Growing up in Oz, I have obviously had different rules drilled into me. It wasn’t CLOSE THE DOOR and it obviously wasn’t TURN OFF THE LIGHT. It was… wipe up those crumbs! Put that food away! And for God’s sake don’t leave a half-eaten sandwich in your school bag!
To this day I still carry a reflex that impels me to wipe all surfaces down after meals. To tidy any crumbs away, empty the compost bin, and make sure no sticky sauce bottles are left out. I mean, it’s a good habit to have. But in Austria, if you don’t do this…
NOTHING HAPPENS.
In Australia, if you don’t wipe away EVERY SINGLE CRUMB, along they come. Their tiny feet marching as you sleep…
…the ants.
Perhaps because unbeknownst to you, you accidentally left a piece of sticky bun on the bench. And don’t even get me started on a drop of spilled juice!
Yet in Austria… with plates stacked up, not even rinsed for tomorrow morning’s dishwasher round, the kitchen will look exactly the same in the morning. In that, there won’t be hundreds of miniscule black bodies forming in a line from whence they came to seek out that one tiny thing you forgot to wipe away.
It turns out ants have to hibernate if it’s super cold, so in Australia the population can just keep on growing, whereas in Austria it’s more controlled. Austrian houses are also built to handle extreme winters – meaning thick masonry or concrete foundations, tight window/door seals and thick insulation. This all helps prevent ants from gaining access!
So if you do visit Australia, take a leaf from my rule book and tidy up after you eat!
an aussie in austria 