noticed differences

Lingo-
elevator = lift
bathing suit = togs
candy = lolly
friend = mate
banger = sausage
take-aways = take out/fast food
bloke = man
knackered (pronounced naked) = exhausted
capsicum = red or green pepper
wee = little (said all the time!!)
flat = apartment
greasies = fish & chips
heaps = “lots of”
judder bars = speed bumps
jandal = flip flop
ring = to call/phone someone
sunnies = sunglasses
sweet-as = awesome, cool
tramping = hiking/backpacking
sealed road = paved road
rubber = eraser
full stop = period (end of sentence)
checkmark = tick

School-
-students all call their professors by first name, no Dr. or Prof.
-professors dress very casually
-most students support themselves through university, either by student allowances (financial aid) or by working, parents rarely pay for their education
-most classes have a midterm (maybe) and a final exam, plus an essay or lab component…a lot more weight for each assignment/exam!
-labs are very laid back (no lab reports, no quizzes, no reading before lab…it’s great!)

Randoms-

-all bbqs consist of sausages (either beef or lamb) on a piece of sliced bread with grilled onions. I’m getting quite sick of sausages…
-driving in new zealand is a bit different- they drive on the left-hand side of the road, and give different priority to people turning at an intersection. If someone is crossing the intersection, they get to go before the person making a short left turn.
-roundabouts make a lot of sense when everyone follows the rules
-almost all new zealanders eat marmite or vegemite on toast/bread- it’s a yeast-based spread that looks like tar and smells about as lovely…I have yet to try it!
-all school children wear hats during recess and lunch time
-the sun here is more intense than anywhere in the northern hemisphere (people say there’s very little ozone here)
-new zealanders tend to do lots of activities as a whole family- most events are geared towards families with children
-overall, people here are very laid back- their lifestyle seems to be less hectic and stressful than in north America

I’ll continue to add more to this throughout the year!

cheers-

s.