Teacher Ruth celebrates the Aboriginal culture

Teacher Ruth & Artist Sonda

Ruth is one of our DL teachers from Bankstown College in Sydney who has a keen interest in culture and human identity.

Every year Australia dedicates a week in July to celebrate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements. So Ruth travelled to the Northern Territory to join the celebrations. She found it a great opportunity to acknowledge the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our society.

The highlight of her trip was making friends with Sonda who comes from Alice Springs in the central desert area of Australia. She is well known in the territory for her artwork and storytelling.  She uses her artwork to carry on telling her Indigenous traditions and culture. She paints in public at markets or in the mall. You can watch her painting here.

Aboriginal Dance

Ruth watched the interesting dance performed by the dance group called ‘One Mob Different Country’. They had the permission from the elders to perform this ceremony in front of the Parliament House in Darwin.

Ruth feels enriched by connecting with Australia's indigenous community.  She enjoys listening to their stories about family and the importance of their place in the Australian culture.

• What does it mean to be Australian or what defines Australia's identity? 
• How much should the past shape your identity as an individual and Australia's identity?
• Australia has many different cultures.  How can we all get along and live in harmony?
• How important is art in understanding each other's cultures?

Tina travels solo

DL student Tina on the road

Besides exploring beautiful scenery, meeting new friends, tasting different cooking styles and practising English, there was something else I learnt from travelling alone, that was to be appreciative and be brave.

I always travelled with someone else. Although I came to Australia by myself, I very soon found other Taiwanese travel mates. I couldn't imagine what travelling alone would be like or if I would be able to handle any problems on my own. I thought I always needed the company of other people.

Luckily, after all the money in my pocket ran out, I got a full-time job as a nanny in Alice Springs. So I moved out of the backpacker hostel into a motel which my employer paid for. I got paid well and lived in a nice double room with a big swimming pool in front of my door. My friends were envious of my life. But they didn't know I couldn't share my room and I didn't have any colleagues at work. The only activity was to join drinking parties after work. But none of the people I met could go bush walking with me the next day because their hangovers kept them in bed. I got so bored and felt lonely.

One of my friends left his car behind for me. I got the car fixed then started my own national park trips. The first trip to West MacDonnel Ranges National Park took fifteen minutes. I was too scared to drive myself into the unfamiliar inland desert so I returned to town after passing the national park sign. A week later I tried again and also every Sunday after that. The cliffs change colour all the time, the river that flows through the gorges is a billion years old and the desert animals are so different. They brought me peace and became my best company. This beautiful park taught me to appreciate nature and the resources we have.

The time I spent in Alice Springs helped me feel independent. I proved to myself that I could look after myself and I was ready for new challenges. It was one of the most memorable travel experiences.

Thanks Tina for sharing your wonderful travel experience with us. We admire your adventurous spirit.  Why not write a message for Tina!

• What is the difference between being lonely and being alone?
• How comfortable are you with your own company? Are there benefits to being by yourself?
• Would you travel alone like Tina?  Why / why not?
• What places in Australia have blown you away? What places would you like to visit?