"Well Whaddya Know"

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

Ok  the bulk of the Susan's membership seem to be made up of Americans Canadians, the UK and Oz [Bloody Aussie are everywhere] ...

I just thought I'd do a little 'test your general knowledge' thread regarding what members know about other countries...

Now please try and be honest with your answers, that is, don't go Google searching any countries mentioned, use what 'knowledge' you already have first, perhaps acquired from a school project, or you've been there, or know somebody from there or who has visited there...

Back in the early eighties my ex[she's a Kiwi] and I were travelling around Morocco and we met a young French guy, he asked where we were from, and when my ex said New Zealand, he had no idea 'White-people" lived there and that English was one of the main languages spoken there... "Well Whaddya Know" 

Anybody from a somewhat small and or isolated country can also add to this thread by asking "Well Whaddya Know" about my country...

Even though I've had the good fortune to travel, I must admit since having access to the Internet and joining this forum, I've learnt a lot about different counties [and I don't just mean things related to trans-people]...

Remember your answer must come from what's in your head 'now' and no peeking at Google search first...I'm sure I can trust you all 


So I'll start with little old Aotearoa [New Zealand] "Well Whaddya Know ?"

Metta Zenda

[Nero]

So I'll start with little old Aotearoa [New Zealand] "Well Whaddya Know ?"

There are kiwis there. Now whether this is the animal (is there such an animal?) or the fruit or both, I don't know.

[kelly_aus]

NsFA, kiwi's are a bird.

The fruit you mention isn't a native of Aotearoa, it's actually a Chinese Gooseberry.

[Anatta]

NsFA, kiwi's are a bird. ✓

The fruit you mention isn't a native of Aotearoa, it's actually a Chinese Gooseberry. ✓

Kia Ora Kelly,

Metta Zenda

[Anatta]

There are kiwis there. ✓ Now whether this is the animal (is there such an animal?) or the fruit or both, I don't know.

Kia Ora NSFA,

Metta Zenda

[calico]

well what I think I know is that sometimes kiwi's are refering to the people, and that nz is very green and beutiful.

nowfor oz's and i dont know if anyone said whaddya know about australia is its huge,not at war with anyone (or about to be) oz is short for the local's and contrary to popular belief by americans shrimp on the barbie is a joke.

How am I doing thus far? now whaddya know about the usa?

[big kim]

They drive on the wrong side of the road!

[Anatta]

well what I think I know is that sometimes kiwi's are refering to the people,✓ and that nz is very green and beutiful. ✓

nowfor oz's and i dont know if anyone said whaddya know about australia is its huge,not at war with anyone (or about to be) oz is short for the local's and contrary to popular belief by americans shrimp on the barbie is a joke.

How am I doing thus far? now whaddya know about the usa?

Kia Ora Calico,

Well the British had a penal colony there for a while,  [before the war of independence], after which they shipped the convicts off to Oz...

I haven't really spent time in the US apart from landing in LA on my way to Jamaica and a taxi ride in Miami before sleeping on the airport floor, because I didn't have enough cash for a motel room...

Metta Zenda

[Anatta]

They drive on the wrong side of the road!✓

Kia Ora Big Kim,

LOL

Metta Zenda

[FTMDiaries]

Okay, what do I think I know about New Zealand off the top of my head? Quite a few things as it turns out... I just hope some of them are correct.

I know that NZ is British, and our Queen is the head of state. As she is in Australia and Canada, for that matter.

I know that NZ punches well above its weight in the movie-making and special-effects industry. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed there... and locals did pretty much everything, including making the costumes, weapons, and acting as extras. I watched the extended edition DVDs where they showed how everything was made, and it was incredible what they managed to achieve.

I know that NZ mainly consists of two islands - North Island and South Island. The capital city is Wellington, as I recall, which I think is on North Island? I have some friends who moved there about two years ago.

NZ is also home to the Maori people, who as Polynesians are related to the native people of Hawaii. They have a rich and varied culture which includes some internationally recognisable things such as tattoos (including facial tattoos) and the Haka.

They also don't suck too badly at rugby. I've had the privilege of watching Jonah Lomu on the field; that man's a freight train when he gets going! He was part of the NZ squad that I saw doing the Haka before playing against SA... seeing that performed right in front of you makes your hair stand on end. Especially their facial expressions.

I recall from my schooling in South Africa that name 'New Zealand' comes from the Dutch 'Nieuw Zeeland', which literally means 'New Sea Land'. Yeah, Afrikaners love telling you about all the awesome things the Dutch did. 

I know that when travelling, New Zealanders are frequently mistaken for Aussies because of their accent and that this generally annoys them. In the same way as Canadians are frequently mistaken for Americans.   They also sometimes get mistaken for South Africans, because they pronounce the letter 'i' in the same way as we Saffies. That annoys them too.

Karl Urban, who plays Bones in the new Star Trek movies, is a Kiwi. As are a couple of members of Crowded House, I believe? - I seem to recall that the Finn brothers were Kiwis.

Aaand finally... I know I'd like to visit there some day.

How did I do?

[Anatta]

Okay, what do I think I know about New Zealand off the top of my head? Quite a few things as it turns out... I just hope some of them are correct.

I know that NZ is British, and our Queen is the head of state. As she is in Australia and Canada, for that matter.  ✓

I know that NZ punches well above its weight in the movie-making and special-effects industry. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed there ✓ ... and locals did pretty much everything, including making the costumes, weapons, and acting as extras. I watched the extended edition DVDs where they showed how everything was made, and it was incredible what they managed to achieve.

I know that NZ mainly consists of two islands - North Island and South Island. The capital city is Wellington, as I recall, which I think is on North Island? ✓ I have some friends who moved there about two years ago.

NZ is also home to the Maori people, who as Polynesians are related to the native people of Hawaii. They have a rich and varied culture which includes some internationally recognisable things such as tattoos (including facial tattoos) and the Haka. ✓

They also don't suck too badly at rugby. ✓ I've had the privilege of watching Jonah Lomu on the field; that man's a freight train when he gets going! He was part of the NZ squad that I saw doing the Haka before playing against SA... seeing that performed right in front of you makes your hair stand on end. ✓ Especially their facial expressions.

I recall from my schooling in South Africa that name 'New Zealand' comes from the Dutch 'Nieuw Zeeland', which literally means 'New Sea Land'. ✓ Yeah, Afrikaners love telling you about all the awesome things the Dutch did. 

I know that when travelling, New Zealanders are frequently mistaken for Aussies because of their accent and that this generally annoys them. ✓ In the same way as Canadians are frequently mistaken for Americans.   They also sometimes get mistaken for South Africans, because they pronounce the letter 'i' in the same way as we Saffies. That annoys them too. ✓

Karl Urban, who plays Bones in the new Star Trek movies, is a Kiwi. As are a couple of members of Crowded House, I believe? - I seem to recall that the Finn brothers were Kiwis. ✓

Aaand finally... I know I'd like to visit there some day. ✓

How did I do?

KIa Ora FTMDiaries,

Very impressive....

Metta Zenda

[FTMDiaries]

KIa Ora FTMDiaries,

Very impressive....

Metta Zenda

Thanks! Good ol' Asperger's: it makes me a bit of a walking encyclopaedia.

I especially love how you ticked my final answer as being correct.