Driving in New Zealand
I had driven on the "wrong" side of the road before, but this was the first time I did it for almost an entire month and covered over 3,500 km. During that month of driving in New Zealand, I completely lost my sense of left and right. My wife had to point with her finger and tap on the window to guide me. My hands, accustomed to the usual position of the turn signal switch, constantly turned on the windshield wipers at every road turn. I began to wonder if my political views had also shifted…
Why did people decide to drive on the "wrong" side of the road? After some thought, I understood. New Zealand is on the other side of the world, after all. People there walk upside down—at times, I felt as though only my shoes kept me stuck to the ground; without them, I might have fallen into the vastness of space. As a result, I constantly checked to ensure my shoelaces were securely tied. Cars also drive with their wheels "upside down." That’s precisely why they drive on the “wrong” side of the road!
If the Earth were transparent and we looked down at New Zealand from our side of the globe, their driving would appear to be on the correct side of the road. Upside-down and wrong-side cancel each other. Realizing this, I feel at peace and encourage everyone else not to worry either.