MONTY BENFICA | Amusements | CONTACT
A British girl on a working holiday has confessed that her Australian housemate’s constant reminders that the 10-centimetre huntsman chilling in her bathroom isn’t venomous, doesn’t really do a lot for her anxiety right now.
Imogen Thornleigh (23), has only been in Australia for a few months and is finding it hard to adjust to the local fauna.
“Yes, they keep telling me not to worry about the giant spider, but look at that thing!” she said, her voice tinged with disbelief.
“I mean, it’s literally the size of my hand. How can anyone be calm with something like that in your bathroom?”
Imogen, who grew up in the UK, is accustomed to much smaller spiders and had never encountered anything quite as terrifying as the huntsman.
“I get it, it’s Australia. I was expecting I was expecting spiders, but this is a whole new level. They’re saying it’s harmless, but how can something that big not be dangerous? I’m having nightmares.”
Her housemates, Australian natives, seem baffled by her reaction. “It’s just a huntsman,” they say, “It’s not gonna bite you unless you provoke it. Chill out.”
Imogen, however, isn’t convinced. “They can tell me it’s harmless all they want, but it’s still there, and I’m still terrified of it. I don’t care if it’s not venomous. It’s a spider.”
As of now, Imogen has taken to using the bathroom with a cautious eye, often checking the corners of the room before entering. She’s not sure when—if ever—she’ll get used to the local wildlife.
“I just want to pee in peace without feeling like I’m about to be eaten alive.”
