My Big Announcement

As you all know, I was a bit far along with my pregnancy when I moved over to New Zealand last December.  Since then, I have been a housewife.  Part of me has been rather content to do this, and another part of me has really been feeling the itch to go back to work.  I have never been out of work for this long, so I'm sure that's part of the pull.  The other part is that I do kinda miss being a nurse.  I know...I know...I only have a baby for so long and I have the rest of my life to work, but I actually enjoy what I do.  I like working with my moms, babies, and their new families, and if I didn't I wouldn't be anxious to get back to them.  That being said...here is my big announcement

I'm starting back to work on Monday.  I had been looking at hospital vacancies, and I saw the opportunity to work in my field.  It isn't something that comes along every day in New Zealand because remember, maternity care is covered by midwives here.  The chance to work with post natal patients came up, and I jumped.  As you can tell by my start date, my interview went well. :)

I was really nervous before my interview.  I kept telling Ben (and anyone that would listen) "I'm so nervous!  I've never interviewed in another country!!"  I'm sure he was thinking "Really?!?  I never would have guessed being that you were born and spent your entire life in Alabama."  Everyone else was probably wishing I would hurry up and interview so I would hush up about it.  I interviews last Tuesday, they checked my references, and I received a job offer.  Oh, yeah, if you think moving to another country makes you exempt from reference checks, You. Are. Wrong.  So, be prepared, and make sure your referees know that they may be contacted by prospective employers.

After I knew I had a job for sure, we had to make arrangements for Stevie.  We had checked out daycare before, but we checked out one more that had previously been full.  We were lucky!!  The center close to work had an opening, so Stevie will be near enough for me to scoot over to nurse on my breaks!  Yay!!  Also, they have no problem using cloth diapers on her and when she starts solids, they make it from fresh veggies!  Double yay!!  Ben isn't thrilled she's going to be away from us, and neither am I, but I am happy we got her into this center.

There you have it...news from my little part of the world!

Say What?!

Part of moving to another country is learning to understand the locals.  It seems simple enough because the majority of kiwis speak English and you have to be able to do the same if you want to come live here.  That's where you get fooled.  I considered myself lucky because Ben is a kiwi, so I was familiar with his little expressions, the way he said things, his accent, and even how fast he talked.  We southerners don't get in a hurry when we speak, so imagine my surprise when I got to New Zealand and realized everyone spoke faster than a chipmunk on speed...and then you put a couple of them together having a conversation.  I had NO.I.DEA what 3/4 of the people around me were saying.  I did a lot of smiling and nodding initially, and I'm pretty sure my random smiles and nods earned me a few strange looks.

But wait, shouldn't I have had an easy time since I was used to Ben?  One would think, but then he got around his 'cuzzies' and 'bros' and he too got smiles, nods, and blank stares.  I know you think I'm exaggerating, but picture this, you're sitting at a red light, and some random dude yells "Aye, Ben!!" (yes, this happens ALL THE TIME, I swear I expected Ben to see someone he knew while we were over in Oz)  Ben leans over me and proceeds to yell back out the window to random dude "Ah, chur cuz!  Chu been up to bro?"  "Ah yeah, nah, yeah, just got back aye...shot over to Ragz for the day yesterday."  "Choooice!!" "Yeah, it was primo, but I got the chop from the kids and my wife cuz they weren't on holiday."  (they both laugh at this and I did too because laughing seemed appropriate) "Yeah man, that's us..light's green!"  "Sweet as!" "Catch!"

WHAT JUST HAPPENED THERE?!?!  Here's that conversation translated:  "Hey, Ben!" "Hey, friend!  What have you been up to?"  "I just got home.  I went over to Raglan for the day yesterday."  "Awesome!"  "Yeah, it was great, but the wife and kids were upset they didn't get to go because they weren't off of work and school."  "Gotta go, green light"  "That's alright!" "Bye!"  That conversation took place during the 10 seconds we were waiting for the light to turn, so yes, they too sounded like chipmunks on speed.  Ben claims kiwis don't speak fast, but they do...they just do! 

So, before you plan on coming for a visit or moving to another country, you should probably brush up on the local's lingo.  Luckily, you have me here to translate and give you a heads up on a few things you can expect to hear around our ways.  Like other parts of the world, you're going to get different little expressions and sayings depending on your exact location (example, other parts of the States don't say 'bless your heart' or 'y'all' nearly as often as southerners), but I can give you the gist of things.  Also, this is not THE definitive kiwi sayings list.  These are common phrases I hear.  If you're around a bunch of expats, you may not hear these phrases being said.

Oh, and one more thing...if someone asks you what you've been up to, don't say 'piddling around'.  I earned blank stares from Ben and his mother when I used this expression.  Piddling is going to the bathroom, so a few times I told them I had been peeing around the house all day. 

