Brandy Keener

My perfect Americano in New Zealand

Where’s the Starbucks? Not here, not in Ohope or Whakatane New Zealand. Instead, it’s a Long Black or a Flat White. I added the link of my video from 3 years ago talking about the Long Black or Flat White, some things never change. Except maybe my hair color.

A flat white is similar to a latte and a long black is similar to an americano. However, every coffee shop is drastically different when making their long blacks. Typically, a long black is just that; LONG and BLACK. So, forget ordering a 1/2 caf americano because most espresso machines only pour double shots in New Zealand and if you order 1/2 decaf you’ll be paying for 4 shots. Yikes. Better just to roll with it and go for that double shot! I have found a few coffee shops that are nice are happy to make my “special americano.” Two shots of espresso, hot water, 2 raw sugars and a little soy milk on the side. My favorite coffee shops also have coffee cards (not punch cards like I mistakenly called them and was corrected) where you buy 8 drinks and get one free. Sweet As! (means awesome or cool in New Zealand)

Posing, pre-run with my special americano

Tips When Ordering Coffee In New Zealand

1. Ask for what you want but be ready to take what they make

2. Be prepared for strange looks and salty faces when ordering your tall americano with 2 raw sugars and a little soy milk

3. They like to put the sugar in and stir it for you so order it all at once

4. Ask for a coffee card if you think you’ll be back

5. Ask for “takeaway” when ordering if you want your coffee to go

6. No tips! Just accept it and don’t force our “US crazy tipping culture” upon kiwis. It makes them uncomfortable.

Sure, I can buy diapers and food when we get to where we’re going but it’s not the same…

We are in Ohope, New Zealand and I’ve still got a lot to learn about packing for our trips. I am the CEO of packing in our family and try and mix it up everytime. I did okay for Kai but left out some crucial things for me. This time, I really packed light and regret it a little. Sure, I can buy most of what I need here in New Zealand but it’s a little different and not always available.

Here is my new travel checklist when traveling with a toddler:

1. Bob Stroller (wouldn’t leave home without it)

Squeezing in a run after breakfast, love the BOB! (Kai clutching his snack trap filled with cheerios)

2. Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag (19 months later and I still love it!)

So handy because I haven’t seen ANY diaper changing areas in public yet.

3. A week’s supply of diapers and wet wipes

Enough to tide you over until you get settled.

4. 5 ish favorite sippy cups and snack trap cups (None of my mom friend’s have seen these gems)

5. All Medicines

I brought all of Kai’s medicines but left ours at home. Normally that’s fine but it’s the beginning of summer here so I wish I had an antihistamine  or two for me.

6. Your Favorite Baby Lotions and Potions

Some of my favorites for sensitive skin are: California baby sunscreen, California Baby Leave in Conditioner, Aveeno Body Wash, Bordeaux’s natuaral buttpaste for diaper rash.

7. Ipad

Kai has his own and it’s quite handy for learning games. I downloaded a sleep sound machine app, which is louder and better than his Gracco that I fried by plugging it in the New Zealand adapter.

8. Sport Brella

We haven’t used it yet but I’m still happy I have it.

9. Full Body SPF 50 Swimsuits

They have them here in New Zealand but like most things are super expensive and I haven’t seen his size yet.

10. Zip Lock Baggies and Lysol wipes

Zip lock baggies are expensive in New Zealand but I haven’t found anything close to my beloved lysol wipes.

As I was grocery shopping today, I was a little on edge walking through the meat department. It isn’t as graphic as the hanging meat in Singapore’s Chinatown but it’s still interesting. Sausage is super popular here as it’s the token meat at barbecues. I’ve grown quite fond of the sausage but can’t say I’ll be trying any of these parts found at the grocery store.

               
The friendly butchers, proudly showing me the pig’s head

New Zealand’s tripe is cow’s bleached stomach lining

They said it’s really popular with the old folks. I bet, food (if you can call it that) for only 2 bucks in New Zealand is rare. Not for me though. The butchers even thought it was icky.

Yep, good ole mabelline mascara is $23.99

Elizabeth Arden lipstick is $50 and OPI nail polish is $24.99. Yikes, glad I brought my own makeup from America.

