New Zealand is both very similar to the US, but also pretty different. I figured I should dedicate a post to New Zealand-isms and such, so here we go.
First off, New Zealanders are in fact not called New Zealanders or anything of the sort, but rather Kiwis. Cute name, but not to be confused with the endangered flightless bird that is the national bird, or the delicious fruit that comes in green or gold variations here. That they call kiwi fruit. The New Zealand accent is an interesting thing indeed. To me it sounds kind of like an Australian accent with a bit of English accent thrown in. It's kind of hard to tell what exactly is different about it from an Australian accent (maybe there isn't a difference, I mean, lets be honest my ears have failed me before) but I plan on mastering a New Zealand accent imitation by the time my trip is over. I mean how cool would it be if I came back with an accent? It probably won't be that easy, but I can dream.
Kiwis also have their own lingo other than the fact that they spell things like the English when it comes to "er" (centre, theatre, etc.). A lot of them I find really cute. They say "heaps" in place of "a lot". They pronounce garage "gareage". And they say "I reckon" all the time.
Several kiwi words that I have run into and their American equivalent:
Op shop: thrift store (oh yeah, they have these here. Imma go crazy.)
Kia Ora: Maori for hello
Haere Mai: Maori for welcome
Lolly: refers to all candy
Vegemite: New Zealand version of Nutella
Supper: midnight snack
Elevensies: before lunch tea
Cuppa: a cup of tea
Due mainly to the fact that New Zealand is an island everything is imported, so everything is expensive. Even the things that are grown in New Zealand, like kiwi fruit, are relatively expensive because they export the best of the crop and then charge the people in New Zealand the going market price. Electricity is super expensive, so we aren't allowed to use dryers because it costs $4 a load. Tampons are $18 for a box of 36, so I'm super glad I packed a ton. Makeup is outrageously priced, with mascara costing $30-$40, so its a good thing I won't need to any of that. Internet is "beamed" from Australia, so you have to pay per gig you use, and if you go over the limit it switches to dial-up mode. Since videos take up so much space, video Skype is severely limited, and YouTube and Netflix are forbidden. Luckily, the DTS program bought 60gigs per month for each house, but unluckily, we have to pay a staff member $15 for the password, and the password changes every 4 weeks. I just coughed up my $15 this morning, and now I'm set for August.
Also, I thought it was worth mentioning that while the book in Mississippi said that New Zealand had the most sheep in the world, the population has gone down from 22 million to 12 million. Not to worry though, I'm sure I'll get my sheep fix.
5 comments:
I'm glad to know that you will be getting your sheep fix ;)
I might adopt "elevensies" into regular speech. And I hope you hit up as many Op Shops as you can.
ALSO WHAT HOW ARE TAMPONS $18 A BOX? That is a low blow from companies probably headed by a team of males.
I guess I know what to send you in a care package................kiwis, of course!
Also I have a brilliant idea. You make some friends in your house, and then you split the cost of the internet password but have one person "buy" it and then you all use it (without telling the staff member of course).
I am loving your blog, Abby!! it sounds you're having a great time :) keep posting and informing us about your adventurous life over there please! miss you
p.s. Pippin uses elevensies in lord of the rings which was filmed in new zealand which makes sense now and i had the revelation so i'm sharing it even though you probs already know
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