Australia
Blackface Ghost Town
The events depicted below are based on real experiences I had in Australia from 2020 to 2022. The names of people and places have been removed. Not to protect them,…
A Letter to You Who Hears the Call of a Romantic Life on a Boat
Each day had a handful of half-an-hour drives. It was a halfa to swim in the sea.A halfa to work.A halfa to yoga.A halfa to the pub.A halfa to visit…
I Fell in Love With a City I Thought I Hated
“You couldn’t pay me to live in Sydney.” I’d said those exact words growing up. It was the kind of place I’d visit on the weekends with my friends, but…
What Getting Catcalled in Hobart Taught Me About My Trauma
Content warning: This piece deals with the impacts of sexual violence, but does not go into detail about the act itself. If you think this will upset you, do not…
Oceans of Memory
She sits hunched on the edge of a garden bed on Cavill Avenue, carry-on suitcase beside her, head in her hands. The scenery is picturesque: perfectly preened garden, spotless blue…
Being a Hungarian Emigrant is Complicated: How to Love Your Identity in Times of Political Upheaval
n Hungary’s prime minister secured his position for the next four years in April, an outcome that pushes my beloved country further away from democracy and me further into an…
Visiting a Zoo Without Animals: The Ghostly Story of the Last Tasmanian Tiger
When it comes to unconventional travel, visiting a city’s historic zoo isn’t exactly off the beaten path. However, I figured I’d make an exception while in the city of nipaluna/Hobart.…
The Truth About Your Op Shop Donations
Every morning on my way to work, I drive past a Vinnies op shop. Every morning – rain, hail or shine – there’s a pile of donated goods spilling out…
A Shark Named Buster
I’m sitting alone in a waiting room that I’ve never been in before, nor thought I’d need to. There’s a sliver of light from the outside world peering through the…
Is Australia Stuck in a Toxic Relationship with the PM?
At first glance, narcissists seem like the perfect deal. They are the most charming, charismatic and confident date you’ve gone out with for a while. Even for someone with a…
Everyday Heroes
In times of peace, they were strictly enemies. Mr Wilson sat on his porch, sweating in front of an old desk fan, glowering at the boys who sat in the…
Down the Mullumbimby Rabbit Hole
It was a Friday, around 3pm, when we had our first glass of Kratom. Jai finished his glass first and placed it on the table. “I’m going to the tip,”…