ヘレンはニュージーランドで

最初にファームステイした農場の

女主人だった

気さくな人で

自分の過去について

そして現在についても

話してくれた

金髪の

ちょっと美人で

こんな綺麗な人が

北島のこんな人の少ない場所に

お嫁に来て～そういうものなの？

と、私は心配になったくらいだった

でも、彼女には

確信があったみたい

ここが、彼女の住むべき場所だって

人は

自分が大好きな場所に

確信を持って生きるのが

一番いいね

人生は

好きなことをして生きるのが

一番だね

そんなこと　今夜の　Ｅ－ｖｅｒｓｉｏｎ　で

書いてみました～

よろしくど～ぞ～

三毛猫詩人より

People in New Zealand

(1) Helen

When we travel, we inevitably meet many new people. I am sure that there is no exception to this rule. As such, while hopping around in New Zealand, I met a number of people who left me with a strong impression.

When I say a strong impression, it means that some of them are positively impressive but others are negatively so. Yet, through interacting with them, I am sure that I did learn some interesting or amusing aspects of the culture in New Zealand.

So, let me tell you about these people.
You sure willunderstand what I mean if you follow my stories.

Helen was my first host mother at a farm on the North Island of New Zealand. When I first met her, I was surprised that she was not only charming, but also very open-minded.

For example, she casually told me that she was in her late forties, though her semi-long curly blond hair made her look much younger. Yet, her outfit was not something fancy as she had to help her husband, Robert, an independent farm owner. A worn-out brown T-shirt, a pair of old black pants and a red but shabby jacket were one of her everyday uniforms.

While having a simple supper, steak and potatoes with her, I could not help but wonder why such a beautiful woman was staying in the countryside, Okananga, a remote area at the tip of the North Island where only a small population resides.

However, as if she were reading my mind, even before I asked her, she began to talk about her past and present life to me.

“My hometown is Melbourne, Australia. In my twenties and thirties, I was working at a financial company that dealt with other companies bankruptcies. You see, I was an able accountant." She said rather proudly.

"Wearing a suit and high heels, I used to drive a BMW! Can you believe it? I was a brilliant business woman! In the meantime, it took me more than two hours to come and go to the company. To be honest, it was a big headache, but I thought it was not a big deal, as I was making huge money and saving it all."

"Then, I met my first husband. Ben and I were married for 10 years but eventually we split. That was because I came to know that he was not the man I wanted to stay with. Fortunately, through this career, the money I had saved allowed me to get two houses. I thought that my life was okay, having these houses as my insurance.”

“Such a big change you have been through!” I said to her and added that I would not have recognized her if I had met her 10 years ago. Smiling broadly, she said, “No, you would not have. I am now totally different!”

Robert is her second husband. She met him in a pub, she said shyly. Because she loves singing, she used to sing at the pub near her house. They came to know each other, and one day Robert invited her to see his farm in New Zealand (Wow, very romantic!).

She said that as soon as she saw the farm, she fell in love with it.

She happily continued, “I did not hesitate to sell my two houses. My life in Australia was crazy. Now I can see it clearly. Poet Calico Cat, I know that here is a place that I really want to stay in. Luckily and kindly, Robert takes charge of almost all the hard work on the farm! So, what I do is just to take care of him, our dogs and some animals. Rather, my current main job is to invite people, like you, and give them a great chance to experience our wonderful farm life!”

What a happy woman Helen is! You see, what she learned ultimately was that New Zealand was the country she wanted to stay in, and Robert was the man she loved.

What’s more, she is confident that offering a farm experience to those who visit New Zealand is her goal as a career, although her home country is Australia! Isn’t that funny but wonderful?

While there are many people, like me, who are still searching for a place that they can love and stay but cannot find one, she has found that place. This has made me so envious of her.

She certainly knows that what counts most in life is not money but that we are doing what we truly love. Looking at the photo of Helen and me together, I tell myself once again that I must find the place where I want to stay forever, very soon.

Poet Calico Cat

PS

This is her beautiful farm.

三毛猫詩人と一緒に With Poet Calico Cat - Hug me, please?

People in New Zealand (1) Helen