So, what you've all been waiting for...common expressions used around here!!

kia ora - hello
You will hear this and see this from the moment you log on to the Air New Zealand website to book your plane tickets.  This is actually Te Reo Maori, but you'll hear pakeha (not of the tribe) using it as well.

cuz - friend or cousin (non gender specific)

bro - male friend or brother

sis - female friend or sister

sweet as - you're welcome/no problem/yes (in agreement)/expression of admiration/I don't want to but I will/I'll be happy to
Example:  "Thanks for shouting lunch!"  "Sweet as!"
How not to use it:  "We're going out for a sweet as lunch."  "We're going to lunch and it's gonna be sweet as."  You may go to a sweet restaurant for lunch, but you are not going to a sweet as restaurant for lunch.  See the difference?  It takes some getting use to to be able to see how and when to use this correctly.

sweet - awesome, primo, choice
You may have a sweet new ride, you may go to a sweet new restaurant.  Sweet is used to describe a noun. 

primo or preemz - awesome
Example:  "The weather was priiiiimo!!"

mean - mean is not a bad thing, it's good! See sweet as, primo, awesome, or used as an emphasis
Example:  "You mean got told!"  "You mean got the chop" or "That party was meeeeaaaan!"

choice - may be accompanied by a thumbs up and can be a positive or negative.  See sweet as, primo, mean, shot
Example: "I got a new job!" "Ah, choice bro, that's mean!" On the other hand, if someone cuts you off in traffic... "Ah yeah, you're choice..."

shot - awesome/thank you/good on you or can be a negative when used sarcastically
Example:  "Shot bro, you're awesome" that would be a negative because someone just did something stupid or inconsiderate, but if they said "Shot bro, you're awesome!" that's a positive because they used it with a happy tone!

chur - when accompanied by the appropriate individual identifier, it is a greeting, farewell, acknowledgement, thank you, you're welcome, all good, no worries
Example:  "Chur bro, chu been up to?"

is that us - asking about someone's eagerness to do something
Example:  When getting ready to leave the house.  "Right, is that us?"  in other words "Are you ready?"

sorted - all good/ready/everything is taken care of
Example:  When getting ready to leave the house "Are you sorted?"  or "I sorted my doctor's appointment."

safe as - I've got it covered/no worries/sorted
Example:  "Can you make sure the back door is locked before you go?"  "Safe as"

got the chop - embarassed/denied/told off
Example:  You ask a girl out, and she says no.  You're buddies are in the background snickering because "You mean got the chop!"

got told - getting scolded/berated
Example:  You've been out too late with your friends, and when you get home you're partner is upset about this, so "You got told!"

cheap as - just that, cheap or inexpensive
Example:  "I just sorted tickets for our trip to Oz.  They were cheap as!"

a feed - a meal
Example:  We're heading over to mom's for a feed."

shout - pay for
Example:  "I'm shouting lunch."

good as gold - no worries/you're welcome
Example:  "Thanks for lunch!" "Ah, good as gold!"

nice one - thank you/primo/congratulations/awesome
Example:  "I scored a new job!" "Nice one, bro!"

too much - that's fantastic/that's awesome/thank you so much
Example:  "Oh, you're compiling a kiwi to American dictionary?  You're too much alright."

good on ya - depending on how it's used, it can be good or bad.  It is a call on behavior if you do something stupid or inconsiderate.  It can be used to say good job if you do something considerate.
Example:  "I've been cleaning house all day." "Good on ya, darling put your feet up."  On the other hand, if you just drop a glass and it shatters "Good on ya"

no worries - all good/you're welcome
Example:  "Thanks for helping clean up the shattered glass." "No worries, cuz"

stuffed - tired
Example:  "What's for dinner?" "I can't be bothered cooking, I'm stuffed."

she'll be right - it'll be okay
Example:  "You think the number 8 is gonna hold the muffler on?" "Yeah mate, she'll be right" (number 8 is fencing wire)

on to it - clever or getting things done
Example:  "I've been sorting through the kids stuff getting everything organized today."  "Ah, you're on to it."

church it up - exaggerate
Example:  "I'm stuffed!  I've been busy all day!" "Don't let her church it up, she's had her feet up all day!"

save it for Sunday - don't exaggerate
Example:  "I'm stuffed after cleaning all day!"  "Save it for Sunday!"  You'll also hear "Don't church it up, save it for Sunday!" or "Save it for Sunday, don't church it up!"

you don't know - whatever
Example:  "Man City's gonna lose tonight!"  "Shut up, you don't know!"

yeah, nah, yeah...(may have an 'aye' before you receive the explanation)- yes or no depending on context and tone, or may just be used to start a sentence
Example:  "Did you get out to the beach this weekend?" "Yeah, nah, yeah, we were going to but the wife had to shoot out to her mom's." or "Yeah, nah, yeah, we got out there on Saturday."

what's your buzz - what's your problem/what are you on about/what do you think you're doing
Example:  You're having a rant at the kids, and your partner walks in "What's your buzz?"

This is just a smidge of what I hear and try to understand.  It's gotten much better, and I use some of the little expressions myself.  However, I still get lost at times...let the whanau get together and start slinging around Maori words, and I am left trying to decipher through the muddle of confusion that Google Translate can't figure out.  If I get too lost, I remember to...

What's That You're Drinking?!

