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Fun Stuff => CHATTER => Topic started by: TheFuriousWombat on 25 Apr 2009, 10:01
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So I know there's a few people at least who would know the answer to these: I want to study abroad and I think I want to do so in New Zealand
1. Is this a good idea?
2. I was thinking the north island for no real reason. A wise choice?
3. If I'm there from January to June, what will the weather be like? I'm confused by the alternate seasons and have heard conflicting reports! I like warm weather more than cold weather...
This one anyone can answer:
4. Should I study in NZ or Budapest (another option open to me)?
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Another questions for New Zealanders: What are you going to name your islands?
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Is it difficult to swallow food when you are always upside-down?
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Since there are so many sheep, do you ever use them as a mode of transportation?
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What happened to old Zealand?
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It's still in the Netherlands.
Go to Budapest.
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Why do you guys keep spelling Sealand wrong?
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Am I the only one who think Kiwi birds are kind of lame?
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I want to go to Sealand! Do you think they have one of those giant octopus rides? That have crazy arms and spin around real fast?
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Am I the only one who think Kiwi birds are kind of lame?
Yes, because they're pretty rad.
(http://hannasworld.typepad.com/journal/images/kiwi.jpg)
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So I know there's a few people at least who would know the answer to these: I want to study abroad and I think I want to do so in New Zealand
1. Is this a good idea?
2. I was thinking the north island for no real reason. A wise choice?
3. If I'm there from January to June, what will the weather be like? I'm confused by the alternate seasons and have heard conflicting reports! I like warm weather more than cold weather...
This one anyone can answer:
4. Should I study in NZ or Budapest (another option open to me)?
Answers:
1. Sheep
2. Sheep
3. Sheep
4. Sheep
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Hey, I just want to know - where is the Old Zealand? I scored somwething around F(translated to that other form of grading) in geography, so don't shoot me.
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It's a province of The Netherlands (i.e. Holland, though that's strictly just another province) - look here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeeland). Australia was at the same time called New Holland, but that didn't stick.
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Thankyou
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I'm not so sure we have any active Kiwi boarders at the moment. I've never been to New Zealand, but I live right across the ocean from it and I have the power of Wikipedia at my disposal so let's see.
1. Is this a good idea?
Why not? They speak a rudimentary form of English and they're very lovely people. The culture is interesting, the scenery amazing and it doesn't seem like an awful place at all.
2. I was thinking the north island for no real reason. A wise choice?
Supposedly you want to be near either Auckland or Wellington (both on the North island) because elsewhere there is not much really.
3. If I'm there from January to June, what will the weather be like? I'm confused by the alternate seasons and have heard conflicting reports! I like warm weather more than cold weather...
The seasons are backwards in the Southern Hemisphere: Where the US and UK have Winter, we have Summer, and vice versa. if you come in January you'll see most of summer (gets up to 30 degrees celsius or 86 fahrenheit) and in June you'll see the start of Winter (gets down to 10 celsius or 50 fahrenheit and snows in mountain areas, but not in the cities as far as I know).
4. Should I study in NZ or Budapest (another option open to me)?
I'd go NZ. I'm actually considering going there myself sometime this year, we shall see. Budapest? What is there? It doesn't sound particularly intriguing. Wiki lists its most interesting points as a subway, a cave system, and a building. Hmm.
Also re naming:
The name New Zealand originated with Dutch cartographers, who called the islands Nova Zeelandia, after the Dutch province of Zeeland. No one is certain exactly who first coined the term, but it first appeared in 1645 and may have been the choice of cartographer Johan Blaeu. British explorer James Cook subsequently anglicised the name to New Zealand. There is no connection to the Danish island Zealand.
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Budapest? What is there?
Hungarian cakes are to die for above all others. Also, the whole of Europe is within easy reach, which New Zealand can't offer. The language is remotely related to Finnish and Basque and nothing else at all. Bartok and Kodaly are two Hungarian composers; New Zealand counters with Dame Kiri.
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You gotta ask yourself, do you want to be anywhere near this?
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b171/CatFishEnFuego/Diarycomic16-04-09-1.jpg)
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New Zealand has massive holes in the ground.
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I dunno, that picture still makes it sound more appealing than most of Michigan.
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Also, New Zealand produced:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT5AQIlmM0I
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Also in New Zealand you can visit Hobbiton. So if you crave disappointment, that's a plus!
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Am I the only one who think Kiwi birds are kind of lame?
Yes, because they're pretty rad.
kiwi bird pic
They are the modern day dodo
Also:
(http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs26/i/2008/035/b/7/How_to_prepare_a_kiwi_by_SojiOkage.jpg)
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I'd always wondered why kiwi fruit was so fuzzy, but now I understand; they're clearly using single-blade razors.
