2012 was an incredible year for us and in reflection, there
were a ton of people and events that I am so grateful for.
January – The month started with us still being in
Immigration limbo with Beth having a job at University of Canterbury and us
needing the final stamp of approval from NZ Immigration to get there. After seven months of red tape and for
me, the thought that it was never going to happen, it HAPPENED. Thanks Jason Stewart, our NZ Immigration officer, for aiding and
abetting our departure.
Every time I think of Columbus, I’m reminded of the OAR
song, “Road Outside of Columbus.”
While I’m labeled the New Yorker by many who know me, Columbus is my
“second home.” Starting with Beth
and Zach, my life is so much richer for the friends we’ve made there and Jon
and Beth’s Big Bash was a great chance to celebrate with our friends. Six years in the making, Beth’s belated
50th Birthday party/Leaving town/Star-studded dance
celebration was as much fun to watch as it was to be there. Special thanks to Kara and everyone who
turned out to wish us well.
The last skate in Columbus and the Al Green/OSU 6am Hockey
Club. My life as an early riser
reached new heights over the last three years and I have Mike Stegemiller and
the similarly minded enthusiasts I shared ice with to thank. 5am wasn’t usually fun, but the hour on
the ice always was.
February – With NZ Immigration approval, it was finally time
to move. After reducing our life’s
possessions to one shipping container, we trusted the people at Crowne
Relocation to get our belongings half way around the world. We had our doubts as we watched the
process, but it all fit.
With our belongings on a truck to a boat, it was time to get
the dogs’ travel itinerary and finally get on a plane. Special thanks to Kitty and Oliver for
getting us to the airport, American Airlines for taking care of the domestic
portion of our flight, IPT for their council as we navigated the paperwork for
Sammy and Tatum, and Air New Zealand and Canterbury Quarantine as we settled on
the South Island.
March – Life isn’t complete without a job and in March I got
my first job thanks to Gareth Greenfield and the Selwyn Hockey Club. While I know there probably weren’t a
lot of applicants for the job, I appreciate Gareth and the club taking a chance
on a middle age American. Gareth
has always been good counsel and the Prem Ladies team was responsible for the
start of my education in the world of Canterbury Hockey.
24 Belleview Terrace is our home. We wake up every morning with a reminder as we look out the
window that we’re not in Columbus anymore. No offense, but I’ll take the view of the western edge of
the Pacific over the Olentangy River any day. While we waited for our furniture, living here provided me
with daily opportunities to apply my Jack-of-all-Trades skills as I “built” a
coffee table and imagined other ways to use Ketchup bottles (Q-tip holder).
April – A tricky month in the Southern Hemisphere
weather-wise (Fall turning to Winter).
I learned to appreciate the value of layers as I prepared to dress for
trainings for the Selwyn Ladies on Monday nights. The days get shorter, the nights get cooler and the
temperature plummets between 8pm and 9:30pm. Good thing the weather reports tell you how many layers to
wear and even better, to always have an extra layer in the bag.
While I didn’t have gear, I did have an ice hockey team to
play on. Through the wonders of
the Internet, Canterbury Ice Hockey League and Rolf Holmsen, I found the
Rats. It took another three weeks
before our belongings and my gear got to New Zealand, but I had a team. Thanks to Rolf and the Rats’ patience
as I worked my way somewhat into form.
Crowne movers came through again as they arranged for my
hockey gear to be released before the rest of our belongings as we waited on
MAF/New Zealand Agriculture to inspect our container for release. When Crowne loaded our belongings in
Columbus it took a crew of six. Two
guys and a truck unloaded everything in Mt Pleasant and made it look
effortless. You guys rock. Finally, we have a home.
Beth is an explorer and “Dora” and I spent Easter weekend in
Kaikoura. Our first New Zealand
vacation, the weekend was a sampling of things to come as we find our way
here. Seal colonies, whale
watching, quad riding – when in Kaikoura, do as the tourists do – and have a
good time while you’re at it. Thanks Dora.
May – My education in Canterbury Hockey continues and
special thanks to Sunjay Ganda for the opportunity. While I questioned my calling as the Selwyn Ladies coach (we
started disastrously in the results column with a 9-0 loss in our first game
and worked hard to improve from there), I got to do what I love through Sunjay
– COACH GOALKEEPERS. Welcome to
the world of Primary Boys and Girls hockey, ten girls and boys keepers and
they’re all under eleven years old.
I love this country.
June – An anniversary trip to Hanmer Springs, and we get to
experience first-hand snow in June.
A gorgeous drive through Lewis Pass and an afternoon in the thermal
pools is followed by two straight days of snow. On the good news front, while we may have lost power, the
town never closed (eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we shovel). Thanks again Dora.
