Like television. In Kansas, I knew that the shows I saw were relatively new. I always figure the American shows we get here to be those that didn't make it very well--you know, the ones that TVNZ can buy cheap, after all, this is a small country with a small budget for EVERYthing. So, I was surprised to find that "Legend of the Seeker" is only a year old. Some of the BBC stuff on The Documentary Channel (Doco, in Kiwi) is 6 or 8 years old. On the bright side, all the BBC stuff is new to me.
OTC Sleep aids. I got something for Hubby last year and had to give his name and address because it is a "pharmacy only" medication. That's sort of halfway between a prescription and the first-aid cream and tylenol. As for myself, the only ones that work have doxylamine in them and they don't sell that in any form here.
Same stuff, different name, sort of. They sell 'Snakes and Ladders' game for children here. I recall it as 'Chutes and Ladders' in the US.
We also have a Kiwi version of Monopoly, which is kinda strange for me, but fun.
I found a NZ cracker that is exactly like a Ritz. It's called Jatz. I can even find Ritz brand occasionally.
TV hosts are called 'presenters' here.
Dairies here are convenience stores--without the gas pumps. There are several in each town, even the smallest of places.
Pudding here is dessert. So when we have instant pudding for dessert, it get very confusing.
Main streets here are referred to as High Street, no matter what they are named.
There are about a billion types of cheese that you can get here (ok, not that many, but there are a lot, since dairy is one of the top exports). But, I have been trying to find my favorite, Muenster, ever since I arrived. Hubby tries very hard to help and we have found some that are very good and a couple that are pretty close. Without his encouragement, I don't think I would have bothered to try new ones.
Different attitude Any vehicle doing anything but driving straight down the street is subject to being passed, whether you're waiting for a space or slowing down to turn. Room is made on all the streets for this, with lanes for all traffic. Also, drivers here don't stop and let another car out of the angle parking along the main street, unless, of course, they want the parking space.
I don't think it will be any time soon that I just fall into step and take my new homeland for granted.
2 comments:
A very interesting post. Fun to read the differences.
Wow, so many things are so different. I hear the same from so many friends whenever they go abroad from no good peanut butter and no Mexican in London to the obvious buying baby formula in the States to take to Shanghai. It sounds like you're happy though!
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