More Compare and Contrast

Food:

• In the US, turkey is everywhere.  Turkey breast sandwiches are ubiquitous.  Not so here.  Turkey is a special item.  Even the turkey breast at Subway chains is different-- it's chopped and formed.
• In the void left by turkey, people love ham here.  Ham ham ham.
• Food prices are higher, on average, than the US.  There are some notable exceptions, like baby formula, which is about half the price.  And although it's more expensive, food quality is so much higher.  I've been annoying Adnan with my excitement over the grocery store eggs.  They're wonderful!  The higher quality is worth paying for, in my opinion.
• There are only two grocery chains here.  There is a hubbub on the news about how this duopoly is driving prices higher.  Indeed, NZ has the world's highest increase in food prices in the last ten years.  I suspect that the news shining a light on this will actually create change; that tends to happen here.
•  I just found a small desi market that sells everything from bulk bins for wayyyy cheaper.  Hooray!
• They make a big deal out of free range meat and cage-free eggs.  Like, it's OK to eat animals, as long as they're well cared for.
•  And they also make a big deal out of local products that are responsibly and/or sustainably produced.
• There are fewer choices in items than we're used to in the US.  Everything's available, there are just fewer options.  Like, sure, you can get vegetarian burger patties.  There's this one brand.

Other stuff:

• People are just so NICE here.  I had the most lovely time at the DMV because people were just chatting with me.  The people I've met thus far have been trusting, open and forthright, friendly, and in no rush.
  
• On the flip side, since they are in no rush, they also don't let you rush them.  (See also the fact that our home phone is likely to take 21 days to install.  This means 21 days to simply flip a switch, not rewire a house.)
  
• People recognize and appreciate that they're living in a paradise.
• Although kinda dependent economically on Australia, NZers don't really seem to like Australians.  There's a commercial for the local TV talking about how Tuesdays are the 'Australian-free evening'.
• School is year-round, with month-long breaks here and there.  The school year starts in February and ends just before Christmas.
• Rent is by the week.  And about half the US price.
  
• There is sales tax, but it's included in the price.  What you see on the price tag is what you pay.
• There's no tipping here.  People are decently paid for their work and would view tips as patronizing.