What is the education system like in NZ? At what age is school compulsory?
When you think of America or Americans, what comes to mind?
I think it's probably like most Western school systems. There's good and bad. We have the decile system that rates the school for various factors and the higher, the better. School starting age is 5.
What do I think of when I think of America or Americans? That's tough. I don't think I have any one thought, particularly. I think like most NZers there is always a sense of size and influence from the US. Our media is dominated a lot by what's happening in the US so there's always an exposure. But I can't say there's anything that comes to mind to sum up my thoughts.
I don't play any sports any more but I was a coxswain for a number of years before work and life made it too hard to compete.
I still love to watch rowing and miss it a lot. Strangely I also love to watch boxing but I hate violence?!?! Not sure what that's about.
My dream vacation would be taking the kids around Europe. My husband and I love history and we'd love to show the kids around and have them learn first hand about the historical sites and events in Europe.
Ah crap I'm sad I missed this one! Can I ask some late questions?
of the places you have traveled in the us, what was your favorite and why?
What is the weirdest tradition new zelanders have?
Is there something that Americans do that new zelanders think is weird?
I'm happy to answer late questions : )
New Orleans is my favourite place in the US I've visited. I just loved it. The people were wonderful and I loved my time in the French Quarter going to the clubs and just generally wandering the streets. I would like to see more of the rest of New Orleans.
I also loved San Francisco, almost equally. It would be a hard choice as to which to go back to first.
Hmm, weirdest tradition? The native NZers have a lot more traditions than we do as settlers but here in NZ the native origins are up kept and encouraged to be respected. The native language is taught in schools and pre-schools, schools have Kapa Haka groups that teach all the traditional dances and Hakas and a lot of the traditions are passed on. And for me, my Aunty married a native NZer and my cousins were raised strongly with their traditions so I was exposed to them even more as we spent every weekend with them. Maybe one that I always thought was funny as a kid is the hongi - kissing with noses as a greeting.
I think NZers find Americans quite different to ourselves in many ways. I dated an American boy for a year and we always used to laugh about how different we and our countries were (he was here in NZ), but particularly the language and accent of course. I would say the biggest thing that most NZers can't get their head around are the gun laws. I won't expand too much at risk of sparking a debate but let's say that having any weapon for anything other than licensed hunting is absolutely unusual here.
craftcrazymama huh..."hongi" sounds like what we call an "Eskimo kiss" (gently rubbing noses). But it's something we only do with young children.
It is similar but is done between any and everyone in greeting. Adults and kids alike and its either a gentle rub of noses or just pressing them together for a longish period. I quite like it. More intimate than a hug but not a kiss. It used to give me chills when the elders did it to me. Like they were passing something through to me with it.
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