This past weekend I went to Canberra, Australia's national capital, with my American class. The picture above is most all of the girls in our group in front of the "mall". Back when they were planning the capital city (not too long ago) the two largest cities, Sydney and Melborne, both wanted to be the capital. As a compromise, the capital got built from scratch right between the two cities in the middle of absolutely nowhere.A lot of people, both Australians and tourist, think that Canberra is very boring but I really enjoyed it. We got to go to Parliament house and watch the senate, we went to the British and Indonesian embassies to meet with their ambassadors, we went to the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum, and the National Art Gallery, and the War Memorial. I guess if you didn't like art, history, and politics Canberra probably would be boring. The Embassies are neat because they are in a neighborhood and each embassy is designed and decorated like it's straight from the country it's representing.
One of my favorite things to visit was the Aborigine Tent Embassy set up outside of the Old Parliament House. It's basically a permanent protest the Aborigines have had going on for about 15 years. They have been treated so terribly! It wasn't until 1967 that aborigines were considered citizens. Before that they were classified under flora and fauna. Right now the aborigines are fighting for more land rights.
the war memorial
Wow that is really cool! You learn something new everyday I guess :) And by the way, I am really jealous because you look SO tan in that top picture!
ReplyDeleteI think you should be classified as flora and fauna with as much time as you spend outside! Of course, I'd let you retain your rights as a person and citizen too. I love you!
ReplyDeletehaha thanks Kristine! I wasn't outside much today. It was too hot. I needed to go to the beach but I had classes all day.
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