What did I learn on my recent trip to New Zealand?
Hi beautiful people,
I’m back!!
I have been blessed to have recently visited New Zealand to stay with my youngest sister for three weeks.
In the past, I have travelled there alone, this time I was travelling with my best friend of almost fifty years!!
I had the BEST time, as you can imagine.
I have been back in the UK just over a week now and as soon as we landed at Manchester airport not only did I notice the difference in the temperature (it’s summer time in New Zealand right now); but I also noticed a HUGE cultural difference.
In New Zealand, people are so friendly, they do most things with a smile, they can’t do enough for you, they know how to be of service and want nothing more than you to be comfortable and happy.
It’s not a nauseating, over the top niceness, it’s genuine.
When we landed at Manchester airport our luggage was missing.
Trying to locate it and get help and support was nothing short of disgraceful.
I had to repeat my story to the guy at the information desk, who signposted me to the freephone on the wall and suggested I speak to terminal one, they passed the buck and suggested I ring terminal two, they passed the buck and gave me the number for British Airways. I found I couldn’t call that number on the freephone so went back to the guy on the information desk.
He asked me if I had a mobile phone and instructed me to ring the number myself on my mobile, reluctantly, after about ten minutes he rang the number for me.
B.A. told me I needed to file a report and the luggage would be sent to me once they had found it. I refused. I said that I was at Manchester airport and that I was not leaving without my case.
Fast forward two and a half hours, bearing in mind we landed at 11.30am and it was now 1.45pm, the information guy finally got on his walky talky to another member of staff and 30 minutes later our luggage appeared!!
I was a very happy and very tired and exhausted passenger!!
Durning this situation I hadn’t felt:
Listened to
Heard
Valued
Supported
And there definitely was NO service with a smile.
Whilst I was speaking with the lady on the phone from B.A. I mentioned to her that I didn’t feel she was listening to me.
None of the above costs anything.
There was also a guy from Colorado, who also had missing luggage. He had been there since 9am that morning and had a friend waiting for him since that time. Goodness knows what he must think of this country and how the way he had been treated.
How come New Zealand can offer a first- class service and we can’t?
Yes, I can hear you saying that it’s summer time there and everyone feels better when it’s sunny. I agree. But I am no longer willing to accept that as an excuse any longer.
I am on a mission to make sure that I am always kind to others, including strangers.
It was World Kindness Day the other day. Let’s not just celebrate this and offer kindness one day a year.
From now on, I am going to be more like the people of New Zealand and live life in the first lane, not the fast lane, be happy, be kind, and SMILE!!
Sending you so much love from my heart to yours.
Lynn
