Lesson 3A: A New Start

Lota: (knocks on the door)
Luka: Come in!
Lota: Hey, Lu. What are you up to?
Luka: Nothing much, just going through some photos on my phone. It’s weird, I never thought I’d miss Australia this much – and we haven’t even left yet!
Lota: But I thought you were excited about moving to Croatia.
Luka: Don’t get me wrong; I’m looking forward to it. It’s just that it’s such a big change…
Lota: What are you going to miss most? Luka: Other than my friends, you mean? Kookaburras, ha-ha! Seriously, though. This morning I was woken up by the sound of a kookaburra laughing, and I immediately thought about how weird it’s going to be not hearing it any more. And to think it used to annoy me!
Lota: Wow, I wasn’t really expecting that for an answer. I suppose it’s those little things that we often take for granted. For me, it’s my friends and surfing. I like the Adriatic, but I think it’s definitely not for us surfers. But I’m looking forward to enjoying the beach every now and then. I’ve seen pictures of the Croatian coast; I’m in love with those pretty stone towns and clear sea! I hope we can explore the islands, too.
Luka: And we’ll definitely stay fit; there’s a range of hills north of Zagreb, so we won’t miss out on our hiking trips.
Lota: Yeah, but hiking is more your thing than mine. I’ve always found our ocean walkways more enjoyable than the hills... But I think we can agree we’ll miss our grandparents in Brisbane. We all loved our family trips to Fraser Island with them. Its sandy beaches, dunes and rainforests are as close to paradise as it gets!
Luka: And you’ll never see as many dingoes and wallabies in one place as there. I never liked having to look out for snakes, though.
Lota: That’s a plus for Croatia; we won’t have to worry that much about being bitten or stung by venomous animals while exploring nature. Oh, will you be able to play rugby there?
Luka: I think there’s a local rugby club in Zagreb; I’ll have to look it up. But I’ll definitely miss playing the game with my mates.
Lota: And what about Mum and Dad?
Luka: Oh, I’m sure Mum will hate not being able to watch Home and Away on TV in the evenings. She’s been watching the show her whole life!
Lota: I suppose she’ll have to find it somewhere online, then. Luckily, you can find anything you want online these days. And Dad will certainly miss his job and his busy way of life.
Luka: He probably will at first, but I’m sure he’ll find something to keep him busy and active in Zagreb, too. Speaking of busy schedules, I still haven’t done what Mum told me to. Where’s the…

Where are you guys? I’ve been calling you all morning! You’ve got a busy day ahead of you. Here are your tasks. Lota, don’t forget your appointment today at eleven. Go to the doctor for your check-up. Don’t forget to return your books to the library, either. Then please find some souvenirs for the family in Croatia. While you’re there, could you also buy some postcards for your new classmates, and Luka’s? When you see Luka, please tell him to put all the stuff he doesn’t need in the garage. He has to call Borna, too, and check the school application deadlines. Remind him to get some info on rugby clubs in Zagreb. And tell him to fold his clothes neatly before he puts them in the suitcase! I think that’s it. Text me when you get the message. I must go back to work now. Love you!