An unexpected visitor

[liv]

Today, the sun came out. And so did a beaver! I came in to work this morning and everyone was at the window pointing and getting excited because this animal had decided to come and swim in the little ornamental pond on campus. No idea how it got there (the pond is not directly connected to any natural waterways), and it was pretty distressed, poor thing. It's quite big, I'd guess not much short of a metre long. And it was poking its little beaver head above the surface and then getting scared at all the hordes of people trying to photograph it, and diving back under the water.

Anyway, there was a big rescue operation involving several fire engines and some animal rescue specialists and pumping out all the water from the pond. One of the scientists pointed out that there are places in the world where they can't even provide enough food and medicine for all the children, but in Sweden, they can afford to send the fire brigade to rescue a trapped beaver. She has a point, but people weren't buying it because, ee, beaver!

Other than that, things are going well socially. I have discovered how the tea making facilities work, always important. And I have been invited to a party at the weekend, and generally feel like I'm settling.

Comments

[catwithclaws.livejournal.com]

*laugh* oh the poor confused beaver.

I haven't commented in a while but wanted to say how impressed I am at how you took on this move and the entire relocation. Oh, I'm sure there's been anxiety and some stress, but you still impress me nonetheless.

btw, are you planning on learning any Swedish?

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

Do you know whether it's a European beaver or a North American beaver? (It's amazing what animals people think need to be transplanted, no matter how closely-related some native animal is.)

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen beaver ?

[doseybat.livejournal.com]

Wow, amazing, hooray for beavers and parties! *bounces* my new shiny blackberry becomes active on Thursday so im looking forwad to Lots of Connectivity *grin*

Legion of the Dammed

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

For some reason, Merkins find the idea of photographing beaver to be amusing.

Meanwhile, they have the right idea devoting all those resources to relocating the beaver; they are very busy little animals and there won't be an ornamental tree, sapling, or shrub remaining within a 200-metre radius of anything it chooses to build.

[brenna26.livejournal.com]

So glad to hear you are there and settled in. Sorry I have not been at my computer for teh past few days to leave a message sooner. I laughed so much when I read your post about how the most trivial things suddenly seemed highly complicated, everything was expensive as you didn't know where to shop, you felt bad for not speaking the language and you did not have a kettle. In a sympathetic way naturally, but that is exactly how we felt when we first arrived in Austria. You will find it wear off quite fast. But I think it must be the most common feeling to all newcomers. For some reason the kettle became our talisman very quickly too. I am gald that your landlord and lady are nice. It makes all the difference. Keep your chin up and just remembet as long as you have a kettle, there is nothing that can't be sorted in life! Good on you.