Gracetraveller in Canberra

October 28, 2002 (Canberra)

Freebies!:

National Library Australia has free internet access, but only one machine can be used for e-mail and . It's not that bad. You can do all other web research in the main reading room's bank of computers. Or, if you are like me, upload to your website so friends from home can see your travel pics!

Civic Library right on the bus interchange also has free internet access. Instead of paying for the connection right on the Jolimont Center (bus depot), walk a block and a half, cross the street and you can get free internet access.

Fellowship of the Backpack: cryptic messages

Canberra YHA provided a guest book and everyone is welcomed to write suggestions and reviews, rants and angst, praise and worries. Most of the messages left there were of praise and surprisingly most were from Australians traveling to the ACT. What I found touching and yes, even hilarious was one message left by a Japanese backpacker on a 6 day stay over in Canberra. He came ( I can only assume the backpacker is male) during height of winter and he wrote in Kanji. Someone thoughtfully translated his message:

Australia is winter now. Japan its summer now. I have taken shower.
Where am I go.
I am alone, five days limit. Lonesome…lonesome…
I think Canberra has nothing - It is country. (after he spent 3 hours kickboarding around Canberra)
I'm hungry. I eat nothing from today's morning. My trip is poverty trip…

Poverty trip…that sounds familiar. Last time I took time out from my life, there were moments then when I felt my trip was a poverty-stricken affair. Not that I ever felt hungry and with no means to get food. Poverty to me was more akin to looking so ragged with mis-matched socks and shirts that could use a two-hour bleach marinade. Still, reading what he wrote made me realize that I am a fortunate soul. And the biggest danger out here while traveling is the spectre of dealing with oneself. Someone please save me from myself!

Maggie's advice:

"You should not call him. Give him chance to forget you." Maggie surprised me. She is a very unassuming woman. Here on a one year scholarship for Agricultural Studies, she is struggling or in her words, "confused" about a man. (Aren't we all darlin'? Hahahaha…) Anyway, because we have been sharing ramen noodle dinners for the past two nights (did not plan it, just turned out that way…) she took me into her confidence. It seems, she has started a long distance affair with an Englishman. According to her, he is handsome, smart, a gentle man, well-off, single, perfect….nah. I say he is not perfect. He is in Beijing. She is in Sydney. They trade e-mails once a month (heck, I trade e-mails with girlfriends several times a week and I don't even love them that much…well, I do, but not LOVE, love. You know what I mean…); this affair of the heart is doomed. I think girlfriend is just lonely. An expat needing support and she will find that support from any which way and from anyone.

She also shared with me the Chinese community sentiment about living here in Australia. She said that the newly arrived Chinese hate their lives here but they do not want to leave either. I think that is what all immigrants feel after having just landed in their newfound home. They idealize their home countries. Things that were unbearable (pollution, poverty, human rights violations, bad job prospects, no voting rights, "balut" - duck eggs) become the stories of nostagia. The ugly realities back home is given a spin; told in a fairy-tale style of remembrance. Hey, immigrants need to cope with the culture shock. If you are one, you will understand.

Anyway, we swapped stories and after everything has been recounted, one thing stuck to my mind. Her advice not to call a man after a breakup struck me as very wise indeed. Why is it that we are compelled to explain ourselves? Explain our actions when clearly the actions themselves spoke the reality in our hearts. Yes, the affair is over. Hearts are broken. Acknowledge it and move on with life. Give him the chance to forget you. Heck, give yourself the chance to forget him. Amen.

I am Mary Grace, a fortunate backpacker.