Day Four in Oz

Day Four in Australia

So, if you are wondering, I haven’t seen very many scary bugs yet. I told you that “mozzies” are apparently a big problem here but I’ve only been bitten once (on the ankle) since I have arrived. For me, this is amazing since back home I am a mosquito’s perfect meal. I seriously think my smell drives them wild. Here, on the other hand, I haven’t been bothered too much.

There is a very large spider’s egg (or meal?) on the wall outside my bedroom window. My window is sealed so I am not worried but I really hope I don’t miss the web ball release a giant spider or, conversely, a giant spider eat whatever is inside this web ball.

I mentioned the parrots here already but the other species of birds here are also neat. I was walking around campus the other day when I saw a bird with giant legs dart across the path. I kind of jumped out of surprise and then realized that the bird jumped because of me. I am not sure if that bird makes the crazy “wah-la-wah-la-woo” sounds but there is a bird that perches near my door at night and makes this insane call. Other birds make very strange noises. That, mixed in with the unusually loud cricket noises, sounds like a symphony at almost any time of the day. Maybe it sounds louder to me because I am not used to it but I can’t recall quite as much racket from animals back home.

I was talking to a girl the second night of my arrival and she told me that a small lizard ran into her room when she was moving in. She couldn’t find it and so she thinks that he’s still hanging out in her room. That wouldn’t bother be much as long as I didn’t wake up with it on me. My friend, Kyle, on the other hand seems to have a “roachies” problem. And by that, I mean, cockroaches. Yes, cockroaches are common house bugs in Australia. I’ve only seen one and it was relatively small but Kyle said he saw some relatively big ones in his dorm hall. GROSS.

Maybe when I get a chance to hit the beach, I’ll tell you about more animals. So far, I haven’t ventured out of campus (with the exception to take the three minute bus ride to the Jesmond Shopping Center)… and apparently that’s not even “town” yet. Hopefully, on Saturday, I’ll get to hit the beach.

More to come. I’m off to a mandatory orientation meeting.

P.S.

These are the parrots I was talking about: