Aussie Politics
A blinking cursor is a scary thing, isn’t it? Whether it’s at the beginning of an unwritten essay or a new blog entry, it’s quite intimidating. There are probably people reading this right now with the opposite perspective, maybe they see a fresh page rather than an empty one. If I’ve learned anything so far in Australia, it’s that each new day is fresh, not empty. It would be inappropriate to take the latter view because I have twenty years worth of pages behind me. Of course, these pages affect those that haven’t been written yet but they don’t dictate what’s to come. I’m not sure what sparked me to write this but it feels right. The 15 minutes I spend browsing my iTunes, Facebook, and JDate every time I sit down at the computer instills me with the energy and the creativity to tackle that blinking cursor, to hopefully find the words that best express my experiences here in Sydney.
It occurred to me that I should probably start filming on campus. I don’t want to create the impression that study abroad is an endless excuse to travel and party. Believe or not, I’m enjoying my classes so far and it might be beneficial to show you a regular day in the life of an international student. If I were filming tomorrow, for example, you’d see me standing at a pay phone speaking with the mobile phone people because I’m out of credits. Most of us here purchase pre-paid minutes and recharge them at the end of the plan. The trick for me right now is that I don’t have any minutes to call Customer Care and buy more. I’d do it online but the phone company screwed up my last purchase so they credited my account with thirty dollars worth of minutes and I don’t know how to access them. The list of stupid errands continues... I should probably go food shopping again, too.
I spent this past weekend in Canberra, Australia’s capital, with Macquarie’s Global Leadership Program. It was interesting in that in a group of sixty people, most of us applied solo and bonded really quickly. The trip was designed to promote global awareness, so the advisers divided us into groups and we had to present our solutions to different international problems. Fair trade and cultural awareness were major themes of the weekend and I learned a lot. It was my first trip out of Sydney (although certainly not my last) and I met a ton of Australians I wouldn’t have otherwise met on campus. We attended a Parliament session on Friday and I listened to the prime minister deliver a speech about the anniversary of Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam. I don’t know why C-Span in the States is so boring because these sessions are FUN. Watching politicians point fingers and mock each other over issues no one wants responsibility for brought to mind a saying that goes something like “Politics is Hollywood for ugly people.” I was also interested by the fact that I’ve been in Australia for less than a month and I’ve seen Prime Minister Howard in the flesh. In twenty years as an American, I’ve never been inside the White House, much less seen the president. Australia is truly a small country.
Speaking of politics, I present you with my gripe of the week. I’ve written before about how much Australians love their politics. Especially in a city as diverse as Sydney, current events are extremely popular topics of conversation. Those of you that know me probably know where this is going... Now, as the son of an Israeli immigrant and the grandson of Holocaust survivors, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’m proud of my background. I have a mini-culture shock every time I meet someone who’s never tasted a bagel or visited relatives in Brooklyn. However, given the small Jewish community in my suburb here, the constant revolving door of violence in the Middle East, and my appearance, I’m finding myself more and more often having a very particular conversation.
I should probably explain what my appearance has to do with anything. As a fair-skinned redhead studying in a predominantly Anglo-Saxon country, I’ve been asked on more than one occasion if I’m Irish. It’s not possible to answer this and move on, of course, since my family’s specific history is typically the most expected and natural answer to this question. Then, I’ll hear, “Oh wow, you don’t look Jewish,” which always sounds like it’s supposed to be a compliment. I’m not angry about this, just amazed how uninformed most of us still are even in this day and age. I try to appreciate the chance this person is giving to explain my culture and maybe defuse a stereotype or two. The majorities of people I’ve met are interested in Judaism and are genuinely curious. They’ve seen the sizable Orthodox and South African Jewish communities in Australia and yet it seems the general perception of Jewish people is, well, inaccurate. Being in Australia has forced me to confront what it means to be a minority, even if I’d get by simply by keeping my mouth shut. Eh, I’m sure I’ll get over it soon enough and on the brighter side, I’ve gained a valuable perspective on one of the many things I take for granted in my suburban New Jersey bubble.
On a lighter note, I have a feeling my weekend in Canberra was indicative of what the rest of this semester is going to be like. From practicing my Australian accent (which, for an American, I think is pretty good) to packing in the sites, it was just what I needed to top off my first month Down Under. The program’s adviser was kind enough to arrange for me an interview with a news anchor not much older than I am. We filmed on the set of a late night call in show in Canberra and I’m really proud of it. The finished episode is going to look great and, I think, captures the essence of what JYA is all about. Episode 2 was not nearly as good as it could have been and my Canberra footage will hopefully make up for that.
The fact that I’m browsing away messages means it’s time to say good night. The blinking cursor is just as noticeable at a conclusion as an introduction, isn’t it? Perhaps it’s even more so. I should get some work done and then, hopefully, I won’t have to look at a blinking cursor on the page of one of my essays much longer.
Thanks for reading.
Jason
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