Tell people you're a Canadian or a Kiwi when you travel and they'll adore you.

I'll tell you who I absolutely adore: Ian McEwan.

Kevin Smith is so great in 'Kingdom Come,' isn't he? He's kind of this very earthy poet. He just has this immediate gregariousness, like, you kind of just want to be his pal.

New Zealanders have conventions and pleasantries, but we are direct. We are encouraged to be transparent with our behavior and not to employ passive aggression.

I moved to New Zealand from Winnipeg when I was almost five. I hated it. It was to a city in the south of New Zealand called Invercargill and there was constant rain. There was a depressing sensation in the air.

I will say that the food in both Japan and Italy was immaculate. I don't remember having bad food in either country.