The HALLmark

I thought of some more vocabulary words that can easily be misunderstood. :) Its always great learning new words, their meaning and how to use them in conversations everyday.

shrapnel: most would probably assume this to be used as a *shrapnel* or pieces of a bullet. Here it is referred to in slang referencing coins or change (money).
Meals: Not just breakfast, lunch and dinner here. No sir!  We have... Breakfast, Morning tea, Lunch, Afternoon tea, dinner (also known as tea) with pudding ( pudding =dessert), and supper (evening tea). So, I guess you could say we like Tea and socializing  ALOT! With our *teas * there is usually a snack or something to eat served... so we don't have the traditional BIG southern meals like I'm used to.
Wop Wops: What americans refer to as THE BOONIES. Otorohanga is the Wop Wops, well.. close enough.
Fringe: This term I thought was VERY interesting. It took me a while to understand what this term meant in a convo. Commonly referred to as *bangs*.  You wouldn't go into a Barber her e and ask them to cut your bangs-- you might get some interesting looks. You simply ask for a *fringe*. This is a universal term for both males and females.
Plat: our everyday braid
Braids: What we would call *dreads* (if you get these confused and ask for your hair braided.... you might end up looking like Whoopi Goldberg, on a good hair day.
Motorway: The interstate
Footpath:  a sidewalk
Tramp/ bush-walk : hike or walk on a path or  along a natural trail.
Hot pools: Pools of natural thermal heated mineral water ( like a natural hot tub). Water can reach up to 42 celcius! I have to admit that I have become quite spoiled by the hot pools. there is nothing like it.

One of the first things you notice when you arrive in New Zealand is the lovely, but thick accent of the people. Its quite different than the lingo of everyday American. I like it. Secretly I am hoping to pick up a little bit of the accent! Wouldn't that be nice-- although I worry what it would sound like mixed with my natural southern twang. Oh, Boy! 
There are many things that I have had to keep myself in check with as I have learned to custom and culture here. One is the difference in our talk/language. I guess I took it for granted when I came here, knowing I was coming to an English speaking country-- I just expected all the sayings and wording to be understood in the same manner. No Sir! 
This blog comes at a special request, as I have shared stories of embarrassment and humor as I have learned (and still learning) how to speak the daily language of the Kiwis. Its a fun experience. :) 
Boot: This not referred to as a shoe, but rather the *trunk* of the car. I learned this when someone asked me to "Put that in the boot!" .... Um, yeah...where exactly is the boot when Im looking at the car!?"
Bonnet: Not typically something you see on a women's head. This is the "hood" of the car or vehicle. 
Jandals: most commonly known as flip flops. I have yet to hear the word *flip flop* used or written anywhere... or even spoken. I must be a rebel! 
Dairy: this would be a Convenience store or corner store 
Togs: a swimsuit. I am still unsure how a swimsuit gets named a tog... but I go with the flow. :) 
Hot chips: american french fries. Not many places have "french fries" on their menu- you have to be in the know that *chips* or *hot chips* mean french fries. 
Jelly: Jell-0
Jam: common American jelly (like what you put on toast). You dont want to ask for a Peanut  butter and Jelly sandwich--- you will end up with a Peanut Butter and Jell-o sandwich. You might also have some pretty strange looks. 
Biscuit: any kind of cookie. This is NOT a kind of bread you but butter or jam on. 
Lollies: any form of candy. 
Candy Floss: Cotton Candy. ( I dont quite understand the ... Floss?) 
Chilly bin: Ice chest or cooler.
My shout: if you are paying for someone's meal.. "My treat!" 
Sammy: referring to any kind of sandwich. 
Sweet As: Used instead of awesome or cool. Most people put the word *as* after any kind of word to emphasize the effects of something. I personally don't care for it-- when said really fast it sounds much like anther word. YIKES! 
Mate: a friend or buddy
Flat: an apartment
Aye: most commonly used at the end of a sentence. "It was a nice day today, aye." 


There are a few words that you don't use, I have learned (some by mistake) as they have a very different meaning. 
You must use the term Mowing the lawn in reference to Yard work. I have had several people laugh when making reference to us use the term "Yard work" .... "what is that?" You can also just use the terms: gardening, etc. 
The term professional has gotten me in a couple of embarrassing situations once or twice. Using the term Professional is like referring to Julia Roberts in the beginning of Pretty Woman. I have used it as a compliment (or so I thought) a time or two--- that didnt turn out in my favor. 
This is just a short vocabulary list of some commonly used words in the Kiwi/ New Zealand culture. 
As I learn more words, I look forward to sharing them with you.... Its exciting learning a new culture and mixing it with what I have already instilled in me.

