Today I've been packing. Or, more correctly, procrastinating and enjoy my new-found stress-free-ness now that I've finished exams, with attempts at packing sprinkled in there. I just keep getting distracted. Which is kinda how I am right now. I just came across my list of Americanisms vs. Kiwi-isms so I thought I'd post them here, and then throw out my list (one less thing for the pack!):

Kiwi-ism -- Americanism

serviette = napkin

capsicum = bell peppers

cheque = check

Blue Tac = Uhu Tac (maybe?)

return (flight) = round-trip

keen for = down for (?)

muesli = granola

sultanas = do they even exist here? "Golden raisins" seem similar if not the same.

cafe = coffee shop

tramping = hiking

heaps = lots

footpath = sidewalk

bum bag = fanny pack

a feed = a meal

blue top milk = 3% or 2% or something like that!

fringe = bangs

washing powder = laundry detergent

jandies = flip flops

primary school = elementary school

lollies = candy

Cellotape = Scotch tape

maths = math

flannel = wash-cloth

hot chocolate = hot cocoa

zed (the letter) = zee

biscuit = cookie

scone-like breakfast food = biscuit

boot (of a vehicle) = trunk

queue = line

rubbish bin = trash can

dairy = 7/11

dairy = journal

washing-up liquid = dish-soap

boob tube = tube top

abseiling = rappelling

aluminium = aluminum

bodum = French press

filter coffee = drip coffee

hot dogs = corn dogs

American hot dogs = hot dogs

jam = jelly (some types are called jam too)

jelly = Jell-o

courgette = zucchini/squash

peanut-butter and jam = PB and J

cheerio = a little red sausage (don't know if there's a word for them here)

a type of cereal = Cheerios

carrot peeler = carrot scraper

soft toys = stuffed animals (so don't be frightened when someone starts talking about how many they own - they mean toys, not taxidermic ones!)

Where's Wally = Where's Waldo

revise = review

end-of-year exams = finals

full stop = period

entree = appertizers

mains = entree (confusing eh?!)

... And some REALLY different pronunciations:

Kiwi: caPILLary = American: CAPillary

Kiwi: COMposite = American: comPOsite

Kiwi: Me-gan = American: May-gan

... And some Kiwi words that I never found an exact equivalent for...

"Teething problems" (metaphorically speaking as in "the new airport has been facing teething problems so they had to re-open the old one"), "gutted" (devastated is probably the closest... or bummed), "shout" as in "I'll shout you dinner" (maybe "treat"?), "sausage sizzle," "mates" (as in friends but not necessarily close friends), "eh" (I guess "huh" is close?). Peter (or any other Americans out there), maybe you could help me out here?

And then there's "chipper," an American word we don't say and I don't think we have any direct equivalent for.

It's really interesting to note the greater prevalence of French words in Kiwi English (cafe, serviette, courgette...) that they have different words for over here.  Sometimes I feel like I'm speaking a different language...! 

* Any Americans (or Kiwis!) are welcome to correct any mistakes I've made here; they're just my observations.