Last night while having a cup of chocolate and wishing I had a flat white, I knew exactly what I was going to write about today...some of the things we drink in NZ.  I'm sure you're wondering why I thought this deserves it's own post, but you have no idea the amount of heartache I suffered while trying to figure some of these things out.  For instance, tea is not tea like in Alabama.  Coke does not taste the same, and I am convinced that when the U.S. based fast food chains opened up stores in New Zealand, they forgot to mention that the bags of Coke syrup is suppose to be mixed with carbonated water in the fountain drink machine.  More on that another day, but for now, I'm going to talk about the incredible flat white!

I mentioned flat whites here when talking about going to the gardens, so you may have heard of them, but I did not elaborate on what they are. So, what is a flat white?  A cup of wonderful goodness!  Okay, I know that didn't exactly tell you anything, so let me try again.  A flat white is a type of coffee drink that lies somewhere between a latte and a cappuccino (and I don't mean the convenience store cappuccinos either).  It's stronger than a latte and has less foam than a cappuccino.  Flat whites feel velvety on your tongue when you drink it.  I know...I know...I too thought wtf when I heard that they "feel velvety", but they do!  It has something to do with the milk. 

Now, if you look them up online, you're going to find conflicting information...starting with where and how the flat white originated.  Like pavlova, the kiwis and Ozzies argue over who made it first.  That's why you will often see sources stating flat whites are a type of coffee that was popularized in Australia and New Zealand during the 1980's.  From there, it just gets worse when they attempt to describe how to make a flat white.  Some sources say it's a double shot latte, some say it's a cappuccino without the foam, some go into elaborate details on making the perfect flat white, and still other places say who cares you can't find them in America.  They all have one thing in common though...you can always scroll down to read the comments and find a kiwi calling them out for spreading misinformation on flat whites.  To be safe, don't attempt to get one unless it's made by a kiwi, or at least made in New Zealand because apparently the directions for making flat whites are a carefully guarded secret that must be kept local. 

You can find flat whites outside of Aotearoa, though I can't attest to their authenticity.  They can be found in Australia of course, but they're also gaining popularity world wide.  They are found in a few places in the UK now, and they're even popping up in San Francisco and New York City.  Don't expect to be able to bebop down to your local Starbucks and request one because you'll probably get looked at funny. 

Speaking of looks...here's a picture of my Mother's Day flat white.  Notice the pretty little fern design on top!!

Flat White

You can find these EVERYWHERE!!  Seriously, you can find them wherever coffee is sold..except Starbucks.  I'm not sure if Starbucks in New Zealand has flat whites.  I've not been in Starbucks here, and now that I'm thinking about it, I only know of 2 Starbucks in NZ.  Hmmm...  Okay, back on topic...  Flat whites could very well be the drink of New Zealand. 

So, what if you don't want a flat white?  What if you just wanted a regular coffee?  Well, do not fear because yes, you can get it!!  Don't expect it to be poured out of a coffee pot, though.  Nope, if you want a coffee expect to hear whirring and buzzing as the coffee beans are ground and mixed up in a freshly brewed cup just for you!  If you're at home and you want a coffee, well, don't expect to go and 'turn on the coffee pot'.  Ummm...yeah, about the coffee pot.  We don't exactly have the ones found in every home in America.

U.S. Coffee Pot...not found in New Zealand

 I have NEVER seen one of these in NZ!  Not for sale, not in anyone's home, not in a restaurant or coffee shop, or anywhere...  It's okay...I promise!!  It's not the end of the world!  You can still get coffee, but not "percolated" coffee.  Instead, you either 'flip the jug' and use the electric kettle to make coffee, or you have a plunger, and no I don't mean the thing you use to unclog the toilet.  This is a plunger...

Plunger                   

See, no need to panic!  Freshly brewed coffee is available! :D

Say you don't want coffee...what if you want tea?  Well, if you're from the South, you better come visit me if you expect to find "sweet tea" or "iced tea" or as Ben says, "a cup of diabeetus".  Like grits, I can't get him to like sweet tea!!  If you ask for tea outside of my house, you're either A) going to get a meal depending on what time it is, or B) you're going to get hot water, tea bags, and asked if you take milk or not.  I know!!  Milk in tea is blasphemous!!  Who does that?!  Apparently the rest of the world....

Tea

Now, for anyone that comes into my house expecting traditional NZ tea, I'm gonna look at you with a blank stare, and that's your cue to ask for something else or at least help yourself to my kitchen.  What I concoct is not going to be what you're expecting.  If you take milk, it's usually white by the time I'm finished, and if you want it without, it's generally too strong for the average person's liking.  Consider yourself warned...I can't make tea like a kiwi!!  My mother-in-law has learned the hard way...bless her heart.  She now knows to be very specific when telling me how she likes her tea! 

There are other hot drinks I can make quite well, and they are not what you will find in the States.  I can make a mean chocolate or Milo.  I'll start with the chocolate.  It's kinda like hot chocolate, but different.  It's richer, in my opinion, and it is not as sweet.  Also, unlike Swiss Miss, it comes in a container and you scoop out what you like.

Drinking Chocolate...NOT Hot Chocolate

Drinking Chocolate

 
To make a chocolate, put one or two heaping spoons into a cup and you add hot water, milk, and maybe sugar, if you take it hot.  If you want it cold, you mix it up in a glass of milk, but it tastes much better than Nestle Quick! 

