Kiwis in America
Ranked #1,830 in Culture & Society, #42,272 overall
Kiwis in America are adaptable people but sometimes it is just great to talk our own lingo, share a sheep joke, talk nostalgically about Vegemite and find out where the parties are that promise saveloys and tomato sauce...
check out my Find a Kiwi section which I add to whenever I find a new social club or organization where Kiwis can meet and speak the lingo! While not exhaustive I give you links to getting all the stuff you miss from home that you can actually buy here without surrendering an arm and a leg. Things like Vegemite and Marmite which I buy in six packs or sometimes in a huge tub. Check out my bio picture!
I'll even try to put info on topics that as a New Zealander I should know a hell of a lot more about or enjoy and hopefully not bore you stiff.
Also check out my sister lens to this one: Aussies in America
.Lots of pie info on that one!
Table of Contents
I use the term content loosely
- Saveloys anyone?
- Kiwi Ramblings
- Links - tenuous or otherwise
- Apparently I can't shift the car,..
- Marrying a Yank
- Kiwi Christmas in LA anyone?
- Find a kiwi
- Shopenzed
- The Great Debate
- Great Stuff on Amazon
- Quirky NZ clothing stuff from CafePress
- Anything but a t-shirt on CafePress
- Help the Australians!
- 'Essential Kiwi' YouTube vids
- Flickr NZ
- Newstalk ZB News
- Reader Feedback
Saveloys anyone?
Nostalgic fare - a rare taste that few Yankees have ever sampled!
Saveloys are unheard of here and American cheerios have no relation to our little sausage on a toothpick!. Let me know if there's a place you can buy them or a recipe on how to make 'em.
Kiwi Ramblings
From an addled mind
It has always amazed me that so many New Zealanders start up conversations with strangers more often on rugby than using something safe like the weather. Now I have nothing against rugby at all. I can be in a room with people screaming and yelling at the TV and still read my book quite happily. Taxi drivers would start up conversations with "Good game yesterday, aye?". Not wanting to say anything that would encourage a conversation where I couldn't contribute anything meaningful I would say something like "Is Craig Green still an All Black?" and that would end it quickly. It was a great way to ward off anyone really. For the rugby experts I did go to Rugby Museum of New Zealand and found that he played 20 tests between 1983 and 1987 and now he's getting famous all over again or perhaps for the first time here on this lens in USA!One great shame of my life is that I only learned to eat oysters when living in Macau. It seems that the bland oysters full of poisons from the polluted seas off Hong Kong tasted better than Bluff Oysters. However on my return to the deep south I found that in my 49th year of NZ life I could now eat them, and then I was willing to be introduced to the world of Toheroa patties. It has been hard to find them on any Wisconsin menu and now I can't make up for lost time.
I'm a well traveled girl but it is really only until you live in another country that you really dwell on being a New Zealander. I lived in Macau in 2005 and found that because I expected everything to be so totally different that I was ready for anything and often pleasantly surprised when things were often similar to home despite often having to do charades to get myself understood. Here I expect so much to be the same and find so many things so different it can be frustrating. The fact that you're charged more for using a debit card than a check/cheque and having to use pennies again.
Enough whining - on to the good stuff!
BTW - If you're wondering about my choice of photo in the introduction where I could have chosen from a gazillion fabulous photos of New Zealand I just love the way this photo of a bach at Taylors Mistake near Christchurch epitomizes the Kiwi can do attitude. I bet they can't get insurance though!
Links - tenuous or otherwise
In no particular order
- Dub Pies
- Craving for a real meat pie or sausage rolls? If you live in NYC or are only a day away in terms of delivery these guys (the Down Under Bakery) might be just the ticket for a party.
- Air Tahiti
- Used to fly out of New York but no longer but stlll worth being on their emiail list for the specials to NZ a couple of times a year which usually include a free stopover in Tahiti.
- Kea Global
- Kea brings together expats and 'friends of New Zealand' to create a powerful global network for the benefit of New Zealand. Kea is independent, non-political and non-profit. There are Kea chapters in New York, Boston and Washington. You can look for jobs for people who like Kiwis or want to work with Kiwis
- Buy USA
- Tired of people back home asking you to buy things over here and then have to get a loan to pay packing and shipping? These guys do all that for the folks back home and solve the problems with websites and companies that do not do international shipping.
- Marmite Pantry
- Not only Marmite but also VEGEMITE. I buy it in 6 packs. They have a range of other products held especially dear by Australians but these two are the most important for us. Great Service and a small operation that deserves some business. If you order anything please tell them you found them on my Squidoo site.
