So after my first indoor rock climbing experience today I asked myself why I have never gone before (the excuse that I am scared of heights is no longer valid). Then I wondered why many of the things I have done so far in NZ I have never been interested in before.
Growing up I was so into soccer and running that I never craved the adrenaline rush of extreme sports (assuming that to me rock climbing is extreme). In college and afterwards I simply didn't hang out with many people who were into other activities.
However, now that I am here, in the extreme sports capital of the world, I am on a mission to cross off as many activities that I have never considered before or have been to scared to think about as possible. Hence, my NZ Bucket List below. The activities in bold are the ones I have crossed off!!
1. Scuba diving
2. Hot air ballooning
3. ATVing
4. River rafting (more than the average family vacation stuff)
5. Spelunking (cave exploring - commercialized)
6. Spelunking (non-commercialized)
7. Zorbing (rolling downhill in a huge beach ball filled with hot water)
8. Jetboating
9. Indoor rock climbing
10. Glacier hiking
11. Salsa dancing
12. Swimming with dolphins
13. Skydiving
14. Abseiling (rappelling)
(Last updated 1/20/10)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Interesting Facts About Aoteroa (NZ)
1) New Zealand is the most geographically isolated country in the world. It's nearest neighbor, Australia, is 2000 km away.
2) All of the cars here are imported from Japan, used. After Kiwis are done with them, they send them to Samoa.
3) Although it is illegal for the driver to drink alcohol, passengers in the car are allowed to drink.
4) Home to the world's longest place name : Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu Hill.
5) Has the most sheep per capita, 15:1, and in lambing season 35:1.
6) The legal drinking age is 18.
7) NZ is the extreme sports capital of the world. Opened the world's first commercial bungy jump site. Zorbing was invented here. Cheapest place to sky dive.
8) Consumes the second highest amount of ice cream per capita, after the US.
9) There is no national tree despite the abundance of species of trees.
10) Hard to get turkey here. Only reliable source is Subway.
11) College lasts only three years.
12) The minimum wage is $12.50 per hour.
13) All schooling before elementary is called kindergarten; the term preschool isn't as widely used.
14)In downtown Auckland there is the annual Bikes Parade where women flaunt themselves half naked down a main street in the middle of the day.
15) Ruled by a parliamentary form of government.
16) Foods don't contain high fructose corn syrup!!!
2) All of the cars here are imported from Japan, used. After Kiwis are done with them, they send them to Samoa.
3) Although it is illegal for the driver to drink alcohol, passengers in the car are allowed to drink.
4) Home to the world's longest place name : Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu Hill.
5) Has the most sheep per capita, 15:1, and in lambing season 35:1.
6) The legal drinking age is 18.
7) NZ is the extreme sports capital of the world. Opened the world's first commercial bungy jump site. Zorbing was invented here. Cheapest place to sky dive.
8) Consumes the second highest amount of ice cream per capita, after the US.
9) There is no national tree despite the abundance of species of trees.
10) Hard to get turkey here. Only reliable source is Subway.
11) College lasts only three years.
12) The minimum wage is $12.50 per hour.
13) All schooling before elementary is called kindergarten; the term preschool isn't as widely used.
14)In downtown Auckland there is the annual Bikes Parade where women flaunt themselves half naked down a main street in the middle of the day.
15) Ruled by a parliamentary form of government.
16) Foods don't contain high fructose corn syrup!!!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
kudos to the kiwis
While I love the USA and all, I have to admit that there are a few things that New Zealand has that we should consider adopting. Here are some of my observations....
1) Toilets that conserve water - On every toilet there is a "big button" and a "little button". The big button uses more water when it has a bigger job to flush. The little button uses less water when it has just a little job to flush. Simply press which button that completes the job best.
2) Roundabouts - they are everywhere! Not just in the city, not just on busy roads, but everywhere! The flow of traffic is so much more efficient. Roundabouts are easier on your brakes because you don't have to stop every time you come to an intersection and they save gas because you don't have to accelerate after stopping, you just keep a nice even speed. You can just zip around places that would take ages back home.
3) Marshmellows - they are full of flavor! Generally come in vanilla and raspberry and have some powder still on them. You have to try one to truly experience the difference.
4) Recycling and conserving goods/energy - Kiwis recycle just about everything. My host mom reuses plastic baggies like they were made of gold. Buying a 40 pack of water bottles for the week is unthinkable - just wash and reuse your bottles. Paper towels are luxury items. Instead of paper towels or sponges, we use thin cloth wipes that you can wash in the washing machine. No one uses their clothes dryers. Everyone hangs their wash on a line. And you know what, it works just as well! Amazing!
