rupert_pumpkin

just in case anyone was contemplating it, don't try and bring juggling balls into NZ, they get quarantined as they are considered a biohazard because they contain birdseed.

i paid the $30 and picked them up, place was a 55 minute walk from airport and they'd observed them at high temperature so they lost all their shape and colour

Mark & Sarah

Thats altogether put me off applying to emigrate!

NZ Climber

Never had a problem with the 9 that I shipped into the country along with the rest of our stuff.

Pinkie Pie

I hope juggling isn't a requirement for getting into the country!!!

Never had you pegged as a juggler Rupert! It's amazing what hidden talents we all have...anyone got anything startling to reveal???...my best talent is being able to cook tea, iron, help kids with homework and read a book - all at the same time...

Hope you had a good journey and are settling ok in NZ Rupert...

rupert_pumpkin

settling in fine thanks, got a decent job pretty quickly, getting on well with the bird and generally and loving it over here

once i get used to being called "ellen" instead of alan (my real name) i will be sweet as!

Andrew Cross

That really made me laugh the 'ellen' for alan....
I work at Heathrow and have noticed since deciding to move to NZ (jan 06)
that quite a few words sound like something else ie 'chicken' is what it sounds like when asking about check-in...
sue

extrameant

When I first started looking for work here, I tried phoning companies, just anyone remotely involved im my area, to find out who was the person I need to talk to. I have always found if you get put onto HR, just back off and try again, waste of space.

Anyway, this person told me the guy I needed to speak to was Mr letch. In fact, he was able to put me through to him now, so I got to talk to the man in charge who might be intested in my particular field, rather than a bunch of numties in HR.

Problem was he was called mr Latch, and I don't think he took kindly to me calling him a letch!

There is no way kiwis understand what a cat is. You have to say Ket, seems to be the hardest word for them.

SarahB

Hehe... Mr Letch!!

I was at chipmunks yesterday and was sitting on the edge of a small bouncy castle just for toddlers while my little lad got used to it.... a slightly older lad bounced up and asked me if I was Pwegmamt.... ermm... I had to ask him again and just realised that he had problems saying the word. I think he was just being careful that he didnt bounce too close to me and hit me.....awww bless.

Pompey_Paul

Sounds like a whole new thread.....dont it?, words that sound different in Kiwi

lapsed kiwi

Here are some, from when I arrived in UK after 9 years in NZ:
- unable to buy a pint of Bass in Devon, my "bass" was a "best" to Devon ears
- tried to borrow a pen in a bank to write a cheque, was given a pin

80s Chick

Go on then Paul/Pam...start one!! Got one for you here from listening to an ad on Kiwi radio on the World Wide WIB...

fantastic = fin-tis-tuck

BTW there are 3 Kiwi teachers at Georgina's school so I'm sure I can find more

Phyl

uk+kiwi

Yep, my kiwi husband still cannot say the phonetic 'e' sound. Has to try really hard so as not to confuse our children who are at the critical spelling/sounding out for reading & writing ages of 5 and 4!

I think 'a' is also a bit tricky.

Would be very interested in how they teach phonic sounds to young children starting school. In fact, it does put me off a bit I have to admit, lovely as accents are.

Oh and we've said it on the forum before - known pronounced as know-en. MIL & OH both do this.

Bye for now.