Culture shock!

Some things in a culture you can touch and get an understanding of by reading, listening and seeing. You can watch movies, go to sports events, listen to music, read books and participate in cultural happenings. Often these experiences can remain quite shallow and only brush the surface of the culture. This is what tourists are usually fed and all that tourists usually are able to get into. It's a shame, but nevertheless the truth. We've all been subject to this "Samsonite" -rule and will undoubtedly be so quite frequently in the future too.

Sometimes, however, you will have the opportunity to experience something truly remarkable. Something the Lonely Planets and information sites won't tell you exists. Something culturally specific that you have to experience together with locals in order to fully understand and appreciate it.

Drinking a crate of beer in a day is one of these things.

Crate Day (the name this social event is known by in the land of the Kiwis) is a full day drinking party Uni guys usually put together after the last exams before the holidays. The objective of each and every one is to drink a crate of beer. Crates in NZ only hold 12 beers, BUT, they each contain a wine bottle's worth of liquid. This translates to 27 bottles of Finnish Karhu or Lapin Kulta!

Showing our appreciation of our host

Our flatmate and host Matt arranged such a party in the days between Christmas and New Year's Eve, and invited us so we could have a true Kiwi experience. We won't go into all the details here, but suffice it to say, that of us six participants, two reached the bottoms of all their bottles (we made sure no Finn needs to be ashamed of us). Some, in their attempts to succeed, had to use the only lifeline available: TY (tee-why = tactical yak). As Finns we were quite shocked and surprised by this behaviour solely demonstrated by our Kiwi fellows. Well, whatever floats your boat matey!

Cheers!

The next day, after this extraordinary experience, we continued our plunge into all things Kiwiana by driving to Hamilton to watch a game of cricket between the Blackcaps and the West Indies. Or rather, to sit on the lawn in scorching sunlight drinking beers and enjoying the festive atmosphere. At times it felt like watching the actual game was secondary to having a good time in the group and cheering at the right moments. Nothing wrong with that, it was fun :-)

The 20-20 cricket game

Exhausted after these intense two days, it's only natural that the sofa and the TV at home felt rather appealing. Even here we didn't escape further exposure to this wonderful culture we are living amidst. There is a side to this country we haven't seen or got in touch with much. New Zealand is, after all, not only populated by Europeans. The Maoris have had to adapt to all things, good and bad, that the pakeha brought with them. Alcohol is without a doubt one of the vile things, as all native people have suffered profusely due to its effects on their societies. Once Were Warriors directed by the kiwi Lee Tamahori is an touching movie telling a story about poverty, alcoholism and family violence. We warmly recommend it for all NZ visitors, or why not for everyone?

We spent New Year's Eve in the Mount. After dusk the beach filled up with thousands and thousands of people. Two stages provided entertainment for the masses, while hastily erected stalls sold drinks and food for the party crowd (no alcohol was allowed in public places, including the beach). At midnight thousands of voices chanted the countdown and watched the fireworks go off from nearby Moturiki Island.

Among the first in the world, we greeted the new year 2009 in.

Happy New Year's!

MORE PICTURES from this adventure available here.