Moora Youth Centre

Hi All

Well I am now in New Zealand and so time is going really fast for the 2nd last leg of my journey. I feel myself being drawn home far too quickly and yet not quick enough. I am eager to get home just to get myself sorted and get my finances in order as well as to see my friends and family. But at the same time I love moments where I am sitting on a hill or something and overlooking some of the most beautiful scenery wich I probably won't see again. Its a weird sensation, yet incredibly spiritual. I met a couple today from Canada and chatted about my travels and mentioned how my favourite place is still the first, Laurel said it sounded like it was a spiritual journey more than anything and thats why I loved it so much and the people. You know what, she is most probably right. I find this part of my trip has meant the most to me and made the most changes in me although I was also really blown away by working with the Burmese children whom I love very dearly. I suppose it has all been important, its just that 'India' has a charm for me that I have not felt so strongly anywhere else in the world.

And so goodbye to Australia, that is until I need to stop over there on my way to South Africa...now that I am really looking forward to! But I must say New Zealand has appeared very favourably to me so far in that it is very beautiful and picturesque especially just outside of the city and there are so many volcanoes and beaches and stuff. Beautiful. I went on a free trip today around Auckland and that is always good - free I mean! I love free. Anyway, I need to get back to Australia and let you know about my expeiences there with the Culver family....

Well as I said before I phoned around and eventually was asked if I would like to volunteer in Moora Youth Project and I said 'ok'. I must admit, it was a wonderful experience being in the life of the young people there as I could see that they have so much potential yet so many pit falls in their lives. It is in my opinion, a small town with small mind in which they live, and they of course are part of that. Coming from a small place with such a small mind I was not overly excited about what I saw and heard sometimes, and also I did feel claustrophobic quite often. I love being a 'free' bird, able to go and do as I please. It was a blessing and a curse living with the 'culver' family, they are a lovely family, but they are a family, well established, with their own routine and their own life. And there was I the 'lone traveller' offering my services in volunteer work, Amanda embraced this offer and took me in to her home and to her life whole heartedly, I am sorry to say but my whole heart was not there. What I did not like so much about there home was that it was in Moora in the middle of nowhere with nowhere to go and if you do go out, there is the flies although not as many as further up the west coast of Australia. But that was not all, I just felt that Amanda was happy for me to be there, her husband Malcolm was 'ok' about me being there, but her daughter 'Jodie' did not particularly want me there and she is 16 years old, the baby of the family (all the others have left home) and she has some hearing problems and so in my opinion she is spoilt and is allowed to 'moan', 'whinge', 'complain' and be a pain in the ass teenager without being challenged on it too much. The family seemed happy enough with this, personally I found it hard to put up with. Don't get me wrong, she is generally a sweet young girl, but one who does not know how to communicate properly and one who has no respect for other people's feelings. I suppose I was just a bit 'peeved' as on my birthday I went in to town in Perth (about 3 hours away) with Amanda, Jodie and her friend and Jodie was in the most foul mood all day, and she took it upon herself to ignore me whenever I spoke to her or if she did speak to me it was in a 'huffy' way. On the way home as she continued to be in a 'mood' her mother tried to console her and chatted with her, but she just kept on being really moody - especially as she did not find the 'dress' she wanted for her school dance. Later on we were in the car on our own and I was trying to lighten the mood and chat with her, she just looked away from me with a scowl on her face. I reminded her it was my birthday and she was being very rude, she said she didn't care. I tell you, if I have a birthday again and I am in Australia - I will avoid Moora like the Plague! Young people eh!

And so Moora Youth Group! The young people that came to the club (99% indigenous young people) were either Jnrs or snrs and they have different days and different times for their clubs to be on at the youth centre. I found the young people to be very much like those I worked with in Glasgow in that they had a lot of family issues and unemployment issues and education issues, etc. I also found them to be very caring towards each other and to take care of each other. I enjoyed the sessions with them and also working with the other youth workers. What I was not great at was making there afternoon 'tea' or a meal in the evening, I shrank their hamburgers and overcooked their chips. But I got good feedback on my stew - well I have always made a good stew it must be said. I did especially enjoy my last night with some of the 9 - 12 year olds, as we had a sleep over at the centre and we had a girlie night with make up, chick flicks, food and games. It was fun and the girls were on really good form and really relaxed in to having a fun evening. I will miss the young people, I will also miss Amanda as she has a heart of gold and gives so much to the young people. I suppose what I have learned from the young people here is that they are the same all over the world, they just need a chance and they need a bit of support and direction and I think most important of all is they need respect and the confidentiality of those they confide in.

I am happy to leave Moora, very much as it was time for me to let my wings stretch out once more. But I have gained a lot from the experience and am most greatful for Amanda's hospitality. She and Malcolm should have their own tv sitcom they are so funny together, such different personalities that come together so well and yet so comically. And so, goodbye to Australia and hello to New Zealand.

Love to all
Sylv x
ps Thanks for ecards and messages, they meant a lot to me on not such a great day...but I am planning on giving myself a birthday treat...we will see...NZ is the adventual capital of the world afterall!!!!