An ode to Australia

by Candice Baynes (Australia)

I didn't expect to find Australia

I grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. When people ask me what it was like, they look at me in disbelief when I describe the conditions. Although a beautiful country rich in culture and history, there is a darkness that lingers over it like a choking black smoke, suffocating those that dare look to the sun for light. I never felt like it was my home. Like I was a foreigner only passing through, ready to start my next adventure. Growing up in houses wrapped in bars and screaming alarms to keep us safe from the outside world, your sense of safety is ripped away from you, even more so when you walk in the door only to see your life violated. Okay okay, yes there is crime everywhere, but some places just have a malevolent way about them. A monster under the bed, waiting to snatch you away. A state of despair washed over me and I felt like I was drowning, I needed to get out. After a traumatic event, I booked my one-way ticket for Australia. I had nothing, only the fire in me to make a better life for myself. Getting a job was easy, the work was simple, and it felt like my efforts were rewarded. I got to explore when I had spare time and I was gobsmacked. The beauty of the different towns I visited, the pride in one’s country and the general sense of interest in another human being bowled me over. Beaches went on as far as I could see, linking each little town to one another. The air was clear, expelling any cloudy thought and the water cleansed every inch of my soul. Going inland where the long roads held back natures attempt to cross was hypnotic. I felt like I was the only person in a post-apocalyptical world. No matter where I went, there was an obvious community feel that was like a net, ready to catch you if you fell. A reassurance that everything will be okay. The lack of threat broke my walls down allowing me to see in more colour, more clarity, to find myself. I feel connected, like the soil beneath me is nourishing my soul, allowing me to flourish. I have only seen a fraction of this incredible place, which I intend to explore the rest of its beauty with time. For the first time in my life, I didn’t expect to find, belonging.