I am not a city person; as a matter of fact they make me sick. I’m not joking
here; I have been known to loose my lunch after a long weekend in Chicago or New
York. Perth,
on the other hand, I find quite appealing. It’s as though someone has taken a
vast a dry wilderness, snapped their fingers, and POOF! 1 1/2 million people
and a thriving urban area upper. This city is friendly, happy, and manageable.
Fremantle is where I have been living. It thriving on the weekends and
during the day I constantly find myself bumping into friends and acquaintances
on the street. Freo is an entity struggling to stay independent of the ever
expanding City of Perth.
This quirky harbor town is filled with local and family owned shops and restaurants.
This place is bohemian, it is chic.
The most recognizable part of Fremantle is the architecture. Most of the
buildings in this town are around 100 years old. The round house and the old prison
are always in view giving the town a living history atmosphere.
Western Australia
itself is fantastic. Some consider it old fashioned and backwards, I think it’s
refreshing. It is a booming western civilization in a place where humans
probably shouldn’t be able to survive. All environmental concern aside, the
existence of this state is astounding.
I love the country, I love the people, I have loved my time here, there is
just one thing I wish I could go back and do over:
Unfortunately, I had no choice but to spend my time here living with 30+ fellow
American students. They were great people to live with; I have made great friendships
with all of them. However, that’s not why I came to Australia. If I could do it over
again I would not live in an international (American dominated) dorm. Because
of my living situation I found it impossible to get out and meet the locals. I
did make many friends through my rugby club, but still...
It is understandably hard, when a large group of Americans walk into a bar
together they sit together, and talk, and drink together. They are intimidated to
talk to locals; locals are intimidated to talk to them. I did not come to this
country to hang out with people from my own.
