Don Strano in OZ: Little Italy

The weather has cooled down again which is a relief. We are moving into the second phase of our time here - at least I'm moving into a new phase with the start of the semester next week, leaving for Adelaide on Tuesday to attend the International Narrative Therapy Conference and we booked our trip to Sydney for the first week of April. Graham is set to go to a camp with his school the 3rd week in March which will be held at a camp area along the Great Ocean Road where he will get surfing lessons. I guess it doesn't get much better than that - learning to surf in Australia along what is known as the surf coast.

I'm getting acclimated to the people and culture as well. I hardly hear the Aussie accent anymore - it is beginning to sound normal to me - realizing that is odd in itself. I have to wonder how strange it will seem when we get back to the states. I also hear us all picking up some Aussie expressions which makes us all chuckle when we hear it coming from each other's mouth.

It is a rough place all the same. So many "macho" stereotypical male values abound. I seem to see it everywhere. I'm not sure if this is because of my preconceptions before coming here - that it was a place with independent, tough minded men who settle things with their fists. Women do play dominant leadership roles in the country yet the steryotipic aggressive male approach comes through in many ways. It is strange, we've been here for almost a month and a half now, in a city of 4 million and I cannot recall one news report of a murder in Melbourne or any gun violence. Yet there are numerous stories about problems with adolescents aggressive behavior, crowds getting out of hand outside of clubs and at sporting events. Alcohol use and public drunkenness appears to be a big problem - particularly among teens. When riding the tram later in the evening it is not unusual to have someone get on the tram with an open case of beer in their hands moving to the next party apparently.

I've said many times so far that it is a land of paradox - Melbourne is at least. There are charming parts of the city like the pics below of Carlton - the city's little Italy, it is also the home of the Museum, Melbourne University and the Zoo: