I went to work on Monday pissed off. A freak surprise snowstorm was pounding northern Ohio, and I could barely see 10 feet in front of me as I crawled along the highway. I cursed the weather. I cursed my job. And I even cursed Ohio.
But then I got to work, and began hearing whispers of a terrible thing happening in a place I could never hate — I started to hear about the earthquake in New Zealand. A 6.3-magnitude quake that nearly shook the city of Christchurch to the ground.
Cathedral Square in 2008.
As I checked for news updates every quarter hour and began sifting through photos posted on Twitter and on various news outlets, my anger toward the Ohio weather subsided and was replaced with anxiety. And sorrow.
I don’t actually know anyone personally in Christchurch. In fact, I’ve only visited the city three times, and every time for 24 hours or less.
And yet, looking at the photos of rubble and dust clouds and ruined buildings, I found myself close to tears. Somehow, the tragedy seemed close to me; it didn’t feel like it was happening halfway around the world.
It doesn't look this way anymore...
While I didn’t question my feelings, I did question why I was feeling them so strongly. Terrible things happen every day all around the world — fires, floods, murder, rape, oppression. So why was this quake in Christchurch — a mild one compared to what happened a year ago in Haiti — affecting me so much?
It’s because I love New Zealand. I love it like my second home. Like a best friend. Like a little brother.
And, just as when you fall in love with another person, when you fall in love with another country, you start to care for it and its wellbeing. You don’t want to see it fall on hard times or be hurt in any way. Sometimes, simply forming a bond with a country is enough to make it feel like your own. It’s joys are your joys. Its worries are your worries. And its tragedies, too, are your tragedies.
Here's what the Christchurch Cathedral used to look like. Now, its spire is collapsed.
I have bonded with New Zealand, and therefore this terrible thing happening to the people of Christchurch hits home much harder for me.
It just goes to show how travel — and the places we visit and people we meet — influence us, shape us and affect us, even months or years after we bid them farewell.
It’s this way with me and New Zealand. Even though it’s been years since I last laid eyes on it, and even though I’ve only had brief encounters with the city now left in ruin, I’m still hurting to see it hurting.
Christchurch, you’re in my thoughts.
——
Have you ever had a similar experience? Do you think visiting a place automatically makes you more connected to it?
This is exactly how I felt watching the protests unfold in Egypt! I was in tears when I heard the Egyptian Museum may have been looted and I got chills watching the celebrations when Mubarak finally stepped down. Having traveled to a place definitely gives you a stronger connection and concern about what is happening there, especially when it’s bad.
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I can’t imagine how the things happening in Africa and the Middle-East are affecting those who have traveled/lived there. I can’t totally understand, though!
You said it, Katie.
Still, this is why I encourage people to travel. We are all citizens of the world, not just our countries of birth. Traveling really does show us how alike we all are.
Been sending lots of good thoughts (and prayers) to many places in the world lately. We are all connected.
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You nailed it, too, Katrina. We are definitely all connected.
I definitely think it feels more real when it’s somewhere you’ve been. I love Christchurch – it’s a gorgeous city and I’ve some great memories from my visits. Having been there I’m reminded of how transient life is and that really our memories capture a moment in time. I’m keeping everyone in Christchurch in my thoughts.
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You really put it perfectly, about our memories capturing a moment in time. Christchurch will probably never look the same as it did when you or I visited. But here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.
Great post, Amanda. I find that especially with lesser-visited destinations (like Capri as opposed to Paris, for example), they become OURS — which makes it all the more devastating when tragedy strikes.
I’m worried about aftershocks and further earthquakes in New Zealand…
Thanks, Kate. (And thanks for the comment!
) I agree that perhaps we are more likely to claim lesser-visited destinations “ours,” although I have a feeling plenty of people could end up feeling the same way even about larger, more popular countries and cities, too.
I’m really worried about more aftershocks in CHCH, too. I mean, Tuesday’s earthquake was technically an aftershock from the big 7.1 quake they had back in September. It just so happened that this one struck a lot shallower and closer to the city, therefore causing much more damage. They’re predicting strong aftershocks to last for months, though, which is scary.
