In Good Hands

Maybe we had a sign on us that said, “We’re new here and could use some help.” After our first day here in Adelaide, it seemed like everyone we met was ready and willing—you could even say looking—to help us.

We came to Adelaide with a room booked in a hostel for two nights. The first night, we got in around 8:30 pm, went for a short walk around the neighborhood, and then went to bed. So, we essentially had the second day to sort out our living arrangement.

We headed first to CSIRO, one of the two institutions I’ll be working with while I’m here in Adelaide. We met Jeff, one of my advisors and Brad, another grad student here from California. Jeff offered to send an email out to the CSIRO list to see if anyone had a lead on housing. Brad, who just arrived here in Australia at the end of November, was extremely helpful, giving us tips about what to do, and what not to do, while we get settled. He also said we should come over for dinner sometime.

After leaving CSIRO, we made our way to the local library, where they happily gave us visitor cards to use the internet. I already had an email from Ryan, someone at CSIRO who had a granny flat available for rent on a weekly basis. This also happened to be the person that Brad recommended we contact in order to get some bikes. It sounded perfect. (A granny flat, by the way, is the place where the in-laws stay when they come to visit.)

We decided we would head out to see the place later that evening. As we were standing on the platform at the train station, a woman sitting nearby asked us if we were tourists or locals. We told her we’d just arrived the day before, and were going to be living here for a year. We started chatting and got on the same train. She asked where we were getting off, and then said, “Well, why don’t you just get off at my stop – it’s the one before, and I’ll drive you over to where you’re going.”

I said, “Really, you would do that?!”

She replied, “No, I just made that up.”

Not only are they nice here, but they have a sense of humor as well. We did get off, and she drove us over, and also gave us the names and addresses of two geologists she knew in Adelaide for Dave to contact to see about work here. And, she warned us about the koalas we might see on the train tracks, and to not try and pet them because of their long claws. Apparently, they’re nearly blind, so you can actually get quite close, though it’s not recommended. She also told us to stay away from the ‘brown snakes’.

We were a little late to meet our potential new landlords, but they were understanding. They showed us the place, which we immediately agreed was excellent. As they were showing us around their awesome backyard, which had a garden, chickens, lemon tree, mulberry bush, rainwater barrel, and solar panels (they face to the north here!), they asked us if we’d like to stay for dinner. Our second night in Australia, and already two dinner invitations! Then, Ryan, who runs a bike user group, offered to send out an email to see if anyone had bikes that would fit us.

After an incredible meal followed by a local dessert of quandongs (a local sort of peach-like fruit that tastes delicious over ice cream), Ryan walked us back to the train station. When we got back to the hostel, I said to Dave, “I’m not sure I can say who was the nicest to us today.”

“The Australians do seem to be very friendly, indeed,” Dave replied.