Tuesday, 26 August 2008

Time Flies

Time flies when you’re on the other side of the world!! I can’t believe we’ve been here ten months already.

What have we learned?


  • Gisborne has beautiful, clean, un-crowded beaches
  • New Zealand schools are colourful and full of art works
  • Small town mentality exists all over the world
  • “Deal to it” means deal with it but emphatically!
  • Going to the supermarket in your pajama bottoms & a jumper is an acceptable thing to do at the weekend (well in Gisborne anyway)
  • Calling someone “Cuz” does not necessarily mean you are related to them, but you might be – and if you are this does not necessarily mean they are your cousin
  • Kiwis have big families, especially those of Maori and Pacific Island descent – they have strong women!!!!!
  • It’s just as difficult to get money back from the Inland Revenue out here as it is in the UK
  • Watties is NOT the same as Heinz even though it has the same branding – nothing beats Heinz tomato ketchup and baked beans!
  • You can’t get a “proper” curry in NZ
  • No TV License costs
  • No water rates for domestic dwellings
  • If you move to the other side of the world half of your friends decide to get pregnant/engaged/married!
  • Hang all your washing inside out in the summer, otherwise it gets sun bleached really quickly
  • New Zealand is green because when it rains, it RAINS. Lots.
  • Chips (fries) are called chips. But so are crisps.
  • Woolworths is a supermarket
  • You can rent your house out for shed loads of money in Gisborne over the Christmas period!!!!
  • BBC Olympics coverage kicks TV NZ’s arse
  • The Kiwi basketball team is called the Tall Blacks.
  • Junior rugby league is called the small blacks
  • You can get calippos in New Zealand!!!!!!!!
  • Aoteraroha! is a comedy festival, not a mis-spelling on New Zealand in Maori (Aotearoa )
  • If someone invites you to a Hungi, no-one is going to die, it's a way of cooking food!
  • "Bring a plate", does not literally mean bring a plate, it means bring a food or drink contribution to the meal
  • Split Endz is a band, not just a hair condition

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