(The following is a Christmas letter from Professor Dar Roberts to friends of Geography)
Greetings from down under,
For those who know it, and those who don’t, we’ve been on sabbatical in Perth, Australia since August. It has been an amazing stay so far. We live in a very nice duplex in Woodlands, Western Australia, only about a five minute walk away from Jackadder Lake, the local primary school, and the Woodlands shopping center. We can buy fresh bread, fruit, and vegetables without ever breaking out our car keys. Alex and Elizabeth have just finished their first 2 months in Australian schools and now are enjoying the school holidays before starting the new school year in February. Alex will be in year one and Elizabeth in year six. Both did very well, and I suspect both have had a great time. We have made many friends and gotten to do many things. Alex has been learning Cricket and playing on a T-ball team, while Elizabeth is getting ready to start ballet.
Work has gone well at CSIRO, where Dar is working with people from Canberra, and ARRC and CELS in Perth. We have also traveled a fair amount, including camping trips to Cervantes, Ningaloo, Hamelin Pool, Northern Territory (Darwin, Kakuda, Katherine Gorge and Litchfield), and several local National Parks. We have even managed to drive on the left side of the road without crashing! We have seen many interesting animals and plants, including over 175 bird species, over 30 reptiles and amphibians, and lots of very interesting mammals, including four Echidnas in a single day. We still can’t always be sure we are looking at a wallaroo, kangaroo, or a wallaby, but we are getting better at it. We still have lots to look forward to before returning next July, including trips to Southern Australia, Sydney/Canberra, and Brisbane – and, of course, Uluru. Half of January we will be in New Zealand hob-nobbing with the Hobbits.
We still can’t speak Australian, but no worries mate, she’s a beauty. Have a ripper Christmas. Love Dar, Marianne, Elizabeth, and Alex
Our address here in Perth: 53A Bentwood Ave.; Woodlands WA 6018; Australia
When Dar has the time, he adds to his blog. Check it out here.
