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.