I decided that my last meal in Darwin was going to be fish and chips. I hadn’t had any in awhile and I was craving it (and the price was right too!) I went to an outdoor take away place where they served me 3 massive pieces of mackerel on heaps of fries. As I was about to start my meal at a table outside an aboriginal woman approached me. She said “hello sister” and held out her hand to me. I was a little confused. Did she want to shake? Did she want money? I looked up at her with a look on my face and replied “hello?” “Two dollars change?” She asked. I said sorry, I didn’t have it, which was the truth. She looked at my food and said “That’s some nice fish you got there”. My defenses started to go up and I was unsure why. Then she looked into my eyes and said “Can I have a piece?” My first response inside was hell no, I paid for this and it is mine! I had been waiting all day for this meal. I should have been more charitable but there was something about her tone that really bothered me. Like she expected some food. Like she was entitled to it. After I shook my head she reached out a finger and attempted to take some of my french fries! Instinctively I pulled my plate away and that’s when she left.
I don’t know how I feel about the Aboriginal people here. They didn’t bother me on my outback tour. You would see them sitting in large circles under trees or perhaps walking on the road, but we didn’t interact with them. In Darwin there are many. They lounge around in public places in the shade. Some sit on the sidewalks and beg for money. You’ll see them in any park or riding on any bus. And they make me feel uncomfortable. And this bothers me. Sometimes they will talk to me in their language and wait for a response…I have no idea what to say.
The worst was today when I went to visit Darwin’s botanical gardens. There were quite a few Aboriginals there. In one spot there was a woman sitting on the sidewalk wailing and crying. I felt really badly for her but at the same time scared. The park was empty except for me and the Aboriginal people and as I passed I was often stared at. I left the park shortly after I entered because I just didn’t feel right. I almost felt like I was invading on their privacy.
I hate that I feel uncomfortable. I should have given that woman some of my fish and chips. I feel like perhaps if I knew more about them and their situation I might be more at ease. I wonder what the people of Darwin think about them lounging around and begging in the parks and on the road. But part of me also wonders how desperate that woman really was for my food. I’ve also heard stories about heavy alcohol consumption among the people and I can’t help but think about the alcoholism amongst the Native Americans back home. And how do the Aboriginal people think? How do they feel about their history with the Australian people? How do they feel about how society treats them?
Aboriginals and Australia are expected to go together. When you travel here you see their art (which is beautiful by the way), hear their didgeridoos, read their stores in museums. I haven’t been to the real touristy places like Sydney and Melbourne yet but I am assuming that their tons of that stuff in the souvenir shops. That’s all fine and good but it’s quite a contrast to the people I see on the street.
Next time I will share my fish.
