Two finals down...one to go. So far the one class I got my grade back in I got an A! So far so good... This week has been really tough though...I feel like all I've done is study and when I can sleep.
So this past week (right before finals), Sally and I went to the Australian Zoo which is Steve Irwin's zoo "The Crocodile Hunter." I used to love his show before his accident and really enjoyed getting to go and see what he created. The zoo was made up of all natural enclosures and had a great environment with native plants growing in and around all the exhibits. We went to a few of the shows throughout the day. The crocodile show consisted of different native species of birds flying throughout the audience, snakes, and of course crocodiles. Snakes were let loose in the water to swim free with their keepers and crocodiles were fed and wandered freely throughout the enclosure with their trainers. The show was just as I pictured it from the Crocodile himself.
We spent the entire day at the zoo and went to every exhibit. My absolute favorite was the echidna (the one we saw in Melbourne). It looks similar to a porcupine/bird? They are precious and native to Australia. We also went around and saw dingos, tazmanian devils, various snake species, wombats, various lizard species, tigers, koalas, ect...
My favorite part of the zoo was the elephant exhibit. We went to the elephant show and they did various tricks and gave them baths. However, my absolute favorite part was that we got to feed the elephants! I fed mine, named Bimbo, cantaloupe.
Interesting fact for all of you non-Australians...possums here are actually cute. The picture above of the animal on the leash---THAT IS A POSSUM. Our possums in the US are so gross but the possums here are soft and sweet looking.
Inside the zoo was also a type of memorial and appreciation for Steve Irwin. There were newspaper clippings, pictures, stories, and artifacts of his discoveries and his adventures on display. It was really neat to be able to read about some of his experiences and relate to what we saw from a world away. He really lived an extraordinary life.
An interesting and touching aspects this zoo had that others don't is the fact that on the grounds there is also a wildlife hospital and sanctuary where wildlife is brought in when injured. They had dozens of koalas that had been hit by cars, wildlife that had been attacked by dogs, babies that had been abandoned, or animals that were simply sick or not thriving in the wildlife. It was as if these animals were people. They were receiving the care any regular hospital would treat a family member. When we were there they were actually beginning surgery on a koala that had just been brought in after a car accident. They really do remarkable things there. All in all it was one of the things I really wanted to see and experience while being here and I just had enough time to fit it in! I had so much fun.
Funny Story/Traumatizing Moment: So here they write the days and months backwards than we do so...12/11 means November 12....well I looked at my last final and somehow didn't think about it and thought my exam was on the 11th when really it is on the 12th! AND I LEAVE FOR NEW ZEALAND ON THE 12TH. So I now have my last final from 2:30-4:00 and leave for New Zealand at 6:30. So I have a friend picking me up from school to take me straight to the airport...STRESSFUL! I then get back on the night of the 19th and will be going to see Harry Potter with Sally, packing all day on the 20th and then leaving the morning of the 21st. Only a few days left in Brisbane...and a little over a week in New Zealand...then TEXAS.
2 days left of ridiculous studying until paradise. Today Alex and I booked our hostel for the first night in New Zealand and have our car rented for the 7 days! Can't wait!
Back to studying...wish me luck. Love and miss everyone.
