Kate Oliver

And this job, this job was exactly as awesome as you are imagining right now. We would drive up to a primary school and the kids would see the van out the window and they'd all be going, the zoo's here, the zoo's here. And then we'd walk into the classroom or the assembly and we'd be like, is everybody excited? And they'd be like, yeah. It was like being a celebrity. Yeah.

And this job, this job was exactly as awesome as you are imagining right now. We would drive up to a primary school and the kids would see the van out the window and they'd all be going, the zoo's here, the zoo's here. And then we'd walk into the classroom or the assembly and we'd be like, is everybody excited? And they'd be like, yeah. It was like being a celebrity. Yeah.

And the first day, I went to a secondary school where the teenagers are. I was definitely nervous because teenagers, as you know, are not allowed to like things and are not allowed to show that they're enjoying something. So when we went in, there was stony silence.

And the first day, I went to a secondary school where the teenagers are. I was definitely nervous because teenagers, as you know, are not allowed to like things and are not allowed to show that they're enjoying something. So when we went in, there was stony silence.

And the first day, I went to a secondary school where the teenagers are. I was definitely nervous because teenagers, as you know, are not allowed to like things and are not allowed to show that they're enjoying something. So when we went in, there was stony silence.

But then we got out the snake, and one of the kids was really scared, but then she touched it, and it wasn't slimy like she imagined, and then she asked a question, and then they were all asking questions, and they were laughing and having fun. I just got to be that cool, popular person that I didn't get to be in school.

But then we got out the snake, and one of the kids was really scared, but then she touched it, and it wasn't slimy like she imagined, and then she asked a question, and then they were all asking questions, and they were laughing and having fun. I just got to be that cool, popular person that I didn't get to be in school.

But then we got out the snake, and one of the kids was really scared, but then she touched it, and it wasn't slimy like she imagined, and then she asked a question, and then they were all asking questions, and they were laughing and having fun. I just got to be that cool, popular person that I didn't get to be in school.

And though this job was so important to me and these experiences were so big for me, I don't ever expect one of these kids to remember me after this day. Like, I'm always just going to be this vague memory of, like, the day the zoo lady came to school, you know? Like, you probably remember when the animal person came to school, right? If you've wondered how they're doing, I'm fine.

And though this job was so important to me and these experiences were so big for me, I don't ever expect one of these kids to remember me after this day. Like, I'm always just going to be this vague memory of, like, the day the zoo lady came to school, you know? Like, you probably remember when the animal person came to school, right? If you've wondered how they're doing, I'm fine.

And though this job was so important to me and these experiences were so big for me, I don't ever expect one of these kids to remember me after this day. Like, I'm always just going to be this vague memory of, like, the day the zoo lady came to school, you know? Like, you probably remember when the animal person came to school, right? If you've wondered how they're doing, I'm fine.

We're fine, thanks so much. But this time... This one time I got recognized outside of work. This would change everything. Because this teenager, he leaned over to his friends, and he told them who I was, and they all started going, oh, my God, it's Zoo Lady. Zoo Lady. Zoo Lady's here. Zoo Lady's here.

We're fine, thanks so much. But this time... This one time I got recognized outside of work. This would change everything. Because this teenager, he leaned over to his friends, and he told them who I was, and they all started going, oh, my God, it's Zoo Lady. Zoo Lady. Zoo Lady's here. Zoo Lady's here.

We're fine, thanks so much. But this time... This one time I got recognized outside of work. This would change everything. Because this teenager, he leaned over to his friends, and he told them who I was, and they all started going, oh, my God, it's Zoo Lady. Zoo Lady. Zoo Lady's here. Zoo Lady's here.

And they were talking about the ferret, and they thought it was going to bite them, but then it didn't, and it was so soft, and they were so excited, and they had such a good day, and we were all suddenly laughing. And when we walked down into that arena for round two, it was like we had eight personal bodyguard snipers next to us.

And they were talking about the ferret, and they thought it was going to bite them, but then it didn't, and it was so soft, and they were so excited, and they had such a good day, and we were all suddenly laughing. And when we walked down into that arena for round two, it was like we had eight personal bodyguard snipers next to us.

And they were talking about the ferret, and they thought it was going to bite them, but then it didn't, and it was so soft, and they were so excited, and they had such a good day, and we were all suddenly laughing. And when we walked down into that arena for round two, it was like we had eight personal bodyguard snipers next to us.

We walked into that arena, we were haphazardly diving behind the cardboard boxes. They took up strategic positions and they were picking off people I couldn't even see at the other end of the room. Nobody got near us that day. We walked out of there completely paint-free, apart from the accidental shots we'd hit each other and ourselves. And it was amazing. It was amazing.

We walked into that arena, we were haphazardly diving behind the cardboard boxes. They took up strategic positions and they were picking off people I couldn't even see at the other end of the room. Nobody got near us that day. We walked out of there completely paint-free, apart from the accidental shots we'd hit each other and ourselves. And it was amazing. It was amazing.

We walked into that arena, we were haphazardly diving behind the cardboard boxes. They took up strategic positions and they were picking off people I couldn't even see at the other end of the room. Nobody got near us that day. We walked out of there completely paint-free, apart from the accidental shots we'd hit each other and ourselves. And it was amazing. It was amazing.