Driving in New Zealand

So I love that I have a car to get around in, even if it does stall on me sometimes when I put it in reverse (not too bad for a 1989 with 170,000 km on it)! And I love driving around here cuz there are beautiful mountains and lakes everywhere, and each kilometer gives you such a new and different perspective on the natural environment. But driving in New Zealand is annoying sometimes because people seem to be in such a rush to get wherever they're going, and they're pretty aggressive. I'm not a fast driver, and I'm even slower on those beautiful scenic roads. But I guess the kiwis have been there and done that, so there's almost always someone all up on my tail even if I'm driving the speed limit, which I'm not too keen about. I thought people who lived on islands were supposed to be laid back and patient and not in any rush to get anywhere. But that's not the case here. I like it when the campervans are on the road...they go pretty slow cuz they're also just enjoying the ride. Another strange thing about driving in Queenstown is that drivers have the right of way over pedestrians. It doesn't matter if you're a pedestrian in the middle of the street--you better watch out cuz that car ain't gonna stop for you. It's completely opposite in the bay area, especially Berkeley. So when I first got here I thought I could cross the street and cars would stop, but I quickly learned that's not how it works here in Queenstown. I've gotten used to driving on the left hand side of the road now, so that's no problem. I occasionally hear a story of the American visitor who accidentally drove on the right hand side of the road and caused an accident. Hmmmmm. Damn Americans! :)