Hi, I found this chat thread while looking to see if swiffer products were available in NZ!
I read through the entire thread and found it informative and interesting. Thanks to Nolasmom to point out seemingly insignificant but definitely important items to the potential expats.
I have to admit, they are moreso seemingly insignificant to me, but that is also due to the fact of my exposure (although limited) to the culture over the past few decades. (My husband and I are currently looking to relocate there, btw) I can certainly see how these items in discussion would be important to those potential newcomers.
I am quite curious as to the different situations each contributor to the discussion that brought them to NZ. It appears that some have been there for a while, others not so long, and perhaps there were some that lived there temporarily at first? I guess I am just looking to complete my image of the discussion.
For me, I started with a pen-pal in the 5th grade. I have been there twice and stayed in homes, hostels, campsites, hotel and motels. In addition to the home stays I have done my own laundry, cooked my own meals, shopped for my own groceries and have preferred going off the beaten path as opposed to touristy-traps. For the sake of not getting too wordy, I feel I have gotten cultural input beyond a typical visitor. Aware that I don't have all the information, but having a good "sense" of where New Zealand is in comparison to American "givens", none of what Nolasmom said surprised me. So, my curiosity is in the wondering wether or not any of you have had a similar background as I.
