New Zealand Advent Calendar

In honor of the holiday season, we've created our own Advent Calendar Countdown of 25 things we love about New Zealand. In no particular order beyond our own random musings they are...

YUM YUMS
25 - Tim Tams
24 - Pavlova
23 - Indian food is to NZ as Mexican Food is to USA
22 - Fish and Chips wrapped in newspaper
21 - Hokey Pokey is exactly what it's all about

INCOMMUNICADO
20 - Referring to your friend as "mate" and "bro"
19 - Being told you are "sweet as"
18 - Whun with pronunciations! WH=F...as in Whakatane sounds like Fakatanee
17 - Cheers!

GETTING HERE AND THERE
16 - Driving on the highway while surrounded by baby lambs
15 - Give way to the right - it's amazing we're still alive
14 - Scaring away the Mount Victoria tunnel ghost with a beep of the horn
13 - Roundabouts instead of traffic lights
12 - Finding yourself nose to nose with other cars since one of you has forgotten to drive on the left side of the road.

AROUND TOWN
11 - Sticking your tongue out as a sign of strength not sass and squishing noses for a greeting
10 - The local dairy has nothing to do with cows
9 - Walking 10 minutes in nearly any direction puts you onto a beautiful "out of the city" hiking trail
8 - The flightless Kiwi as the mascot for NZ Air Force
7 - Hanging your unmentionables out in the breeze on the 11th story balcony
6 - The homemade knit scarf decorating Mr. Plimmer's stone dog
5 - Grinning at the adorable school children clad in plaid skirts, knickers, blazers, and knee socks!
4 - Classically trained Buskers
3 - A minimum of four full weeks of paid vacation leave
2 - Instant tan lines when the sun breaks through the clouds
1 - Wellington on a good day!