My name is Nancy Wong and I am from Hong Kong, I muttered repeatedly to myself at 3pm on Tuesday.
I came to Hastings as a journalism student from Auckland's AUT University but, for that afternoon, I was "Nancy", and would try to find out firsthand what it was like to be a tourist on a rugby mission in Napier.
My first stop was the i-Site on Marine Parade.
I was greeted without a smile, and I said I wanted to go to the rugby game tonight. "Which rugby game?" the woman behind the counter responded.
She pulled out a small green map and marked the route to McLean Park. I would have to get tickets at the gate; the cost was $10 for the grass embankment, $20 for a ticket for a seat in the stand, and $30 for the best seats. It was a 20-minute walk to McLean Park. Magpies merchandise could be found at Mitre10 Mega.
Next stop: Emerson St. I stood holding up a big map, looking obviously lost. Two World Vision workers stood nearby asking for donations. After three minutes one of them asked me if I was alright, then passed me onto her colleague, Michael, who was smiling, friendly and helpful. It took him a while to find our location on the map but once he found it, he was right on track.
At 4pm I stood in front of the Countdown supermarket on Munroe St where, again, two World Vision workers were chatting in French. As I studied my giant map, a young man and woman sitting on a bench and two other women let a good five minutes pass without helping.
I asked one for help but she pointed me in the direction of the man. He said: "Sorry, I'm from Wellington."
Finally, another woman came to the rescue. After a long explanation of how to get to the ground, she went to leave, only to return with an elderly gentleman who was on his way to the rugby on foot. She insisted, he insisted, and I ended up on a 10-minute walk to the stadium with the kind stranger.
On the way, we chatted in my halting English. Once we reached Nelson Cres, he stopped at his house, and a neighbour called out, "Got a new wife?"
He ignored that and told me to take a right, keep going and I would find it.
I then decided "Nancy" would be directionally challenged and took a left, instead. I didn't have to wait long for help. A man emerged from Bay Mowers and Saws and pointed me towards the stadium.
At the entrance of McLean Park ticket booth, a young server failed to explain the price differences. I decided to go for the $17.50 Graeme Lowe Stand seats as they wereLEFT: In character as "Nancy Wong", journalism student Natalie Tan gets directions to McLean Park.HBT113328-02
RIGHT: Ticket in hand, Natalie Tan, undercover as a tourist with little English, is ready for the game. HBT113328-07
CHIPPING IN: After making it to the stadium, buying a ticket, and finding the right cap, "Nancy" tries the local cuisine. HBT113328-10AISLE AID: A security staff member helps Natalie Tan find her seat. HBT113328-09TICKETED: With the help of a local Natalie Tan made it to McLean Park to buy her rugby ticket. HBT113328-05 cheaper, and she told me I would be in the front row. I asked for a receipt; she balked and had to fetch help, saying she would have to reprint the ticket - which would have been confusing for "Nancy".
The English couple next to me were all smiles and laughter while getting their tickets, and while I waited for my receipt in silence, I overheard snippets of "Are you guys travelling here, brilliant ... Enjoy your night."
The Graeme Lowe Stand, aisle seven, was at the opposite end of the ground from the entrance I came through. I went past four yellow-jacketed officials before I found my seat - nowhere near the front row, and with only four people in the same section.
But all was not lost. I scooted a few rows down to a bespectacled elderly man in a Magpies cap and asked if he would teach me the game.
He was the endearing, warm, and helpful pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
So, thank you, Bill Smoothy from Clive. You are an excellent representative of the hospitality of Hawke's Bay.
RWC Countdown: My mission to find McLean Park
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