1. I am married. Apparently, it is not cool to be married in Queenstown. When I first started work at the hotel people would meet me, notice my ring and then ask in a shocked voice, "Are you married?" Questions would invariably follow such as "Did your parents make you do it?", "Did you get pregnant?", "Is it a religious thing?" or simply just "Why?" It got so obnoxious that I considered not wearing my ring, but quickly dismissed that thought as just plain ridiculous.
I have asked around and it seems that the un-coolness of marriage is not a New Zealand thing but rather an opinion unique to Queenstown which is typically inhabited by a young, adventurous and trendy, single crowd. Interestingly, people don't use the word 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend' here but instead use the word 'partner'. Sean and I both admitted to each other that many times instead of referring to each other as 'husband' or 'wife' we simply say that we have a 'partner' just to avoid excessive explanation and surprised gasps. I have yet to meet anyone else here who is married but I have met many people in serious, long-term committed relationships with their so-called partners.
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| This is our living room currently occupied by three large snowboards. I think my roommates just put them up as a sign to visitors like "Don't worry - we're cool - we snowboard yo." |
2. I am not a snowboarder. Again, I have found out that it is anything but cool to do anything else other than snowboard here. Skiing is so out, and snowboarding is definitely in including all that goes with it: the attitude, clothes, helmets and boots. I have tried snowboarding a few years ago and I have failed excellently. I was in so much pain afterwards and with a bruised rib that didn't heal for a good four months I have vowed that I wouldn't try it again until I was good and ready. I'm still not ready.
I have decided to try skiing here since I have grown up cross country skiing and because I have been downhill skiing a few times before and liked it. Snowboarding is so intense here that people just assume you snowboard. If, by chance, someone asks me whether I ski or snowboard and I answer that I am a skier I get a very similar reaction to being married. They look at me, mouth agape and most times a few of them will pat me reassuringly and say something like, "Don't worry, I know how to snowboard and I can teach you."
I am the only skier in our house - Andrew, Kathryn and Sean are all snowboarders. They have also promised to teach me and have offered to let me borrow their gear to learn as well. I am expecting to be in the minority as a skier on the mountain. Maybe I can just find some cool gear to wear to make up for it and even out my cool factor.
In short, my attempt at being cool here as a married skier is essentially doomed before I could even get started.
I can relate a little - although I haven't experienced quite the level of shock and incredulity you have in Queenstown, around Fort Collins many people I know wouldn't consider getting married until they at least owned a home together and started a family. As for snow boarding, I admire you choosing what you think will be fun rather than choosing based on the cool factor. Being a skier takes the pressure off trying to fit in with the boarding culture to begin with. Anyway, you're actually awesome-cool cuz you were a married skier in Queenstown before it was cool!