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Except for their unfortunate habit of rooting sheep, New Zealand is a pretty cool place. Nice people, a very chilled out attitude. Amusing accents, too. Heaps of surfing and snowboarding. Epic scenery. I'd recommend you go to the South Island, personally- Christchurch or Dunedin, especially if you're someone who spends a lot of time outdoors. It does get pretty cold but bear in mind that's somewhat relative; I live in Western Australia after all. If you like in England/Northern USA etc then you shouldn't have any problem with the temperature.
I'd take South Island NZ over Budapest anyday. However, if you're a big fan of "culture" then you'll probably find Budapest a fair bit more interesting. However, if you prefer culture over epic outdoor activities, you're not a very interesting person.
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They are the modern day dodo
You mean something for humans to destroy through ignorance, arrogance, and imperialism?
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Yes. And for delicious dodo meats.
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So I know there's a few people at least who would know the answer to these: I want to study abroad and I think I want to do so in New Zealand
1. Is this a good idea?
2. I was thinking the north island for no real reason. A wise choice?
3. If I'm there from January to June, what will the weather be like? I'm confused by the alternate seasons and have heard conflicting reports! I like warm weather more than cold weather...
This one anyone can answer:
4. Should I study in NZ or Budapest (another option open to me)?
Wait, am I still the only kiwi who actually posts occasionally here? Fuck you Kat, BlackMage, Beerman and Gryff!
1. Maybe
2. Yes, Auckland and Wellington are the musical, social, political and not-sucking-constantly capitals of NZ. I recommend Wellington for Art/Music/Fun and Auckland for university reputation. If you want the drunken, scummy flatting experience you could potentially go to Christchurch or Dunedin in the South Island but I wouldn't recommend it if you're into anything other than being cold or being drunk.
3. January is the middle of summer, June is early winter. It'll be between 24-28 in summer and 10-18 in winter in the north. That's Celsius.
4. Budapest is probably a better bet for interesting plus you can tour around Europe.
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dude, what? South Island is way better then the north island.
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Not at rugby!
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dude, what? South Island is way better then the north island.
Incorrect.
North Island gets all the tours, all the art/museum exhibitions, all the theatre and is easier to get around. If you want scenery and friendly people then go south but if you want stuff to do and the ability to travel NZ more easily, go north.
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dude, what? South Island is way better then the north island.
Incorrect.
North Island gets all the tours, all the art/museum exhibitions, all the theatre and is easier to get around. If you want scenery and friendly people then go south but if you want stuff to do and the ability to travel NZ more easily, go north.
Well, two thirds of new zealand is in the south island anyway, so surely travelling throughout NZ is easier if you're living in the biggest section.
Besides, if dude is there for the art he might as well just go to Budapest.
Out of curiousity, is there a huge south v north island rivalry? I assume there is, but only being an occaisonal visitor I'm not sure.
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yes
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I have a question.
For my birthday I was given a wine that is a product of New Zealand. It is called "Cat's Phee on a Gooseberry Bush." So is that just to make a quirky title quirkier, or do you actually spell it "Phee?"
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It's actually fermented cat urine, which is considered a delicacy in NZ.
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Settle down there, don't get your back up over nothing.
EDIT: Especially when Australians (such as Violent Dove and myself) and New Zealanders (such as yourself) should be joining forces trying to fool gullible northern hemisphereans!
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That's nice to know, please don't take it out on other people though.
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The population of NZ goes like this: North Island: Rizzo, Kat's brother and parents, and sheep. South Island: sheep, some lesbians at a ski resort my best friend worked with up until recently, sheep, an old coworker of mine, and sheep.
(the entire nation is smaller than my city)
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Hey, can this be a thread where you ask questions of a nationality and then they answer it?
Dear English people- are you responsible for the phrase "Yeah but no" or was it just popularised by you?
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It's actually "Yeah but no but"
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"Yeah but no"
Or even "No but yeah but yeah but yeah no but yeah no but yeah (http://www.littlebritain.tv/index.php?page=ucust8dgb)"
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But Australians have been saying "Yeah, no" for ages.
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Not like Vicky Pollard, though (I hope!)
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Hello. Don't come in here much any more.
So I know there's a few people at least who would know the answer to these: I want to study abroad and I think I want to do so in New Zealand
1. Is this a good idea?
Er... maybe? I would go to Budapest but then I'm from NZ.
2. I was thinking the north island for no real reason. A wise choice?
Depends what you're studying. Otago is good for medicine and biological sciences. Canterbury is good for engineering. Victoria (Wellington) is... you know what, I can't remember! lol I liked the chemistry department but I have no comparison... Also good for education I think? Massey in Wellington is good for design/art. Auckland's good for accounting.
As for places to live, I recommend Wellington. Go Wellington. Even though our council sucks.
3. If I'm there from January to June, what will the weather be like? I'm confused by the alternate seasons and have heard conflicting reports! I like warm weather more than cold weather...
