Like the States in the 1950s? Part Deux

Being sensitive to the observations of our friends back home, we have been on the lookout for things that remind us of the 1950s in the States—as if we were there! Here are some things we’ve observed.

We mentioned earlier the absence of waiver of liability forms in New Zealand. That continues to hold true, after being taken on water taxis, climbing glaciers, and being within ten yards of big sea lions. We also mentioned the large plugs on appliances that look like American plugs before they were miniaturized and streamlined.

The women who work in the grocery stores all wear skirts. It took a while to notice this one. They wear uniform blue skirts—no pants for these ladies.

Labour laws are reminiscent of the 1950s, as we remember the decade. We’ve seen folks who look like 10- to 12-year-olds working in the grocery stores and other places. Obviously way too young to accept any responsibility like working.

Fear of crime (or the absence thereof) resembles bygone days in the States. On the way back from the beach in Dunedin, we watched two girls get on the bus—one 11 years old, the other 9—alone, pay for their own tickets, and take the bus to the city centre. It’s a fifteen-minute ride. Then they got off and wandered into the shopping district. I know of few parents in the States who would dare to put two girls that young on public transit, alone, to go into the city. Definitely 1950s.

Taps for hot and cold water are separate in most sinks here. That reminds me of my grandparents’ house—which hadn’t been renovated since the ’50s.

Driving age is 15 for a permit, 16 (?) for a license. That’s ’50s, too. (However, there seems to be a lot of talk about raising that age, given the precedent of other Crown countries and the media attention going to young drivers speeding for fun.)

So perhaps our friends were on to something. Then again, being in Dunedin as the freshmen at Otago University begin their (dis)orientation reminds us that we are very much in the 2000s, well caught up with the American college freshman scene. Except here the drinking age is 18. You do the math (because the freshies are in no shape to do it themselves).