white glow of the Milky Way . By all definitions of the word , Kaikoura is a paradise , a haven for seabirds and marine life . Because of the upwelling of nutrients from the deep canyon that probes close to shore on the south side of the peninsula , Kaikoura is home for fur seals , petrels , albatrosses , and whales .
Sperm whales were the local attraction , but it was not unusual for one to spot humpbacks , right whales , orcas , and even an occasional blue whale as they migrated up and down the coast . To the north at Ohau , seal pups would play in a pool of water below a waterfall , a magical place that was gaining popularity with the tourists as a result of numerous documentaries .
The people of Kaikoura are a highly creative , generous , stoically-independent lot with a strong sense of community pride . I am not sure if it is just a Kiwi characteristic , maybe that of South Islanders , or just that of the smaller rural towns , but everyone seems to volunteer for something . St John , the ambulance service ; the fire department ; and the Coast Guard are all staffed by volunteers . Two Lions Clubs and numerous social clubs tend to the walking tracks , chop fire wood for those in need of a warm fire in the winter , and even put on some of the most creative social events that I have ever seen . Even the local theatre is staffed by community volunteers .
Everyone looks out for his or her neighbor and they certainly did that for us . Whether we were walking along the shops of the commercial district or shopping
Rob Overly at the supermarket , it was not uncommon for someone to come up or call out our name and strike up a conversation with us . Numerous times , we would hear a knock at our door and be greeted with fresh crays or fruits and vegetables from our neighbours ’ gardens .
In my previous life – back in Florida – I was a member of the West Jacksonville Rotary Club . For over 10 years I had been involved with water and sanitation projects , primarily in the Dominican Republic and a member of WASRAG , Rotary ’ s action group focusing on water and sanitation .
Concurrently , I was very involved with youth , having hosted around 12 students , as well as being the Latin America co-ordinator of Rotary Youth Exchange Florida ( RYE Florida ). Every year , I would preach to my new crop that , in order to have a successful exchange , they had to immerse themselves into not only the culture , but the community itself . And , as many of them would attest to , I would live vicariously through them , and cajole them to maximise their time through emails and Facebook . Well , now it is my time . I am the exchange student . It was time for them to live their lives vicariously through me . Therefore , it was my turn to be immersed into the community .
Since the closest Rotary club was an hour and a-half away in Blenheim , I joined the Kaikoura Lions Club whose members accepted me in spite of my being ‘ from the other side ’. Since Kate was incredibly busy at the clinic and had to ‘ pull call ’ a number of nights during the week , I joined St John to work on the ambulance
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