free car info nz image
Ant Cell
What is expected of me? Im 23yrs old and live in NZ. in 7 days I fly to see my best friend and we are going to hit the town for his bachelors, but then his wedding is the next day, and I avent prepared a speech! anyone done this before or have any ideas? things that break the ice, tips on humor, phrases that work well. I duno, just need any help I can get. some background info might help...My friend and I were juvenile delinquents and did some pretty bad things, but now im at university and hes a carpenter and we live quite normal lives now. we are both into ramp sports like bmx and skating. His fiance is really nice too.
Answer
Sorry, I wrote a novel.
First of all, see if you can move the bachelor's to a day earlier; if not, make sure the groom doesn't get completely falling-down drunk. I say this because in NZ (like in Canada) the parties have to be in sound mind to contract a marriage, and if he's hung over to the extent that he's passing out at the altar the minister might legally have to cancel the ceremony until he's in sound mind. Don't laugh: it happened here last week.
You may be expected to attend the rehearsal if there is one. There's enough variance in services that it makes sense - some best men walk the maid of honour up the nave during the recessional, others walk the flower girl. You also get a free lunch or dinner out of it.
Don't hit on the bridesmaids, or at least make sure they're unattached before you do. Every time a best man hits on a bridesmaid here there's always a very large boyfriend, or sometimes girlfriend, ready to contest the matter. Blood On The Altar was a bad enough movie without re-creating it in real life.
Generally you have to wear whatever the bride or the bride's mother wants you to wear without complaining or picking at the collar. If you're renting, check the pockets and try it on before you leave the rental place.
Most best men are in custody of the bride's wedding ring and give it to the groom at the altar: make sure your trousers don't have a hole in the pocket, and don't pretend you lost the ring when you're standing up there - it's tired and cliched and makes the guests roll their eyes. I don't believe NZ weddings often have ring bearers, but here in Canada we see them sometimes: in those cases a boy brings the rings up to the altar on a pillow and your job is to make sure the kid doesn't drop them or swallow them before the ceremony gets to that point. (Kids are fun!)
For the pictures, you stand where you're told to and smile, and you make sure you know when and where the pictures are to be taken and don't bugger off to do something else. (Best men tend to do this, because they never even think of the photos.)
For the speech, the number one requirement is to stay sober until you're done. Drunk best men are famous for ruining receptions and making brides cry.
Try to use standard English and not use too much slang, only because if you do you'll be interrupted by Great-Aunt Babs asking her dinner partner "What did he say?" at top volume every few seconds. Don't refer to the groom's old JD days in detail - you don't know how much the fiancée knows (by the way, two "e"s in fiancée unless he's marrying a man). Especially don't insult his previous partners - doing so makes your groom think you doubt his judgment and makes the bride wonder what you say behind her back.
Humour is important, but sincerity and kindness are more important. Make the speech about him and not just your relation to him. Most public libraries have books on giving wedding speeches that can help you more than any of us, because they go into more detail. Yes, even more than me.
Do they decorate the bride and groom's getaway car in New Zealand? If they do that's your job, usually some time after the speeches.
If they have a convoy that takes the wedding party from the ceremony to the reception, you have to ride in it and you may be asked to drive the bridal car if they don't have chauffeurs.
Sorry, I wrote a novel.
First of all, see if you can move the bachelor's to a day earlier; if not, make sure the groom doesn't get completely falling-down drunk. I say this because in NZ (like in Canada) the parties have to be in sound mind to contract a marriage, and if he's hung over to the extent that he's passing out at the altar the minister might legally have to cancel the ceremony until he's in sound mind. Don't laugh: it happened here last week.
You may be expected to attend the rehearsal if there is one. There's enough variance in services that it makes sense - some best men walk the maid of honour up the nave during the recessional, others walk the flower girl. You also get a free lunch or dinner out of it.
Don't hit on the bridesmaids, or at least make sure they're unattached before you do. Every time a best man hits on a bridesmaid here there's always a very large boyfriend, or sometimes girlfriend, ready to contest the matter. Blood On The Altar was a bad enough movie without re-creating it in real life.
Generally you have to wear whatever the bride or the bride's mother wants you to wear without complaining or picking at the collar. If you're renting, check the pockets and try it on before you leave the rental place.
Most best men are in custody of the bride's wedding ring and give it to the groom at the altar: make sure your trousers don't have a hole in the pocket, and don't pretend you lost the ring when you're standing up there - it's tired and cliched and makes the guests roll their eyes. I don't believe NZ weddings often have ring bearers, but here in Canada we see them sometimes: in those cases a boy brings the rings up to the altar on a pillow and your job is to make sure the kid doesn't drop them or swallow them before the ceremony gets to that point. (Kids are fun!)
