What's for tea?**
and other idiosyncrasies of life in New Zealand
** (expression used for "what's for supper?" Couldn't figure that out at all when our neighbor saw me preparing dinner one night, because I was NOT preparing tea and biscuits!)
This blog post is a bit different, noting differences between the Kiwi culture and that of the U.S. There's even an interactive activity at the end! Enjoy!
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| Heated towel racks in home bathrooms are the norm here, from well-to-do homes to modest homes. Kinda nice! Also . . . clothes lines to hang out laundry. Everyone has them, from those well-to-do homes to modest homes and even apartments. I'd bet they even out number regular clothes dryers. |
This one blows me away. Bare feet are common here in ALL public places - stores, libraries, churches, on the street. Anywhere. And it's not illegal. Knocked the socks off (so to speak) of our kids too when they came to visit.
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In driving, the big difference of course is driving on the left - and the steering wheel is on the right. The "slow lane" is the left lane and the "passing lane" is on the right. I know I've angered a few kiwis on that one!
The police are very strict in enforcing speed limits, especially during holidays. Go 5 km over the speed limit during holidays and expect a $30NZ ($21US) fine. That's like getting a ticket going 68 mph in a 65 mph zone in the States! How do I know this? I got 3 tickets in the first 3 months here!!
If you get a speeding ticket because of a camera - and they're all over here - the ticket comes in the mail but does NOT go against your record. But being stopped by the police will.
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The end of the school year is at Christmas, which is summer here. Classes resume about 1 week into February. Kids go to school about 180 days/year, as in the States. So, it's about a 6 week summer break. And those %*^#! back-to-school ads start about 1 week after school is out!! Poor kids. . . Poor teachers!!! Also, Christmas store hours are bizarre. Many still close at 5 or 6 p.m., even on Saturdays! That's unheard of in the US!
Prescription drugs are very inexpensive, even cheaper than ours in the States with a standard copay! But if those drugs are not government subsidized, the prices are astronomical!!
Many times, over-the-counter medicines cost more than prescription medicines.
 *Virtually every building uses corrugated metal roofing. A few use clay tiles. I have yet to see the traditional shingles as seen in the States. *Retrieving a voice mail on your cell phone costs 40¢, no matter who your provider is or the plan that you have. AND MY PET PEEVE . . . 😒 the abbreviation "NZ" for New Zealand is seen all over. TVNZ (TV station), ANZ (prominent bank), even web sites (www.whatever.co.nz). But when the kiwis say the letters aloud, they say "N Zid" and not "N Z" as you would expect. So our bank is pronounced "A N Zid," not "A N Z." Now, what the heck? Everyone here knows that "NZ" refers to New Zealand. That abbreviation shouldn't confuse anyone. This would be like saying "U S Am" instead of "USA." There's even a gas ("petrol") station here called "Z." And yep, they call it "Zid." As of yet, no one has given me an explanation as to why this is. It just is. 😒
*** Now for some fun. Match the kiwi expression on the left with the common term we use in the States on the right. Answers, with some explanations, follow. NO CHEATING :-) And thanks for reading!!!
A. sweet as 1. ___ sweet potato
B. wheelie bin 2.___ bandaid
C. kumara 3.___ big thank you
D. jandals 4.___ garbage can
E. plaster 5.___ green pepper
F. good on ya 6.___ holiday home
G. bach 7.___ cooler
H. capsicum 8.___ awesome
I. chilly bin 9.___ flip flops
1. C (Maori word)
2. E
3. F
4. B (big cans with wheels to take to curb)
5. H (biological term, from Latin)
6. G (Welsh for "little", also possibly from"batchelor pad")
7. I
8. A
9. D ("Japanese sandals")
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