Top 5's Good and Bad

Five months it has been since we fled Tonga and touched down in New Zealand. Five months of exploration, work, head scratching and discovery. There have been great days and horrible days but everyone of the have taught us about ourselves, each other and a small place called New Zealand. First impressions of this country unfold and you find yourself thinking “you know, it's not that different from home.” Dig a little deeper, spend a bit of time and ask a few questions and you will discover that just under that surface is a quirky nation where the picture just doesn't “hang straight.”

Today as we head out of the country and cross the ditch to Australia we would like to leave you with our Top 5's.

Number 5 Dislike: Getting A Job.

We found getting a job in NZ as being very tough. We tried very hard to find work, any work and yet we got shut down for the dumbest of reasons. Personally when there is a sign in your window for a sales associate at a cafe and I come in requesting the position it should not be a two week waiting period to work out the details. In my humble opinion that two week waiting period could be condensed into a conversation. I have never in my life encountered a place that will make you fill out a 7 page application form in order to work at the equivalent to a Home Depot. I've never had to hand over a C.V. (resume) to get a job as a laborer. It was ridiculous to no end, and that is why it ranks in at #5.

Number 5 Like: The People

The attitudes and values of the NZ nation are very similar to those of Canadians. Even though life is very different here in many ways the personalities of those you meet will always be genuine. I've been enough places to know when your getting ripped off or unwelcome, here is not the case. People want to know about you, your trip and your thoughts about their homeland. It was very easy to blow 20 minutes at a shop chatting with the owner about anything. Canadians and Kiwis get on very well.

Sub-like (#5a): The question.

It was great to hear the Kiwis dance around the question of “Where are you from?”. They knew outright that we were from N. America but there is no way they were going to offend you by calling us Americans. It made me laugh every time I heard somebody tip toe around the question. I just told them, it's ok to call us Americans, we'll just correct you when you do.

Number 4 Dislike: No Central Heating.

This nation does not know the meaning of insulation, let alone central heating. Either your house has a fire place, a coal stove or you put on a jumper (sweater). We were only here in the spring/summer/early autumn and I can assure you it gets cold enough to warrant heating your house. In winter it will snow and it will stay on the ground, especially in the South Island, yet the answer to a being warm is put on a jumper or grab and extra blanket. Some nights there are so many blankets on the bed I can barely breath due to the weight on top of me, and it's not even winter!!!

Number 4 Like: Moko the Dolphin.

I have already spoke to this in a previous post. You can read it here to refresh your memory. Just an outright great experience.

Number 3 Dislike: No Campfires.

I have a serious issue with this one, it always rains in NZ. For a country that receives up to 7m of rainfall in a year (that equates to an inch a day) you cannot have a campfire in most campgrounds. The campfires we did have were breaking the rules, but we had to eat some nights and that was our only source for cooking. I didn't feel bad when it took us 1.5hrs to get the fire going because the wood was bloody soaked! No campfires is a sucky rule!

Number 3 Like: “She'll Be Right” Mentality.

Rules are just a guideline here, which is why we made most of our campfires. The attitude of “She'll be right” extends down to every last bit of life here. Because the law states that you cannot sue, you CAN do all the extreme sports, you can drive a mini-chopper on the streets and you don't have to wear safety glasses at work. This is a foreign concept to us from Canada. Our laws state that somebody has to be liable for an accident, here you bugger yourself up being an idiot, thats you fault. It is like being in the 1950's were you just don't need to worry about things as much, besides ”She'll be right”.

Number 2 Dislike: The Roads.

The highways here are very un-Canadian. They are narrow, windy and most of all windy. Nobody ever tells you how long it will take to get somewhere, that question will always be answered in km. A 50 km drive can take anywhere from 25 minutes to 75 minutes. People tailgate like its going out of style and drunk driving is a very big issue . There are one lane bridges (that sometime share the right of way with train tracks) where you need to yield to oncoming traffic. Some places you need to ford rivers and the worst thing of all is the twisty nature. Simply put, we get car sick. We can only drive short distances because the roads are back and forth and back again. It gets old in a hurry, me = unimpressed.

Number 2 Like: Barefeet

You don't need to wear shoes, ever. I have hiked, shopped, drove, dined, gone to movies, gone to the pub, worked and banked barefoot. It rules.

Number 1 Dislike: Sandflies.

These little bastards are the spawn of Lucifer himself. They land on you and bite you and you will only realize this until the very last second. By this time it is too late, you will spend the next three days with a welt that itches worse than chickenpox. I hate them with a passion. Click for a view, kinda gross.

Number 1 Like: Mullets!

The hairstyle that rose and died amoungst the populace in the 80's never really died went away here. It is very acceptable to wear the mullet and I have never seen it so embraced. We took these guerrilla style shots for your and our enjoyment.

That's our view of this green island nation, next stop....AUSTRALIA, where there is hopefully some surf!!!