This is my second trip to New Zealand and I think I've gotten a better feel for the people and the place. I'll admit, my views are colored having grown up in Hawai‘i, but I think there is something wrong with the people down here.
1) A company called Sanitarium is popular for their health food products. It's good stuff, I must say, but they don't bad there eye at the name. I pointed the name out to New Zealanders and Aussies and they didn't get it until I spelled it out. There was a guy from Canada that I talked to who knew EXACTLY what I was talking about it once I mentioned it.
2) The New Zealand idea of the buffet is strange. We went up, got to pick from all the food, sat down, and ate. I went up for seconds and the food was gone and was being replaced by dessert. There was no ability to scan, evaluate, and then return for the good stuff. There was no ability to really eat massive amounts of food unless you piled up a plate with food. In other words, buffet to Kiwis means you serve yourself food that was produced in mass quantities.
3) They like their fast food. I thought America was a nation of fast food consumption, but the sheer number and size of McDonald's is staggering. KFC is highly prevalent too. I started keeping track of all the places I found there were so many. There were surprises. For instance, McDonald's seems common, but I haven't found a Burger King. Carl's Jr. is here and my observations indicate it is more prevalent than Wendy's. I've seen a Domino's but not Pizza Hut although I have been assured they exist. I have not seen a Taco Bell. Finally, some McDonald's herein New Zealand actually have coffee kiosks separate from the main restaurant.
4) They have little tolerance for the cold but do not believe in insulation. This one I truly don't get. Everyone bundles up here. Layers and layers of clothes. I'll accept that when they are outside, but they don't take it off when they're inside. Sometimes it's only 8° C, which really, isn't that cold. Yesterday it was 17°C and it looked like… well… I won't say. Suffice to say that I am routinely the least dressed person around this place. The homes aren't insulated very well, or the the hotels. Double paned glass, nah. Double wall construction, nah. It's very odd. They are big on electric blankets though, even the hotels.
5) New Zealand cuisine uses a lot of sauce. Seriously. Hollaindaise sauce, garlic butter sauce, mushroom gravy, bleu cheese sauce. Everywhere. And the food is bland too.
