BLUE SKIES

'The moon abroad is rounder' is an expression to depict those who think the grass is always greener in a foreign land. While this is not meant to be a factual statement I do want to offer one that is ' ... The Sydney (or for that matter Australian) skies are always bluer'. Just look at the pictures I took this morning. The one on top is the front of Metro Inn, my humble abode, on the intersection of Victoria Road at Ryde, and Bowden Street to Meadowbank. The one at the bottom is to illustrate the defintion of a blue sky. Sydney residents do not know how lucky they are to live under almost perfect weather conditions most of the year. Without question this has to be a key attraction to those who contemplate immigration. Hong Kong may be a city that works efficiently with all the hustle-bustle of a metropolis but look at our gray skies, our pollution, our foul air & our congestion. Life is fair this way, you can not have everthing.

Sydney has become a 'perferred location' for Asians, especially students. There is a much more international mix on the streets these days, compared to all the years I travelled here since 1982. The Government seems to adopt the policy to actively pursue this market. Recently there was an incident of Indian students being 'harrassed or attacked' by White Aussies which brought on quite an outcry, not only here but from the Indian Government. An editorial in the papers raised the 'key question' on what the Government should do to stem the perception of racism 'so Australia remains competitive in the higher education market'. I am told by classmates that by staying at school for 24 months without a break one can 'start the process of residency applications'. If that is not an incentive for a young man or woman who want to eventually settle in this land, what is? Take LCB for example, the hallways are innudated with foreign languages, notably Korean & Putonghua. Teachers have to remind students in class to 'speak English' because it is so easy to lapse into their mother tonuges since there is always a number of compatriots in each class. C'est la vie!