A Conversation With A Kangaroo
The happy demeanor of a kangaroo reflects the fun, outgoing nature of all Australians (at least, those we’ve encountered). You cannot watch a kangaroo run and not feel jubilant and light of heart. The Aussie language is an equally enjoyable encounter, as it is a compilation of shortening of words and sometimes tagging on -roo to the end of them. Instead of “dollar,” it’s “dollaroo.” Instead of “breakfast,” it’s “breakie.” Instead of “this afternoon,” it’s “savo,” but that’s a whole other can of worms. It was really fun trying to understand written jokes, because they make no sense if you say them without an Aussie accent.
Joke: Why did the monkey put a steak on its head?
Answer: He thought he was a gorilla.
Now, say that answer in an Aussie accent, and you’ll see what I mean. I began calling myself Kath while over there — and basically discovered my Australian alter-ego. Which of course is the other side of me that you only see in Australia: wonderful curly hair that smells of salt, a kangaroo cuddler, and someone who eats Tim Tams for breakie.
We spent a morning at Symbio, a tiny zoo that has an open field where you can pet kangaroos, hop with them, feed them, and take ridiculously cute selfies with them. They also had very active Koalas who were acting naughty when we arrived — not listening to commands, and hanging out by the door for food. We stood and watch the Tasmanian Devil run around his enclosure, laughing at how awkwardly ugly this animal was, which of course made it all the more endearing. But after a while, the little Devil ran so much, yawned, and scratched its belly against enough surfaces that we each fell in love with it, and its little rat face turned quite handsome to us.
Our remaining time in Sydney was spent in more ocean pools, a day in Luna Park, and gandering around the Sydney Opera House. We booked a showing for Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and spent time before the symphony drinking wine along the balcony of the opera house and photographing the magnificence of the structure. Up close it looks other worldly, and if space design met chique planet earth. The inside of it was draped with velvet, and the bathroom walls held the likening of a ripple.
