"The wise speak only of what they know" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Good evening!!

Special quick, photoless post today—

Thoughts on language differences, and facts about you, my reader

On what internet browser you use...

58% of you use Chrome.

21% of you use Firefox.

7% of you use Internet Explorer (why?).

12% of you use Safari and Iphones.

1% of you use Opera.

On where you live...

81% of you live in the United States.

15% of you live in New Zealand.

2% of you live in Russia.

1% of you live in Germany.

1% of you live in Malaysia.

less than 1% of you live in South Korea.

Are you disturbed that I know that? Because I'm disturbed that I know that. 

How much do you know about me? Can you find out where I post from? What web browser I'm using? 

And now, thoughts on language—

in other words, things kiwis say that leaves me flabbergasted.

Chips are fries. Fries here do not exist. Quite a few people (kiwis and otherwise) giggle when I say fries. But usually they know what I'm talking about.

Biscuits are cookies. Cookies do not exist. I have difficulty attempting to explain what American biscuits are because there is just no equivalent. Are we the only country that combines fat and flour?

Candy floss is cotton candy. This one I knew, but it was still funny to hear people say it.

Capsicum is bell peppers. This one I was not expecting. I was entirely floored, and had no idea what my flatemate, Jess was talking about. I had to look it up.

Choice means awesome. You would use it synonymously with “fantastic” or “sweet.”

Entree—this one is most confusing. An entree is an appetizer. We learned this the hard way when a few of our group ordered entrees one evening. Whoops!

Jandals are flip flops. How odd.

Togs are swimsuits. Who decided that one? Swim suits is pretty basic. Suits we swim in. Togs? May I inquire as to the derivation? 

Flat is apartment. This one I caught up with pretty quickly.

Jumper/Jersey—jumper is a pullover hoodie, and jersey is one that zips, but they're pretty much the same thing.

Keen—adjective. Used to see if someone wants to/would be up for something. “Keen to go to a movie?” or “keen for a swim?” 

Sweet as—quite a popular phrase meaning cool, awesome, nice, etc.

sick, or sick as: pretty much the same thing. Just more intense than sweet as, in my opinion.

Mean—also pretty much the same thing. Ex. “I just got a free taco!” “Mean!”

Pardon: very common. They never use excuse me, but pardon if they didn't hear you.

If they bump into you, it's “sorry” not “pardon” or “excuse me”

I'm attempting to teach my kiwi friends “boss.” It's quite cute, what with their accents and all. We also have started adding “as” to everything. “Mean as, boss as, awesome as, choice as,” etc.

In terms of things I say that are “wrong” most of it is “fries” and “y'all.” I get made fun of for saying “y'all” all the time. Not made fun of in a negative way, though. I think they're cute, they think I'm cute. I've made no effort to stop. They have their sayings; I have mine. I am still American after all.

And the main reason for the post today...

I got a webcam!

Please let me know if you want to skype! I'm not going to post my name here, but if you don't have it, email me and ask. But if I don't know you (Pretty sure I don't know anyone reading this in Germany or Russia or South Korea...) please don't ask me to skype with you. That would be extremely weird.

Adios <3