Julie & Kishore Read Free Page A

    Kishore
shook with nervous anticipation as the plane carried him on his way towards his
new life. He tried to calm himself by watching the on-board video showing
scenic pictures of New Zealand. The unfolding scenes of the country’s
landscapes, mountains, snow and rolling pastures mesmerized him. The narrator’s
voice hypnotised him with words like, ‘the land of milk and honey’ and welcomed
him, as it did all immigrants, to this diverse country where anyone could
literally walk off the plane and into employment.
    As
the plane touched down in Auckland, one thought hit him pretty hard, in fact it
was with such a jolt he felt like he had been hit by a train, ‘I am here, I
have made it.’ He was excited and nervous in equal measure - he almost muttered
out loud, ‘Well Kishore this is it, no turning back now.’ All he had in his
wallet was twenty dollars. Telephone calls
to Aunt Bhamini, immigration papers and his air ticket were terribly expensive but he was determined to use
that one note as a stepping stone to a fulfilling future.
    His
first taste of being spoken to in a Kiwi accent was by the immigration officer
as he asked to see Kishore’s passport. He had to listen carefully to understand
what the officer was saying, his accent being very strong. As Kishore collected
his luggage different words assailed his ears, of course he spoke English but
the sound of people talking seemed so odd.
    He
walked into the International Arrivals area, searching for a familiar face. He
grinned as his eyes locked onto someone beaming back at him. Akarsh, Kishore’s
cousin, his Aunt’s son, had come to the airport to collect him. Kishore was relieved
to see a recognisable face amongst the crowd. As the cousins approached one
another there was a great reunion. They had not seen each other for years and
by this time had grown into men. With big silly grins they slapped each other
on the back and punched each other ’ s shoulder.  
    As
they made their way to the exit, Kishore watched as people were rushing here and there – leaving to go on a journey or coming
back .
Friends and families meeting in Arrivals or seeing each other off in Departures
and employees going about their business.
    Once
outside with Kishore’s luggage stowed in the boot of Akarsh’s tired looking
white Vauxhall Viva, they climbed in. Akarsh told him to buckle up his
seatbelt, something Kishore was not used to because it was not law in India.  
    Kishore spoke in Hindi, “Oh no , it is okay, I trust your driving . ”
    “The
law is strict here mate, you have to wear your seatbelt I don’t want to get a
ticket” Akarsh replied in English .
    Kishore,
for the first time in his life obediently buckled his seatbelt.
    They
left the airport and as they approached the motorway Akarsh indicated,
manoeuvred into an empty lane , then pressed his foot hard on the accelerator pedal.
Kishore was quiet, he was amazed at all of the greenery and cleanliness but
surprised by the lack of other cars and people.  
      “Where are all the people?” he asked , again in Hindi.                                      
    Akarsh
laughed out loud and replied in English, “You’d better start speaking in
English mate. There are not as many people here as there are in India but today
everyone is at work or school.”
    Kishore
smiled as he remembered a line from the video on the plane stating New Zealand
had more sheep than people. Although Kishore knew Aotearoa’s - New Zealand in
Maori language ‘land of the long white cloud’ first language was
English before he arrived it made him acutely aware of the reality of his
situation, he was now in a foreign country and had better start speaking in
English as much as he could in order to grasp the strange accent.

 
    He
was also soon to discover the cultural differences were huge. The Kiwi accent
was one thing but the clothing, mannerisms and the way society worked was
another. He was to