You may be thinking "Yeah...yeah...yeah...it's like hot chocolate, but different, I get it already.  What's this Milo you speak of?"  Milo, is something I had never heard of before I moved here.  To be honest, I had never tasted it until after I had Stevie and my midwife made me one.  I was sort of afraid of it...

Milo

I know you see that, and you're wondering what's to be afraid of.  Do you see what it says?!  "Made from Malted Barley"...yuck (or so I thought)!  Come to find out, this stuff is pretty delicious!!  I now keep it in my house and drink it quite often.  It isn't as rich as chocolate, but it does kinda have a chocolaty taste.  It's more "mild" for lack of a better word to describe it.

Milo

Notice it's a bit grainy.  How do you make a Milo?  Here's how I like mine:  1-2 heaping teaspoons (depending on mug size) with 2 sugars, hot water, and milk.  I take mine "milky" so about 2/3 of a cup of hot water and the rest is filled with milk.

Milo..in the making

The Finished Product

I know it doesn't look like much, but it really is yummy, as long as it doesn't get cold.  If it gets cold, Milo gets a film over the top of it and that's just gross.  I can't drink it then. 

So, there ya have it...my hot drinks of choice!  I'll have to talk about the cold drinks another day because Little Stevie is awake, and she's demanding hers!  Hope everyone on the other side of the world had a great Monday, and happy Tuesday to those of you on my side!

The Cost of Grocery Shopping

"Do y'all have ______?" is a question I get asked ALL.THE.TIME.  I'm no longer shocked by what fills in the blank.  I've been asked if we have tomatoes, sea food (ummmm...we're an island country), McDonald's, doctor's offices, etc.  Yes, we have all of the above, and no we do not sell edible bugs at our local super market.  The second question I'm asked, usually as a follow up to my response, is "How much does it cost?"  Well let me tell you....it can cost quite a bit.

This post is for those curious about prices, and for those thinking about coming to New Zealand.  New Zealand is a beautiful country with a smaller population.  We're at the bottom of the world (as Ben says), and in some ways, we pay for it.  The price of goods and services aren't as cheap as they are in the States.

Here is a sample price list from some of our recent trips to market:
3.79 liters (l) = 1 U.S. gallon 
1 kilogram (Kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)
1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz) = 453 grams (gm)
1 cup (c) = 8 U.S. fl. ounces (oz) = approximately 237 milliliters (ml)


Milk 2L - $2.97
Milk 3L - $4.45
Yogurt (Plain Unsweetened) 600gm - $2.99
Sour Cream 250gm - $2.29
Cream 300ml - $2.17
Mild Cheddar Cheese 1Kg block - $8.99

Broccoli - $1.99/bunch
Fancy Green Lettuce - $2.99/head
Iceburg Lettuce - $1.69/head (on sale)
Cabbage Half - $1.69
Onions (Brown) - $1.99/Kg
Carrots - $1.99/Kg
Potatoes - $2.49/Kg
Tomatoes - $6.99/Kg (out of season)
Lemons - $5.99/Kg (out of season)
Asparagus - $2.99/bunch
Garlic - $22.99/Kg
Capsicum/Bell Pepper - $2.99-$3.49 each
Baby Spinach 130gm bag - $4.29

Raw Sugar 1.2Kg - $2.99
High Grade Flour 5Kg - $6.99
Wholemeal Flour 1.5Kg - $2.49
Cornflour (Corn Starch) 300gm - $1.42

Eggs Size 6 or 7 - $3.50 - $4.50/dozen
Wholemeal Bread 600gm Loaf - $2.00
Canned Tomatoes - $0.99 - $2.00
Mayonnaise 405gm - $4.89

Coca Cola 2.25L - $2.79
Coca Cola 2L - $3.71
Snack Crackers 175gm - $2.29-$2.89
Granola/Nut Bars 6 count - $3.49
Chips 150gm - $1.49
Keri Apple Based Orange Juice 3L - $3.99

Rotisserie Chicken (Size 14 1.35-1.50Kg) - $11.90
Deli Sliced Ham - $9.90/Kg

Beef Mince (Ground Beef) Prime - $14.00/Kg
Beef Mince (Ground Beef) Standard - $10.00/Kg
Pork Shoulder Roast - $12.99/Kg
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast - $19.99/Kg
Whole Size 14 (1.35-1.50Kg) Chicken - $10.00 - $12.00

These are prices from some of our recent shopping trips.  Prices vary from store to store, you can often find specials, and prices differ depending on rather the item is in season or not.  If you want to find out more about the prices of groceries, here is a link you might find handy. 

To save money (and eat healthier), we often stock up on meats while they are on sale, we make quite a bit instead of buying convenience meals, and we shop/eat seasonally.  We've also started meal planning and a grocery price book.  I'll let you know how that goes...lol  Any suggestions or tips to help me stay on track?

How to Adjust (As Pain Free As Possible)

Guess what...I'm not writing about what I originally planned to write about.  I know I said I was going to fill you in on a haka, but I've got a bit more fact checking to do before I'm comfortable putting that piece up.  Instead, you're going to get to take a walk down memory lane with me because I realized I have been in New Zealand for six months, and I'm going to talk about adjusting to life in a new country.