Rugby is religion in New Zealand and Canterbury
especially. My sport immersion
program continues and while I have no interest in trying the game, the
strength, stamina, skill and speed of the game when it’s played well is
impressive and the All Blacks play well often. While I don’t know that I want to play against Richie McCaw,
I’d certainly want him on my team.
And the Haka, it speaks for itself.
July – “Put me in coach, I’m ready to play” – John Fogerty
Winter break at University of Canterbury provides me with a
chance to play in the Men’s Premier Competition as their keepers are away on
school holiday. Special thanks go to
University Hockey Club for the chance and my Selwyn Ladies team for
understanding. In one game, I think
I raised the average age of the University team by ten years and the best part
was we won.
The London Olympics were a great chance to experience a part
of what it is like to be a Kiwi. The
country shifted to London time as we watched live the exploits of rowers,
cyclists, equestrians and all things excellent in New Zealand sport through
eight channels of Sky. Every
Olympic hockey game was televised and the lady Black Sticks took the country on
an emotional roller coaster that climaxed with an incredible semi-final against
eventual gold medalists, The Netherlands.
I have a new appreciation for hard work, belief, Kayla Sharland and
Bianca Russell.
After four months it’s time to find a real job. In hockey circles, I’ve become the
American goalie guy.
Unfortunately, that’s not filling my days. After three months scouring the net for a job, I find my
calling at the Canterbury Hockey Association as Community Hockey Manager. If you told me three years ago that
this is what I’d be doing, I’d say you were crazy; crazy like a fox. Thanks fox and Canterbury Hockey.
August – In my first official capacity as a Community Hockey
Manager, I get to be the videographer for the Canterbury Cavaliers, the men’s
team in the Hockey New Zealand National Hockey League. Obviously they’ve never seen me
video. The experience gives me
another chance to work with keepers as well as a reminder that I don’t know as
much as I think I do, especially when it comes to Gamebreaker and technology. Thanks to Jeremy Symonds, Simon Bates
and Lee Munt.
On a separate note of appreciation, congratulations to the
Canterbury Cats, the women’s NHL team, as they ran the table to win the
competition.
Our cultural education via TV continues and we have the
Voice Australia to thank. While
the show is essentially the same as the American version, the judges,
contestants and songs lend itself to an appreciation of Oceanic entertainment and
the people, as well as a new crush for Beth, Keith Urban.
September – One question opened a new door, “What is the Hockey
New Zealand position on hand position for goalkeepers?” Thanks to Chris Leslie and Hockey
Academy South for one of the best research projects ever. Additional thanks go out to Mark Hagar,
Helen Clarke and Greg Nicol for the opportunity to attend Black Sticks
Goalkeeper selections and for sharing your knowledge.
October – Two months on the job, and I’m still learning that
there are no boundaries to what a Community Hockey Manager does as we host the Hatch
Cup. In the first tournament held
in Christchurch since the September 2010 earthquakes, I’m reminded daily of how
far the City and the people have come in less than two years. The hockey community was impacted
beyond words by the quakes and for five days the country got to see where we
have come and where we might go.
The Hatch Cup is the New Zealand national representative tournament for
Primary aged boys and Canterbury beats North Harbour in the finals in extra
time. Tradition and Mayor Bob
Parker take prominent place at the Opening Ceremonies as he reminds
participants what to do in an earthquake and challenges us with the opportunity
to “re-imagine” the city and ourselves.
Thanks for the reminder.
Ice hockey season comes to a close as the Cinderella story
ends with us (the Rats) losing in the Grand Final 6-4.
November – As one door closes, another opens, Masters Hockey. I finally have a regular gig with the
over-35 set as I play for University.
Once again I’m enlightened.
Over-35 is not dead and there are plenty of former Black Sticks in the
ranks of the competition to remind this American that younger and faster are
not always better than older and smarter, though all have shown they have what
it takes to expose the deficiencies of my game.
Thanksgiving in America starts with Election Day in Los
Angeles on our whirlwind North American adventure. To the city of Los Angeles, thanks for hosting my parents,
Beth and me, and allowing us to leave only semi-scarred (special thanks to the
fat man on a bicycle in West Hollywood wearing a skirt and no underwear – a visual that will haunt me for the rest of my life). Thanks to the American people for
listening to the voice of reason in spite of Fox News, Karl Rove and Mitt Romney. But most of all, thanks to our families
and friends in Columbus, New York, and Meaford, the trip was a reminder of how
special the people in my life are.
December – 2012 starts in Columbus and thanks to the Mayans
for being wrong, ends in Christchurch on December 31.
In celebration of seeing December 22 we spent Christmas on
Canterbury’s West Coast.
I’m still
awed by the landscape of this country and look forward to more adventures with
Dora.
The kids (Zachary, Sammy and
Tatum) are
growing up.
Life is good.
