Ruta Tangiiau Mave.
I am in Honolulu at the Hawaii International Film Festival and I messed up my red carpet moment by wearing the wrong shoes, writes Ruta Mave.
I had it all planned out what to wear for what occasion keeping in mind I was only traveling with a carry on and staying for two weeks all in all.
After traveling for years as a tour guide, I learned lessons about traveling with a suitcase: if I couldn't carry it myself I had too much stuff. The way to cope was: if I bought something new, I had to get rid of something old. It worked for my 7 years on the road traveling through Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, and the Greek Islands.
Packing easy to wear mix and match non-ironing needed clothes is the key. Plus, when you are out and about in the world most people don't see what you wore the day before so you can wear things twice. Who knew?
A couple of years back I was going to Saudi Arabia for a sports conference where the attire was formal, respecting the culture with covered clothing, plus cocktail evenings and excursions out visiting. Then I was plane hopping to Italy where it was winter and we went up in the mountains where it snowed. I only took a carry on. It can be done, if you plan.
For this auspicious moment of going to a film festival to see a film I wrote and was on set for and was involved with on so many levels. The nomination for an award was more than icing on a cake; it was a dream come true sparkles.
I was super planning for this event. I was also super poor so the cheapest options for me were carry on no frills flights and shared dorm in a hostel. “A hostel,” my mother said. “Why? Do you think you are still twenty?” Well, to be honest most of us in our three score and something years still think and believe we are 20; that is why we keep working like we do and put our backs out gardening and moving furniture like we do. The other reality is that the twenty-somethings these days are not often keen on hostel backpacking or taking tea sachets with you to save on money.
So here I am; I had planned for the welcome drinks mix and mingle with cocktails, DJ and free gifts. A nice tropical cocktail style dress and high platform wedge shoes because I still had to walk to the bus stop at night in them, standing in all my finery with the homeless and the hospitality workers heading home.
I had spent the best part of 48 hours traveling with only 7 hours sleep. I had spent 8 hours trying to work out the bus routes from A to D while waiting to check in. The hostel is lovely, but my bottom bunk is by the door next to the air con which is not the quiet version of the tourist rooms here. Instead, it is a box that goes 24/7 loudly and spits water out so there is a puddle to dodge before getting inside. The balcony light is on all night and shines directly into my bed. Joy oh joy!
The next day I woke late; I was ready to catch my bus forgot my jewellery, the coffee was tinny tasting and my ei katu was digging into my head. I put on my sandals knowing the walking I had to do uphill to the conference. I thought, "Oh, I don’t need my fancy shoes in this weather; in the daytime it will be fine." Even though I knew I was going to my film screening and I had pre decided to wear my fancy shoes, I did not take them. This is my regret.
Of all the great things to appreciate I am whining about not wearing the right shoes and rightly so, because when I finally made it to the theatre a bit flustered they said, "Come and have a photo on the Red Carpet."
“Oh my gosh, you know how you prepare for that one moment in time and then on the day you do something that you go “oh why didn’t I wear the shoes” that was me.
But, I am here and I am standing for who I am and who we are. The film Ei is about the heart of our true nature.
To stay true to myself, I went bought a bag of popcorn and a beer and asked if I could have a candid shot on my phone. So that is my magic moment flat shoes, food and beer in hand going to see my film for the first time.
Afterwards I did a Q and A and no one said, “Why did you wear those shoes?"