Although there were many special moments this week, like riding a camel and finding a garnet, I’ve decided to write something different. I am now six weeks in, marking halfway through this journey and me, being my inquisitive self, have started to learn more and more about my parents’ intentions and reasons for taking me on this trip. One of the main reasons, is so I can see more of and learn about the country I was born in. However, although I can recognise that I am travelling around Australia, the country of my birth, I am subconsciously unable to see the places I am travelling through as part of the same country that encompasses my privileged home city of Sydney. As I travel, I am finding it increasingly difficult to realise that this giant expanse I am covering these 3 months, contains within it cities that are so advanced. I believe there are a few reasons as to why this has been happening to me and why I feel this way. Apart from their size, location and population density, I think what really puts up the barrier in my mind, that prevents me from connecting the two types of areas, is the people living within them. It goes without saying, that when communities are smaller it allows for a closer bond between all the the people living there and in large cities such as Sydney or Melbourne it is very different. Honestly, I dont believe that country people are any more friendly than people from large cities, however I think that because of their population density, country people have a chance to know each other better, so they are more trusting, thus they are more open and friendly on the whole even to complete strangers. I am not so used to this strong sense of community and the warmth that these people extend to everyone and I think that is part of the reason I feel as if the Australia I am travelling around now is different from the one I was born in. Another reason I may feel this way is because of the landscape, which I am constantly seeing more of. At home, I am constantly seeing the same things everyday, whereas the only thing that has remained the same on this journey is our car and caravan. Perhaps this is the reason why I feel so attached to the caravan, as it remains unchanged throughout this trip. Also, I find it very weird and I havent really noticed it until recently, that I can look out my window and see the horizon, which is different for someone who has lived in densely packed city for most of his life. I hope that soon I will be able to recognise the land I am travelling around as part of the land I was born in, (maybe this will happen when we get back on the east coast when I am near water again). I also hope that many others will be able to take this trip so that they will be able to see and understand more of the country they were born in.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 07:54:59 +0000
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