Pizza crust and Cola flavors

Date: June 16^th, 2011

Time: 7:40pm

Location: Taupo, New Zealand, My “Flat”

Living in another country can be a very scary thing. I’ve never felt that I had no idea what I was doing so many times in one day.

Let’s start with last night; I went to the youth group at the church where I will be working. I was immediately involved in a game of soccer, which I’m uncomfortable with playing at home. I did my best to not trip over the ball and embarrass myself, but I probably looked as daunted as I felt. We played a few more games, one of which I led, and then went upstairs to the youth room.

They played another game called “Lollies or the Bag.” For this game a student is chosen and they can either choose to partake in a handful of candy, or “lollies,” that gets larger with each time the student refuses it. Or they can take a chance at a prize that they didn’t know what it was until it was taken out of an envelope.

Earlier in the day Ken asked me to tell the kids a little bit about myself. I seem to be a bit of a novelty to them, what with my weird accent and all. I started by saying; “First of all, I’m not the one with the accent. You all are!” I then proceeded to tell them about who I was and what I do and like, etc. I then let them ask me questions, nothing out of the ordinary; what my favorite color is, how old I am, if I like Glee, etc.

This morning I decided to walk into town to see about getting myself a cell phone for people to contact me on while I’m here. Last night I was given a map of Taupo so that I might navigate my way around. Being good with directions, I looked up the street The Warehouse (NZ’s Wal-Mart or Target) was on and then pointed myself towards it.

No one takes walks in Taupo, apparently.  A lot of cars passed me but I felt like I was the only person walking the streets. It might just be my self-consciousness but I felt like the subject of a lot of stares.

It took me about 25 minutes to walk all the way there.  It probably also took me a good 3 hours to get a phone (the cheapest possible one), walk back home with it, set up an account with Vodafone online, and “top up” or put minutes on the phone.

Kiwi’s certainly are fans of Coca-Cola. I don’t think I’ve even seen any Pepsi.  But it’s not just that Coke is sold in the stores and in vending machines everywhere. No, they also are big on “cola flavored” treats.  Ken offered me cola flavored Mentos, I was given a muffin (cupcake) that was made with lollies, flour, sugar, and Coca-Cola, and finally, while at the grocery store today I found cola flavored jelly (Jell-O). I was surprised by this and showed it to Mary-anne, my host, and she bought it for us to try.  It was similar to leaving a can of Coke out and letting it go flat and then cool and congeal into a jiggly mass.

Among other cultural differences I’ve come across today, including my lack of knowledge on Rugby and the All Blacks (New Zealand’s Rugby team), I also found a question that the youngest of the Short’s girls, Susanna, asked me:

“Do you eat the crust of your pizza?”

“Hmm… it depends where it’s from.” I replied.

“Oh, cuz they never eat the crust in American movies. It annoys me.” She laughed.

What is with us wasteful American’s and our inability to eat the hard crust of a pizza? Laziness? Or do we just fill up on the actual good part of the pizza? You know, the one that’s covered in sauce and cheese. Yum!

It is now 8:14 pm and I’m already so tired. I think I’m going to lie in my bed and turn on the electric blanket that warms the whole bed and watch Lord of the Rings. J