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Pseudo-Random Observations on a Rainy Morn (March 8)

1. Technical Differences. Variety is the spice of life, they say, and variation is job security for statisticians, some (well, a few) say. It is interesting how different societies have developed different systems for accomplishing basic functions. Left- and right-hand driving, e.g. So, here are a few more. I don’t think they say anything profound about cultural differences; they’re just interesting.

Electricity. Normal circuits here are 220 volts, rather than 110. You can sure boil your tea water faster here, so that must be the motivation (but Susie the Scientist tells me it’s an altitude thing). Plugs have angled prongs and there are three of them, so adapters are needed to plug in US appliances. Transformers may also be needed, but my computer can handle the higher voltage, so I just need a plug adapter. Electrical sockets, at least in modern houses, have on-off switches – added safety, I guess. Switches, however, are the opposite of what we’re used to – on is down, off is up. Must be a southern hemisphere thing – electricity flows from the poles (?). Their switches are rounded buttons.

Bathroom. (I’m sure some of you were wondering how long it would be before we got to this topic – and are surprised it hasn’t come up before.) Actually, here they’re labeled Toilets, publicly, ‘cause that’s their main function; they’re not a room where you rest or take a bath. Toilets operate by buttons, not levers, and there are generally two – one for half-flush, one for full-flush. Either produces a large torrent of water, so you don’t push it while seated. And it gushes, rather than swirls, so the question of clockwise or counter-clockwise is not resolved in the toilet. Toilet paper holders, in homes, are C-shaped devices hanging from the wall. You can easily slip the roll on and the lip of the C holds it on. No messing with those little spring-devices we use. Have you ever dropped one of those in the commode when you were changing the roll? I remember once as a lad I did, then compounded my error by trying to flush it down. The plumber was not amused. Sorry, Mom. Most sinks have separate hot and cold faucets and the cold is usually on the left.

Groceries. Not being sure of ourselves in the metric system, we haven’t bought much in bulk. Hamburger is called mince, which has negative connotations to Susie. On a related note, we stopped at one restaurant that advertised award-winning pies, thinking of fruit pies, but it turned out they were mince and other meat pies. Haven’t seen a spaghetti and baked bean pie yet, though. Could be a market ready to tap. On our first major shopping effort, on a busy weekend day, we were surprised to see the aisles further crowded by suppliers stocking the shelves. A fine time was had by all.

Newspapers. Sheet size is considerably larger here, which makes it harder to turn the pages when you’re on the bus sitting next to someone. Layout, though, compensates, because they seem to get a larger proportion of stories all on one page.

Letters to the Editor are a big source of entertainment. Potential war in Iraq and loss of America’s Cup have been the heavy topics, with published opinions ranging as broadly as is possible. Here was one final word on the Cup that I liked:

I must go down to the sea again

To the lonely sea and the sky;

And all I ask is a good Swiss ship and a Kiwi to steer her by

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sails shaking.

But, oh for some extra No. 8 wire to stop the damn thing from breaking!

The references, in case Cup news didn’t catch your attention, are that Team NZ lost the Cup, 5-0, to a boat financed by a Swiss billionaire (he developed some drug distilled from the urine of post-menopausal nuns – so you just have to find your niche) but crewed largely by New Zealanders (no nuns among them) he hired away from the previously victorious Team NZ. Furthermore, in two of the five races, the Kiwi boat broke down – nearly sank once, its mast broke another time.

Then one day a fellow wrote in saying he’d lived in NZ quite a while but had never been able to find a good can opener. Ones he’d tried just mangled the can, wouldn’t cut the lid, and fell apart. Could anyone help? Well, yesterday there were three letters recommending can openers – no. 1 was one by Tupperware. Jolly.

2. Country Commuting. After Susie’s one excursion driving me to the bus stop, she decided she’d done that and didn’t really need the security of having a car to drive, just in case, so I’ve been driving into the village of Silverdale to catch the bus. Also, this way I can catch a “Flyer” bus, express, non-stop to downtown Auckland, while from the country bus stop, I took a local with many stops twixt here and there. Driving to Silverdale, however, requires negotiating two round-abouts (which I find quite efficient in getting cars through intersections without the need of a stoplight) and a difficult right-hand return to the highway and Susie understandably really didn’t want to negotiate all that in the dark.

Bus trip to Auckland is about 45 mins. Bus has the advantage that for much of the route the shoulder has been designated buses only, so it can zip along pretty good. Cars, however, even before 7.00 am, are just creeping, bumper-to-bumper, for several miles leading to the Harbor Bridge. Even if parking weren’t a problem, I wouldn’t drive because of that. The Bridge is a local attraction. Several years ago it was decided to add four lanes to it – for total of eight. A Japanese firm got the contract, so the added lanes became the Nippon Clip-on. Traffic bottleneck isn’t the bridge, though, it’s the two lanes on the “motorway” where much of the in-bound traffic feeds in to the bridge approach. One Auckland adventure you can do is climb the bridge – I may do that when son Jeff visits.

From drop-off point, campus is about a 20 min. walk – down a steep hill, then up a very steep hill. The arroyo between is Queen Street, the main downtown business avenue. I found out yesterday (the 6^th), now that my commuting time is almost over, that there is a free City Circuit bus I can catch on Queen St. that would take me directly to campus. Oh, well, I definitely need the exercise and it’s been cool enough that the walk, even with heavy bag, hasn’t been too bad. But, I’m definitely in a trudge, not a stride, when I top out at the campus.

I enjoy the bustle of the city (cliché-time). Streets are crowded, mostly with young people. A major industry in Auckland is English language schools, attended by large numbers of Asian and Pacific Islander students. I don’t know quite how the system works, but my understanding is that the goal is to qualify for English-speaking universities or jobs anywhere, not just NZ, though the representation here is large. Saw an article saying the economic impact of the English-language schools on Auckland is larger than that of the America’s Cup, and this one won’t suddenly end. Our soon-to-be landlord, Michael, said he recently had a chance to invest in a University-built high-rise apartment building for Asian students (though surely it couldn’t be exclusively so). At any rate, the downtown crowd is certainly cosmopolitan. Also, there are lots of interesting-looking stores and cafes, so we’re looking forward to being closer.

Campus, of course, is really swarmed with kids. My office building is across a small quadrangle from the student union and last week every organization had their tables set up to recruit new students. From the Christian Student Association to the Beer Drinkers Club, along with many an ethnic or interest group. Then there’s a cluster of hacky-sack players, a guy doing wheelies on his trick bicycle, professors reading books while reading, etcetera, etcetera. With a rock band playing near by to kick off the school year, it’s really a boisterous place. I usually grab a sandwich from the union cafeteria. Yesterday, though, I found myself drawn to the Queen St. Wendy’s where I had a spicy chicken sandwich – tasted just like home, and every other Wendy’s I presume – quality control in action.

Cheers.

Rob and Susie

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