Before I left, everyone was giving me tips on how to adapt and what I should and should not do.  Everyone also said to "give yourself six months before you decide you don't like living there".  I read and researched ways to make life as an expat less difficult, and for the most part, all of the advice was spot on.  I did say for the most part.  So many times I have read and heard "If you don't like it, you can always move back home."  I think that is the worst way to look at making a big move.

I mulled that piece of advice over in my head on several occasions, and one day while washing dishes, it hit me.  I won't ever "go back home" for more than visits.  I know some of you are thinking "never say never because you don't know what the future holds". No, I don't know what the future holds, but I can tell you if Ben and I ever moved to the U.S., it wouldn't be "going home".  Even if we moved back to Alabama, it will not be what I left.

My life is different, my family in Alabama didn't cease to live because I'm no longer there, and my friends have moved on and filled in my empty slot.  This doesn't mean that they're less important to me or I to them, but it does mean there's no going back to how things once were.  Time didn't stop once I moved away, and things have changed, including me.  The glasses that color my world aren't the same, so I would never see my home in Alabama like I use to.  When I had this great epiphany, I was saddened by it, initially.  It's hard to let go of the past, and life in Alabama is my past.

Letting go of what once was doesn't mean forgetting it, because your past is part of who you are.  I thought about that for a bit, and then I cheered up.  I will always be a southern girl, but this southern girl knows that she has to live in the present and future.  I keep up with my family and friends, but I don't look at my life thinking I can always go back.  It's made adapting to life here much easier for me.

Another thing that's made life in another country easier is realizing I'm in another country.  So many expats get caught up in trying to make their new home the same as their old home.  They don't like the way the New Zealand businesses shut down without notice over summer break, they don't like how kiwis are more concerned with going to the beach than driving a new SUV, they don't like the food, they don't like the dress, cost of living is too high...you get the picture.  A lot of expats want here to be like "there".  Sorry, it doesn't work like that, and once I realized that, things here became easier for me.

For the most part, I embrace the kiwi culture, and I love most aspects of it.  Sure, there are some things I don't love, such as someone offering me tea and it being hot with milk in it, but I don't dwell on things I can't change.  I incorporate what I miss into my life, but I don't expect kiwis or New Zealand as a whole to change to accommodate me and my culture.  I made the choice to move here, and in doing so, I accepted the responsibility of adapting to a new way of life.  I think the quicker expats learn cultural assimilation, the easier they will find life in their new home.

Part of living in a new country also means making friends with the locals.  There's a whole lot of foreigners in New Zealand, and you'll also find support groups for expats, forums on the internet, cultural affiliation get togethers, etc.  That's great!  There's an initial base of support to help transplants get acclimated to their new life, but after a certain point it kinda becomes a crutch.  See, a lot of immigrants want to hang out with immigrants, and then they get to talking about the differences between here and where-ever they're from. After that, they start grumbling about things they don't like here.  They end up disgruntled, missing 'home', and angry because they expect NZ to adapt to their way of life.

This is why I say get to know the locals.  You'll hear some people claim that outsiders aren't welcome, but I can assure you, that's not the case.  EVERYONE knows I'm not a local.  My accent gives it away, and out of all the immigrants here, I get asked "Where are you from?"  I've not had anyone be rude or make snide remarks about Americans.  I think it's because I'm rather friendly and don't sit around going on and on about New Zealand's inferiority to my home country.  Kiwis are a proud bunch, and they're not going to take kindly to an outsider bashing their country and wanting to make it more like 'home'.  The way they see it is if you don't like it here, go back home, they didn't ask you to move here!

Which brings me to another key feature of successful immigration....come here, or there, or wherever you think you might want to live!!  I hear and read about so many people that up and move somewhere sight unseen, or in New Zealand's case, sight seen on the big screen.  Sure, there are some people that pick up and move to a place they've never traveled to, but for the average person, you're setting yourself up for failure.  I didn't move here without knowing what I was getting into.  I visited last year, and I didn't stay on the tourist path either.  Ben made sure I got to see what life as a local was like.  I saw the prices of food, clothes, houses, gas, etc.  It's easy to get caught up in the beauty and touristy parts of NZ, but I had to keep in mind life here wasn't going to be as a tourist.

Also part of not being a tourist meant I had to deal with immigration and local licensing authorities.  I'm not going to get into what all that entailed right now, but I will tell you that I did so much reading before my sudden move.  Do your research before deciding to immigrate, and be prepared to jump through lots of hoops.  Don't expect special consideration to be given to you for your particular situation because you won't get it.  I have been frustrated numerous times, but I successfully managed to work my way through it.

Now you know what I've done to adapt to life in Aotearoa (Maori for Land of the Long White Cloud aka New Zealand), and I'm sure they can be applied to any move.  We'll see if my little bag of tricks are still working for me in another six months, once I'm out of the honeymoon phase.

If any of you have tips to make life in a new place easier, I would love to hear them!!

