American expat ‘blown away’ by everyday kitchen essential that everyone in Australia and New Zealand has

An American living in New Zealand was amazed by a kitchen essential he doesn’t have back home – before sharing the biggest culture shocks he’s experienced so far. 

Konner moved to Auckland earlier this year and was ‘blown away’ by the existence of electric kettles and how common they are.

While the kitchen product is a staple in Australia and New Zealand, the young expat said that back home they use stovetop kettles.

‘Something I absolutely love about New Zealand as an America are these things – an electric kettle,’ he said in a TikTok video. 

‘It’s always on your counter and I absolutely love it because in America we literally have to use a stovetop kettle – we don’t have electric ones – which is always a hassle.’

In the video, Konner then proceeded to demonstrate how the kettle works for those who don’t know. 

He said: ‘I literally fill this up, click this switch right here and it started boiling the water, made it all hot and it turned off my itself.’ 

He added how he thought it was ‘so cool’ that he was able to make a cup of tea in two minutes.

The short clip has since been viewed more than 333,000 times and many were in disbelief after realising Americans use stovetop kettles. 

‘Wait Americans don’t have this? I thought every country had one,’ one person commented. 

‘I don’t understand why you don’t have them in America,’ another said. 

A third wrote: ‘Stovetop kettles used to be a thing here in NZ.. in the 80s.’ 

Elsewhere on TikTok Konner also listed five culture shocks he’s experienced since moving abroad. 

For one, he can’t get over how New Zealanders drive on the left side of the road which makes him ‘anxious’ because he’s used to the right side. 

‘Number two is the word ‘keen’. We do not say that in the US and it’s so funny to hear y’all say it,’ he said. 

At first Konner thought dairy stores in New Zealand were stores filled with dairy products, but quickly realised it’s a convenience store. 

He was also surprised by the regular use of the ‘C word’ and how the legal drinking age is 18, not 21 compared to the US.

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