Eleven days. That's the length of my stay at Auckland, New Zealand. I visited NZ to attend the 9th Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering held at the University of Auckland and to visit my sister and brother who are now Kiwis.
During my short stay at Auckland, I observed the lifestyle there and learned a few things about New Zealand. I am sharing 10 impressions and lessons about NZ:
1. I love eating the kiwi fruit especially after meals. The kiwi is just like a banana in NZ.
2. Aside from the kiwi fruit, the Feijoa is another fruit from New Zealand which is so tasty and juicy. Read our blog about the feijoa.
4. Family parks and beaches are free. You can go to a park or beach and hold a family picnic without any fees. NZ parks are clean. You won't see garbage cans because you are suppose to bring your trash home after holding your picnic.
5. The NZ people or Kiwis are polite people. When they get-off the bus, they always thank the bus driver. Unlike the Japanese, the Kiwis are more informal. During the conference, I noticed that they will politely tell you to use the mic or speak louder even if you're a keynote speaker.
6. I love their wheat and rye bread. A simple butter and jelly bread satisfies my apetite.
7. Some food (e.g. McDonald's) and books are relatively more expensive in NZ. My estimate is that they are about 40% higher when compared with the Philippines.
8. I learned the rules of Rugby. The Kiwis love Rugby. They have a team called "All Blacks". The World Cup Rugby will be held in NZ this year.
9. College education is not a problem in NZ. A college loan is readily available to pay your fees and allowances. You pay the government when you find a job after you graduate.
10. The population of NZ is less than 5 million but you will see so many cars. Cars in NZ are not fancy ("hindi pang porma").
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