Back at the highly stimulating reception job again. I did such a good job of wasting time yesterday that I'm here for at least another 2 days.

Things I have forgotten to tell you...

Last Sunday (April 25) was ANZAC Day - Australia New Zealand Armed Corps- which is the equivalent of our Remembrance Day. Poppies only started being worn on "Poppy Day" the Friday before (2 days before). Veterans and good samaritans swarmed the streets canvassing for everyone to get a poppy. On the Sunday memorial services were held (I guess, that was the day we went to Akaroa). It is not a public holiday here though but I believe it is in some Australian provinces. Why in April? It's celebrating a battle that the ANZAC forces played an important role in. From what I've learned, ANZAC troops fought mainly in Africa and the middle east.

There is a new kind of kiwi fruit! Golden kiwis are relatively new to the market, being developed in the last 5 years or so in NZ. I'm told they are sweeter and a gold colour inside. The outside is much smoother than a regular kiwi. They're fairly expensive though because they've become hugely popular in Asia so few are left in the local market.

Everyone thinks I'm Irish! All the kiwis, their first guess at my accent is Irish and they normally don't believe I'm Canadian. I figure that's because almost all Canadians here are from the west coast, a few from Ontario but not many. Other than the crew I lived with, I have only met one of east coaster (from Cape Breton but had Summerside roommates in university). She had gotten the Irish bit too through her travels. Beats being called an American!

Question: how many remember being taught that Australia was special because not only was it a country, but it was a continent too? I honestly don't ever remember hearing of New Zealand before 3 or 4 years ago. I believe the continent is Australasia now (but I could, embarrassingly enough, be wrong).

Have I talked about "the wizard"? He's an older man who dresses up in a wizard suit and every afternoon in the square he gives a lecture about why is north up & south down to anyone who cares to listen. He has quite an interesting take on it all and claims that if the entire world voted on this one issue, south would be up and north down as the countries with the greatest populations would want to be physically above their opponents. Something to think about. I enjoy catching a bit of his ramble now and then. Speaking of ramble...