Easter Camp Culture

(Watch the Easter Camp '08 Video Above)

The longer that we live in New Zealand, the more we realize the differences between life in the States and life here. We had a great time at camp, but there are some things that were just new or different to us. The first difference about going to camp in New Zealand is that you actually camp! Everyone brings tents and sets up for the weekend. It is such a normal thing to kiwis and not for us that we didn't even think to ask about where we would be staying. About a week before camp someone asked if they could stay in a tent with me and I started to understand.

There is something in New Zealand called ACC, this is in health care and it basically means if you get hurt but it wasn't on purpose, then you are covered and your medical bills will be taken care of. Now think about how this might affect some daily activities at camp. If you can't think of any examples of how this coverage might change things, let me help you! 

At camps in America you might play soccer for a fun sport or game to get kids involved. In New Zealand we play a similar game, but instead of a soccer ball being used in afternoon recreation time, a brick was wrapped in cloth and chicken wire and soaked in petroleum and lit on fire. The kids refer to this lovely game as "Fireball." Same idea as soccer, except it is at night and the ball is on fire. The game was completed with no major burns but many singed pants and shoes, and only one stop-drop-and roll! 

Another common activity is the horizontal bungee. This is where you run straight out but are harnessed to a bungee rope so after you go so far you get pulled back. The Kiwis have put a new twist on this as well. Instead of just running on the nice safe dry ground, they lay down a tarp and cover it with water and laundry detergent! We had some good laughs at watching this. 

As far as the food goes, Kiwis eat all of the time! We have noticed the six-meal-a-day idea is a big idea here. Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper. Supper is the name for the tea and dessert later in the evening after dinner. We don't notice a lot of the food differences because we still eat similar to how we did in the states.

 

One food difference that was huge to us was breakfast or 'brekkie.' The first day I went into the dining hall for breakfast and there was a huge pottle of spaghettios and kids were piling it onto their toast. When I asked what they were eating everyone was so calm like "oh, spaghetti and toast" -like this was normal! I smiled and felt like I was going to be sick. The second morning was even better-baked beans on toast! Mmmmm! I must admit I didn't try either of these new things. When we expressed how different this was for us, the kids said "Yea, but in America you eat Peanut Butter with Jelly-thats gross!" Another friend of ours said "How else would you eat baked beans if it wasn't on toast for breakfast?!" We tried to explain to him the different ways and he couldn't even imagine it! 

We are having fun learning about the ways of Kiwi life!