Dear Mother Nature — stop picking on New Zealand!
It seems that everyone we know in New Zealand (and most that we have met on this trip) either lives in or has loved ones in Christchurch, or is originally from there. So for us that has made the disaster more personal. We were there just a week ago and have not been able to pry our eyes from the television. It seems surreal. We are in utter shock and just feel so badly for the entire country right now. It’s devastating. They are talking total demolition to the central city here on the news. The death toll could be 300 according to the papers. It is a very somber time to be here in New Zealand =(
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Very somber indeed. I can’t imagine actually being there through this. I can’t imagine what those poor people in CHCH are going through. I mean, bad things don’t generally happen in NZ. It’s one of the most peaceful palces on earth, for goodness sake!
Total demolition of the central city? OMG. That makes me want to cry. With Christchurch being the second-largest city in NZ, I can only imagine how difficult it’s going to be to come back from this. Can they even come back? I don’t know. I hope so.
Hey Amanda,
I absolutely think that visiting a place, even if for a short while, makes you more connected with it.
My experience bonding with a place is slightly different. There’s no natural disaster involved. But rather it’s more of the social and unspoken political issues of China that humble me enough to catch myself every time I start to curse my life.
There is much to be said about what goes on in China, but when it comes down to it, the government’s “economic growth first” philosophy impacts a lot of wonderful people in a lot of terrible ways. There is very little support for the “individual citizen” – much different than America. I think about the lack of support for special needs children, and the way special needs adults are shunned, and I think about how it is nearly impossible for a Chinese person to come to the US, and I think about how my coworkers there who were 21 and doing my same job were getting paid only enough to rent a tiny bedroom with a microwave (some starting salary!)
Anyway, it’s not 100% the same at all, but I’m just saying that I get where you’re coming from in terms of feeling connected to a country you wish you could just take care of it. Be it something bad that’s going on in general or something terrible that happened once like an earthquake, you just want to be able to help make it better.
I enjoyed this post Amanda! It is good to see there are people who truly CARE in this world
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I was only in China for a week, but I, too, was struck by some of the bad things that lie beneath its seemingly successful exterior that you talked about. There’s such a huge divide between the “haves” and “have nots” there, and it all seems very unfair. And the fact that the government has SO much power is, frankly, kind of scary.
Thanks for reading, and I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
I hope that everyone you know there is well, Amanda.
It is a terrible thing, and as always, puts our own lives into perspective. It is the great and sad thing about travel – it opens our minds and allows us to connect with others, sharing in their joy AND sorrow.
I really enjoyed this post!
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Everyone I know in New Zealand is okay, thank goodness. Thanks for the concern!
Hey Amanda, this was a very thoughtful post. With so much going on in the world right now, it seems a lot of travelers have been effected by much of what’s been on the news. My personal freak out right now is Cote D’Ivoire, which is losing news coverage to developments in m.east/n. africa, but the situation there is becoming very grim. My friends are safe, but day to day life is now very difficult for them.
I agree with you that visiting a place automatically makes your more connected to it. Here’s to people in NZ and elsewhere in the world.
B well,
Phil
Phil recently posted..Reconnecting with Friends
The world seems to be in an increasing state of chaos these days. I’m sure that plenty of other travelers are feeling similarly – especially with everything happening in the Middle East and Africa. I’m glad all your friends in Ivory Coast are okay… hopefully things get better there soon.
I felt like that when things in Egypt got bad. I was checking the news all day long – very obsessively. It’s so true that travel makes the world a smaller place…
Sabrina recently posted..Anywhere in the World
I can’t imagine feeling this connected to Egypt or Libya or one of the countries were things are REALLY volatile right now. I can only imagine how tough that must be, relying on the news to know what’s going on in one of those places.
Well said Amanda. I especially liked, “Sometimes, simply forming a bond with a country is enough to make it feel like your own. It’s joys are your joys. Its worries are your worries. And its tragedies, too, are your tragedies.” It’s so true. Sometimes, just like people, places speak to you too.
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Thanks, Randy. I think sometimes we do form relationships with places, much as we form them with people. And so the feelings are much the same.
