Kiwiana #3

Here we go again...

tog = swimsuit
not fussed = not bothered/doesn't bother me
jandals = flip flops
singlet = tank top
torch = flashlight
stuffed = broken
stuffed up = screwed up/messed up
stuff-up = mix up/screw up
cello tape = scotch tape
mate = friend/buddy
bro = buddy
biscuit/bikkie = cookie
chips = chips or french fries
lolly = any kind of candy (hard candy, jellies, etc)
take a squiz = a quick look (like browsing in a store)
having a little nosey = browsing in a store
bonnet of a car = hood of a car
flash = fancy/expensive

You can imagine the first time someone told me at the shop that they were just "taking a squiz"!! I was a little confused to say the least, but quickly figured what it must have meant and later confirmed it with a Kiwi friend.

Now that I've taught you a little Kiwi lingo, see if you can understand this (might want to refresh your memories by looking back at Kiwiana #1 and #2):

Smile of the Day

This has nothing to do with anything about travel or NZ, apart from the fact that it was while I had a visitor last month here that we started discussing The Muppets and then searched for them on You-Tube and watched a few sketches. Man! I LOVE the Muppets. So here is one that Andrew reminded me of via email today and I thought, 'hey, I should share this'. :)

Kiwiana #2

There are “heaps” of expressions used here that are not common where I come from. I’ve been trying to remember to write them down as I think of them in order to share them here. These are based on expressions I've found interesting or for which my Canadian version has been the target of ridicule. I’ve decided to insert the Canadian translation so you might understand. ;)

Kiwi: sweet as ------------------- CDN: sweet
Kiwi: cheap as ------------------- CDN: cheap/inexpensive
Kiwi: cheap as chips ------------------- CDN: cheap/inexpensive
Kiwi: heaps ------------------- CDN: lots/loads/a lot
Kiwi: rubbish ------------------- CDN: garbage
Kiwi: I reckon ------------------- CDN: I think
Kiwi: cruisey ------------------- CDN: easy/easy going
Kiwi: gutted ------------------- CDN: disappointed/bummed out
Kiwi: your shout ------------------- CDN: your treat
Kiwi: flat white ------------------- CDN: latte (coffee)
Kiwi: long black ------------------- CDN: Americano (coffee)
Kiwi: how you going? ---------------- CDN: how’s it going/how are you?
Kiwi: flat ------------------- CDN: apartment
Kiwi: flatmate ------------------- CDN: roommate
Kiwi: toilet ------------------- CDN: washroom
Kiwi: tissue ------------------- CDN: Kleenex
Kiwi: straight away ------------------- CDN: right away
Kiwi: EFTPOS ------------------- CDN: debit/Interac
Kiwi: capsicum ----------- CDN: bell pepper (red, green, etc)
Kiwi: courgette ------------------ CDN: zuchinni
Kiwi: kumara --------- CDN: sweet potato (they have 3 varieties here)
Kiwi: ring me ----------------- CDN: call me/phone
Kiwi: post ----------------------- CDN: mail (also used as a verb)
Kiwi: lolly ------------------------- CDN: candy
Kiwi: catch up on all the goss -------- CDN: catch up on all the gossip/news
Kiwi: brilliant! ---------------------------CDN: awesome/great!

I also wanted to point out that the kiwi pronunciation of the letter ‘e’ is very unlike our own. I’ve had numerous funny experiences figuring out what was meant when words like: tent, deck, dead. The ‘e’ is pronounced with more of an ‘i’ sound – like eei. Try saying tent like: teee-int. That’s what the lady at customs asked me when I arrived: if I’d brought a teee-int. Luckily she also showed me what she meant with her hands. You can imagine the laughter when my kiwi friend, Lauren, asked if I thought the way they said dee-ick was funny – she had to explain that she meant, “like a patio”. Lauren introduced me to the show Flight of the Conchords (also their band name) – two kiwi guys living in NYC trying to make a go of it as musicians there. Apparently this show is very popular in North America. Considering how much TV I watch, I didn't know about it. It was really funny! You can imagine my laughter when they captured exactly the pronunciation of the letter 'e' (or 'ea') in this episode that we watched (just a quick clip of it here):



These two guys apparently met while studying at Victoria U – right down the street from where I’m living now. Cool. Check it out.

