what an absolute inundation of info about my trip, eh? well, here's some more, this time just
Impressions of Auckland/New Zealand
AKL, though the largest city in NZ w/ ~ 1 million people, is still extremely casual. In fact, you can't even tell the dif b/w tourists & locals, no business suits v. backpacker gear. This also contributes to the feeling that AKL lacks sophistication.
Hardly anyone walks down the street while talking on a cell phone.
hostels in AKL are filled w/ touring Europeans, either as part of a round-the-world ticket, or a 5-week stopover, perhaps while staying for longer in Australia.
Most people have been surprised to meet ppl from the U.S., having us as the 1st they've seen in NZ/ever. (This creates some anxiety, as these poor ppl are going to base all Americans based upon us, & we're not exactly normal!)
The question is why--why do fewer Americans travel than those from Europe, for ex? we've met mostly Germans & English ppl. Our speculations--that ppl from the U.S. have a huge nation to see already, that most probably end up in Australia v. NZ, if they're coming out this way, & that the U.S. lacks a gap year (a yr off b/w h.s. & uni in which to travel/volunteer). What do you think?
Unlike the tall edifices of other countries, you can jump from NZ Sky Tower. they didn't earn the title adventure capital of the world for nothing! In fact, I'd find it odd if someone made it through a tour of NZ w/o jumping out of or into something.
The playground as a microcosm of NZ: in Napier, it seemed to Liz & I that there were 2 playgrounds, 1 for younger, less-bold souls, the other a step up. This other playground was filled w/ endeavors that seemed dangerous to us, that would be banned as unsafe (Freudian slip, typing that as "unsane" oops!) in the U.S. For ex, never mind, it'd be too hard to explain. anyway, we found it interesting!
you can cross some streets diagonally in AKL, which felt like you were getting away w/ something prohibited, which we quite enjoyed!
AKL is has many internationals, esp Asians. In fact, it seems as though many, many ppl immigrated here; it took us about a week to meet a kiwi!
Ppl in AKL definitely enjoy personal space & won't crowd you, even if it means avoiding standing in a line.
Most ppl have common English names. Even the Chinese that we worked w/ had arbitrarily chosen names easy to pronounce; they don't even use Chinese names among themselves!
Though NZers don't initially seem as friendly as Americans (for ex, no waving, eye contact, smiles from sales people), once you engage them in conversation, they're extremely helpful & friendly.
Spring weather in NZ is quite erratic--hot, cold, windy, drizzly, hail, we've already experienced it all. The sun is extremely intense, burning you in a moment. bring sunscreen, even if you don't normally wear it (I've got the burned ears & pink cheeks to prove it, despite wearing a hat)
Maori-looking men wear skirts to church on Sun mornings
You hardly see any churches whatsoever, leading me to think it's a fairly non-religious country.
Everything is expensive & nothing is free, not even the internet, movies, or CDs in libraries. Gas is currently $1.42/liter. :(
Sometimes NZ feels like a little America, as it sports plenty of KFCs, McDonalds (which has the only cheap food here, 50 cents for an icecream cone), Starbucks, even Dunkin' Donuts.
Where are the beautiful women? I feel as though I've never been to another country w/ so few gorgeous women walking about. Whenever you go somewhere, you practically inevitably hear about the magnificent ladies, yet here, we've hardly seen anyone. This observation is validated by our Iranian-turned-NZ friends. :)
Everybody in NZ smokes, & smokes where they please. Many roll their own cigarettes (esp the Chinese that we work w/).
Liz & I love the way ppl say "zed" for "zee" (when saying the letter z aloud)
People can go barefoot in public buildings. In AKL, only saw 2 native-looking drunk men dressed as women & stumbling around who were barefoot; here in Hastings, numerous normal-looking folks wander about w/o shoes.
Apparently, combining short shorts w/ high wool socks & sandals is quite the fashion trend among NZ men. (reminds me of a "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" song, as reenacted by college friends in an improv show.) I must admit, it's odd getting used to seeing man thigh on display, after the long, baggy shorts of the U.S.
Christmas is not as big a deal here as in the U.S. for ex, haven't heard carols on the radio; no overabundance of ads/commercials; few programs/shows on Christmas; a few decorations/lights are up, but not many, etc.
Due to the lack of public restroom facilities, I've come to the conclusion that either kiwis don't pee, or they simply empty their bladder by pressing a special growth on their thumbnails, sending their urine streaming out from underneath the nail.
Also, I don't know how it is, but I've yet to know about the Chinese men with whom I work in the vineyard take a bathroom break.
There's no doubt about NZ's obsession w/ agriculture: There were rows of strawberries? planted in the middle of a horse racetrack.
