Bowen Humphreys, Grizzlies Abroad marketing intern, writes:

When studying abroad, it is important to be aware of culture shock, which can come in several different ways. One way is the food that you eat. In New Zealand, I found there are several different easily recognized foods with a Kiwi twist that you might not expect.

Hamburgers

It doesn’t get any more American than burgers, right? But how about a burger with slices of beets and an egg? Or a burger with Brie cheese on

Students Hunter Thompson, David Wilbert and Bowen Humphreys proudly stand outside Fergburger.

it? These twists on the traditional burger with plain American cheese may have you doing a double take, but places like Fergburger in Queenstown will have you renouncing your American burger citizenship within the first few bites. For vegetarians, the “Bun Laden” falafel burger or their “Holier than Thou” tofu burger give you a kick in the mouth full of flavor.

Ketchup

Yes, you may think that it is impossible to find culture shock in a packet of ketchup, but Kiwis favor a much less viscous version and use it in far less quantities than in the States. While it may seem impossible to avoid using that glorious red stuff, you may find you don’t miss it all that much.

Chips and Biscuits

Sometimes it’s not just the taste or texture of a food, it’s the name as well. It may surprise you when you order chips and end up with French fries—although Kiwis prefer wedges of potato compared to our thin strips—when you wanted crispy potato chips. Or if you ask for a cookie and find out it’s called a biscuit, which is not usually as sweet as its American counterpart and has nothing to do with a flaky Southern American biscuit. These are heavily influenced by the English versions rather than the American versions, and may take some getting used to.

I’ve chatted with friends from Australia, and they say these unique food twists are found there as well. So be careful if you’re looking for a little slice of home because you might end up with something quite different from what you’re looking for.