The Difference Between Us
‘Embrace your differences and the qualities about you that you think are weird. Eventually, they’re going to be the only things separating you from everyone else.’ – Sebastian Stan.
Never change, NZ!!
Before I came to New Zealand, I knew a few things about this small
nation. Like the fact that there is some ridiculously beautiful scenery, there
are lots of outdoor activities to partake in and that there were a lot of sheep*.
But there are so many things about this country that you simply wouldn’t know
unless you’ve visited or lived here. Therefore, I’ve taken the liberty of
outlining a few of the things you may not know about New Zealand, just so that
you can be prepared if you ever come here…
*There aren’t
actually as many sheep as there used to be. Farming has moved far more towards
dairy in recent years, mainly because there’s so much more money to be made in
milk than in wool. There’s something else you may not know if you’ve not been to NZ
before!
actually as many sheep as there used to be. Farming has moved far more towards
dairy in recent years, mainly because there’s so much more money to be made in
milk than in wool. There’s something else you may not know if you’ve not been to NZ
before!
People walk
around barefoot like, all the time.
around barefoot like, all the time.
If they’re not walking around without shoes on, they’re going for the
least shoe coverage possible and walking around in their flip flops, sorry,
jandels. Even in the middle of winter. When it’s cold. And raining. I daresay
they even wear flip flops / go barefoot in snow. And only in New Zealand do you
get an announcement at the terminal of the Bluebridge ferry reminding
passengers that they need to ensure they’re wearing shoes before boarding. So
don’t be surprised or concerned if you spot people walking around barefoot –
they generally can afford to buy shoes, they just choose not to!
least shoe coverage possible and walking around in their flip flops, sorry,
jandels. Even in the middle of winter. When it’s cold. And raining. I daresay
they even wear flip flops / go barefoot in snow. And only in New Zealand do you
get an announcement at the terminal of the Bluebridge ferry reminding
passengers that they need to ensure they’re wearing shoes before boarding. So
don’t be surprised or concerned if you spot people walking around barefoot –
they generally can afford to buy shoes, they just choose not to!
Literally
every street and road has been given a name.
every street and road has been given a name.
This is a fantastic idea. It’s almost impossible to get seriously lost
in New Zealand because literally every single road has a name. Even in the
middle of nowhere, the roads have names. We were driving along gravel roads in
the back end and beyond on Banks Peninsula and other areas of the South Island
and those roads had names. Additionally, every bridge and culvert also have
names. It’s great, and makes driving far more interesting because you’ve always
got things to look out for. Easier to locate you too, should you need locating
(think breakdown recovery). I know that roads in the UK have codes like M1, A3 etc, but that’s unimaginative and dull. I know that streets have names sometimes, but not every one does, and when you get out into the countryside where I live in Wales, the roads have no names whatsoever, and no codes either!! It gets difficult describing your location to a breakdown recovery driver if your only landmark is that tree over there and a field of sheep… The Kiwis definitely have this road name thing right, in my opinion! 
in New Zealand because literally every single road has a name. Even in the
middle of nowhere, the roads have names. We were driving along gravel roads in
the back end and beyond on Banks Peninsula and other areas of the South Island
and those roads had names. Additionally, every bridge and culvert also have
names. It’s great, and makes driving far more interesting because you’ve always
got things to look out for. Easier to locate you too, should you need locating
(think breakdown recovery). I know that roads in the UK have codes like M1, A3 etc, but that’s unimaginative and dull. I know that streets have names sometimes, but not every one does, and when you get out into the countryside where I live in Wales, the roads have no names whatsoever, and no codes either!! It gets difficult describing your location to a breakdown recovery driver if your only landmark is that tree over there and a field of sheep… The Kiwis definitely have this road name thing right, in my opinion!
The
internet is really not that great.
internet is really not that great.
I’ve mentioned the poor internet before, but it’s worth
mentioning again. New Zealand really is at the end of the world, and there’s
only one cable bringing internet to the entire country. Therefore, it’s not
really that strange that the connections are weak / dodgy / non-existent in
many places. But it’s not really something you consider before you arrive here.
You just assume, foolishly, that this developed country will have great
internet, like the UK does on the whole. You never think it might be so crap
you can’t Skype or send messages or upload photos to Facebook. First world
problems!! It’s also hilarious when your office gets upgraded to fibre
broadband and it’s as fast as our normal cable internet back home… But the
natives think it’s supersonic!!
mentioning again. New Zealand really is at the end of the world, and there’s
only one cable bringing internet to the entire country. Therefore, it’s not
really that strange that the connections are weak / dodgy / non-existent in
many places. But it’s not really something you consider before you arrive here.
You just assume, foolishly, that this developed country will have great
internet, like the UK does on the whole. You never think it might be so crap
you can’t Skype or send messages or upload photos to Facebook. First world
problems!! It’s also hilarious when your office gets upgraded to fibre
broadband and it’s as fast as our normal cable internet back home… But the
natives think it’s supersonic!!
They use a
lot of different words to the UK.
lot of different words to the UK.
