When I first arrived with my family from the United States, I really didn't know what to expect. All the material you can find about a city doesn't quite impart the true "flavour" of places and the people you find there. Information is much better now; you can look at this piece of writing on the web for instance, and perhaps learn at least a little of what you need to know to get by. Looking back now I realise just how long ago that arrival was.
Qantas hadn't taken delivery of its first 747 Jumbo; they have a bucket full now. The Opera house you see in the photo was still surrounded by cranes and scaffolding, they've gone now. Nixon was President of the United States. The Beatles were breaking up. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin were still alive. Time always seems to have gone by quickly when you look back on it, except for those particularly awkward moments we seen to relive over and over. You know the ones, like when you asked a lady, “When are you due?” only to be told....well let’s leave it there, too embarrassing even after all those years.
Qantas hadn't taken delivery of its first 747 Jumbo; they have a bucket full now. The Opera house you see in the photo was still surrounded by cranes and scaffolding, they've gone now. Nixon was President of the United States. The Beatles were breaking up. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin were still alive. Time always seems to have gone by quickly when you look back on it, except for those particularly awkward moments we seen to relive over and over. You know the ones, like when you asked a lady, “When are you due?” only to be told....well let’s leave it there, too embarrassing even after all those years.
On landing we were met by friends of my parents who loaded our not inconsiderable amount of luggage into two cars, off we went on our new adventure. Sydney seemed to have an oversupply of corner pubs, one for every, i.e. corner. Knowing the drinking age was 18, only a year away, I was most impressed. Still maintaining my image of word traveller by remaining blasé regarding sights my siblings were asking numerous questions about, I nudged my sister into asking why there was so much broken glass on the roads. Apparently laminated glass had not made it to very many car windshields yet. Our driver, my dad’s friend, blamed the road system, too narrow, not enough traffic lights, and few bypasses of busy places like shopping areas. If I were to land in Sydney for the first time now, I wouldn’t see any difference between American road systems in cities the same size and Sydney today. The traditional Aussie pub has all but given way to trendy up-market drinking holes. You have to fight your way to the bar through a crowd of Sex and the City types. Sydney grew up quickly, it had to, the 2000 Olympics were only 30 years away.
In 1970 Sydney had 2.7 million people, in 2009 3.8 million, a 37% increase. I can assure you I tried to do my fair share to build the population, and I do apologise for my lack of success. In spite of my sex repulsion, the city grew in scale as well as population. The “Greater” Sydney area is about 60 kilometres east west and 120 north south. That’s a lot of red roofs. From day one I loved it, perhaps because it was all new to me. I was just the right age to enjoy the adventure, and also the right age to adapt to the differences I would encounter. Besides, I had those "New guy in school" advantages to look forward to. Lock up your daughters, oh well; there was no need for that after all.
My wife's calling me to bed, I'm sure it's not for the reason I might hope. You see, I still haven't got "IT".
Photo Courtesy Linh Rom Return to Main Page.
Photo Courtesy Linh Rom Return to Main Page.
I just returned to Sydney last month for the first time in 20 years (after living there for 6 months in the late 80's). It's grown up even since then (and I'm sure you woulnd't have recognized it in '89). It's incredibly international now with a diverse population and cappuccino bars on every corner. Still as beautiful as ever, though.
ReplyDelete