Kiwis & anyone else smart enough to live in New Zealand almost by definition are funny, friendly, laid-back, and outgoing. It's been ridiculously easy to meet people here.
But that being said, we have four friends -- Bede, Megan, Kendra, and Chris --who have absolutely gone out of their way to make sure we meet anyone and everyone here. They have really become our family. We figured we'd introduce them to you by way of a video.
Hmmmm, maybe we should give you some background:
Bede and Kendra both work at the gym with us. Well, Kendra has and will again after her maternity leave. :) Bede is quintessential Kiwi, and keeps the entire gym working and laughing with his sense of humour, his insane work-ethic, and his "mental health bars" (snack-size chocolate bars available for any coach at any time). Kendra is a Canadian transplant, and knows the ins & outs of the gym backwards and forwards: I think she can personally name every one of the yearly 1000+ gymnasts that have been through our doors, and can give you a full background on each.
Bede is one of those natural gymnastics coaches whose entire gymnastics background -- as he puts it -- was limited to "jumping over those boxes in school gymnastics class." (He has mastered every team sport, from cricket to indoor soccer to ice hockey, and has a degree in recreation management.)
Kendra came here from Canada to coach the New Zealand 2002 Olympic Speed Skating team, and has been here ever since. Our gym club snagged her the second she approached the gym with her Canadian gymnastics coaching credentials. She single-handedly proves that even serious rheumatoid arthritis can't stop you.
Megan was Bede's long time partner until quite recently. Together, they have shown us more of New Zealand geography, culture, food, and life-style than anyone else here. Megan is also Anna's personal source of new books. (Megan is a librarian for Christchurch libraries: Australasia's best public library system.)
Kendra's long time partner is Chris. We lived with them for 3 weeks when we came to visit New Zealand initially, and then again for almost 4 weeks when we were searching for a rental upon our return. Chris was an international ice-dancer, and now runs the main ice rink in Christchurch.
Kendra just married Chris on January 3rd, and Kendra asked Bede to be her "maid of honor," or more appropriately in this case, her "Bede of honor". Megan was the "bearer of the ring bearer" (Luke, Chris and Kendra's newborn son was the ring bearer.) The speech Bede gave at the wedding is the best introduction we could possibly give you to our circle of friends:
Sunday, February 8, 2009
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