They speak English here, right? I don’t need to learn a new language,
right? Wrong! Kiwis speak English, sure, but they have so many different words
for things that sometimes it can feel like they’re talking gobbledygook. And
wires do get crossed! Like the time I asked my colleague to buy me a jug for
the office. I meant water jug, he brought back a kettle. Yep, out here, they
call a kettle a jug. Weird huh! They have a lot of other different words for
things too: hiking is tramping, sweets are lollies, a corner shop is a dairy, a
truck is a ute (short for utility vehicle) and a lorry is a truck. As I’ve
mentioned above, flip flops are called jandels, a parking space is known simply
as a park and rooting is a rather disgusting (in my opinion) term for having
sex.
right? Wrong! Kiwis speak English, sure, but they have so many different words
for things that sometimes it can feel like they’re talking gobbledygook. And
wires do get crossed! Like the time I asked my colleague to buy me a jug for
the office. I meant water jug, he brought back a kettle. Yep, out here, they
call a kettle a jug. Weird huh! They have a lot of other different words for
things too: hiking is tramping, sweets are lollies, a corner shop is a dairy, a
truck is a ute (short for utility vehicle) and a lorry is a truck. As I’ve
mentioned above, flip flops are called jandels, a parking space is known simply
as a park and rooting is a rather disgusting (in my opinion) term for having
sex.
That’s without even starting on the Maori Kiwi slang – the ‘chur bro’
and the ‘heaps’ thrown into every sentence instead of using ‘loads’ or ‘very’.
And least we forget ‘eh’ – pronounced ‘aye’ and used at the end of a sentence (inflection
down, not up) that you want someone to agree with you on. Example: ‘It’s hot
today, eh.’ Instead of ‘Do you think it’s hot today?’. Check out this video for an idea of the way Kiwis sometimes speak / to have a laugh.
and the ‘heaps’ thrown into every sentence instead of using ‘loads’ or ‘very’.
And least we forget ‘eh’ – pronounced ‘aye’ and used at the end of a sentence (inflection
down, not up) that you want someone to agree with you on. Example: ‘It’s hot
today, eh.’ Instead of ‘Do you think it’s hot today?’. Check out this video for an idea of the way Kiwis sometimes speak / to have a laugh.
And actually, there is another language to learn in New Zealand. Maori
is a beautiful language, in my opinion, and deserves to have some time taken
over it, learning basic words and phrases whilst you’re in NZ. You should
definitely at least learn the greeting that is traditionally used – Kia Ora. Don’t
pronounce the ‘a’ at the end of ‘Kia’ too much. Think of it more like ‘key’ and
then ‘Ora’ like Rita Ora – but try and roll your ‘rrrr’s as you say it.
is a beautiful language, in my opinion, and deserves to have some time taken
over it, learning basic words and phrases whilst you’re in NZ. You should
definitely at least learn the greeting that is traditionally used – Kia Ora. Don’t
pronounce the ‘a’ at the end of ‘Kia’ too much. Think of it more like ‘key’ and
then ‘Ora’ like Rita Ora – but try and roll your ‘rrrr’s as you say it.
Kiwis
really love morning tea. And the Dominion Post quiz.
really love morning tea. And the Dominion Post quiz.
The Dom Post is one of New Zealand’s few newspapers. They actually don’t
have a national newspaper, which is odd in itself. But the quiz in the Dom Post
is always a good five-ten minute break mid-morning in work and it’s definitely
something I’ll miss doing when I leave. I know from others that morning tea is
also a big thing here – Kiwis love it! It’s common to eat cake / snacks and
drink coffee / tea whilst doing the quiz, and some offices put on quite a
spread! I’ve had a few morning teas and they’re always great. Definitely
another thing I’ll miss…
have a national newspaper, which is odd in itself. But the quiz in the Dom Post
is always a good five-ten minute break mid-morning in work and it’s definitely
something I’ll miss doing when I leave. I know from others that morning tea is
also a big thing here – Kiwis love it! It’s common to eat cake / snacks and
drink coffee / tea whilst doing the quiz, and some offices put on quite a
spread! I’ve had a few morning teas and they’re always great. Definitely
another thing I’ll miss…
The news programmes only really focus on New Zealand.
In an hour long news programme, you get approximately ten minutes of
news from around the world. The clips from reporters are from other news
stations (often American). The reports are rarely in depth and Kiwis seem to
care little about the world outside of their own country, perhaps because they’re
so far from it all and aren’t major players in world politics, really. It can
be a little frustrating that they devote more time to rugby and cricket than to
important international affairs, but I suppose it’s part of this wee country’s
charm. And I can keep up with the proper news on the BBC, so it’s not totally
terrible.
news from around the world. The clips from reporters are from other news
stations (often American). The reports are rarely in depth and Kiwis seem to
care little about the world outside of their own country, perhaps because they’re
so far from it all and aren’t major players in world politics, really. It can
be a little frustrating that they devote more time to rugby and cricket than to
important international affairs, but I suppose it’s part of this wee country’s
charm. And I can keep up with the proper news on the BBC, so it’s not totally
terrible.
Share
haha the Dom Post Quiz – they do love it. I miss the quiz and Friday morning tea from my first position here!!