Peoples’ impressions of different countries are intriguing. Some misinformed foreigners might believe that in Canada, there are moose running around in our backyards and we all ride snowmobiles to work. Canadians know, of course, that this isn’t true. Instead, we ride the moose to work.
Now, what comes to mind when you think of Australia? Kangaroos bouncing through scrub? Koalas lazing about in the eucalypts? Flocks of parrots perched in city parks? I am a firm believer that there is an element of truth in every stereotype. In this case, the images that we’ve been fed via the likes of Steve Irwin are all completely true. There really are places where kangaroos are waiting around every bend and you really can see koalas in the trees whilst driving alog the highway. Birds come in an amazing array of brilliant colours in this country, and every day one is mesmorised by whole flocks of parrots, cockatoos, and ibises flying around. Throw in a few emus wandering about here and there, and you’ve got yourself a typical Australian holiday park. Although a bit more elusive, giant crocodiles, deadly snakes, and weird egg-laying mammals still exist in some of the continent’s many wild places.
In the year 2000, I spent two semesters at university in Brisbane, Queensland. It provided the framework for a repeat visit undertaken almost six years later. This time around, though, I knew more of what to expect and I came prepared with a camera, a skateboard, and a work visa. I also chose to explore other parts of the country, from its most metropolitan city, to some of the much more isolated places where I had a possum as a pet.
