Truths in New Zealand (to be read after Truths from back home)

1. Togs are bathing suits, jandals are flipflops, there is still a debate as to whether this is a short form of saying 'japanese sandals'.
2. A billy is an aluminum pot used for tramping, which is hiking with a backpack.
3. Billy goats in fact exist in real life, as do bean stalks.
4. A torch is a battery-operated hand-held light source, or as most people would call it, a flashlight.
5. Traveling south does NOT, I repeat NOT mean getting warmer if you are just North of Antartica.
6. Tea apparently refers to any meal aside from breakfast. Breakfast is breakfast.
7. Relish is a delicious home-made preserve to be eaten on bread, with meat, with anything actually. If something is lacking in taste, add some relish. Or Vegemite, for that matter.
8. Figs apparently are fruit that grow on trees, and are originally not dried. Amazing. And unbelievably delicious.
9. Grapes can become raisins if they ripen and then sit on the vine in the sun for long enough, unless mold starts to grow on them, in which case don't eat them.
10. Jarring and canning are apparently still done. And satisfying to do. Although it takes a lot of jars, a lot of cleaning of said jars and at least a whole day.
11. Wood-fire stoves also apparently still exist in real-life and are still used. They are also quite effective in heating, cooking and baking.
12. Morning Glory and clematis have another name here: convulvulis and old man's beard. And they are not delicate things, they are awful, awful weeds that take over everything and are a super pain to get rid of.
13. Public nudity is NOT illegal, riding a bicycle without a helmet IS illegal. What happens when you have this kind of a combination? Naked bike ride! Which happened down the street from me a few weeks ago. See: http://www.goldenbaynz.co.nz/pg_naked_bike_09.html (No, I didn't participate)

14. Beets are dark pink in colour and are the most foul things on earth. However, silver beets are a green leafy vegetable that are quite tasty. Phew.
15. Murray, Germaine and Bret ARE the most famous New Zealanders. True story.

Truths from back home.

1. Togs and jandals are made up words. 
2. Billy is a name, short form for William.
3. Billy goats and bean stalks are things that exist in fairy tales.
4. A torch is a massive stick with something wrapped around one end to light on fire. Usually used in village protests such as in Beauty & the Beast.
5. Traveling south means you're going into warmer climate.
6. Tea refers to a drink, hot or cold.
7. Relish is a Heinz product made of pickles, usually not something to be eaten frequently or particularily enjoyed all that much.
8. Figs are dried things found in a grocery store, they come in a celophane packages of 16.
9. Raisins are dried things that were once grapes. They go through a magical drying process to become raisins.
10. Jarring and canning are processes of preserving food that were done in the time of Black Creek Pioneer Village.
11. Wood-fire stoves are also a phenomena found in Black Creek Pioneer Village.
12. Morning Glory and clematis are beautiful garden plants, which require care and nurture to help grow.
13. Public nudity is illegal, riding a bicycle without a helmet is not.
14. Murray, Germaine and Bret are the most famous New Zealanders.
15. Beets are dark pink in colour and are the most foul things on earth.