WOW! There is so much to do here in the small town of Otorohanga. I thought I would really miss the hussle and bussle of the city life, but I find that I haven't missed it as much as I thought. Ok, ok... I do have to admit I do miss Chik-fil-A and Wendy's Frosty's!! YUMMY!

Since Otorohanga is a *dairy farming community,* I have had the opportunity to visit many church members dairy farms and see the action first hand! What an experience! :)

Once a city gal, now experiencing the country life for what it really is. I LOVE IT!

My first day on the farm, I thought the cows were going to be friendly enough and let me feed them the hay off the ground. Ummm, yeah, that didn't happen. They must have been too hungry for chit chat, I guess! :)

The baby calves are really cute. Will didn't think so though. I think he secretly liked the experience, he is just too afraid to say it! :) The calves like to suck on your fingers since they are still milking--- if you aren't too careful-- they will keep sucking and can suck all your fingers until your whole hand is slimy! yeah, its gross-- but still neat as can be!


This was the day I went to the Phillips farm- I saw my first calves born just twenty minutes or so before we arrived at the paddock to feed the cows. It was kinda gross and kinda neat at the same time. It's all business in dairy farming-- the calves are quickly taken from their mothers-- I felt bad for them, honestly. I don't think I could handle some stranger taking my newborn baby away from me just minutes after they were born. But here, its strickly business... so I helped round up the mothers.

You don't see alot of mud in Tallahassee, but here you do; especially on the farms! My opportunity to stomp around in the mud. Slimy, icky and sticky! It's alot of fun.


My next farm I visited was the Anderson's farm. We arrived for lunch and then went out for the afternoon milking. Of course I had to get all suited up the appropriate gear!
What you never see in the movies, is how farmers travel in STYLE! No horse and buggy here... we rode the *motorbike* (AKA: four-wheeler) down to the shed.
In rounding up the newborn calves, I decided to try and get one myself. Oh boy, those calves are HEAVY. I actually dropped in on the ground right as I was putting it in the crate. Yeah, they are really heavy. The calf dropped, I stumbled over-- luckily neither one of us fell completely over. It was quite funny though.


On to feed the calves!
Calves, calves and more baby calves!! They just keep sucking on your fingers!!! hahaha!
We had to feed the little ones milk--- It was great fun. After we finished with the calves--- it was time to milk the cows!

The milking shed is like a big turn table that spins as the cows are being milked. They step off as the milk straps are released. Its quite an impressive process. When I realized that THIS was the milking for the day, I was quite disappointed. I had practiced over and over in my head, exactly how I was going to physically milk a cow. "Does this mean I am not going to be able to MILK a cow?" I asked my husband.
"This is how they do it," he replied back.

In just a few short minutes I was being shown how to milk a cow and *I* was able to quirt a few drops of milk out of the utter, myself. Although I did not milk enough to fill a glass-- just knowing that I actually knew the process of milking and squeezed milk from a cows utter like Laura Ingles Wilder-- I went home happy as could be! I milked a cow!

I can't wait to go back. Summer time is coming and I love the experiences the farm life has to offer. There are still so many more farms I have yet to explore. I think Will likes it more and more as he goes. We have fun. He goofs off with the animals too-- although he would never admit it :)


I hope to keep you posted on my upcoming farming adventures. There is so much left to do! I really admire the farmers and their lifestyle. They work hard, but their attitude is relaxed and fun loving. Every farmer that I have been around (including their working environment), despite the pressures of their workload, they remain consistent in their attitude, actions and are ever joyful to be around.

Thank you my friends for showing me the joys of farm life! I look forward to more :)

My husband and I try to take time for ourselves and just "get away" each week. We enjoy it.  Last week he took me to Marakopa. What a treat! I have really come to enjoy seeing the many waterfalls New Zealand has around here. Marakopa Falls is my favorite so far!

This is a world view map. To put things into perspective of our locale, in case you didn't know exactly where New Zealand was in comparison to the USA of Florida. Locate the USA on the (L). Find New Zealand on the far (R)-- its the VERY small squiggle line.

I am constantly finding new ways and things I am being challenged in. I love it.