjoy the moods of nature, and we shared a glass of wine and chatted as the heavens opened and the rain poured!  Magic!

January, 19^th

It is now Monday morning, and I am looking forward to seeing you soon.  I had a fabulous weekend, with a lot of pottering around the house and community. Only late last night did I actually do some cleaning as Claudia, a Brazilian guest in our home, decided to help me attend to my long neglected pantry!  What a mission, but it now looks fabulous, and you can now eat off the floor, not that you would want to!

Have a great week!

Love

Sharron