Going Crunchy

I feel like I should be at some sort of 'Anonymous Addiction Meeting' as I admit this.  "Hello, I'm Callie, and I'm turning crunchy..." For those of you that know me, I'm sure there are a few gasps and slack jawed expressions going on as you read this.  I know, I found it hard to believe myself...well, initially.  After the shock wore off, I embraced my new found love of all things some things crunchy.  Hey, I'm a newbie to the granola world, I can't love all things.  There are places I draw the line...ie "no poo".  For those of you not into the lingo, no poo means no shampoo.  Yes, there are some people that don't use shampoo (no judement intended).  I've not researched it, so I don't know how it works.  Regardless, rest assured, I do still wash my hair...although at the end of the day, it really doesn't look like it (or smell like it) after Little Stevie's spit up in it a few times.

What has gotten into me, you are probably wondering.  Well, I like to blame it on New Zealand.  "WHAT?!" Yes, I'm blaming it on my new home.  Some of these changes were brought on by it being the norm (recycling/reusing) and some by force.  I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical to begin with.  I grew up with air conditioning.  When I realized that most people over here didn't have (or use) the a/c, I was a bit wary.  When I saw how many clothes lines were strung up, again, I was slightly O.o (that is googley eyed, in case you are wondering). I pouted a bit when I realized there are things from the States I can't get here, or what I can get is expensive/tastes different.  Since I was in a new country, there were two things I could have done.  I could have whined and resisted, and ultimately made adapting harder, or I could enthusiastically jump in with both feet and have a go of it.  Yes, I dove in, and giggled like a school girl as I hung out my first load of laundry.

Were there a few groans along the way, you betcha!  The weather here is very unpredictable, and I nor the weather man can determine if it's going to be a good drying day or not.  There have been many rain soaked clothes, and I have wanted to be like the lady that lives behind me and leave them out rain or shine because they will eventually dry....even if it is a week later. ;)  There were a couple of times that I wished for air con.  I went through summer pregnant, and not just pregnant, but my final trimester of pregnancy...you know, the most uncomfortable part.  Also, it wasn't just any summer, it was the hottest summer in history (click that link for proof). By the end of my pregnancy, I was waddling around scoffing at those complaining about the heat and humidity.  Pfft...amateurs!!  This Bama girl knows all about heat and humidity.  That being said, it's probably the only thing that saved me from whining, crying, and begging for a/c to be installed.

I started to learn to make things in order to replicate the taste of products I missed from the U.S.  It began with taco seasoning and Sloppy Joe's.  Yes, they have taco seasoning here, but I didn't have any on hand and refused to go to the market.  Hmmm...maybe laziness should be added to my list of reasons for becoming more crunchy.  A Facebook status made me have a craving for Sloppy Joe's, and I knew to not even bother with trying to find Manwich mix at the grocery store.  A base recipe, followed with a dash of this and sprinkle of that, and Voila!!!  I made my own!!!  They tasted just as good, if not better than the can mix.  The same goes for the taco seasoning, it tasted just like the packets of Old El Paso, but without all of the preservatives!!!!

That did me in, I was on a mission to make as many convenience products as I could.  I saw they tasted the same or better and they didn't have additives.  That's right; I said additives...I've also started calling them "nasty fillers" and ugh..."chemicals".  No, I nor anyone I know has died from the before mentioned, but if I have the option to buy versus make, I now choose to make it.  Since my initial kitchen diy experiments, I've also taken on the task of making cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, steak sauce, and chili mix, just to name a few.  All of my attempts have been successful.  It's started to become sort of like a game of Make It If You Can.  I don't bother looking for the pre-made ingredients for recipes any longer.  I make what-ever it is I need, toss the extras in the freezer or pantry, and it's very cost effective.  Win!!!

Cost is another factor that lead to me "going to the green side".  Have you seen the cost of diapers?!?!?!  They're not cheap, but I am.  After seeing what they cost when Root Toot was a baby, I decided I wanted to forgo that added expense.  Hello cloth diapers!!  After researching and reading and more researching and reading, I decided to go with BumGenius 4.0 diaper...or nappies as they're called here.  They seemed the most user friendly, had great reviews, and the best part...I got them when they were buy 5 get 1 free with free shipping!!!!  Woohoo!!  We did use disposable for about 3 weeks, so including that cost of around $100 and the cost of her BG nappies, she has been diapered from birth to potty for less than $450.

BumGenius 4.0 on smallest setting

I also decided to save money by forgoing disposable wipes.  I make a wipe solution of water and a few drops of  tea tree oil.  Tea tree oil is great, and when she did get nappy rash while wearing disposables, it helped clear her bum right up!!  Also effective at clearing up a red bum and diaper rash...COCONUT OIL!!!

Coconut Oil...versatile natural product

Coconut oil is anti-fungal and safe for cloth nappies.  It's also inexpensive and easily found.  Go check out the cooking oil or international food aisle at your local market, cheaper than all the other creams and just as good.  It's also great for use as a moisturizer and hair treatment...that's why I have a big jar of it. ;)

To be on the safe side, and to make nappy clean up easier, I did buy fleece to use as a liner.  It's really easy to make your own, which is what I did.  Since I was at the craft store, I also bought felt to make Stevie a mobile and hangy things for her car seat.  Cheap, and I can make more so she doesn't have to see the same one over and over.

