City Girl, Small Town Mindset
Castle Hill, one of the beautiful places to explore in Christchurch. Source: Rosie Leishman.
I was born in Christchurch. I have lived in Christchurch for the entire twenty-one years of my existence, and there is a high likelihood that I will reside here after I graduate. I’ll get a job, settle down. But, in saying that, sometimes I feel like an outsider.
I don’t know a lot of the history behind my city, nor the great attractions that entice tourists. I stick to the same malls, coffee shops, and cinemas. I’m familiar with the bus routes, as long as they don’t unexpectedly change. I am, essentially, a city girl living with a small-town mentality. Perhaps it's a mix of past introversion and anxiety having a hold on me, but this has been my reality.
The thing is, I’d never thought of Christchurch as a ‘city;’ not when I’d been to New York and seen the hustle and bustle of everyday life there. The constant moving of bodies, the sickening sweet smell of food trucks on each occupied corner. Starbucks everywhere, and subways always in motion even into the AM. That, to me, is how I would describe a typical city. One that never slept.
I suppose the depiction of them in film didn’t help to expand my understanding, only showcasing the excessive clubbing, lack of socio-economic values, and unrealistic job positions held in high-rise buildings with fancy offices. But the more I think about it, Christchurch is no less a city – apart from the 8.4 million population gap.
In fact, it’s more of an inviting environment. We are the biggest city in the South Island, and arguably the most beautiful. People travel here to see our sights, take in our fresh air, engage with the culture, the food, and the wildlife. Our city is special in the way that it resides on a pedestal of natural beauty, even with the concrete creations surrounding us.
It’s for the lovers of scenic simplicity, and the appreciators of exhibitions and public gatherings. We are known to leave a lasting impression on visitors, and as a community we’ve battled so much. Major earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2019 mosque shooting that left everybody, especially the Muslim community, forever rattled.
In adversity, Christchurch has shown to not collapse. It grows.
Our protests, whether it be in support of countries being unjustifiably attacked or in the public wishing to preserve the rights and mana of Te Tiriti, keep us relevant as an atmosphere for regeneration, and in striving for respect of all heritages. My small-town mindset is shaken up by how this city is not small in the slightest. It's vast, and there is so much to see if we open our eyes.
The best way that Christchurch has been described is through this quote I uncovered: “Beyond the cathedrals and the churches are the homes and gardens of the people. Christchurch is a city where even factories have their gardens. And whether homes are large or small there is always room for flowers.” In that, even as we evolve in our landscapes, and building projects, and efforts to garner more traction, we will always be us.
The Garden City.
I asked around to gather a list of descriptive adjectives that everyday people would use to describe their home, including those of random strangers, my friends and academic peers. Of the people that responded in time for this to go out, 22% included the word flat, and 11% vibrant and evolving. Other notable words were inspiring, creative, inviting, peaceful, relaxed, simple, and easy.
It was also interesting to see how many commented on the old-fashioned, racially-harmful environment that is still existent today. Descriptives being colonial, traditional, traumatic, white. Because on one side of the coin, there is the majestic living of a Christchurch local, able to uncover hidden gems wherever they go, and mix and mingle with crowds everywhere.
But then on the other, a more bigot-filled reality with the potential for more. You cannot dismiss either. Each is a valid interpretation of the city we have grown up in, or moved to.
The point I’m trying to make is, there is not a better place for me to sometimes feel like a tourist in than Christchurch. My small town mindset may be due to how I grew up and saw the world, but that doesn’t mean it can’t expand so that I, and those around me who relates, can get the most out of it.
It may not always seem like there is a lot to keep us consistently occupied, but the more that we engage with new people and experiences, the more we’ll discover that the rich culture, and resilience, and the striving for a diverse community makes our city special.
New Zealand in general is a surprise to the outside world, because although our population isn’t relatively large, our hearts are.