A leap of faith

It's been said that New Zealand is the adrenalin capital of the world. Thrill-seekers come from all over the globe for the heart-pounding outdoor activities that abound here. The birthplace of bungy jumping, NZ is also a hot spot for jet boating through canyons, skydiving, hang-gliding and white knuckle whitewater rafting. They even have the world's highest ropeswing (a true Bradford favorite!) over Shotover Canyon. If you are open to new experiences, New Zealand will take your breath away.
So here we are,a couple of country bumpkins, having travelled some 9,000 miles from home, talk about a leap of faith. It's sort of like our version of a bungy jump! Not to mention, lest you forget, NZ sits on a powder keg. And the current epicenter of earthquake activity sits right below us. Our home base is the South Island,just outside of Christchurch. The largest city in the South Island (second largest in the country),nicknamed "The Garden City", Christchurch suffered a 7.1 mag EQ on Sept. 4, 2010 and a 6.3 mag EQ on Feb. 6, 2011 and a 6.1 mag EQ on June 13, 2011. Since the Sept. quake, there have been and continues to be aftershocks. The most recent was today, registering a 3.2 and located 5 km from Christchurch.
The people of Christchurch, like most Kiwis, are a resilient and determined bunch but these past 14 months have brought many to their knees. Homes destroyed, roads & bridges buckled, infrastructure badly damaged, and lots of frazzled nerves. Some have chosen to leave the area, many have not. With a steely commitment, they carry on and focus on rebuilding (although downtown Christchurch is still in the de-construction phase). Kiwis call it "mucking in" or in other words, getting the job done no matter what it takes. It's a strange time for outsiders to be here trying to comprehend what everyone has gone through and how they each cope with it.
On Saturday, we are scheduled to be part of a bus tour that will take us inside the "red zone", the most damaged areas of downtown Christchurch. Up until two weeks ago, this area was cordoned off and the public has not been allowed inside their beloved city. The public put pressure on city officials to allow a look because they felt they needed to see it for themselves in order to reconnect and heal from the psychological trauma. Officials warn each passenger that "we need to be aware that despite best efforts around safety you could still be trapped by an EQ, falling building or other significant incidents within the red zone and you might not survive". We are instructed to wear suitable footwear in the event we need to walk over broken glass and masonry.
We are sadden that we were never able to see the beauty and charm that was Christchurch. Our next blog will most likely be not only about what we saw but also how it felt to see it. Until then, stay safe and be well. Cheers!