A Young Anthropologist's Notebook

The first Europeans who landed on this island off the coast of Western Australia,  at the end of the XVII century,  were Dutch; mistaking quokkas for rats, they named it Rottnest (Rats' nest) Island, perpetrating the good old European tradition of imposing their ethnocentric view on other parts of the world. Positioned in front of Fremantle, Rottnest Island is just an hour sailing from Perth. A popular Summer destination for Aussies, this Indian ocean paradise is not to be missed even if you find yourself there in the cold season.  I went there on a Winter day, but the sun was shining (it was actually the best day I got in Western Australia), we had no wind for most of the day and there was not as much people as there would be in Summer. I believe ferry fares are also more accessible in Winter.  View of Rottnest Island from the Wadjmup Lighthouse. You can also see Perth in the back. This picture is either the proof that the Earth is round or that I cannot h...

Despite European colonization starting in early 1800s, this area has been inhabitated for thousands of years by aboriginal people. Only miles away from the Indian Ocean shore, Perth is the most isolated city in the world as the closest city is Adelaide, in Southern Australia, located more than 2000 kms away.  I arrived in Perth, capital city of Western Australia , on the 29th of June - hironically, on the same day I did when I first came to Australia as a student, nine years ago. My main duty was escorting the group of 49 students coming here to study on the same program I did years ago (visit  www.intercultura.it  for more info about this), and it was dutifully accomplished on the same afternoon. When all of them were safely with their host families, I finally relaxed and slept for twelve hours straight. Perth Skyline from Kings Park Now, I wasn't a big fan of Perth before coming - I had some vague memories from the 24 hours I had spent here the last time -...