As the fireworks lit up Darling Harbor for Australia Day, or Survival Day as a more appropriate term, I stood with friends on a park table in Victoria Park, adjacent to my location of study, The University of Sydney. The rain drizzled down, but it felt needed in the swarm of humidity. It definitely wasn’t disturbing all the bats flying around us, screeching and climbing through the trees. Some of them dangled less than 10 feet from us, and I suddenly learned how good these creatures were at climbing, not to mention their massive wingspan and the ineffectiveness of daylight and streetlamps at keeping them away. Little time passed before we noticed possums crawling all over the trees, also unperturbed by the luminous streetlamps, and they didn’t seem to mind our presence even as we dared to move a bit closer (perhaps too close for normal modes of comfort). 
The park buzzed with cicadas too, of which 220 species have so far been identified in Australia alone. These insects are another example of creatures that those of us living in Australia must learn to live intimately close to, exemplified to me one night as I played guitar and a cicada decided to land right on my hand mid-strum and then camp out on my leg for far longer than I would have asked. I used to have a big problem with cockroaches, but something about being in Australia makes you learn to live as harmoniously as possible with all the living things around you, no matter what your prior sentiments may have been.
This lifestyle must have infected the inter-human relations as well. Straya has greeted us warmly and the Sydneysiders have everywhere been eager to talk and joke around with anyone they may encounter. This is the land of camaraderie after all, with mateship being one of the principle identities and ideals of Australian society and a go-to quality for politicians to proudly declare. Every friend I’ve met here has been quick to recommend his or her favorite beaches and hangout spots, as well as offer up a drink. We’ve learned that a major principle of Aboriginal philosophy is that of interconnectedness. You must appreciate how all things fit together and respect the environment and the people around you. This coupled with Australian egalitarianism and mateship equates to a pretty irresistible life philosophy. I’m learning to adopt this outlook as I live longer with the changing weather conditions.
The weather here in Sydney is far more extreme then I’ve ever seen; one moment you could be in 90 degree heat with 100% humidity and pretty soon you may find yourself in the middle of a monsoon with rainfall that even my made-for-rainy-weather backpack couldn’t handle (sorry class notebook, you’ve lived a good short life). But, what I’ve found is that it makes you appreciate the good times while they’re here, time to live Strayan style.
Hooroo mate! (goodbye in Australian slang)
