Surprise, Surprise

       New Zealand, by far, has completely been living up to my high expectations.   There have been some things, however, that I was never expecting (and, no, I am not talking about a baby).   Here are the top three things that have surprised me about living in New Zealand.

1.  Security -  I had always heard that New Zealand was such a safe country and that the police don't carry guns.  I still think that is mostly true.  What I was not expecting was that my belongings are not as secure as I had once thought.  I imagined this was a place where the doors are kept unlock and that was the way of life.  Well, that idea was somewhat shattered on our first day here.  As we pulled up to the house, I saw the sign in the culdesac parking for the beach that said "lock it or lose it".  Didn't think too much of it until we were walking into the house and they said something about turning the house alarm code off.  I thought this was a little weird, and my brain was saying "who steals stuff in this paradise".   The next day, when the landlord stopped by, I asked her about the alarm.  Her reply was "oh yes, this place has been burglured, many times... just don't leave computers or valuables out.  Usually people just break in in the day and if stuff is visible.  We haven't had a problem since the alarm was installed..... Oh, you know, it happens. We have been burgled at our place too - there are usually just after computers and Ipods."  She made it sound so commonplace.  I. was. shocked.  Not expecting that.   In the meantime, we have heard from many people that our house has just seemed to have been targeted, likely having to do with some not so good tenants in the past.  Let's hope the streak is over.

2. Pedestrian Peril -   Basically, pedestrians have NO right of way.  Brett and I have been very confused when it comes to driving and pedestrians.   No one expects you to stop or even slow down if you are crossing a street.  Even if you are standing at the corner with a baby stroller.  People do not stop for the elderly, crippled, or children.  They just zoom on by.  Our good midwestern manners tell us this is just plain wrong.  I gave up a while ago trying to stop or slow down to allow people to cross  - I am too afraid I may get rear-ended.  Brett still has too much guilt over it and tries to get people to cross, to which they give him a confused look. Or he yells at me when I cruise by the kids trying to cross the street - which just is prolonging my guilt about doing it.  Darn it, I'm just trying to assimilate into the New Zealand culture.  But, it is hard to watch the school crossing patrols wait forever until the road is clear to put the signs.  This is one part of New Zealand we would like to change.  And, soon, because I also seem to have a hard time remembering not to walk out in front of cars, assuming they will stop for me.

3. The Ocean "Noise" -  After people find out we live on the beach front, the most common questions we get from the locals are "are you used to the noise yet" or "is it just too noisy?".  People would tell us "oh, it will take you at least a week to get used to the noise".    Really? Are they are talking about the sound of the waves crashing?  Yes they were. Wasn't expecting that.  One of the most relaxing, wonderful sounds I could ever imagine.  I am still flabbergasted at the amount of people that call it "noise".  I tell them that people buy this kinda of "noise" to sleep to at night.  One person replied to that "boy, you really do come from the middle of the country". So, no, I have no trouble with the rhythmic ocean roar, and Brett had been comparing it to "lulling campfire"..... until he bolted out of bed in the middle of the night, three weeks after coming here...and saying "what's that noise, has the ocean always been that loud?"

The ocean lapping at the back yard - the highest I have seen the tide come in so far.  And, when the tide is out, it can be quite a walk out to the water.