Similarities between the midwest and New Zealand

Ah, yea vs Oh, yah

Having just returned to my home state of Minnesota after visiting Beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand I’ve noticed a few similarities between the cultures.

From the rolling hills, gorgeous plains, and an inability to fully express what one is feeling; New Zealand and my home state of Minnesota share many cultural touchstones.

1. “Ah, yea” and “Oh, Yah”

   Not only do these to two phrases sound similar they are also similar in function. To let someone know that you have heard them in a conversation. Sometimes this can mean “I have heard you and I agree” and sometimes this can mean “I have heard you so shut the hell up.”

2. Passive Agression
   People in the Midwest are famously passive aggressive to the point of absurdity. This affliction runs rampant in my home state of Minnesota to the point of parody. It’s less so in Beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand but, is still very much present. Kiwis are incredibly polite to the point of thinking something is a bad idea and then letting it work itself out. Time and time again this has happened to me growing up: dating someone I was wrong for, trying out a new hair cut, attempting to become an entertainer were all met at some point with a “Oh, really? I hope it works out for yah.” A seemingly polite prayer but at the core of it is the belief that you will not succeed.

3. Small town mentality
   Beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand is the biggest small town to which you’ve ever maybe been. When I was staying at place in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland my host would often say whilst gazing at the television set, “Oh, I know them!” I met people who had gone to school with the former and current Prime Ministers. Imagine walking around having gone to school with George W. Bush and thinking it was normal. This small towniness contributes to people acting on their best behavior at least publicly.

4. Tall poppy syndrome

   This one is a tricky on for us Yanks, but it’s a passive aggressive way to cut someone down to size if they’re being to brash, successful, or confident. I say passive aggressive, when really it’s just aggressive. We do this in the Midwest as well. Success is to be celebrated but not if it’s too much, otherwise we must guilt the person into being embarrassed by their success. I really don’t understand why people are inclined to do this, particularly in Beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand. I understand why we do it in The States, our society is built on Protestantism. Protestantism is a region specifically designed with two opposing ideas at the forefront 1. You must work hard and be successful for the Greater Glory Of God. 2. Not too much now. Whereas, Beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand is a more secular country with some roots in Christianity but not the same extent America or, Saints Preserve Us, Ireland is. I’m also disinclined to enjoy this idea of the Tall Poppy Syndrome in as much as, the thing that will eventually cut everyone down to size, willing or no, is LIFE.

5. Claiming no one can do the accent

   Kiwis have a chasing phrase that they said to me often, which was “Well, Americans have a hard time with the Kiwi accent.” To which I say, WHICH ONE? There are so many subtle variations of the standard Kiwi accent. It’s a lot lighter and has a lovely rise at the end of sentences up North and then as you go further South that rise becomes a steam incline that even Alex Honnold would attempt to climb it. By the time you get to Bluff South Island’s southern most town the accent is monosyllabic. Kiwis insist that Americans have a hard time the accent, to the point of near heart-attack when I could competently do it. Midwesterners have a same protective instinct over our accents to the point of embarrassment. Insisting that “none of us sound like that” whilst watch Fargo, when in fact, we do. A brief note about accents here, when someone does your accent back to you, it is correct. I know, I know. you don’t want it to be, I don’t want it to be either, but it is. Much like bringing a partner home to meet your family, you don’t realize how insane you sound until you’re presented with it to your face. I have found over my years of doing dialects and impressions that what makes an accent accurate is whether or not the person you are doing it for likes you.

If I think of any more similarities I will post them as they come! If you’re from the Midwest or Beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand, I’m sorry. But, also let me know if you think of any similarities your self!