5) Quick goodbyes - When good friends or acquaintances need to leave or just sense that it is time to leave, they give a quick "See you!" and out the door they go! No overdrawn, 10 minute "oh we will definitely catch up soon, blah blah blah, let me know what happens after cricket, blah, so good to see you, blah blah, oh talk later, bye! Kisses!" No room for awkwardness or wasted time!
6) Compost bins - instead of sending fruit and veggies to the dump, families have their own compost bins in the backyard. So much space is saved in landfills because it decomposes naturally.
7) The price you see is the price you get - the prices listed on menus, in stores and supermarkets are the total price. You don't have to figure in tax or tip - it is already done for you. Even when at the bar - no tipping! And no squabbling when the check comes when you're with a group of people at dinner!!!
8) EFTPOS - It is basically a checking card from your bank that can be used almost everywhere. It just debits money from your account after you use a pin number. It does not have a credit card logo or anything, so you never have to worry about carrying multiple credit cards ie Visa, MC, Amex, etc.
9) Healthy eating - My host family knows how to eat right. Dinners consist of 70% vegetables, 25% meat, and 5% other, such as a tortilla or soup base or cheese. Portions are much smaller, and meals emphasize natural food products. I have never eaten so many fruits and vegetables in my life. And you know what? Everyone is a lot skinnier out here.
10) Healthcare system (this may get extremely touchy, but I am speaking on one incident that would have been a nightmare in the States) - My two year old nearly bit through his tongue when at the pool. Blood was gushing everywhere and he was screaming. His mom took him to a small emergency clinic, got care, antibiotics, and two doctor's opinions. We were there for less than an hour, hardly had to wait, and didn't have to fill out forms. I don't believe there was a charge. My host dad said anytime the boys or I had any type of accident just go immediately to one of these clinics and not worry about insurance or payment because of the healthcare system. Very good to know! Wish I could tell you more details... will look into it.
11) Savory muffins and baked goods in general - People here know how to bake. Not only are their homemade goods tasty and filling, but they are a lot healthier than pastries back home. Instead of flour and butter and sugar being the main ingredients, random tasty items are used. Example: Savory muffins - may contain anything from nuts to berries to bacon bits to chocolate bits to onions to oats (all in one muffin). They are full of flavor and contain hardly any sugar, butter, or things like that. Homemade muesli bars contain fresh berries, oats, chocolate bits, brown sugar (maybe), dried fruit, or whatever.
12) Another traffic efficiency tactic (T-streets) - I actually thought about this a lot in the States but didn't realize these intersections have already been implemented. When approaching an intersection, the through traffic is shielded and can keep moving straight while cars turning into the same direction can also keep moving. In other words, drivers don't have to stop just because other drivers are going the same way. Maybe I should create a diagram.....
1) Toilets that conserve water - On every toilet there is a "big button" and a "little button". The big button uses more water when it has a bigger job to flush. The little button uses less water when it has just a little job to flush. Simply press which button that completes the job best.
2) Roundabouts - they are everywhere! Not just in the city, not just on busy roads, but everywhere! The flow of traffic is so much more efficient. Roundabouts are easier on your brakes because you don't have to stop every time you come to an intersection and they save gas because you don't have to accelerate after stopping, you just keep a nice even speed. You can just zip around places that would take ages back home.
3) Marshmellows - they are full of flavor! Generally come in vanilla and raspberry and have some powder still on them. You have to try one to truly experience the difference.
4) Recycling and conserving goods/energy - Kiwis recycle just about everything. My host mom reuses plastic baggies like they were made of gold. Buying a 40 pack of water bottles for the week is unthinkable - just wash and reuse your bottles. Paper towels are luxury items. Instead of paper towels or sponges, we use thin cloth wipes that you can wash in the washing machine. No one uses their clothes dryers. Everyone hangs their wash on a line. And you know what, it works just as well! Amazing!
5) Quick goodbyes - When good friends or acquaintances need to leave or just sense that it is time to leave, they give a quick "See you!" and out the door they go! No overdrawn, 10 minute "oh we will definitely catch up soon, blah blah blah, let me know what happens after cricket, blah, so good to see you, blah blah, oh talk later, bye! Kisses!" No room for awkwardness or wasted time!
6) Compost bins - instead of sending fruit and veggies to the dump, families have their own compost bins in the backyard. So much space is saved in landfills because it decomposes naturally.
7) The price you see is the price you get - the prices listed on menus, in stores and supermarkets are the total price. You don't have to figure in tax or tip - it is already done for you. Even when at the bar - no tipping! And no squabbling when the check comes when you're with a group of people at dinner!!!
