Musings on a cold, cold, wet day

Here are my accumulated New Zealand observations to tide you over until the next photo album:

• It's a small world after all: The Casey Anthony trial has been covered in the newspaper and on television here.
• I have to remember to walk on the left side when using sidewalks, stairs, and building entrances... not to mention thinking extra hard at intersections when looking for oncoming traffic.
• My coffee beverage of choice this week has been the "flat white," rather similar to a latte.
• Placing an order to-go is called "take away."
• It's "tyres" and not "tires."
• College kids are referred to as "tertiary students," ostensibly because university comes after secondary school.
• And, as I'm sure you've been dying to know, the water in a flushed toilet goes straight down, and not counterclockwise. It's just the way toilets here are designed, I suppose! Most toilets have two flush buttons -- I think so you can choose the "intensity" of your flush. :) I considered uploading a video of this, but decided it would take too long and be in poor taste.
• New Zealanders are generally not a people who believe in heating during the winter. It seems to be the fashion to wear your coat always. Buildings are not really insulated or heated centrally, and Garrett's fancy apartment building has single-pane glass. This means that his bedroom, in which a window makes up one entire wall, is quite chilly (even with a curtain)! There is one small heater for the whole apartment, in the main room. However, the hotel allots residents a certain amount of energy they can use per month... so we use the heater sporadically. The New Zealanders with whom Garrett has spoken have told him that they use HOT WATER BOTTLES to keep warm at night! We haven't tried this yet because Garrett has purchased several blankets made of wool and fleece that, when piled on top of each other, make a cozy cocoon. Also, because this is 2011.
• Similar to Europe, New Zealand boasts bills for $5, $10, $20, et cetera. (And they all have a small "hole" on one side, with a thin transparent sheet and hologram. It seems that the front always features a famous person, and the back a New Zealand animal.) They have coins for $2, $1, 50 cents, 20 cents, and 10 cents (with Queen Elizabeth II on one side and Maori designs on the other). Because there are no "nickels" or "pennies," businesses engage in "rounding." This can work in your favor, or against you. For example, if the total price comes to $3.98, you are expected to pay $4 and will not receive change. New Zealand taxes 15% on goods and services, but this is included in the cost. Also, tipping is not a custom. This makes mental math somewhat easier.