Meh. January is great, all downhill from there. It's currently fucking freezing - not literally, I'm just cold. :P
This one anyone can answer:
4. Should I study in NZ or Budapest (another option open to me)?
Depends what you want from this...
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But Australians have been saying "Yeah, no" for ages.
I've always felt our strangest quirk is the fact that we cuss pretty much every second word. Maybe that's just because I've been mining for too long. Some countries use um or ah, we just say fuck a few times when we're searching for the right word.
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"Fucken" pretty much gets used as punctuation in some places. I know what you mean though... it seemed like people swore a lot more when I was on the Central Coast, but I don't notice it so much in Sydney. In polite company I have to make a conscious effort to use "stuff" instead of "shit" amongst other things. I accidentally said "pissing down" instead of "it's raining hard" at a job interview the other day. Maybe I need to go to finishing school or something.
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i lived in the Auckland area for awhile in the late 90s, Howick to be specific, and liked it plenty.
in fact i constantly wish i had stayed!
*waits for ppl to start shit-talking about Howick*
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DING DING
Hello all, I'm back!
Basically questions for the furious wombat:
What do you study currently and what are you wanting to study in New Zealand?
Do you like lots of people and busy culture or do you like nature and sitting outside looking at stuff?
Do you like adventure sports?
What would you be wanting to do in your spare time?
You should go to New Zealand, it's great. Maybe it is just because I miss it a lot, but I think it is great.
Also you could still travel to Australia, or Fiji or plenty of other pacific islands on your break if you wanted to. Australia is pretty great too.
Depending on what you actually want to be doing in New Zealand or what you want to get out of the whole experience would show where you should go. So gimme some more information geez.
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Kat! It's certainly been a while.
Oh, anyone from New Zealand, how much fun is zorbing? Because really it looks pretty goddamned amazing.
I accidentally said "pissing down" instead of "it's raining hard"
Is that a widely used expression?
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Pissing it down is a pretty regularly used phrase in Scotland. Don't know about anywhere else.
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Yeah, pissing it down is a generally used phrase in most of the UK, i think. I also like "its raining cats and dogs".
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gimme some more information geez.
Hmm....well I like doing outdoor stuff but I would very much like a city with a decent art scene, meaning somewhere with decent, cheap music venues and galleries and a generally cool atmosphere. Like...nice cafes and record stores and stuff. I'll be studying history and probably New Zealand type history in particular. I'm partially interested in going because my senior thesis is potentially going to be on Maori-British relations in the earlier colonial periods and tracing Maori cultural developments in the face of Western colonial dominance. Or something. I would like to be able to travel and hike in pretty places but leaving the country once or twice would be nice so easy access to air travel would be cool. I'm not so into adventure sports but I'm open to trying some out and, while I like bustle, sometimes I need peace and quite so a major urban center might not be the place for me. So...ideas? Based upon "research" (i.e. study abroad websites), Victoria University in Wellington sounds pretty nice. Am I being horribly misled?
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Victoria is pretty nice, and they have a decent history dept I think - I know they had that whole area flashed up a few years ago. Wellington is probably the best place in NZ for art/"culture" etc, and while it's biggish (for NZ) it's mostly all spread out and bushy so not too crowded. Also some access to nice areas for outdoor shit but not outstanding for NZ. Enough for me anyway. *shrug*
Air travel's pretty easy, dunno how the prices would stand up in comparison to where you're from though. Still, if you're anywhere western your money's worth more than ours so that's a plus!
P.S. Pissing down is a very common phrase and fairly socially acceptable in NZ, or at least the NZ I've lived in.
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From what you've said I'd say that Wellington would be perfect for you.
It has a lot of nice cafes and a happening art and music scene. It is smaller than Auckland, which is a city easy to get lost in. And has a lot of history to it. The climate is pretty mild, I'm not sure where you are comparing it to, but I'd say mild, I think they get snow on the surrounding hills during the middle of winter but not much else. I have never been to Victoria University but I think it would be an appropriate choice, and considering Wellington is our capital, political history and records are all there. The museum te Papa is a pretty great resource too.
And I recommend New Zealand history, it's pretty compact as far as histories go but also very interesting!
Hiking places is also relatively easy, there are areas really nearby and its a skip and a jump to Abel Tasman National Park which is gorgeous.
Besides you will be in the middle of the country so everything will be relatively easy to get to and Wellington is big enough that you won't feel like you are in the middle of nowhere (it is quite easy to feel like that in other parts).
And you won't get eaten by bears. New Zealand doesn't have any bears.
Good luck and if you need anymore information, don't hesitate to message me!
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Kat! Katkat! Kaaaaaaaaaaat <3
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I get the feeling that this thread is mostly irrelevant now, but my advice would be to avoid the main city centres, as you are more likely to be hit by a rogue zorb in the more densely populated areas. People are just zorbing all over this motherfucker.
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Are sumatran rat-monkeys still a major problem?