Homemaking in the Southern Hemisphere
A few months ago I tried to make it my custom to clean house on Saturdays. Mostly because I love having a tidy and picked up house for Sunday. It doesn't always happen, and sometimes I clean on other days too, but anyway, I have resumed my cleaning "schedule" here in New Zealand.
I am overjoyed that this house has my very favorite type of vacuum cleaner: A little bug that follows me. Truly, I have never liked the upright bagged kind, and love it that I don't have to use a broom for all the non-carpeted floors.
The outlets are different, and they have a little switch above each one to turn the power on or off. I haven't learned exactly why yet...
The heaters we have are electric wall mounts that simply heat up, and stay hot.
This is pretty amazing. It heats water to boiling in about 4 seconds. Not quite, but pretty much. Ha!
Here is Daniel's first cup of coffee in the plunger. Apparently it's not called a french press here, and I'm still trying to figure out what a toilet plunger is called, if a french press is a plunger. :)
Ah, we have a washing machine. If there's one appliance that I *so* easily take for granted at home, it's a washing machine. In Panama, I did a fair amount by hand, and learned that it's not something I want to do for the long term. I even did some by hand in Germany. Again. Not something I want to repeat.
But I won't have to here! Our front loading washing machine works wonderfully, not only for cleaning clothes, but amusing the 4 year old who has never been able to see clothes flop around inside a washing machine.
I must say though, front loading washing machines are not speedy. The regular wash cycle takes an hour and a half till completion. Is this normal, or is it just a Kiwi thing? I decided to time the "quick wash" and it's a whole 10 minutes faster. I just have to laugh. :)
We don't have a dryer, but that's perfectly fine with me. I don't think anyone in the neighborhood does either. I've never seen so many men hanging up laundry in my life! These clotheslines are everywhere, as well as laundry racks that you unfold and set up on your deck or something. Here's our clothesline, right outside Natasha's bedroom window.
I am overjoyed that this house has my very favorite type of vacuum cleaner: A little bug that follows me. Truly, I have never liked the upright bagged kind, and love it that I don't have to use a broom for all the non-carpeted floors.
The outlets are different, and they have a little switch above each one to turn the power on or off. I haven't learned exactly why yet...
The heaters we have are electric wall mounts that simply heat up, and stay hot.
This is pretty amazing. It heats water to boiling in about 4 seconds. Not quite, but pretty much. Ha!
Here is Daniel's first cup of coffee in the plunger. Apparently it's not called a french press here, and I'm still trying to figure out what a toilet plunger is called, if a french press is a plunger. :)
Ah, we have a washing machine. If there's one appliance that I *so* easily take for granted at home, it's a washing machine. In Panama, I did a fair amount by hand, and learned that it's not something I want to do for the long term. I even did some by hand in Germany. Again. Not something I want to repeat.
But I won't have to here! Our front loading washing machine works wonderfully, not only for cleaning clothes, but amusing the 4 year old who has never been able to see clothes flop around inside a washing machine.
I must say though, front loading washing machines are not speedy. The regular wash cycle takes an hour and a half till completion. Is this normal, or is it just a Kiwi thing? I decided to time the "quick wash" and it's a whole 10 minutes faster. I just have to laugh. :)
We don't have a dryer, but that's perfectly fine with me. I don't think anyone in the neighborhood does either. I've never seen so many men hanging up laundry in my life! These clotheslines are everywhere, as well as laundry racks that you unfold and set up on your deck or something. Here's our clothesline, right outside Natasha's bedroom window.
I love the picture of Natasha watching the washer - so cute. It's interesting to read about the differences between "here" and "there."
ReplyDeleteYa'll travel so much - is it for Daniel's job or just purposeful family adventuring? Wonderful experiences, either way :)
Laura, I love the way your phrase it, "purposeful family adventuring", because that's the best way I've heard anyone put it. Daniel's job is online, so we have the freedom to travel. We don't like saying "vacation" because we don't think of ourselves sitting on the beach doing nothing for days. So a purposeful adventure for the family describes it perfectly! :)
DeleteOh, that's so neat. I love the concept. How great that you have the flexibility & freedom to travel. What a gift to Natasha, too.
DeleteP.S. I meant to tell you, my son Edmund has been listening to LibriVox books lately too, during his "quiet time," and also loved "Alice in Wonderland"! :)
A washing machine is truly a wonderful thing!!! =)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fascinating all of the little differences?! We have some very peculiar traffic rules here in France that we still haven't figured out and seem very counter-intuitive. And the washing machines! Yes! 1.5-2 hours! Wowzas! Plus, we are trying to line dry to save on energy bills. (Which is what the switch on the outlets are for! So the power isn't continually active ... or so I'm told.)
ReplyDeleteAny tips for me on being a new expat? You have lots of experience!
Warmly,
Anna
I wondered if it was something like that. (The switches, that is.) Now I'm going around turning off all the ones I can!
DeleteTips on living out of the country? I'm not a pro at all. :) I was actually thrilled to find the link you had on your blog recently about embracing your new country. Those were really good, and I especially liked the one about getting away, so you can come back home and it feeling more homey. It's so true. Sometimes getting out of the house scares me because everything outside is so new, but as soon as I get out, I see things I would have missed had I not gone out, and I'm glad I went.
THEN, I'm always glad to return home because it's my own little space and we can be our own little family without worrying about any blunders or "messing up". Ha!
Your adventure overseas is captivating. I look forward to all your posts.
How neat you are getting to spend time in NZ! I've longed to go there for a long time, so I will just enjoy reading about your adventures. ;o)
ReplyDeleteMary in Central NYS
(A long time blog reader - found you through the Yoder Farm blog - but don't think I've ever commented before!)
I'm so glad you took a moment to say hi!
Delete