Sewing, laundry detergent making, and soap making are next on my diy/crunchy living list.  Ben's going to get me a sewing machine, so we'll see how that goes.  I'm picking up the dedicated soap making pots and pans this weekend when we head to market.  I would say my poor family, but Ben is a good sport, and actually encourages me...lol  We'll see how encouraging he is if I mess up the pH in the soap and he gets a chemical peel.  Muahahahahaha!!  Yes, that was my evil villian laugh.

Perhaps the biggest change for me came with my maternity care and Stevie's birth.  I'm not going to get into the maternity services of New Zealand right now, but I will say that as long as you're having a normal pregnancy, it is less medicalized than the States.  I had an amazing midwife for my maternity care.  I also chose to not give birth in the hospital.  I had Little Stevie at Waterford Birth Centre.  I had an unmedicated waterbirth.  Yep, I opted to go all natural...no epidural, no iv pain meds (or iv for that matter), and no air & gas.  I had her in the birthing tub, delayed cord cutting, delayed her bath, and brought home her placenta (not to eat or encapsulate..I'm not that crunchy, but kudos to those who are).

On that note, I'm going to leave you to mull over that last paragraph.  The little monster is awake, and I have laundry to do, which I accomplish by wearing my baby in a wrap.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!!  I'm going to think about rather or not to post up my birth story and get busy with a few diy things...Cheers!

Wow!! It's Been a While!!

My how life has changed since my last post!!  The last time I wrote, I was running around trying to finish up last minute things before Little Stevie's arrival.  Yes, that's what we call her Little Stevie...short for Little Stevie Wonder.  You should see her head groove!!  LOL  Sometimes she's referred to as Snaggle Tooth, but that's a whole different story.  Back to my original train of thought...life changing.  I was heading into my midwife appointments, buying a few little last minute things that she "needed" (ie. cute gowns), buying a few last minute things that I needed, and trying my hardest to get her to turn and drop.  The closer I got to my due date, the harder I worked to achieve the latter of the before mentioned...and then I saw my due date approach...and then I saw my due date pass.

Let me tell you, it's not exactly exciting to watch your due date go by.  All I could do was think "OMG!!  I don't want to be induced!!  I'm a labor and delivery nurse with a BIRTH PLAN!!!!!"  For those of you unaware....being a nurse pretty much ensures that something is going to go wrong, and having a birth plan is kinda like signing consents for a c-section.  So yeah, I was pretty much the poster child for an induction followed by a stat c-section.  To all of my ob friends...I did NOT sit down and write a formal birth plan...let me repeat...I did NOT write a formal birth plan.  The birth plan was filled in by my midwife and was part of my medical record.  I am happy to report, I did not get induced, nor did I have a c-section!!  Woohoo!!!  The U.S. nurse/birth plan juju did not cross the Pacific Ocean with me!!!! :D :D :D  I had a short and sweet labor followed by the arrival of Little Stevie!!!

Here she is...a couple of hours after birth.

Don't Swaddle My Hands!!!

Here's some more photos of her throughout the past weeks.  You can see how much she's changed and how time really has flown by!!

Snoozing at the birth centre

I'm Getting Sleepy

Pitching a Fit!!

Crashed

Night Night

Since her arrival, we've been pretty busy, to say the least!!  Ben was home to take care of us for a while, and I am so thankful for that.  I got to rest, we got our nursing routine down pat, and we had time to bond before the day to day activities kicked in.  She had her first outing (to the library), has been to the grocery store, to the markets, and she has even made a quick trip to The Base (the mall).  We've embarked on our journey with cloth diapers and wipes.  We've figured out a bath routine...the longer it lasts the happier she is.  We're getting more sleep at night, and she's awake more during the day.  All in all, life is good.

Now that we have somewhat of a schedule, I'll have a little more free time and be back to blogging more frequently.  She's telling me she's ready to eat again, so that's all for now.

I hope everyone is doing great!! 

"THE Incident"

I've been in my new home for a little over a month now, and so far, settling in has been going great.  I know everything I have written about so far has been on the positive side, but there have been hiccups along the way.  Hiccups are to be expected, right?  Of course they are, it's what makes life funny..well, not at that moment, but in hindsight at any rate.  Looking back, I'm having a laugh right now as I think about what Ben has started referring to as "THE Incident".

I had started thinking about things like, food in general (thanks Pinterest)...which in turn lead me to thinking about grilled chicken, which in turn made me start thinking about side dishes for grilled chicken.  Side dishes...hmmm...potato salad!!  Yes, and potato salad has pickled relish in it.  Pickled relish, oh I needed that, because then I could make tuna salad, egg salad, deviled eggs, and chicken salad...you can see how my train of thought quickly derailed and honed in on the pickled relish and all things surrounding it.  Needless to say, I spent the rest of the afternoon fantasizing contemplating all the wonderful things I could do with one jar of pickled relish. 

