Communication

Everyone here has a cellphone. Pretty much no-one has a landline, and never did.

But it works a bit differently to New Zealand. Here is how:

·         Don’t text. People pretty much don’t text. They call instead. It’s cheaper and more immediate.

·         You don’t always need a reason to call. People quite often call Atkins just to say hi. Even if it is in the middle of the night.... It’s quite sweet.

·         Atkins sometimes gets halfway through a phone conversation then I hear him say “who is this?” This always sends me into fits of giggles. How meaningful has the conversation been when no-one knows who they are talking to? Eventually he will ask and the conversation will continue. Apparently it’s not customary to introduce yourself on the phone (the receiver should know who you are) and it is rude to ask who is calling (you should already know). Flawless system!

·         Everyone has at least 2 numbers because different networks offer different rates and deals. Atkins has about 4 sim cards and is often swapping them from phone to phone.