2.24.2017
I arrived in Auckland after 24 hours of hazy half-sleep, a saga of desperate outlet searching, and buyer’s (chooser’s) remorse over my airplane dinner decision.
I suppose one man’s mushed up tortellini is another man’s chicken with a side of one piece of lettuce. The man I sat next to 
was in his late 50s, lived in San Francisco his whole life, was a lawyer, had a son who lived in Jackson Hole but didn’t ski *eye roll*, and he was going to NZ for two weeks to go fly fishing with his “buddies”. The day I can jet off to the opposite side of the world with my friends, is the day I made it. Needless to say, he was a badass.
There is a strict policy in New Zealand about the foods they allow through. Because of its physical isolation, it has been impervious to many crop diseases. This also means it’s hypersensitive to potential risks, because a crop disease would be extremely damaging. When passing through customs, they check for any foods, particularly fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish any sort of bug or animal. If you mark anything wrong on your entry sheet, you have to pay a fine of $400 New Zealand dollars. Essentially, that sandwich you left in your bag could be worth $400.
A man met me and 6 other students at the arrival gate. We got in a van and he drove us to our different residences, mine was called Carlaw Park. I got my key and scanned through the gate, then scanned through the door, then scanned through the staircase, then used my key at the door (they have maximum security here apparently). I went in and met my roommates Wilson and Jess. Luckily she goes by Jess because that would’ve been very confusing. Wilson was in IES as well, so after settling in a bit, him and I went to our orientation.
We met Andrew, our program coordinator. We played some ice breakers and he presented us with some information, like, wear sunscreen, duck and cover in an earthquake, and don’t be a drunk idiot. There’s a hole in the ozone directly above NZ so it has the highest melanoma rate in the world, thanks Exxon. Earthquakes are common too, since NZ is located on the crux of two tectonic plates. It’s cool though, Mom and Dad, I now know how to deal with the literal only thing you cannot physically run or hide from.
Observations and slang:
- They drive on the opposite side of the road and walk on the opposite side of the sidewalk
- “Sweet as” or “keen as” – translation “cool”, “alright”
- Not many billboards and advertisements compared to US
New Zealand 