Fast forward a few hours... My amazingly wonderful dear hubby walked through the door after he got off work, and announced he was going to the market.  I nearly squealed with delight!  He asked THE question I wanted to hear "Do you need anything?"  Why yes, yes I did.  I looked at him with eyes full of hope (much like a child as they sit on Santa's lap and whisper their Christmas wish list) and said, "Do y'all have pickled relish here?" He was thoughtful for a minute and then proceeded to tell me how they have aaaaaallll kinds of relish here.  Yes, that's great...but that did not answer the question of if New Zealand has pickled relish.  I tried again..."ummmhmmm...do you have pickled relish?" He looked at me and said, "What do you mean by pickled relish?"

I quickly realized that we were about to have some cultural difference issues, and decided that I would personally oversee the purchase of  the relish.  I told him it was okay, I would check it out when I went, and requested a Milky Bar instead.  Milky Bars are basically white chocolate bars, and it was just what I needed since my relish dreams were smashed for the moment.  One Milky Bar and a couple of days later, I had all but forgotten my pickled relish infatuation. 

Life continued on, and I found other things to obsess fixate occupy my time.  The weekend rolled around, and we did our normal errands like, grocery shop.  We were fighting the crowd and participating in buggy wars, and I had still not thought about my beloved relish...until we walked past chicken.  You guessed it...the wheels in my brain started turning, and everything in my head stopped and immediately returned to zeroing in on pickled relish.  I became possessed...must have pickled relish NOW!!!  So, we immediately went to where all things relish was located.

I happily pranced up to the shelf, and I surveyed the many different types of relish.  Nope...no dill pickled relish...no sweet pickled relish...no cucumber pickle relish of any kind.  I was slightly disheartened, but hey, it's okay...I'm from Alabama...I can improvise!!  I can dice up my own dill pickles!  Problem solved!  I march myself down to the pickle section, with Ben in tow helping me search, and I see all kinds of pickled vegetables.  The one thing I did not see was dill pickles.  How can New Zealand NOT have dill pickles?!?!?!  I was heartbroken!! 

I start to rant and mutter about not having dill pickles, and who eats stupid gherkins...much less bread and butter gherkins, and come to think of it, why are their no dill gherkins, does New Zealand not know what dill is?  Ben was wanting to know what's wrong and what did I mean by a dill pickle.  Ummm...you know, a pickle that is dill flavor...NOT bread and butter and NOT a gherkin.  "A pickled what?" he asks.  Apparently, we were having a cultural difference, but I was too distraught to notice, or care. "A CUUUU-CUM-BER!"  At this point, I noticed that I was on the verge of becoming irrational and I just wanted to go before I started crying in the middle of the grocery store. 

Ben, bless his heart, was trying his hardest to help me out, and he continued to look for pickles.  I was becoming more agitated by the second because I knew it was futile...all of my hopes and dreams were ruined, and all I wanted to do was bawl my eye balls out.  "I don't want them, they're not here, let's go home." He looked at me like I had lost my mind, and I had...I wanted pickles, they weren't there, and I have pregnancy hormones running through my blood stream...need I say more?  He continued to look and explain to me that it helps when I clearly describe to him what it is I'm searching for.  My irrational emotions make it harder to contain my tears, and none of this is what I want to hear at the moment, so I do like any woman, and quickly repeat that "I want to go home" before saying nothing. 

He finally gives up on the pickles, and we make our way through the rest of our shopping with me replying "no" to everything he asks from that point forward.  The ONLY thing I wanted was dill pickles, and they did not have them.  I managed keep my composure, and we got in the car to head home.  At this point, I'm still not speaking because I know how silly it is that I'm this upset by the pickles, but there's nothing I can do about it.  I just wanted to go home and wallow in my sorrow.  Poor Ben, he just wouldn't give up, and he pulled into a Mediterranean specialty store to see if they had them.  I knew from the moment I saw what type of store it was...there were not going to be any pickles, and I was not going to be any happier about the whole situation.  After my knowledge was confirmed, we then once again, made our way home.

Once we got to the house, I was finally able to console myself.  I sprawled across the bed and cried before having a nap.  4 1/2 hours later, I woke up feeling a bit better.  I had a little more sense about me, and went to the source of all knowledge...Google!!  If there were dill pickles to be had in New Zealand, Google would know!!  Apparently, this has been a topic of interest from others that moved over, and I did manage to find a couple of recommendations as to where they might be carried...including an American specialty store in Auckland.  Ben, checked them out online, but unfortunately, they don't have online shopping.  It's okay, we're headed to Auckland in a couple of weeks, and if I have not found pickles by then, I will be checking them out while we're there!

So, there you have it....the story of my temporary insanity and my unsuccessful quest for dill pickles in New Zealand.  My Momma had to hear this story shortly after it happened.  She did NOT make me feel better...she laughed at me, and then she told my Granny.  I found out about Granny knowing when I called to see how she was doing, and after exchanging pleasantries, she said, "So, tell me...how are the dill pickles in New Zealand?"  She immediately cracked up laughing. 

Now, every time I say something positive about New Zealand, I'm quickly informed of how tasty the pickles are back home...LOL  I can get a laugh out of it now, and I think someone in my family is going to take pity of me and ship me some.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I find them here, but if anyone wants to send pickles my way, I'm willing to provide my address! :D  Until next time...everyone take care and eat a few dills in my honor!!