- Te Puna Web Directory
- This is a fantastic resource if you need to search for a website in New Zealand. Arranged by Subject groups or alphabetically it is truly better than a general search engine. The National Library has other great resources too (I know I used to work there) - such as digital images and it indexes articles in NZ magazines or in overseas magazines about NZ. To go to the home page Click here
- Arts and Letters Daily
- If you like to keep up with the world on almost anything this is the place to begin. Started by New Zealander Dennis Dutton and then sold for a tidy sum, Dennis is still Editor. How smart is that? Great links to philosophical articles, criticisms, culture, music art, disputes, gossip etc, gleaned from a huge range of magazines and newspapers.
- USAKiwis
- An emphasis on rugby news plus news and weather from 18 NZ cities.
- Kiwi Music Online
- All day every day. Wow we have some great new talents on the airwaves.
- Koru Naturals
- These guys have Honey galore - reasonable prices up to top of the range. Also fabulous skin care products, oils, CynergyTK etc from Oz and NZ.
Excellent gifts.
Apparently I can't shift the car,..
Never assume we speak the same language.
Aiso, I have to write the date with the month first, drive on the Wrong side of the road and receive my pay every two weeks instead of a fortnight and no one luxes or hoovers the floor. Making a form for work I put instructions for ticking the box which apparently was unfathomable and my cheques need checking!. I bought my American husband a small book of Kiwi slang which sits in the smallest room in the house and apparently has opened up a whole new world of linguistics.
A couple of amusing pages on the topic are www.uber.nu/2001/06/22/
and a guy called Richard Seaman aka The Flying Kiwi has a page on the topic
www.richard-seaman.com/USA/Life/Language/AmericanVersusNewZealandVocabulary.html
Marrying a Yank
and your green card and other lurid details
For more information on this and other things you ought to know about living here and also about your civic duties such as voting in New Zealand, or what to do if you lose your passport or how to get on the register of Kiwis overseas (a great help if you're caught in an area of disaster such as a tornado) go the the New Zealand embassy website
NZ Embassy:Information for New Zealanders living in the USA
Kiwi Christmas in LA anyone?
Lamb, Sausage rolls, chippolatas, Pav, Hokey Pokey.......
Find a kiwi
Social clubs and organizations you can join
Help me out people - let me know of any online and offline groups out there. I've loosely organised this list geographically from West to East Coast.California
Los Angeles Kiwi club has a great site with an events page and a fascinating bios page. Add yourself if you live there.
Kiwis in LA
San Francisco Kiwis have what seems to be a well established website and social circle.
sfkiwis
Another San Fran group for Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans. Events look to be well attended.
San-Francisco-Bay-Area-Aussies-Kiwis-and-Saffas
Texas
If you are in Texas there's is the Australia New Zealand Society of Texas (based in Houston) Along with social and cultural events they have a weekly playgroup.
Tanzot.org
Also in Texas, a new club has been formed in Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2008. No website yet but they are off to a stellar start. At their first meeting in August 2008 their guest speaker was Peter Snell. Click here to contact The Kiwi Koala Club
Illinois
Check out the 'Nationwide' post below
Indiana
A group based in Indianoplis but for all the state. A sporting and social club -includes Kiwis and anyone who has lived in either country. They also have a facebook page and a ning.com community page Indy Aussies
Georgia
In Atlanta, along with a New Zealand Honorary Consul office, there is a social group with a small membership charge.
New Zealand American Association in Atlanta
Washington DC
In Washington DC, the long standing Southern Cross Club promotes friendship amongst Aussies, Kiwis and Americans. A good business and social contact group. This site is now being updated regularly and there's a good amount of social activities, some organised by the Embassies.
They do charge for $25-$30 for a yearly membership.
Southern Cross Club
New York
New York has a thriving circle of kiwis. This website has extensive links to other regional groups however some of them are no longer current.
Kiwi Club of New York
Florida
Also there is a yahoo group for Kiwis in Florida but it seems to be pretty stagnant - maybe you could revive it?
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/Floridakiwis
Another Florida one that looks like it is alive and well is the South Florida Aussie Kiwi Club
Nationwide
Mentioned before - Yahoo Groups. Kiwis all over USA write on a range of topics but predominantly life in USA and nostalgic Kiwi stuff. Similarly www.groups.yahoo.com/group/Kiwis-in-America
Finding a Rugby club is a sure bet there's kiwis in it. This provides some good links to clubs across the states
www.ambassadorsshield.com
Did you play Netball at home? This site has a lot of information and there are links to various regional clubs with their own websites. Lots of Brits, South African, Kiwis and Americans and Blokes!!
