Boy, have we been busy since we got here. In one week we have managed to apply for our IRD numbers (aka social security number), get new NZ numbers for our phones, open a bank account AND…(drum roll please)…buy a car! That's right, we officially have a new car. Well, maybe not "new", she's actually almost twenty years old, but new to us. Her name is Velma, and she is going to be home sweet home for us for the next 350 days or so. Here's a nice picture of us all.
In light of some new information and a brainstorm on our choices, we have decided we are going to stay put here in Auckland and make it our temporary home for the next three months. The next steps for us are finding work and a flat to live in for a few months. We have been talking with so many people we have met and have heard of so many amazing things. It seems New Zealand has it all, waterfalls, forests, swimming holes, rivers, beaches, volcanos, mountains, hot springs, fjords, caves, you name it. And best of all, there is not a creature to be found on the islands that can harm you. We just can't wait to get out there.
So I think I am going to start ending these posts with a list of odd or funny things that Kiwis say or do a bit differently than in the states. So here goes the first:
-You pump your gas before you pay for it.
-Cars don't stop for pedestrians
-Driving on the left hand side of the road! (First time was yesterday)
-All directions of traffic stop at intersections to allow people to cross, and people walk right across the intersection diagonally.
-You get to choose your seats in advance when you buy movie tickets (oh, and movie food is much cheaper)
-Hillbillies/rednecks are called boguns
-You don't have to tip at restaurants
-Tax is included in the advertised price
-Flashlights are called torches
-There are no police anywhere
-Mexican food (isn't really mexican food)
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