Episode 2: In Which Jay Learns What a Wasgij is and Meets the Flat.

Last time, on Keep Calm and Joust On:

Jay finally defeated the zombies, valiantly fought corporate copyright law, vigilantly cleaned up the streets, and watched Kill Bill Vol. 1 for the sixth or seventh time. It is still just as good as he remembered it to be.

The Lament of the Mighty Wasgij

Wasgij, noun: 1. The word jigsaw spelt backwards. 2. A 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, but the picture on the box depicts the events just preceding the picture of the completed puzzle and not the actual picture. The box picture acts as a context with hints and clues instead of a picture to be replicated. Pronunciation: wuz-jig. Origin: United Kingdom. 

Note: Wasgij puzzles are best used as tools to promote social interaction between an American student visiting New Zealand and his kiwi flatmates.

By employing the sacred ritual of Wasgij I have managed to successfully befriend the natives. At first they were wary of my presence but over time this initial ritual has lead to other initiation rituals. These rituals include such acts as hall-jousting with a scooter and a longboard, busting a move, grocery shopping, as well as watching movies and reality TV. The local favorite is the Jermey Kyle show: the UK equivalent of the Maury show. We gather daily to preform the Jermey Kyle Ritual and occasionally also to watch reality cooking shows (there is no Food Network here, so we make do). These "kiwi" people seem to accept me as their own, although they do occasionally question my foreign behavior and I do often rely on them to teach me their ways.

After waiting the initial few days, the whole flat finally arrived. Rachel, Briar, Ryan, Tom, and the-flatmate-formerly-known-as Josh. Our powers combined, we drink tea and get into shenanigans.  I got to the flat worried that things might not work out, but can honestly say that I am super lucky to have the best kiwi flatmates I could have asked for.

Speaking of which, I also made my own BBQ sauce.

-Jay