I’m just saying…

Okay, english is the spoken language in New Zealand but like everything else, it is slightly different. Don’t get me wrong, it is exhilerating being in a new country and basking in their summer but there is a lot to do. Buying a car, buying car insurance (or at least trying to get a quote) mapping directions everywhere you go, grocery shopping and daily errands are exhausting. After a full 5 hours of “errands” I’m pooped. Funny, because people keep asking me if I’m on “holiday” (which means vacation here). Doesn’t feel like it. Of course, there are fun parts to everyday, much like life in America. After 1 month of setting up house here in New Zealand, it feels more like real life back on steroids. Everything is a bit different here and takes a bit more effort to get done. The first 2 weeks I called it jet lag, now I’m calling it culture shock. Hopefully, in January it’ll feel more like holiday.

I’m just saying…

I’ve been driving in New Zealand for a month now and am finally getting used to it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still very alert while driving on the left hand of the street but seem to have the hang of it. The real turning point for me was when I quit walking to the left side of the car to get in. Augh! I did that for nearly 3 weeks and almost everytime. Funny, how trained we can become.

Another interesting driving tip in New Zealand is that the driver sits on the right side of the car and passes on the right.

Here’s my latest ride in New Zealand

Yes, english is the spoken language here in New Zealand but it’s very different. Aside from the fun sounding accent of a kiwi, the words are so different. If there is another word for something the kiwi’s have found it.

Here are a few of my favorite kiwi words so far.

1.  Sweet As (means awesome)

2. Jandels (flip flops)

3. Long Black Coffee (americano)

4. Eftpos (debit card)

5. Sparky (electrician)

6. Capsicum (bell pepper)

7.  Togs (swimsuit)

Some days it feels like a secret language rather than good ole english. Mix in the kiwi accent with a little slang and it feels like a jigsaw puzzle.

I’m just saying…

I do like to mix it up and I have learned that basics and favorites should always be packed for family travel. I was focused on two things when packing for our New Zealand trip. Keeping our checked bags under the 50lb limit and buying stuff when we got there. Yes, you can buy “most” of what you want when you get to your destination but bring your favorites with you. After packing 200 balance and think thin bars for our New Zealand trip last year, I decided to pack light this year.

Posing At Portland International Airport -The long box is a Sport Brella, which we haven’t used yet but plan to

Here are 5 things I wish I would have packed for New Zealand this year.

1. All medicines

I brought baby Kai’s but left ours in the medicine cabinet at home. We don’t use a lot of medicine so I figured it wasn’t important. Things pop up when traveling and trying to get to the chemist (pharmacy in New Zealand) when you need a bandaid or an antihistamine is a pain. BYOM (bring your own medicine)

2. More Bumble and Bumble Hair Products

Family pic at the Ohope Playcentre Christmas party

If you decide to color your hair from black to blond 2 weeks before you travel internationally bring a ton of your favorite hair products! Maybe, that’s only me who does such a funny thing but I wish I would have brought double my favorite  Bumble and Bumble leave in conditioner. I tried to put in an emergency Amazon order but was denied.

3. Electronic Gadgets and Plugs

Truth be told, we brought 2 laptops, 3 ipads, 2 iphones, 1 android smartphone, 1 kindle, 1 ipod, 1 digital fuji underwater camera, (which I love!) 1 flip video camera, 1 point and shoot camera, 1 video baby monitor, 1 Graco sound machine, 1 travel bose stereo. And lots of cords to plug in our gadgets. Sad is how I felt when I realized I forgot my ipod cord. I can’t buy it here so when it runs out of juice I’ll be running without it.

4. Hats, sunglasses, swimsuits, and hoodies running shoes

Kai sporting his full body swimsuit at the West End in Ohope, New Zealand

Yes, they have sunglasses and clothes you can buy in New Zealand but save your money for the fun stuff. I wish I wouldn’t brought a few more hats for Kai and haven’t found any he’ll wear here. Bring a fair amount of everyday clothes for all sorts of weather. I find the summer in New Zealand is similar to the Pacific Northwest so a swimsuit during the day and a hoodie at night is quite handy.

5. Favorite Lotions and Potions

If you love it and you use it everyday, bring it! I brought enough face lotion to last for a month but planned on buying more in New Zealand. It’s super expensive here and slightly different. Of course, I brought all of Kai’s lotions and potions so he’s cool. If you have the space and aren’t over the 50 lb US weight limit, bring your own lotions and potions!

I live to EAT. I’m just saying. Food is a huge part of my day. Funny I was going to dinner at Beast restaurant for my first time today. Beast had blackboard paint with fun sayings written in chalk. One of my favorite quotes was in the bathroom, “My favorite animal is steak!” This was another one of my favorites.

The 30 Day Indie Travel Project is inspiring me to blog everyday, I like it!