For the pictures, you stand where you're told to and smile, and you make sure you know when and where the pictures are to be taken and don't bugger off to do something else. (Best men tend to do this, because they never even think of the photos.)
For the speech, the number one requirement is to stay sober until you're done. Drunk best men are famous for ruining receptions and making brides cry.
Try to use standard English and not use too much slang, only because if you do you'll be interrupted by Great-Aunt Babs asking her dinner partner "What did he say?" at top volume every few seconds. Don't refer to the groom's old JD days in detail - you don't know how much the fiancée knows (by the way, two "e"s in fiancée unless he's marrying a man). Especially don't insult his previous partners - doing so makes your groom think you doubt his judgment and makes the bride wonder what you say behind her back.
Humour is important, but sincerity and kindness are more important. Make the speech about him and not just your relation to him. Most public libraries have books on giving wedding speeches that can help you more than any of us, because they go into more detail. Yes, even more than me.
Do they decorate the bride and groom's getaway car in New Zealand? If they do that's your job, usually some time after the speeches.
If they have a convoy that takes the wedding party from the ceremony to the reception, you have to ride in it and you may be asked to drive the bridal car if they don't have chauffeurs.
Is 3800 NZD enough and how's life in New Zealand?
im not sho
Okay. I need answers and opinions from New Zealanders.
Someone I know is going to live in New Zealand. Well her monthly income's gonna be 3800 New Zealand dollars.
So.. is that enough to raise a family?
And is that gonna be considered poor, slightly underpriveleged, below average, average-average, above average or what? hehe.
I think she's the breadwinner of the family.. I just wanted to ask your opinions cause she asked my opinion about it and I havent the slightest idea. Hello. I'm only a teen and I dont live in NZ....
Please be frank. Thanks a bunch! :)
Oh yeah and can you give me sample monthly bills? Like an average electric bill, water bill thing, rent, groceries, bla bla bla. How much is a house? a car? gas? a krispy kreme??? haha. thanks.
oh and. is life easy there? are jobs easy to get? is it peaceful there? like, low crime rate and stuff?
Thank you so much.
:)
like, how much is a monthly rent for an average flat?... :)
i have another question. hehe.
for you guys, where do you think is the most peaceful place in New Zealand? what city/ town? thanks!
[btw, thanks frantic and yankiwi for very detailed advice/answers]
uh yeah. she sort of is the breadwinner of the family.
um. she has 3 children. one is in preschool, one is in gradeschool and one is in highschool..
Answer
Kia Ora,
"Frantic" gave you some good base figures for housing and utilities and the like.
Can you please provide a bit more info about the family size & situation?
Where is she coming from - what country?
If she is the breadwinner of the family ~ is there a partner? How many are in the family?
Are there children involved, and if so are they school aged?
All students except those in elementary grades must wear uniforms,
which are not cheap.
Here on the SI, the 'average' rent for a 2 bedroom place ranges from $270-$400/week
(I just checked the listings in the paper).
Our electric bill is about $125 a month
and we use LP gas for hot water (another $25-40/month).
We mainly use cell phones but have a land line for the Internet connection (about $75/month).
We don't have a water bill.
The rubbish collection and recycling is free
but rubbish must be placed in the approved council trash bags
and the recycling needs to be clean and sorted
or else it won't be picked up.
We bought a used car at auction and it cost us $6000.
Gas prices were $1.79 a liter when I filled the car up last week -
but prices might have gone up since Christmas.
(There are 3.7843 - [almost 4] - liters in a gallon).
It is a real hassle finding a parking space in the city,
and parking can be expensive.
Instead, I spend about $20/month for bus fares to and from the campus.
I was shopping yesterday.
Here's some costs -
loaf of whole grain bread $2.59
2 L of milk $3.19
pack of chewing gum $1
1 dozen range eggs $4.77
1 pineapple $2.99
box of Kleenex tissues $1.99
bottle of Herbal Essence shampoo $7.99
pair of Levis 527 denim jeans $160.00.
Some areas are plagued with gang-related activities that disrupt the community.
Also, youth with no direction, morals, or goals,
(and very little self-esteem) consequently vandalize and terrorize the area
perhaps in order to feel 'big' and 'important.'
But where I live is relatively peaceful
(except on weekend nights
when the boy racers hoon up and down the valley).
