Featured Above: A screen shot of the Introduction thread on Blackboard
Communications between Amsterdam and Australia kicked off with us each posting a little about ourselves and the places we live or have lived. The comparisons were facinating. This helped us to realise some of the key differences between Amsterdam and Melbourne living; the Dutch were surprised by how much space and isolation suburban Australians experienced compared with themselves.
Featured Below: My Introduction
Hi All,
Phew, it took me a long time to get through all 37 posts. What fascinating stories. Anyone from Holland up for a house swap?
My name is
Amber, I’m 30. I’m finishing off the last few subjects of my Education/Arts
Degree, majoring in English and Drama. I originally come from what is arguably
the largest suburb of Australia; New Zealand ;0). I moved to Adelaide with my
family when I was a wee babe and then to Melbourne not long after that. I’ve
lived in A LOT of places, so I’ll try and give you the highlights reel... My family
used to own a large white house with a HUGE back and front yard, surrounded by apple
orchards (and backing onto a farm with a horse stable) in an outer suburb of
Melbourne, called Templestowe. In my time
there I saw the orchards destroyed and turned into a sprawling acreage of red
tiled roofs and high fences.
We then became poor and moved inner city to what was considered, at the time, a grubby, ‘working class’ suburb named Richmond. I could hear the football crowds and watch the city traffic from my bedroom; my playground was on the concrete maze of streets and alley ways. It is now a very expensive and sought after location. The old factories have been transformed into penthouse pads for DINK’s (those who have a "Double Income, No Kids") and the corner stores have become groovy café’s for latte sipping. I also lived in Richmond as an adult, but rising prices meant myself and many of my friends have been pushed onto locations away from the city.
I’ve travelled to over 14 countries – including Holland – I LOVED Amsterdam!! I lived in Edinburgh, Scotland; which was very different to here. A lot more tangible history in the city scape. During the Edinburgh festival, I shared a 3 bedroom apartment with 17 other people!
Now I live with my 5 year old daughter, Maya, in a place called Glen Waverley; it’s the most far I have ever lived from a city as an adult - but many people would see it as quite central. We live in a quirky house that was delivered to the land on the back of a truck in the 1960’s. Apparently a cow used to live in my daughter’s bedroom ! ?! I’m not particularly fond of living in the ‘burbs. Not this one, anyway. Apart from my crazy house, I find it quite characterless. If we want to go anywhere, we have to get in a car and drive there, which isn’t really my bag. I loved Amsterdam’s cycling culture (I nearly got hit by bikes there SO many times). The multi-level bike-‘parks’ were a real novelty to me. Being able to cycle everywhere again with my daughter on the back would be magic!
Very much looking forward to working with you all!
Catch you on Wednesday night.
Above Left: My daughter, Maya in the long driveway that leads to our weatherboard house and front door, featured behind her.
Above Right: Maya, balancing on our "Hill's Hoist" (the quintessential Australian clothesline) in our very large backyard.
