Settling in........if you can call it that

 

 

As hard as I try to settle in, there are some things that just don’t make sense – and in my opinion, it’s because some things about Australia are just plain weird. For example, why is kangaroo meat and “Kanga bangas” sold at the supermarket?

Aren’t Kangaroo’s the national symbol of Australia? Aren’t they on the coat of arms? Aren’t they on some of the currency? Aren’t they the symbol of Qantas? Aren’t they a symbol of Australian culture and life? And yet here are Australians, happily chowing down on a roo steak at a barbecue…..they’re making a mockery of their national icon.

I don’t think any New Zealander would ever dream of heading to the supermarket for a Kiwi bird steak sanga or sausage. It’s about respect. Respecting the national icon. I'm told Kangaroo’s are breeding extensively and the meat isn't half bad but I have serious doubts about this  – there’s no need to eat them!

 

 

 

 

And Chocolate Koala biscuits? Not too impressed. Americans have got the Oreo, created in 1912, the ancient Greeks and Egyptians can lay claim to Gingerbread biscuits, which are linked to many European countries, a traditional Italian wedding cake is made from biscuits and New Zealand has things like hokey pokey biscuits, anzac biscuits and afghans. So Koala biscuits don’t really make the cut. Must try harder Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

Or this sign above about the snakes – which greeted me as I left the office for the day. Not something I’d see in Auckland, that’s for sure. Does that mean I have to watch my feet as I walk to my car? Does that mean I shouldn’t linger near the long grass at the edge of the carpark? What if I want to have a conversation with a colleague in the carpark – does that mean we should both sit in a car and talk? What if the snake gets into the car?

I think it's a rare event to even see a snake, let alone get bitten. But it still makes one feel slightly uneasy when you hear stories like this:

 http://www.news24.com/World/News/Man-dies-after-snake-bite-in-Australia-20121108

 

 



 

On the bright side, literally, the weather has been amazing. It's clear and sunny most days. In contrast to life in Titirangi, Auckland, washing will actually dry on the line! The garden actually gets sun! I did love Titirangi but our place was so damp and cold compared to this. So last weekend we embarked on a garden bed building mission. So hopefully, we can become home-grown vegetable-eating folk who don't have to buy Kangaroo meat to survive.