Video version of my post about how I study English.

MP3 version of the video above

AI dubbing test

Just as I expected a few posts back, my most recent video from yesterday has received automated English dubbing. Surprisingly, it took YouTube only about 30 minutes after upload to generate it. The quality is decent - a few odd sentences here and there, but overall, it’s now possible to watch my video in English. You can try it yourself - just click on the video and switch the audio track to English.

That said, the dubbed voice is quite different from my real one. At least to my ear, it sounds too robotic. I compared it with a top YouTuber, MKBHD, and in my opinion, his dubbed voice sounds much better. Here’s a link if you’d like to compare.

It looks like this feature is currently implemented differently depending on the size of the channel. Big channels like MKBHD’s seem to get top-tier quality - probably with more processing involved. Smaller ones, like my cosy little channel, get a simpler version.

Also, unfortunately, there’s no way to edit the script - it auto-generates English text from the original Russian audio and dubs it as is, with all the mistakes that occur in the process. The English script can’t be changed.

Still, it’s something. I’m sure it’ll improve quite soon.

(Russian)

Nothing special. Just a bit more of nothing happening in NZ. I bet your palms will start sweating while watching it.

By the way, in case you didn’t know - NZ is the world capital of extreme sports.

(Russian)

The price of a free NZ school

Today on the channel, we have a special guest - my wife ❤️ She’s calculated all our school-related expenses from last year. I added a few notes, and here is the result:

👨‍👩‍👦 Family profile

- Two full-time working parents (8-hour workdays)
- No grandparents in NZ to help out
- One child attending a free public primary/intermediate school
- 52 weeks in a year

Here are the typical expenses for families in a similar situation:

1️⃣ Before and After-school сare

For working families, this is usually needed throughout the school year (40 weeks). There’s a dedicated team at the school that runs it - they organise various activities like board games, singing, cooking, crafting, sports, movies, and more. Kids are free to choose what they enjoy. Simple snacks are also provided.

Prices:
- After-school care (3–6pm) ranges from $16–$33 per day, depending on pickup time and number of days booked (cheaper for full weeks, more expensive for single days).
- Before-school care (7:30–8:30am) is $13 per day.

We’ve calculated an average based on an 8-hour workday and pickups around 5–6pm: 200 days × $24 = $4,800/year

2️⃣ Term breaks

There are three 2-week breaks in Autumn, Winter, and Spring. School’s closed during the breaks, but work isn’t - so if you need your child looked after while you work, you’ll need to enroll them in a holiday programme.

These programmes usually include daily outings - to the cinema, trampoline parks, the zoo, climbing centres, etc. All costs are included.

But it’s more expensive. Prices are around $70–$85 per day depending on the activity.

We’ve averaged it out: (3 days @ $70 + 2 days @ $85) × 6 weeks = $2,280/year

3️⃣ Summer holidays

The summer holidays, which last for 6 weeks, are highlighted separately because there is a nuance that needs to be noted.

Each school finishes the year on different dates, usually around 18–19 December (we’ve assumed parents cover the 2-day gap with unpaid leave). Businesses typically close for the Christmas break for two weeks, from around 23 December to 6 January. Standard school holiday programmes usually start a week later, around 13 January.

How parents manage this gap with their employers varies - some may take unpaid leave, while others might be able to work from home.

We’ve also averaged it out: (3 days @ $70 + 2 days @ $85) × 3 weeks = $1,140/year

4️⃣ School-related expenses

These include all invoices issued by the school:
- Various contributions: $220/year
- School donation: $450/year (voluntary, but expected to be paid; 30–33% is claimable as a tax refund)
- Stationery and supplies: $105/year

Total: $775/year

5️⃣ School uniform (if applicable)

Depends on a school. Some schools require full uniforms, others don’t. Parents often choose between buying new or second-hand.

In our case, the school doesn’t require a uniform, so: $0

📊 Grand Total: approx. $9,000/year

(Russian)

Boat parking

In the picture, you can see a multi-level parking facility for boats I saw in Auckland CBD. There is also a forklift used to move the boats in and out. Overall, it's a big building and they offer all kinds of boat services - lifting them out of the water, maintenance, repairs, and more. You can review it in 3D right on Google Maps.

So, next time you're looking for a place to park your yacht in Auckland, now you know where to go. You're welcome.

(Russian)

Digital NZ

Many believe that Moscow has some of the best digital services in the world, and wherever you go, the digital experience is usually worse than in Moscow.

So, I decided to compare it to Auckland to see how significant the difference really is. Below, I’ll go point by point and compare the two cities in all aspects of digitalisation I could remember.

I’ve also added a competitive element to the comparison - I’ll give my own highly subjective score on each of the listed points. If one country is slightly better, I’ll give it +1 point, if it’s significantly better, then +2. Then I’ll calculate the final result.

Finance

1. Opening a bank account. Opening an account is simple and fast in both countries. There is less paperwork in NZ, as nobody tries to sign you up for broker accounts, credit, etc. But overall, it’s about the same - 15-60 minutes in a bank and you are ready to go.
🇳🇿 = 🇷🇺

2. Digital payments. In NZ, I haven’t used cash for 2 years except in a couple of cases. In Russia, it was generally the same, but occasions when I needed cash were a bit more frequent. I’d say NZ is about 99% cashless, while Russia is around 90%. About the same.
🇳🇿 = 🇷🇺

3. Money transfer. In Russia, there is a system for fast payments (SBP), which allows transactions using mobile numbers (11 digits). In NZ, you have to use a bank account number (15 digits). The difference is minor, but there is another issue - transfers in Russia are instant, while in NZ they can take up to two hours.
+2 to 🇷🇺

4. Money transfer privacy. In Russia, entering a mobile number during payment reveals the recipient's name (first, middle, and initial of last). It helps avoid typos but exposes personal data - anyone can extract your name from your mobile number. In NZ, the system is smarter: you enter the recipient's name yourself, and the system only confirms a match with the account. The result is the same, but with more privacy.
+1 to 🇳🇿

5. Contactless payments. Apple Pay and Google Pay have not worked in Russia since 2022. There’s no such issue in NZ. Also, in Russia, all contactless surcharges are included in the price, while in NZ, they’re sometimes added only for contactless payments - and you have the choice whether to pay or not.
+1 to 🇳🇿

6. Bank apps/sites. The difference is massive - in NZ, all bank apps have no ads, no pop-ups, no credit offers, etc. They are completely ad-free. All apps and sites of Russian banks are covered with ads.
+2 to 🇳🇿

7. Cashback. In Russia, many banks offer cashback. In NZ, it might exist somewhere, but it’s definitely not widespread.
+1 to 🇷🇺

Transport

8. Transport cards. The systems are similar - one card for all city transport. But Auckland’s AT Hop card has significant downsides compared to Moscow’s Troika - there’s a two-hour delay before the money appears on your AT Hop card, and you can’t top it up from your bank app. Payment speed is crucial when using public transport, so the big plus goes to Moscow.
+2 to 🇷🇺

9. Using a bank card to pay. In Moscow, you can pay for any public transport directly with your bank card. In Auckland, the same system was implemented in 2024. A tie.
🇳🇿 = 🇷🇺

10. Transport apps. The apps are about the same. In Moscow, I used the Yandex Transport app. in Auckland, it’s the AT Hop app. Both show prices, buses in real time on the map, routes, and ETAs. No difference.
🇳🇿 = 🇷🇺

11. Toll roads. In RF, toll roads usually have gateways where you must stop and pay. In NZ, it’s more convenient - no gates, no delays. Large roadside signs mark the start of a toll road and the turn-off to a free route. You don't even need to slow down - the system scans your rego plate and charges you through an official website, saving you time.
+1 to 🇳🇿

12. Parking. The apps are similar. They show prices, you can pay directly in the app, see a timer, get notified when it runs out. No difference.
🇳🇿 = 🇷🇺

13. Scooters, taxis, car sharing. I’ve never used them, but they look the same - people install apps, pay on the go, and use the services.
🇳🇿 = 🇷🇺

(Continued in comments)

(Russian)

Cycling in Auckland

Auckland is quite well designed for cyclists - there are plenty of bike lanes, many of which are fully separated from traffic. On most local streets, the speed limit is 50 km/h, so cyclists often end up riding faster than the cars. In addition, there are special areas in front of all cars at most intersections, so cyclists always start riding first when the green light appears.

Using a bicycle as your main mode of transport is totally fine in summer (December, January, February) - 80% of days are sunny and dry. But in winter (June, July, August), the amount of rain increases. So, anyone planning to rely solely on a bike in Auckland should be prepared to look like the poor drenched guy in the picture above.

Ideally, it’s best to have a car as your main vehicle, and all other alternatives - a bike, a Harley, a scooter, a skateboard - whatever suits you best - as a second option, just for fun and sunny days.

(Russian)

Digital NZ (follow-up)

Just got a letter from Chorus, an internet infrastructure company in Auckland (and across New Zealand), stating that they’ve just upgraded the network to work faster.

I checked my tariff with my provider (there are dozens of providers, but they all ultimately operate through Chorus) - and yes, my tariff’s speed is now faster. Then I tested the actual speed - it really is faster.

The price is the same. No other changes. Just a letter informing me that my internet is now faster - and that’s it.

They say they’ve boosted speeds for 2 million New Zealanders. So if you’re in NZ and on a 50–300 Mbps fibre plan, check your speed.

(Russian)

Winter in the house

That is what people mean by "cold NZ houses". It's winter here now, and we're at the beginning of the coldest part of the season - July and August.

The picture shows the early morning temperature in our house. It's about 8°C outside. No heaters were on overnight, so this is probably the lowest temperature you'll get inside during winter. It matches my video about the climate in NZ.

I think it's fine. A few hours later, it warms up to 18-20°C. I wear a sherpa hoodie at home (also shown in the video) and feel comfortable.

The consistently high temperature in my Moscow apartment was a bigger problem. For good sleep, it’s important to keep the room below 20°C, but that was hard to achieve in Moscow. In winter, even with all the radiators turned off and the windows slightly open, the temperature stayed at 22-25°C. Too hot for proper sleep. It was almost an unsolvable problem.

In NZ, I can be more flexible.

PS: Humidity is controlled by a dehumidifier and always ideal.

(Russian)

Video version of my post "Motherland gave you"

MP3 version of the video above

A Different Kind of Power

Just a quick update on crime in NZ. As I mentioned in my first video, there used to be a lot of ram raids here - that’s when someone steals a car, crashes it into a shop, and loots whatever they can. It was mostly done by young offenders. In that video, I said I hoped things might improve once the left-wing government was gone.

The left-wing Labour Party was voted out in 2023, and now we have a chance to see how things are starting to change.

Here are the latest ram raid stats:
2022 - 714
2023 - 495
2024 - 209
2025 - 45 so far

Pretty decent progress, if you ask me.

One more thing – former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a left-wing activist who served as Prime Minister until 2023 and under whom crime rates rose, recently presented a book titled A Different Kind of Power (pictured above). I think the title fits perfectly. Her kind of power was definitely different – a good example of how not to govern.

(Russian)