Comments on: 7 Unique Things Learned While in Australia

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:13:10 +0000

@Lewis: You know the way in the US, outsiders are told to avoid small country towns like a plague because they’ll experience problems, here is the exact opposite.
At least on the superficial level, country folks here are so warm and nice, and though city folk are still nice, they can’t beat that country hospitality so hit up a few country areas in addition to the cities, which will be like any other cool Western metropolitan city in terms of stuff to do……..
I really can’t think of places to avoid really. Some folks say avoid areas with excessive numbers of Asians and Africans because of poverty and crime, and whereas this is true, to me it doesn’t seem like its too big of a problem it looks like most gangs here fight within themselves.
Aboriginals are quite aware and in touch with their history. Nah, man, from what I can see for the most part it is quite sad the way our Aboriginal brothers and sisters live.
Hope this helps.

By: Lewis

Lewis — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:31:34 +0000

Thanks for your response Mwangi. Sounds like melborne will be the place to be, what i will be doing is travelling all up the east cost of austriaila then off to new zealand for a month, then over to america!! Any places that i should i avoid?

Id like to learn how the aboringals were back in the day sort of thing, how they are now is not sounding very nice

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:29:15 +0000

@Lewis: Hey Lewis, welcome to tDA. In response to your questions:
1) No! Melbourne is one of the most multicultural if not the most multicultural city on Earth, we have every race, tribe, creed, group of people you can imagine, so you’ll see a little of everything and if you are looking for black Brits, I’m willing to bet they have a community down here too.
2) Nope, you will have no troubles whatsoever. This place has really spoiled me. I walk around at 2 and 3 o’clock in the morning as if it aint no thing man. This place is probably 97% safe all the time in my humble opinion.
3) Aboriginals have their own communities, I believe there is a smaller one in Western Australian but their biggest community hands down is in the Northern Territory of Australia. There you will find homogeneous Aboriginal communities.
From everything I have heard and seen, prepare to have your heart broken. Apparently, and this came from African people, the way they live is just foul – alcohol, suicide, drugs, child molesting, mooching and generally self-destructive behaviour.
So don’t go up there with romantic notions, I’d suggest, go there with an open mind and heart and with a willingness to embrace what comes your way no matter how shocking it is.

Hope this helps.

By: Lewis

Lewis — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:05:19 +0000

Im a black British guy who will be travelling up the east coast early next year, going from melbourne to cairns, will i have any troubles and will i see many of the same people!

I also wouldn’t mind learning about Aborigines while im over there, any good places to go where i can learn from these people?

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:49:37 +0000

@Festy: Hello fellow resident of the most liveable city, how goes it? I definitely restate and reaffirm my statements that this place has been truly a blessing in terms of the race issue, I never ever felt as though I was somehow being looked down on or thought of as less than because of my race…..I actually feel I got some stuff here easier because of my race, but that’s another abstract post for another day.

My mother is extraordinary: you know what? I think I should interview me old lady….hmm hopefully she’ll be up to it, because she truly is special, and am not just saying that as empty flattery from son to mother.

Finally, there is actually a very common joke amongst African Americans and sometimes African about how we find it odd that we always get complimented on how well spoken and articulate we are, when we have been this way all our lives. It’s never surprised a lot of us and we find it weird that it surprises foreigners. I think as we continue to bridge the gap to understanding each other a little better you will probably hear that as a joke or complaint a lot coming out of the children or cousins of the African continent.

Thanks for stopping by.

By: Festy

Festy — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:25:05 +0000

Hi Mwangi. I’m an Australian caucasian (born and bred in Melbourne) and am heartened to hear your comments about Australians, and in particular, Melburnians attitudes towards those of other ethnicities. I’m always concerned that, for “new Australians” (how’s that for political correctness?!), racism may often rear it’s ugly head, and I’m glad that this isn’t your experience. By the way, I hope this isn’t breaking the boundaries of your blog, but I know your Mother in a work setting and she is an exceptional lady. The industry that she works in can be quite stressful but she has never been anything other than calm and polite. It is a pleasure to deal with her. I’ve always been impressed with what I know she has achieved (that is to say, I only know a little bit about the success of her business), and wish that she, and yourself, achieve all that you wish for.

P.S. Your English and turn of phrase is excellent and really enjoyable to read.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:35:32 +0000

@donthateindians: Hey man, very unique first name . Dude, I never spoke about hating Indians. You should come to my neighbourhood, it’s Curry central, I couldn’t hate Indian people if I tried, they’ve shown me too much love. The statement that Indians are everywhere was a joke, with an underlying truth yes, but a joke nevertheless. And I stand by the statement that Sri Lankan women are absolutely gorgeous. So in short dude, I agree “donthateindians”. Thanks for stopping by the site.

By: donthateindians

donthateindians — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:06:47 +0000

Any racism directed at Indians is racism. Period. That some Indians are racist against blacks (dalits) in India does not justify illtreatment and merciless exploitation of Indian students in Australia.They are just there to study and pay a lot of fees to universities. Just imagine if Australian youth who visit India are mistreated as ‘racists’, how would they feel. People who argue like this want to increase racism worldwide as it benefits them or are plain stupid. Stop exploitation of students from India.

By: donthateindians

donthateindians — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:02:09 +0000

Any racism directed against indian students is racism. Period. Indians are racist too in their country, this argument does not justify racism against Indian students who may or may not never have hurled abuse against the dalits (blacks) of India. If anyone argues like that, then they are just supporting racism both in India and Australia and are clowns.They are there to study and should not be exploited mercilessly.

By: gal africana

gal africana — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:37:59 +0000

You do that. It’s worth it!!