Well it's December 23rd, two days before Christmas here in Welly and what better time to reflect on the months past.

They don't really DO Christmas here like we do at home. There are not a lot of decorations or carols or anything like that. The storefronts are not really decorated, there is nothing lining the street lights and people don't decorate the outsides of their homes with lights or anything. So while I do miss home and family at this time of year, I think it's been made a lot easier because it just doesn't FEEL like Christmas.

I've been away from home for 2 months now: 4 days in Fiji, 2.5 weeks in Auckland, a week and a half-ish travelling from Auckland to Wellington and everywhere in between and in Wellington since November 16th. Here's a little summary of some notable things I love about New Zealand thus far:

-The amazing sunsets, skies and clouds
- mountains
- electric buses
- arcades / pedestrian shopping malls, Cuba street, Lambton quay (Wellington)
- taxes are included in the price, what you see is what you pay
- Wellington bars and cafes
- houses built into the sides of mountains
- water water everywhere and it's usually the ocean
- kiwi expressions: eh (used in a different format than us Canucks), sweet as, go on then, give "us" a call, going out on the piss, taking the piss
- having to turn the power on before using any appliances
- the fact that there are no pennies, everything is rounded to the closest 5 cents
- the HUGE 50 cent pieces
- elevators with inside and outside accordion doors, so you can see the walls when you're in them
- the fact that there are virtually no regular coffees, it's always a cappuccino, latte, flat while, long black, short black etc, etc
- Kiwis getting really nicely dressed up for a night on the town
- the fact that kiwi's hate North American "Halloween" yet LOVE to dress up in costume and do it ALL THE TIME for any occasion, then they all go out in a group to pubs and bars in full-on themed costumes.
- the amazing views I have of the Wellington harbour as I walk to work on a sunny morning
- the fact that every toilet has a different flushing mechanism. It's a surprise every time
- Kiwi fruit!
- fantastic chocolate
- Hokey Pokey ice cream

Not so fussy on:
- the fact that there are no regular coffees, it's always a cappuccino, latte, flat while, long black, short black etc, etc *wink*
- their pizza, although the Pandemonium from Hell Pizza is quite nice (plum sauce, chicken and Brie, I believe) and they also have other amusing names like Lust, Chaos, Greed etc etc.
-poor movie selection in cinemas and everything is usually a few months behind ( same with TV )
- how freaking cold it's been here this "summer" and the wind and rain in Wellington
- the Kiwi accent (I apologize to anyone who might get offended about this. I really WANT to like it, especially since I hear it ALL the time but I just don't!)
- the fact that drivers will run you over when crossing the street. Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way and it's especially hard for me since I am forever looking the wrong way when I'm about to cross the road :)
- and last but certainly not least - missing Matthew. It's the only thing that makes me want to come home, and it's a biggie. :(