Bondi Backpackers Bohemia
September 29th 2008 05:55
It all began when Bob Carr, then NSW Premier, stated he wanted Sydney to become a 'truly international' city. This was around the time of the Sydney 2000 Olympic games.
And he got what he asked for.
We've got city apartments packed with Koreans, fringe suburbs full of either-drinking-it-or-serving -it Irish folks, and centres throughout greater Sydney that house specialty shops from every country that has invested enough capital in its people for them to run their own businesses.
So no, not EVERY country. I think Rwanda, Georgia, Zimbabwe and Uzbekistan are still highly under represented. Afghanistan and Iraq seem to have survived thanks to the baby boomers who discovered the buddhist culture pre-Taliban and the exodus of Christian Iraqis post-US invasion.
But hey, you never know. Some may be living it up somewhere in the back streets of Bondi.
What is possibly Australia's most famous beach has become a Mecca for struggling creative types all over the world. And being that Australia is not nearly populated enough for the average independent artist to make a living here, it is a pre-requisite that they prefer to continue struggling.
For bohemia can only mean one thing. You love to live the life of an artist, but have to think of something to do on top of that in order to make any money.
Many flock to the hospitality sector, an area where employers act like they are not under any regulations and therefore can employ immigrants and asylum seekers at below minimum wage. Its funny how both employee and employer seem happy with this notion as it has been a phenomenon prevalent in Bondi restaurants and cafes for as long as I can remember.
Others simply live off their parents in order to study something profoundly anti-establishment like anything at the College of Fine Arts or Philosophy at / of Sydney University. Some of course use it as the perfect excuse to study what is these days the lingua franca, English.
For those of us that actually live permanently in Bondi, we don't mind being a bit of a welcome mat. We're used to it.
For those that come to Bondi, Mi Casa e seu Casa.
And he got what he asked for.
We've got city apartments packed with Koreans, fringe suburbs full of either-drinking-it-or-serving -it Irish folks, and centres throughout greater Sydney that house specialty shops from every country that has invested enough capital in its people for them to run their own businesses.
So no, not EVERY country. I think Rwanda, Georgia, Zimbabwe and Uzbekistan are still highly under represented. Afghanistan and Iraq seem to have survived thanks to the baby boomers who discovered the buddhist culture pre-Taliban and the exodus of Christian Iraqis post-US invasion.
But hey, you never know. Some may be living it up somewhere in the back streets of Bondi.
What is possibly Australia's most famous beach has become a Mecca for struggling creative types all over the world. And being that Australia is not nearly populated enough for the average independent artist to make a living here, it is a pre-requisite that they prefer to continue struggling.
For bohemia can only mean one thing. You love to live the life of an artist, but have to think of something to do on top of that in order to make any money.
Many flock to the hospitality sector, an area where employers act like they are not under any regulations and therefore can employ immigrants and asylum seekers at below minimum wage. Its funny how both employee and employer seem happy with this notion as it has been a phenomenon prevalent in Bondi restaurants and cafes for as long as I can remember.
Others simply live off their parents in order to study something profoundly anti-establishment like anything at the College of Fine Arts or Philosophy at / of Sydney University. Some of course use it as the perfect excuse to study what is these days the lingua franca, English.
For those of us that actually live permanently in Bondi, we don't mind being a bit of a welcome mat. We're used to it.
For those that come to Bondi, Mi Casa e seu Casa.
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