Cultures Collide...

After such an epic adventure, Sunday (17th) became our day of rest.  We engaged in conversation with Alicia and began to compare the New Zealand and American cultures.  The first topic of conversation was a no brainer: drinking games.  Beer pong exists here only in the movies.  How tragic.  We plan to remedy that.  There are many similarities in our drinking cultures, however.  For example: Ring of Fire = Kings, with pretty much all the same rules.  And in New Zealand, you do not "chug" a beer; you "skull" a beer.

There is one NZ tradition that should absolutely be adopted in the U.S.  On one's 21st birthday, they are given a large key to life ("Hey mum, where's my key to life?" - Mai) and they are required to drink a yardy ("Hey mum, where's my yardy?" - Brian).  A yardy is a yard long glass that holds 16 or more beers.  In Australia, if the person cannot finish the yardy, they hand it off to their family and they help finish.  This is not allowed in New Zealand.  One must finish the entire yardy themselves.  As displayed in the video, even if they vomit into the yardy, they must continue.  Another person holds and spins the yardy so it doesn't spill all over, but that's the only help given.  Solid.

Another language lesson!  The word "hori" is a derogatory term used to describe someone of low class or someone who is dirty .  Who knew?  Also, Mai and I played with an orange cat that Mai named Charlie.  He is a stray that Alicia started feeding, so he comes by every so often.  There may be more to that cat than meets the eye...

The first half of Monday (18th) was spent in the Public Library, catching up with loved ones and doing some research using the free wifi.  Upon arriving back at the hostel, we found the puzzle (a gift from m'lady, Amanda) that we started the night before had a large portion put together!  For the rest of the night, almost everyone staying in the hostel helped out here and there with the puzzle and come one in the morning, it was completed!  And I was able to read the wonderful message on the other side.  Afterward, we all watched a show together.  A show of epic proportions.  A show capable of crossing all cultural and language boundaries.  A little show called... Family Guy.