I came back from New Zealand a few days ago and still have some time difference to catch up with. So I have this – rare in my case – sleepless night, during which I have decided to write this part of my blog. I actually was considering skipping a week, since I am truly tired and still traveling, but I guess a little self-discipline wouldn’t hurt.

Last week I was writing about my perception of New Zealand based on a short 10 days visit. I did not think that anyone from New Zealand will read my note, but – to my enormous surprise – I got a long and very interesting comment from a young girl, who visited our booth at the Expo. Her letter proves that when sometimes you do something you never know who, where, and when will read it, but most of all, it is hard to predict how other people will receive your message. I have been on the field of Metaphysics long enough to understand that there is a big gap between what we want to say and what people will hear. Sometimes in some cases we then may unintentionally hurt others feelings. I do not think this occurred in my case, but it definitely gave my new friend a different spin on how outsiders may perceive her country and culture. I will quote a little, since it is interesting (in my opinion):

“Kia ora Alicja for your insightful korero (talk) about my home, you are definitely correct when you say that our country is ruled by those large fast food corporation, and sadly it has made a majority of my people obese and extremely ill, but i too sense a change coming, my people are becoming ever more aware of the damage we are doing to ourselves and papatuanuku (mother earth) and are now beginning to rectify the mamae (hurt/pain) we have bestowed upon each other and our mother. Your view on my cultures tradition's are interesting as my true culture is not displayed in a museum, that is a show for tourist, it is displayed in our kura (Schools), on our marae and in our people (although not all), because i live it i have never seen it though fresh eyes and did not realize that this was how we appear out there in the world.

The more my people refer back to the ancient ways of our people and bring forth that knowledge as a whole, the more i see the effulgent coherence of awakening beings, we are at the first step of something revolutionary for our country and our people and i am so proud and privileged to be apart of it all.”

From my very personal perspective, to read that was enough for my trip to be worth the distance! Tank you, Gemma! You changed me and for that alone I am grateful!