I'd like to think it had a low crime rate
but just this month someone robbed 4 banks in succession.
Also, last month we left our car in a DOC parking lot to go on a walking track
and when we returned the side window was smashed in.
Life is pretty good here ~
but there are problems here just like everywhere else.
In many places, good jobs are hard to find --
yet there are always basic physical jobs available --
for example they import people to work in the fruit orchards.
Sorry there are no Krispy Kremes where I live.
But I know what you mean.
Sometime I wish I had the $ to invest in a Dunkin' Donuts franchise.
=)
It's nice of you to help your friend
and a very good idea to research as much as possible before making a move.
It would be even better (if possible) to come for a visit before taking the plunge.
Good luck and hope this helps.
PS - in response to your other items I double checked and the house/flat prices are still in the same weekly figure as I mentioned above.
Grade school/elementary kids don't need uniforms. HS kids do.
Also keep in mind that if you friend decides on settling in a nice peaceful small town, for example, the oldest child might have to board at a high school out of town, since not every place has a high school (or college, as they call them here). However, if she stays in the city then that should be no problem... but with bigger cities come larger rents.
As far as the most peaceful I'd say Twizel or Lake Ohau on the SI - and that is at least until the tourists invade the area with their noisy boats and jetskis!!
Just remember the further you get away from the cities, the more peaceful it is---however it will be more of a drive to work and shops, etc.
Kia Ora,
"Frantic" gave you some good base figures for housing and utilities and the like.
Can you please provide a bit more info about the family size & situation?
Where is she coming from - what country?
If she is the breadwinner of the family ~ is there a partner? How many are in the family?
Are there children involved, and if so are they school aged?
All students except those in elementary grades must wear uniforms,
which are not cheap.
Here on the SI, the 'average' rent for a 2 bedroom place ranges from $270-$400/week
(I just checked the listings in the paper).
Our electric bill is about $125 a month
and we use LP gas for hot water (another $25-40/month).
We mainly use cell phones but have a land line for the Internet connection (about $75/month).
We don't have a water bill.
The rubbish collection and recycling is free
but rubbish must be placed in the approved council trash bags
and the recycling needs to be clean and sorted
or else it won't be picked up.
We bought a used car at auction and it cost us $6000.
Gas prices were $1.79 a liter when I filled the car up last week -
but prices might have gone up since Christmas.
(There are 3.7843 - [almost 4] - liters in a gallon).
It is a real hassle finding a parking space in the city,
and parking can be expensive.
Instead, I spend about $20/month for bus fares to and from the campus.
I was shopping yesterday.
Here's some costs -
loaf of whole grain bread $2.59
2 L of milk $3.19
pack of chewing gum $1
1 dozen range eggs $4.77
1 pineapple $2.99
box of Kleenex tissues $1.99
bottle of Herbal Essence shampoo $7.99
pair of Levis 527 denim jeans $160.00.
Some areas are plagued with gang-related activities that disrupt the community.
Also, youth with no direction, morals, or goals,
(and very little self-esteem) consequently vandalize and terrorize the area
perhaps in order to feel 'big' and 'important.'
But where I live is relatively peaceful
(except on weekend nights
when the boy racers hoon up and down the valley).
I'd like to think it had a low crime rate
but just this month someone robbed 4 banks in succession.
Also, last month we left our car in a DOC parking lot to go on a walking track
and when we returned the side window was smashed in.
Life is pretty good here ~
but there are problems here just like everywhere else.
In many places, good jobs are hard to find --
yet there are always basic physical jobs available --
for example they import people to work in the fruit orchards.
Sorry there are no Krispy Kremes where I live.
But I know what you mean.
Sometime I wish I had the $ to invest in a Dunkin' Donuts franchise.
=)
It's nice of you to help your friend
and a very good idea to research as much as possible before making a move.
It would be even better (if possible) to come for a visit before taking the plunge.
Good luck and hope this helps.
PS - in response to your other items I double checked and the house/flat prices are still in the same weekly figure as I mentioned above.
Grade school/elementary kids don't need uniforms. HS kids do.
Also keep in mind that if you friend decides on settling in a nice peaceful small town, for example, the oldest child might have to board at a high school out of town, since not every place has a high school (or college, as they call them here). However, if she stays in the city then that should be no problem... but with bigger cities come larger rents.
As far as the most peaceful I'd say Twizel or Lake Ohau on the SI - and that is at least until the tourists invade the area with their noisy boats and jetskis!!
Just remember the further you get away from the cities, the more peaceful it is---however it will be more of a drive to work and shops, etc.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment