The new WWOOFER host
by Mae

When me and my friend arrived at our new WWOOFer host we were so proud that we found the way. Every time we travel it is a big challenge for us to read the map. In the big cities like Sydney or Melbourne it is easy because you can always find somebody to ask. But unfortunately the most hosts live in smaller towns. And if you travel after sunset you may not find an Australian outside his house. So the first match to find the right address was won.

The next challenge was how we would come in. In my home country it is not such a problem. Usually you ring the bell. Here exists a bell too, but after using it three times we decided that it does not work. There was a high fence which parted us from the house. So it was impossible to jump (especially because we had really heavy backpacks) the other problem was the sign that made us believe there would be living dogs inside. If dangerous or not we are afraid of dogs. So we were agreeing that it would be better to stay outside and wait what would happen.  

After we won this challenge and met the new hosts inside the house they showed us our new room, the bathroom, the kitchen and our food. They bought us what we have given in commission one day before. Proud they showed us the 20 l of milk which they have carried all the way from the supermarket without a car. We looked exited in our food cabinet. And we could not belief it. Why 20 litres of milk? We just want to stay 5 days. And it was the first time that we made an experience with the thing what you common call different culture. In the culture from our host you read “l” like a 1 and not like a l as the short form for litre. So they read 1l as 11 litres.
The next match that we had to contest was to share the bathroom with cockroaches.

At the door and in the washing basin we could find them.

For make sure that we do not forget that we are living at a mini zoo now, we were sleeping under a window which is directly connected with the cages of the birds. So we woke up early, when they started their singing. During the day you may find it nice, but if you want to sleep, you will hate it.

And at the next day we met the animals. Not the small ones which everybody who is new in Australia finds terrible.  I mean the ones we were there for. They had more animals than the ad from the WWOOFer Book or the different phone calls with the host let us now. We discovered animals every where. We could find ducks, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fishes and snakes.
To let us feel more comfortable they told us that they are not poison, they just bit you. But only if you are new. Great. I am new.

I do not know how but I survived the first feeding and cleaning without a bit.
We worked two times per day and if you were good you did not need more than 2 hours.

After work we discovered more animals. Like crocodiles and dolphins. They are living in the basin in the back of the house. But fortunately they were made of plastic. So we could swim with them. If you were tired of animals you had the possibility to use the fast internet to switch in your home country. If you were not tired of animals in the evening you could learn something about tigers and elephants. The TV and the children will teach you.

If you really like animals, are not afraid to make your hands dirty and like milk, this host will welcome you and you feel like home, even it is a new culture.

Link: Wwoof Australia