So, I didn't know before the exchange what Ameristralia was, but decided to go with it anyway. I included several small tidbits for my gifter about my experiences concerning Australia including this little gem...

"Marsupial was the first complex word I ever said properly."

My mother loves telling this story whenever the topic of first words or mispronunciations come up. I was always one to hit milestones early - cutting teeth, talking, reading, I was always ahead. However, my speech patterns could have left a little something to be desired early on. When I first started talking, I apparently knew damn well how to say words - I just wouldn't. My aunt Carolyn still harps on me to this day about how I used to call her "Aunt Cah". This was just one example. As the story goes, my mother finally one day was fed up with my shenanigans and for a lark, tells me, "Say marsupial." And what comes out of my mouth but "Mar-SUP-ial!" So I have sort of a special affinity for this particular class.

What I didn't expect was for my match to take that one sentence and run with it. By which I mean - take the underlying concept and build on it. Upon first opening my gift, I was puzzled. It looked like a mug cobbled together with seemingly random pictures. I saw a note in the box and read it-- the meaning finally dawned on me. The pictures, when read aloud, sounded out "Mars, soup, eel" - "Marsupial!"

I was near tears with the cleverness and thoughtfulness of this simple gift. Thank you so much, Santa! I will cherish it and enjoy many a mug of what-have-you in this! (I am also thankful for its foam shipping container - it will definitely survive my upcoming move!)