Here are a few things we learned about rural kiwis while traveling around this amazing country.
Everyone hangs their washing on a line and keeps chooks in their yard (Kiwi for chickens).
There are no city ordinances against leaving your garage door open (like there are in some US cities).
Your neighbors don’t care if the grass in your yard is hiding old undistinguishable utes and caravans (ute is New Zealish for pickup truck).
If you’re doing something wrong, you can usually work it out with whoever is being offended right there and then.
There’s no one out to get you, and most people have the time to help you.
Nobody hesitates to make eye contact with strangers, but you should expect to stop and chat for a while. Everyone has time to chat.
Most kiwis have a veggie garden that they’re very proud of and don’t hesitate sharing their bounty. We’ve received tomatoes, courgettes (zucchini), corn, rhubarb, potatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, pears, feijoas, lemons, and apples from near strangers.
The organic movement is slow to hit New Zealand, but is becoming more prevalent. Many roadside stands advertise “spray-free” fruit and veggies. Farmer’s markets are popular, but so are the large supermarkets. In general, New Zealanders don’t make high wages, and food here is expensive. The younger generations are brought up with US television and movies, and seek out American fast food.
Being predominantly farmers living on an isolated island, resourceful New Zealanders fix and invent things for themselves. They manage to come up with some interesting inventions. Here’s an example of an interesting New Zealand invention we came across during our travels. This is a device for trimming the wind barrier hedges to keep the wind off the kiwi fruit. Attach enormous blades to an extendable arm. Why not? We stayed at these people’s house during our tour. They were incredibly generous and hospitable.
Most New Zealand school children wear uniforms. People talk fondly of their high school experience.
New Zealanders consider it perfectly respectable to tour around the country in a campervan, caravan, or house truck. They probably do so themselves and have the vehicle to prove it. Everyone knows where the closest dumpsite is (and what a dump site is), and a good spot to free camp.
Every self respecting kiwi town has a lawn bowling club, and a golf club. You don’t have to look far to find a playground– one that you can hurt yourself on. If you hurt yourself, it’s nobody else’s fault. I doubt you could find a “flying fox” on a public playground in the States.
It’s compulsory to register to vote, but not mandatory to vote.
All dogs must be micro-chipped.
Most towns have Plunket rooms. The Plunket is an organization set up to assist families with children under five. You can drop by the Plunket rooms to let your kids play with other kids and work on their kiwi accents. Every child between age three and five is entitled to twenty hours of free childcare per week.
The bush (New Zealish for jungle) is exotic and magnificent. The strangest thing about the bush, or New Zealand for that matter is that there’s nothing to fear in the woods. There are no large animals running wild, except for the rare feral pig. There aren’t even any snakes. It feels very strange to be in a dense Jungle Book style environment with nothing scarier than a few birds and the odd spider.
They make up for it in sand flies. At least, anywhere there’s water – which rules in most of New Zealand. Sand flies are one of the reasons function rules over fashion here. You would also wear your socks pulled all the way up to protect yourself from those tenacious sand flies. You might even (gasp!) wear socks with your jandals. Anything goes in the New Zealand fashion world for good reason.
It’s important to know that “tea” means dinner, so invite someone over for a “cuppa” if you intend to only serve tea.
Talking of which, it’s time for tea. Bye for now.
3 comments:
What a great synopsis! It is incredible to me the things that more civilized nations than ours think of--free childcare? What if the states had such a thing!
It seems to me that you are having a good time. It's been a real delight to catch up on your past few months touring the islands. I hope things continue to go well as you settle into rural life.
Here's missing you guys,
Rob
That's a great resume of life in NZ. Sounds like SA years ago without any problems, although I'm sure, to be realistic, there must be a few, but I hope they're easy to solve. I'm sure with both of your lovely natures and tenacity, you'll work through the worst of them. Love you all, mum
Rob,
Great to hear from you. Thanks for the comment.
Mum,
I'm not sure we'll be able to take on New Zealand's problems despite our good natures. ; ) We'll give it a try though.
Love,
O
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