8) EFTPOS - It is basically a checking card from your bank that can be used almost everywhere. It just debits money from your account after you use a pin number. It does not have a credit card logo or anything, so you never have to worry about carrying multiple credit cards ie Visa, MC, Amex, etc.
9) Healthy eating - My host family knows how to eat right. Dinners consist of 70% vegetables, 25% meat, and 5% other, such as a tortilla or soup base or cheese. Portions are much smaller, and meals emphasize natural food products. I have never eaten so many fruits and vegetables in my life. And you know what? Everyone is a lot skinnier out here.
10) Healthcare system (this may get extremely touchy, but I am speaking on one incident that would have been a nightmare in the States) - My two year old nearly bit through his tongue when at the pool. Blood was gushing everywhere and he was screaming. His mom took him to a small emergency clinic, got care, antibiotics, and two doctor's opinions. We were there for less than an hour, hardly had to wait, and didn't have to fill out forms. I don't believe there was a charge. My host dad said anytime the boys or I had any type of accident just go immediately to one of these clinics and not worry about insurance or payment because of the healthcare system. Very good to know! Wish I could tell you more details... will look into it.
11) Savory muffins and baked goods in general - People here know how to bake. Not only are their homemade goods tasty and filling, but they are a lot healthier than pastries back home. Instead of flour and butter and sugar being the main ingredients, random tasty items are used. Example: Savory muffins - may contain anything from nuts to berries to bacon bits to chocolate bits to onions to oats (all in one muffin). They are full of flavor and contain hardly any sugar, butter, or things like that. Homemade muesli bars contain fresh berries, oats, chocolate bits, brown sugar (maybe), dried fruit, or whatever.
12) Another traffic efficiency tactic (T-streets) - I actually thought about this a lot in the States but didn't realize these intersections have already been implemented. When approaching an intersection, the through traffic is shielded and can keep moving straight while cars turning into the same direction can also keep moving. In other words, drivers don't have to stop just because other drivers are going the same way. Maybe I should create a diagram.....
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
week in the life of an au pair
Here is a typical day for me, followed by a typical week:
I wake up at 7:30 every morning. The boys are finishing breakfast and watching tv/wreaking havoc in the lounge. I tidy up the kitchen and prepare lunch and snacks for the day. Change the nappy, dress boys, and out the door. Around 2 or 3 ish the boys have quiet time (aka naps) while i have my own quiet time (aka facebook). I play with whoever is awake until 5 when i tidy up their rooms and the lounge. I may start preparing dinner and then Gendie comes to perfect it. We eat family style. After dinner I am off!
Monday
9am Get boys out of house asap, housekeeper is coming. Play at park.
10:30am Gym class
Lunch and activity - Museum with Theo and Danae
Tuesday
8:30 Walk Oli to school
10am Mom takes Sam to swim. I have free time!
11am Feed Sam and then activity - Zoo
3pm Pick up Oli from school
Wednesday
10am Playgroup with Theo and Danae
12pm Lunch and activity - Mission Bay beach
Thursday
8:30am Walk Oli to school
10am Music group with Sam and Theo,
11am Lunch and activity - Grey Lynn Park
12:30 Pick up Oli from school
1pm Play in backyard or special project
Friday
8:30am Walk Oli to school
10am Playgroup with Sam
12:30pm Pick up Oli
1pm Play in backyard or special project
3:00 Tidy both cars
5:00 Food Alley for dinner!!
I wake up at 7:30 every morning. The boys are finishing breakfast and watching tv/wreaking havoc in the lounge. I tidy up the kitchen and prepare lunch and snacks for the day. Change the nappy, dress boys, and out the door. Around 2 or 3 ish the boys have quiet time (aka naps) while i have my own quiet time (aka facebook). I play with whoever is awake until 5 when i tidy up their rooms and the lounge. I may start preparing dinner and then Gendie comes to perfect it. We eat family style. After dinner I am off!
Monday
9am Get boys out of house asap, housekeeper is coming. Play at park.
10:30am Gym class
Lunch and activity - Museum with Theo and Danae
Tuesday
8:30 Walk Oli to school
10am Mom takes Sam to swim. I have free time!
11am Feed Sam and then activity - Zoo
3pm Pick up Oli from school
Wednesday
10am Playgroup with Theo and Danae
12pm Lunch and activity - Mission Bay beach
Thursday
8:30am Walk Oli to school
10am Music group with Sam and Theo,
11am Lunch and activity - Grey Lynn Park
12:30 Pick up Oli from school
1pm Play in backyard or special project
Friday
8:30am Walk Oli to school
10am Playgroup with Sam
12:30pm Pick up Oli
1pm Play in backyard or special project
3:00 Tidy both cars
5:00 Food Alley for dinner!!