This is exactly how I feel. I lived in Christchurch for most of 2009 (and in NZ for over a year and a half), my office was in the BNZ building that overlooks Cathedral Square. I have many friends and colleagues in that city, and this has completely torn at my heart. Even though I am Canadian and a Torontonian by birth, there is more than a healthy dose of Kiwi in me now, and I consider myself an ex-pat Cantabrian. This hurts. Kia kaha, Chch xoxo
Kelly recently posted..Christchurch- always on my mind
I’m so sorry you’re hurting, too. I hope all the people you know in Christchurch are safe!
Amazingly enough, all of my friends and coworkers are fine — although friends have lost friends. Every day I count my blessings and give thanks that this wasn’t worse than it is.
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Absolutely. I think it’s the same as meeting people. Reading about statistics (a 35 year old woman was killed today in a road traffic accident…) and hearing (Chloe, the woman you met at yesterday’s meeting, died today…) provokes a totally different reaction.
So sad.
Yes, and you give a great example. The more personally or intimately you know a person or place, the more you are affected by bad things happening to them/it. I’m glad so many people agree! But it doesn’t make it any less sad or difficult to deal with.
You definitely feel a connection with a place if you’ve visited, and part of that connection is feeling bad if something were to happen. I remember after I had moved away from Istanbul, there were massive floods that took place, killing dozens. The news didn’t specify where in Istanbul and I was near frantic with worry about my friends. Luckily, none were injured with the flood but I still continued to watch the news to see the progress of things. When you love something, you feel for it.
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It’s almost like the place becomes more than just a place or point on the map once you’ve visited it and fallen in love with it. You kind of claim it in your mind, and feel the need to protect it.
I always believe that connections you have with a place are tied to the places connections with you. New Zealand is not just a place you feel connected to, but it is also connected to you. I remember when L’Aquila in Italy had a major earthquake a few years ago I certainly felt a stronger connection to the pain and destruction going on, even though I hadn’t visited the town. I think it brings it home to us when we see these places we have photographs of on the news, completely different than what we remember.
At the same time, earthquakes and natural disasters are a part of life and history. Many cities have been utterly destroyed throughout time, and rebuilt again.
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I think the point you made about having photos of a place that look completely different has a lot to do with it. I know natural disasters are just a part of life, but the fact that Christchurch will never look the way I remember it still makes me really sad.
Great post.
I don’t think that necessarily travelling to a place makes you have an instant connection to it, i really think it has to do with he experiences and the people you meet there. If something terrible happened in Vietnam I think i would be just as devastated as if it happened in Sydney. I loved Vietnam so, so much.
Thanks, Elise. And yes, I think that you have to make some connection with a country in order to be so tethered to it. Whether it’s making memories or new friends, I think it’s those sort of things that will turn a place into a “second home” of sorts that you become concerned about.
Thanks for reading!
Was walking in those same shoes with New Orleans….being an avid Anne Rice fan, when I worked in the US we visited NO for 2 days…we walked down Bourbon street, got beads, drank funky cocktails, had a blast – this was in 2003…and then Katrina hit. When I saw the images I was shocked. Even though I spent just one night there, the impact was huge. It was as if Katrina destroyed my memory of the place, it took away something special. I hold on to those memories fiercely and I’m glad people are rebuilding their lives. But NO will never be the same!
“It was as if Katrina destroyed my memory of the place…”
I know EXACTLY what you mean. And, even though New Orleans is slowly rebuilding, I’m not sure it’ll ever be the same.
Thanks for this. I love NZ too and have just been in Christchurch this week. I felt a little awkward about it, but the city is very keen to welcome visitors and if anyone wants to help, they should get there and have some travel fun asap. I was so pleased I went.
The last thing the country needs is for tourists to postpone their trips.
http://richardtulloch.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/christchurch-new-zealand-two-weeks-on/
Oh, you’re very welcome. I wish I could be there right now to do my part (and spend my money!).
I agree that the last thing the country needs is for tourists to postpone traveling to NZ, Canturbury, or even Christchurch. Are you familiar with the Blog4NZ initiative that’s started up online? A bunch of travel bloggers are going to post about New Zealand from March 21-23 in order to bring awareness to the fact that the country is very much open for business.