Scents and Sensibility

We didn’t let the 13 hour flight dissuade us from visiting Aotearoa, New Zealand. So far, the country compares to the UK, but more egalitarian and with better climate. Kiwis have been friendly, from the maternal Air New Zealand flight attendants calling me “luv” to the patient, almost apologetic customs official who cleaned JG’s boots for him before he could enter the country. They wish to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Here’s NZ on bird flu: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity-in-nz/bird-flu-be-ready/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=Bird_flu_2425&utm_content=Search&gad_source=1, sounding truly worried.

Now compare that to our friends at the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html, essentially downplaying the threat. 

At the airport we also read about how to stop the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease, also known as Coxsackie Virus, which one of our children had contracted at preschool. So one of my first impressions is that Kiwis care more about preventing infection than Americans do. In fact, in the USA I have frequently heard that exposure to germs strengthens the immune system and therefore one need not disinfect. That opinion is held by those who prefer not to clean as a lifestyle choice. My immune system is kaput, thanks, and you can pry the bottle of Lysol from my cold dead hand.

Similarly, compared to Santa Cruz, where scented anything is usually banned on people attending indoor events, Kiwis are okay with deodorant, scented soap, and scented dryer sheets. The strongly rain shower-scented hotel soap brand salutes vigor and economy, calling itself “Activ” without that vestigial “e.”

Before we left home, I saturated sawdust packets with cedar essential oil and tucked them around our garage. I hope the smelly sachets will deter rats from colonizing our garage. Maybe they’ll think, “oy, I’m a sensitive Santa Cruz rodent, and I can only be in a scent-free environment, so I’ll go next door!” Shout out to our neighbor remodeling her yard! I expect her resident gophers will be disturbed by the construction and relocate. Let’s see if the putrid dried rotten egg solids I poured into their burrows on our side deter them, or maybe they’ll just dig extra far.