Texting Capital of the World

NZ is so far behind the times in so many ways, but they are leaps and bounds ahead of us in one arena. TEXT MESSAGING! NZ has taken this new little bit of technology and run with it. I would put a Kiwi of any age up against an American teenager any day. The Kiwis have very dexterous thumbs! In fact, the title of fastest texter in the world belongs to a young Kiwi male.

I have received maybe 7 phone calls in this country (Miss Popularity), but I regularly have to clear out my phone's inbox. Texting is so prevalent because cell phone calls are crazy expensive. A call is 80 cents per minute, whereas a text message is only 20 cents. I see the appeal of texting, but I am still amused by the degree to which it has invaded society. Texting is not only for young people, and it is not only for chatting with pals. If you can't text in NZ, you'd be totally left in the dust.

How do you enroll to vote? How are you reminded of doctor's appointments? How are you notified of sales at your favorite store? How do you check your bank account balance? How do you enter NZ's many sweepstakes? How do you order a pizza? The answer to all these questions (and much more) is TEXT MESSAGING.

Maybe I'm a slow learner, but I only started texting within the last 2 years. NZ, on the other hand, was already fully immersed in texting 2 years ago. Notice that this article is dated November 2006. For the love of the English language, can we please agree that it is horrible idea to allow text language in school exams? Kiwi kids these days!

C U L8r, dear readers.