To the left, to the left
To the left, to the left, everytime you drive ya gotta get left....
I overlapped with the previous au pair by 4 days. She drove me around for 3 days and then on the 4th day I told her I wanted to drive us around so that she could scream at me if I was about to do something horribly wrong. Because the day she left meant I was the one driving the boys around and I wanted to feel confident.
I know some people who waited a few months to drive here before they felt comfortable. I figured it was one of those sink or swim things -- just throw yourself in the deep end and see if you float. If so, then excellent! If not, the nanny might be out of her job.
The hardest part about driving on the left is that you are no longer sitting on the left side of the car, you are on the right. Which means the gear shift, the windshield wipers, the brights, the rear view mirror, and all that stuff are on the other side! When reversing you don't look over your right shoulder, you look over your left. When signalling, you don't flick it up to signal a right turn, you flick it down. The door is on your right, your seat belt is on the right, the window buttons are on your right.... before you know it your brain is horribly screwed up. After being here 6 weeks I still feel weird sometimes driving on the left, but driving on the right now seems weird too.
A common thing Americans do is drift towards the left side of the lane while driving. I have to tell myelf to drift to the center of the road at all times otherwise I run the risk of sideswiping the parked cars on my left. And in NZ oftentimes the second lane turns into a parking lane suddenly, so you have to constantly be on the lookout.
For any kind of turn you have to have a green light or have a "give way" sign in order to go. Even when there is not a car in sight. If a car is driving towards you and you both want to turn into the same street, the car in the middle of the street gets to turn first... in the States, the car that is closer to the sidewalk gets to turn first..... just think about it....
I have not gone the wrong way on a roundabout or suddenly found myself facing head-on traffic. A couple times though, generally outside of the city, I have been merrily driving down the road when I realized I was on the wrong side. Once you get past the craziness of Auckland City the signs, lines, and other indicators become quite scarce.
Good luck to anyone about to face this new challenge!
I overlapped with the previous au pair by 4 days. She drove me around for 3 days and then on the 4th day I told her I wanted to drive us around so that she could scream at me if I was about to do something horribly wrong. Because the day she left meant I was the one driving the boys around and I wanted to feel confident.
I know some people who waited a few months to drive here before they felt comfortable. I figured it was one of those sink or swim things -- just throw yourself in the deep end and see if you float. If so, then excellent! If not, the nanny might be out of her job.
The hardest part about driving on the left is that you are no longer sitting on the left side of the car, you are on the right. Which means the gear shift, the windshield wipers, the brights, the rear view mirror, and all that stuff are on the other side! When reversing you don't look over your right shoulder, you look over your left. When signalling, you don't flick it up to signal a right turn, you flick it down. The door is on your right, your seat belt is on the right, the window buttons are on your right.... before you know it your brain is horribly screwed up. After being here 6 weeks I still feel weird sometimes driving on the left, but driving on the right now seems weird too.
A common thing Americans do is drift towards the left side of the lane while driving. I have to tell myelf to drift to the center of the road at all times otherwise I run the risk of sideswiping the parked cars on my left. And in NZ oftentimes the second lane turns into a parking lane suddenly, so you have to constantly be on the lookout.
For any kind of turn you have to have a green light or have a "give way" sign in order to go. Even when there is not a car in sight. If a car is driving towards you and you both want to turn into the same street, the car in the middle of the street gets to turn first... in the States, the car that is closer to the sidewalk gets to turn first..... just think about it....
I have not gone the wrong way on a roundabout or suddenly found myself facing head-on traffic. A couple times though, generally outside of the city, I have been merrily driving down the road when I realized I was on the wrong side. Once you get past the craziness of Auckland City the signs, lines, and other indicators become quite scarce.
Good luck to anyone about to face this new challenge!
Kiwi talk
Here's a brief list of kiwi words and phrases I have heard so far:
bach = beach house
bathroom = room with a bath, not necessarily a toilet
biscuit = cookie
bogan = hooligan
boot = trunk of a car
capsicum = bell peppers
chemist = drugstore, pharmacy
chips = french fries
crikey = oh my goodness! holy cow!
cruisy = mellow, no worries
dairy = convenience store
EFTPOS = checking card
flash = glam, upscale, trendy
good on ya = good for you
gum boots = rubber boots
hokey pokey = NZ's favorite ice cream
ice block = popsicle
jandals = flip flops
jersey = sweater
lolly = sucker, lollipop, hard candy
marmite = yeast spread (disgusting)
nappy = diaper
pavlova = creamy, fruity meringue dessert (delicious)
pram = stroller
puffed out = tired
snog = kiss or make out
sweet as = great, cool
ta = thanks
torch = flash light
wanker = jerk
yob/hoon = slob, jerk
zed = the letter z
It is also common for everyone to throw "eh" at the end of a sentence. The letters 'wh' are pronounced 'ph' in Maori words.