It's the weekend already!

For those of you not connected with me on facebook, check this out. It's fun.
Oh, and happy long weekend - YES! :)

Inspire

Came across this on one of the blogs I read - one of the blogs that inspires me. Sharing something like this is one of the reasons why it does so.

Just click on the music playlist there on the right and then pause it so you can turn the music off to watch the video. :)

Merry Christmas

I found this a couple of years ago and went looking for it today again so I could post it. :) Voila!
The last day of work before the holidays is now behind me. I look forward to some R&R and some good training!!

Wings

Back for a whole month now before having to travel again! The last 2.5 months have been exhausting with travel every two weeks... be careful what you ask for, eh?

It's a bit rough leaving plus 30 degree weather to be greeted by true Canadian autumn in full-swing (minus 2 this morning). Still, it really is good to be back.

Last night I got to fly direct and it was a great flight. First I want to tell you all that my experience with WestJet was really nice. I know, we all love to bash the airlines (particularly our favourite monopoly - Air Canada). WestJet seems to be getting a lot more flights started up to various places (including Hawaii and Bahamas - for all you snow birds). The staff is ultra-friendly and easy going. Geez... I sound like an advertisement, but I wanted to just put that out there. I guess I fly AC too much so common courtesy seems like a novel experience today!

We flew at 42,000 feet (I watched the map on my personal satellite TV when I wasn't reading my book which I will blog about soon), and we had clear skies the whole way (the likely cause of our 25 minute early arrival - sweet!). It was phenomenal to look out the window and correlate which state I was seeing form my bird's-eye-view. Not often can you see the world from that height. And I also saw 3 different planes flying below us at different points during the flight. Wow!! The only other time I've seen planes around me while in the sky was at LAX when we took off - then they are much closer to you and you are silently thanking the women and men who are working in the control tower that day. Flying these days is usually more of a pain than anything else, but yesterday it was a nice experience. It reminded me of the novelty of the experience when I got to fly as a child.

So now it's time to get re-organized, do the laundry, clean the house - all of the little things that never get done when you are gone every other week for weeks on end. And this morning I got all caught up on my emails, blogs, and podcasts. Speaking of podcasts... check out this video: Ben Harper. The way he so quickly and so assuredly turns thought into words reminds me of how lacking I am in the ability to truly articulate my own ideas and feelings.

Beauty - how do you see it?

Hope this actually works. I had to paste code - that's a first for me. Am I turning into a science/techno geek? lol! I LOVE these videos. Believe me, I'm not immune to these pressures myself. Perhaps that's why they resonate so. You can go to the website and spread the word if you feel moved to.

KT Sampler

Not from the new album, but worth sharing. Yep, she rocks!

Post for Anthony

Ok. This is just hilarious. As I sat here and could only get through the first 51 seconds, cracking up the whole time... this is for my colleague, who told me I needed to download this to the iPod and (head banging included) rock out to it in preparation for my trip...
Thanks AM!

Kaleidoscope Cycling

Well, only if you watch the video while cycling. My newest fave cycling song at 120 bpms. Yesterday I did a standing climb to it - pretty intense, but awesome for intervals. Pumping up the volume also helps with the effect. ;) You are never too old for the Material Girl.

Music to Cycle To

I really like K-OS. I've seen him in concert, and his music has grown on me more and more. Cycling inside, I've found Joyful Rebellion has become one of my fave CDs to ride to. Yesterday, doing a long interval ride, I realized that this song's beat is 100 rpm (my interval). Nice. So I played it back a few times... I think it's time I got his new CD.

More on Blue

After naming the bike, I looked up some stuff on the colour blue.
Blue has actually been my favourite colour for as long as my memory serves me. When I was in grade seven I actually only wore blue that whole year. My family must have thought I was going a little weird on them or something.

Anyway... this is what I found and it's fun - enjoy!