We encourage guests to capture a guide’s attention whenever they see something of interest, desire a photo stop, or simply want to ask a question on tour;
“Scratch, holler, scream, kick, jump up and down – do whatever it takes. Our busses have good brakes and this one even has a reverse gear!”
“… our busses have good brakes…”
We might then joke about the Newfoundlander who got “fed up working in Toronto” and marched directly to the nearest car lot to negotiate a price on a vehicle to “get me home out of this!”
Unfortunately, he hadn’t saved a big pile of money, and the salesman explained that the best he could offer was an old Volkswagen they had stored out back – warning him in advance;
“You should know, this rig doesn’t have reverse.”
To which the Newfoundlander responded with a dismissive wave;
“No need to worry about that, my son. I wasn’t planning on coming back anyway.”
“,,, wasn’t coming back anyway!”
This tends to put the group at ease and sets the tone for the type of tour we deliver; informative but fun. Which is further supported by our next comment;
“Now don’t worry about embarrassing us with your questions – you can ask anything. If we don’t know the answer, it won’t take long to make something up.”
Which of course, is only partially true. There’s no doubt we deliver a light and anecdotal account of much of our history, but we always support these stories with hard facts and good information.
However, what you must appreciate is that many of your questions don’t have straight answers, and thus we often find ourselves providing the best interpretation we can surmise.
“… don’t have straight answers…”
A great example of this is provided when guests marvel at the magnificent homes and gardens they see all throughout the province;
“Everything is so well kept. The houses are all painted, lawns are mowed, gardens planted, flowers bloom – even their driveways are shining with a fresh coat of sealer! Why is that?”
In typical Newfoundland fashion, a guide’s biggest challenge is determining where to start an interpretation because there are so many factors at play.
Most of our communities have a municipal council who enact rules and regulations about property upkeep, but what town doesn’t?
So we might inject a story about the Newfoundlander who made an appointment with Dr. Olds, (the famous American surgeon who spent a lifetime in Twillingate after completing his studies at John Hopkins University).
The man showed up at his clinic to inquire;
“Can firewood cause eyesores?”
Dr. Olds had a great sense of humour (one of the primary reasons he chose to stay in Newfoundland), and recognizing the potential for a laugh, a quick discovery revealed that the local council sent a notice regarding the winter supply of logs stored in front of the skipper’s house – suggesting it was an untidy “eyesore”. Dr. Olds gladly wrote a note to assure the “haughty” council that a woodpile could not affect the vision of the townsfolk. Since no one dared contradict “the good Doctor”, the gentleman was never bothered about his firewood again.
“,,, doesn’t cause eyesores,,,”
At this point we would likely issue a warning about asking “quick” questions, because there’s no such thing as a short answer in Newfoundland & Labrador.
So….. the first thing you must know, is that most of the homeowners in Newfoundland’s ‘Outport’ communities are either retired fishermen, expatriates who have recently relocated from mainland Canada, or they are part of a migratory workforce who pull “hitches” in various oil fields around the world and thus enjoy significant stretches of vacation pay on their “turnaround” schedule. Any Newfoundlander who is blessed with ample “Idle time” and a pocket full of money is inherently bound to new projects and dozens of home improvements.
Additionally, guests should be aware that we live in a matriarchal society where the women run everything. Know what a Newfoundland man does better than any other fellow on the planet? What he’s told! Thus, we not only have a job jar, but an added incentive to please the head of the household by completing our chores quickly and competently.
“,,, keep the hatches battened down,,,”
Weather also plays a factor in home maintenance. High winds, significant precipitation, and wildly variable temperature swings can lift loose siding, tear worn shingles, and wash away landscaping features that exhibit any sign of weakness. Just like the upkeep on a ship, we keep the hatches battened and make certain everything is in good working order.
One must also consider our propensity towards a socialistic environment where friends, family and neighbours are always ready to help. When we mow the lawn, we’re apt to carry on to the adjacent property to ensure their grass is also trimmed, knowing a favour will be returned the next time we’re away for an extended stint.
“,,, a socialistic environment,,,”
Pride in property is another contributing factor. The most effective way to display wealth and success in a community that places such a high value on land ownership and work ethic is through proper home construction and maintenance We achieve a position of prestige by converting idle to Idol.
And perhaps this provides the most effective interpretation, put quite simply, Newfoundlanders make idle look idyllic.
