1 post tagged “racism”

How the hell did it become Saturday already? Where did my Friday go? I can't believe how fast the week flies, I can't get my work done on time and every time I look in my diary due dates are getting closer and closer. I have exams in another week! ANOTHER week! What the friggin' hell!?!?

I must admit I think I may be taking things too easy. I have been bludging, or not working as I should be. I mean, I just spent the whole hour on Vox posting loads of crap. On Thursday I actually remember doing absolutely no work!

Speaking of Thursday, I did get to do some errands. I went to visit the old High School to ask my old teachers to be my references for the future. It's been four years I was a bit defiant in going firstly because I haven't visited or kept in contact for about 4 years and secondly, I wondered if they wondered why I was asking for a reference back in high school and not anyone in uni?

Surprisingly, on my visit back as I was walking toward the school one of my old teachers was smoking near the carpark and she recognised me! I can't believe it, they have such good memories, think about how many students have passed through their lives over the span of four years? And yet she remembers me and my history! As I went into the grounds I met more, said hello, shared some stories, took a tour and got to see all the changes in time. I can't believe how small the place is - compared to Uni this place is so so so small.

 

I made my vists and asked for references from certain teachers - and slowly made my way out, some teachers had to go to their classes so there wasn't much for me to do there anymore. As I passed one of the rooms the teacher who met me at the driveway asked me to come into her Economics class and asked me to talk about career choice and uni. Always the student and never the teacher - it was such a weird experience. But it's like talking to a bunch of mates, except these mates felt the need to put their hand up to ask questions. I only hope I made a difference. I also wanted to emphasise that the HSC (examinations to determine what you do later on) is not the end all. Back then my family had put so much pressure on me I broke down. I told them there were always options open.

 

I told them about the courses, what I do, my job now and what I look for in the future and so on. What a nice and weird experience.

As for my second worry, not one of my teachers asked me why I was stretching my reference so far back. I told them anyway, I told them the fact that University lecturers never give you the time of the day to get to know you and therefore I would feel like a cheater if I got them to make up bullshit. I wanted my references to be people I know and people I have demonstrated to my work and ethics. I did a lot of extra-curicular back in my high school days, I did some at uni too, but the people you meet in those activities come and go - not the same.

So I walked out of the school quite happy. Nostalgic as well, I'll admit that too. The high school days were good to me. But as life goes on, people come and go, friends start dating, moving away - not taking the time to be with you but returning to high school and meeting the same people, the old areas where I hung out for 6 years of my life really carried this nice sense of security - the world that has stayed the same...

I paid some bills, I did some errands and I walked the long trek home. I stopped by to get some food and just rested at the park near home. Just sitting, under a tree - doing nothing. How often can one do that?

 

 

 

Yeah, I know chips and coke is bad - but I also had a salad before that and I took home most of the chips for my brother because by that time I was full.

Oh, today I also went to the Grand Opening of Myer near home. Soooo many people went today and I came across so many familiar faces. Greeting people ecetera. There was also the radio station there broadcasting live - lots of excitement. But the most exciting was the Gloria Jeans (mmm...drool...) inside the store itself. Damn Gloria, it's everywhere so you just can't resist!

 

Note: My brother took some of these pictures- he's still learning how to use the camera properly and what better way to learn? By using the camera itself!

 

 

Big crowds in confined spaces. There was one thing that bugged me though, I overheard one of the radio hosts saying to her friend in between being "on air" and saying something along the lines of this, "Oh my god, look at all the wogs - thank God where I live there aren't this many of them" and later on I heard from another, "So loud, I bet these parents don't know how to teach their kids how to behave, no wonder this place is like this."

They're pretty judgemental about our area - in fact we're not all "Wogs" and we're not all crap as you make us out to be. We're all educated well, perhaps not like the richer suburbs, but it's a really safe community - I reckon even closer and less "Fake" than other communities by far. A lot of us finish high school (statistically more and I think its because we value education and the better life it brings).

I remember the other day being at a park hearing a parent tell their kids, "Look at them taking up the entire park" - hey at least those kids are playing sport and not out on the streets dealing with drugs and stuff - what's your problem??!

You don't see racism a lot - but when you hear it, no matter how softly said - you hear it like the person is screaming.

Some people are really judgemental. But if I know the truth and the people living here knows the truth then let the ignorant continue to be ignorant - because I know that we are better people for having a greater understanding.

Gee, what a rant!

Anyway, better end on a happier note: GLORIA JEANS in Myer. I can smell those coffee beans brewing! Drifting through the store.... oh how DIVINE!