Netball America
If you are looking at networking for business interests be sure to check out if there is a ANZACC (Australian New Zealand American Chamber of Commerce) near you. They often are a great source of social events too. The Chicago chapter has a comprehensive list of regional chapters
ANZACC Midwest
Shopenzed
Huge selection for Kiwis overseas.
Shopenzed. Shopenzed.com Gift Store - for all your New Zealand and Maori gifts, shipped worldwide, with a 365-day guarantee.Woohoo, it's only 6 weeks until Christmas! So it's time to get serious about shopping for friends and family overseas. To ensure delivery in time for Christmas, it's best we ship before the end of this month, before delivery times extend out due to high volumes of mail.
Here's some Xmas Gift Ideas just arrived:
Clever and CHEAP New Zealand T-shirts
Super-fine silky soft Merino Underwear
Cheap and cheerful NZ placemats and coasters
2011 New Zealand Calendars
Fancy All Blacks Rugby Watches
More NZ Shot Glasses for your collection
Cute All Blacks "Been inside for 9 months" Baby Onesie
More Paua Shell Earrings and New Zealand Charms
More Merino Possum Knitwear incl Silver Fern
Merino Possum Polypropylene Gloves for Farmers, Fishermen
Some old favourites have returned - Roast Lamb & Mint Chips, the Bird Clock, and the final installment of Outrageous Fortune
The Great Debate
And I already know the correct answer!
I bet everyone has had this discussion before...... Let's see who of us have the 'refined' tastes. Keep it seemly!
Great Stuff on Amazon
Adapting to life in America or just comfort stuff
Quirky NZ clothing stuff from CafePress
Some lateral thinking went on here!
Apteryx 2 (Kiwi) Sweatshirt
Everyone knows the latin name, right?
Antipodean dad Long Sleeve T-Shirt
I love this shirt.
"Desperate for Fish n' Chips" Value T-shirt
Wear this at a party and everyone will be homesick!
New Zealand-Happily Married Light T-Shirt
"Happiness is being married to a New Zealander" We should know!
New Zealand/USA Flag Design Kids Baseball Jersey
50% Kiwi, 50% Yank = 100% me. Perfect for our offspring of this international match!
Anything but a t-shirt on CafePress
which don't cost a lot!
Help the Australians!
Poor blokes didn't have a helpful site like this so I made one. Now if you've been grocery shopping and got the vegemite but need a little something else, visit my Aussies in America site and order some old fashioned meat pies.
Newstalk ZB News
Keepin' up the with the goss in NZ
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byReader Feedback
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Jayke
Aug 30, 2011 @ 5:50 pm | delete
- Great lens! FYI, U.S. consulates in foreign countries can no longer accept visa applications (re: Marrying a Yank). Enjoying your articles. Keep it up!
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Connie Beliveau
Jul 7, 2011 @ 1:10 pm | delete
- Hello! We're co-hosting a wonderful fundraising event to help the people of Christchurch rebuild after the earthquake. This will happen on August 3 in Burlington, Vermont, USA. If you would like to attend, please contact me at connie@cliohistory.org. Or you may send donations to American Friends of Christchurch, c/o Carolyn Dwyer, 329 Murray Hill Road, Montpelier, VT 05602. 100% of donations will go directly to earthquake relief efforts. Thank you!
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kiwinana71
Jun 24, 2011 @ 2:19 am | delete
- Thanks for a great lens, I enjoy it very much. Yes I am a kiwi, those saying that trap you, like this one "Apparently I can't shift the car" love it.
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zitaseven
Apr 1, 2011 @ 3:29 am | delete
- go west auckland all the way haha
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photofk3
Mar 29, 2011 @ 5:14 am | delete
- Nice lens.
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ZablonMukuba Nov 17, 2010 @ 9:38 pm | delete
- your lens made me happy
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WriterBuzz
Oct 9, 2010 @ 9:49 pm | delete
- This is a great lens. Thanks for making it. Very informative. I gave you a thumbs up
cause I like your lens.
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sandyspider
Oct 1, 2010 @ 4:00 pm | delete
- I couldn't help smiling while reading your lens. Nice work.
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Sep 10, 2010 @ 4:29 am | delete
- Wow!
I like your lens, very useful and inspiring. thank you.
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No Nonsense Muscle Building Review
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Jun 2, 2010 @ 9:00 pm | delete
- Gayle;
Along the life roads we meet people like you, we may have never lefted our feet to do so. Amazing the Internet how this space can become so filling and I'm glad I read your len's. You've brightened my day and your so right... Christopher
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by KiwiGayle
Old chick married to a Yankee. Living in the woods of Wisconsin miles from a mountain and the sea!
- 4 featured lenses
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