Marty the Zebra: I’m ten years old. My life is half over and I don’t even know if I’m black with white stripes or white with black stripes!  

     Not a day goes by that I don’t smile when reminiscing all the shenanigans and  weird ideas of some of my special friends. I was considered shy and quiet by most  of my friends, very responsible by day and helpful by night.  Drinking games, or  falling asleep before the party even started? – No Way!! “Touring” around  Northbridge in a paddy wagon, or calling up a mate so they google map you to the  nearest bus stop? – Never!! Perth is a fast changing city, hence keeping up with new  street directories IS a mission! And all that while using the wrong side of the road in a first place! Shocking.

 There was only two places in the city that mattered anyway. I won’t use their names, not because they were somehow embarrassing. I like a bit of mystery.  Besides, if you were there with me, you will know exactly what I’m talking about. And if you weren’t, well – keep on reading, maybe your nationality is amongst the greatest below.

Most of my first friends here, ( apart from the few lovely poles I’ve harassed on nasza-klasa before coming to Perth) were Scottish. To this day I can’t understand them 90% of the time.Being called a” highly intelligent, but lazy” student as a child, it took me by surprise that I actually enjoyed all these new courses and situations I’m experiencing. I remember learning a lot of new sayings in different languages or becoming acquainted with Aussie slang. One day in Fremantle I overheard a public conversation/argument, where a guy kept yelling at his female companion. ” You can’t do this, you can’t do that” I later found out he was actually calling her a cunt. ( tłum.pol. – niecenzuralne słowo; patrz: google).

It was Japanese that became one of my favorites. “konichiwa”,”tata ma yaya” ,”kanako yako tako.” and many more. I wish I could remember what those mean 🙂 My guess is: Hello, You’re not from Madagascar, but I will go home with you anyway.

Having made friendships with people from around the world, you quickly learn 3 things :

1. who to keep close: friends

2. who to keep closer: enemies

3. who to avoid at all cost: Polish, Czech, German, Swiss German, Italian, Swiss Italian, French, Swiss French, Hungarian, Slovak, Hungarian sausage, Scottish, Irish, English, Norwegian, Canadian, Russian, Japanese, Indonesian, Mauritian, Brazilian, Taiwanese, Malaysian, Australian, Colombian, Madagascarian… In no particular  order. ( sorry if I missed anyone).

At the time it did not occur to me, that maybe it’s not them, but me.  It’s nice to finally sit down, open your eyes, and see how flawed your own ass really was. Comfortable – yes, perfect – no. But happy to say that my ass is now perfect.

End of story… 😉

Love ❤ Gacia

Alex the Lion: 27, 28, 29, 30. Hmm, 30 black and only 29 white, looks like you’re black with white stripes after all. Dilemma solved. Good night!