On the final day of Colleen and I's journey to Tongariro, we had one obligation. And that obligation was to board our departing bus back to Wellington at 1:35 outside the one and only cafe that exists in Tongariro National Park.
After packing we realized how hungry we were so we figured we would bring our backpacks and eat at the cafe before the bus came. Now, we had eaten at this cafe before and very well knew they liked to take their sweet ol' time making their delicious paninis.
The biggest question of the day was to panini or not to panini.
On one hand, we only had 20 minutes until the bus came and we didn't want them to leave without us (obviously). But on the other hand, their paninis were to die for and there was a chance they would be done in time. So we went with the obvious decision to get paninis. And that's where the panic all began.
15 minutes prior to when the bus was about to leave, the bus arrived. Colleen and I both jumped up as we saw it pull in through the window. We gave each other nervous looks and peeked back into the kitchen to see if we could catch a glance at the status of our paninis. They weren't even being panini-ed yet. In utter disbelief we RAN outside to the bus and told the driver we were just waiting for paninis and made sure the bus did in fact still have 15 minutes prior to departure. The bus driver just smiled and said "Of course! No worries!" After saying sorry over and over we returned to our post inside the cafe at the table that offered a peak into the kitchen.
T-minus 7 minutes before the bus left I noticed the bus driver had come INTO the cafe and sat at the table behind us. I gave Colleen a horrified look as I came to the realization he was trying to intimidate us out of our paninis. But we were so determined to get them we held strong.
T-minus 5 minutes before the bus left Colleen noticed the bus was completely full, except for the 2 seats that were supposed to be filled by the 2 dumb, panini obsessed Americans. At that, we stood up and Colleen went to go to the counter as I headed towards the kitchen with my heart pounding and palms sweating. We told them our bus was about to leave and we needed the sandwiches NOW. They just looked at us funny and said, "calm down! The bus driver is just over there- they wont leave without you!"
Colleen and I continued to give each other terrified glances as we then proceeded to BEG for our paninis. They finally just took them off the panini press, not 100% ready, and gave them to us. Then as we were walking out the bus driver walked behind us and Colleen and I appologized over and over again.
He just said, "Guys, were 4 minutes late thats perfect! I finally got time to read the paper. Everything is good!"
When we got on the bus no one shot us angry looks for making everyone late. The bus driver didn't enter the cafe to intimidate us, just to read the paper! He WAITED for us with no problem!
This is just one example from the many times I have come to realize America is an incredibly fast-paced and neurotic country compared to New Zealand. And no, it's not just me! (Although I probably tend to be a tad more neurotic than your average American.) Generally, people in New Zealand don't stress over time and the "little things" like paninis and a bus leaving late. If we were in America, that bus would have left without us or at least, people would be a little angry that we held it up. Really, New Zealanders are much more easy-going and relaxed. This is actually taking a little getting used to for me especially in classes. Where I worry and stress over getting an assignment done, other kids I talk to say "ah no, don't worry you have plenty of time you'll do it". And I'm sitting here like HOW WILL I DO IT. WHAT DO I DO. I HAVE NO TIME.
So, if there is anything I have learned culture wise it's that little things don't need so much stressing. Time here is very slow-paced unlike America where people speed walk EVERYWHERE and plan and schedule everything to the minute. They also really like their relaxation time here. They very distinctly keep work to the office and when coming home it is their time to relax and they won't think about work they have the next day or anything. Unlike in America where work and personal life often clash: "Work's done today, what do I have to do tomorrow? Oh, dinner with family? Let me just take my phone so I can write business emails and still worry about work while we eat! Relaxation? What's Relaxation???"
NOPE. Not in New Zealand. I would say moral of the story is to relax and enjoy the little things rather than stress them, but American culture doesn't allow for that AS much. Speaking of...I now have to go back to stressing over my assignments due next week. Until next time!
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