bach = beach house
bathroom = room with a bath, not necessarily a toilet
biscuit = cookie
bogan = hooligan
boot = trunk of a car
capsicum = bell peppers
chemist = drugstore, pharmacy
chips = french fries
crikey = oh my goodness! holy cow!
cruisy = mellow, no worries
dairy = convenience store
EFTPOS = checking card
flash = glam, upscale, trendy
good on ya = good for you
gum boots = rubber boots
hokey pokey = NZ's favorite ice cream
ice block = popsicle
jandals = flip flops
jersey = sweater
lolly = sucker, lollipop, hard candy
marmite = yeast spread (disgusting)
nappy = diaper
pavlova = creamy, fruity meringue dessert (delicious)
pram = stroller
puffed out = tired
snog = kiss or make out
sweet as = great, cool
ta = thanks
torch = flash light
wanker = jerk
yob/hoon = slob, jerk
zed = the letter z
It is also common for everyone to throw "eh" at the end of a sentence. The letters 'wh' are pronounced 'ph' in Maori words.
Monday, September 21, 2009
brave or just bored?
when i told people that i had booked a ticket for new zealand and didnt have a job or even a visa, i received a very narrow range of comments. they were generally comments of "i am sooo jealous" or "oh you must have saved for so long, good for you" to "you are so brave, i could never do anything like that." my answers were typically "yeah, you should be", "no actually i didn't", and "well, actually it was quite easy." some rather pompous answers in my opinion. but the fact is that coming here and leaving everything behind was one of the easiest things ive done. sure the two days after i booked the ticket i had a mini panic attack, but to quote a third grade teacher, it was easy peezy lemon squeezy.
when you don't love your job, you rent a room from grandmas, you drive a grandma car, you dont have the money to buy a house, when the economy sucks and you are about to lose said job, when you are independent, you dont have a romantic relationship that you have to be in the country for, when you have some pesos in the bank, and you are sick of not having a vocational direction, it suddenly becomes extremely easy to hit the purchase button.
i was not brave or courageous or even that free-spirited; i was just bored. i had seen enough of other places and heard enough stories from others to know that i was missing out on a lot. i am not the type that wants to learn through school or training seminars; i want to get out and do it. i dont want to get my masters in child development, i want to be a nanny and spend hours planning weekend trips rather than studying for an exam. i dont want to spend time trying to claw my way to the top by kissing up to the boss and completing paperwork on time, i want to have an educated conversation with a kiwi on the best way to support ones' self while traveling gypsy-style across the country.
eventually i suppose i will have to return to the states and find a ho-hum job until either marriage or winning the lottery saves me from renting from the grandmas again. but id rather be a travel show host or work on a cruise ship or SOMETHING more exciting than saving up for a mortgage or busting my booty to earn a 27 cent raise an hour. i am too young and too full of life to settle for the typical american dream - a white picket fence and 2.5 kids in the suburbs while being a soccer mom in a mini van. maybe in a few years, but not until i have seen more of this world and experienced what it has to offer....
when you don't love your job, you rent a room from grandmas, you drive a grandma car, you dont have the money to buy a house, when the economy sucks and you are about to lose said job, when you are independent, you dont have a romantic relationship that you have to be in the country for, when you have some pesos in the bank, and you are sick of not having a vocational direction, it suddenly becomes extremely easy to hit the purchase button.
i was not brave or courageous or even that free-spirited; i was just bored. i had seen enough of other places and heard enough stories from others to know that i was missing out on a lot. i am not the type that wants to learn through school or training seminars; i want to get out and do it. i dont want to get my masters in child development, i want to be a nanny and spend hours planning weekend trips rather than studying for an exam. i dont want to spend time trying to claw my way to the top by kissing up to the boss and completing paperwork on time, i want to have an educated conversation with a kiwi on the best way to support ones' self while traveling gypsy-style across the country.
eventually i suppose i will have to return to the states and find a ho-hum job until either marriage or winning the lottery saves me from renting from the grandmas again. but id rather be a travel show host or work on a cruise ship or SOMETHING more exciting than saving up for a mortgage or busting my booty to earn a 27 cent raise an hour. i am too young and too full of life to settle for the typical american dream - a white picket fence and 2.5 kids in the suburbs while being a soccer mom in a mini van. maybe in a few years, but not until i have seen more of this world and experienced what it has to offer....
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