Our time here has been good. Just before we were meant to fly to Alice, a year ago, Nate discovered that he forgot to apply for his visa. Miraculously our visas were granted within two weeks. In that time of waiting we were really stressed. Nate and I prayed about it... wondering if we were even supposed to come to Alice. Nate said that he felt impressed that there was a reason that we needed to come here... like a purpose or mission. I don't know why we were supposed to come here. I don't know if it was for our relationship, to build a strong foundation and to really get to know each other. I don't know if it had anything to do with the work we did in church with the YSA. I don't know if it had anything to do with our employment. I really don't know. I do know that Alice Springs has been a good place for us this year... and now I am ready to come home.
Nate and I leave Alice Springs in 2 weeks. That is right, just 14 days. I am excited to be back in the US. There are things I miss... the strangest things. I miss Olive Garden's salad and bread sticks. I miss St. IVes apricot scrub. I miss the grass and the trees and the way the air smells. I even miss winter. I miss being able to call my sister whenever I want... and... I miss feeling secure. I miss living in a safe place.
I had lunch with my friend Karen yesterday. With her permission I am reposting this. I am not posting it to complain about Alice Springs, but I think it is important to understand that there is a darker side to living here. At lunch Karen expressed that she used to feel safe here, but not anymore. These are the same feelings I have heard over and over again from long time residents. Actually, most of the warnings and tales of fear come from woman. No matter how strong I feel as a woman, I am aware of my vulnerability. For example, I won't go out alone for a walk. When I am sitting at home in the middle of the day, I check the locks a few times. I've mentioned it before, but picking Nate up from work after ten can be terrifying. From my conversations with other women, the social problems are only getting worse. A former co-worker who was leaving Alice after living here 5 years said she loved living here, but she wasn't sad to leave what she called a war zone...
Karen titled the following, "The Darker Side of Alice Springs".
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Something I hate about Alice Springs - the blatant crime and property damage that occurs on such a regular basis, it is not even news when it happens. This is a picture of my windscreen on Friday night just passed.
I met a friend for dinner about 7pm and after a really lovely catch-up, left just before 10pm, feeling relaxed and happily anticipating the weekend. As I walked toward where my car was parked I saw a club security guard walking around shining a hand held spotlight into all the cars. I'd not noticed them doing this at the Gillen Club before, the Gilly usually one of the safer places being away from the CBD.
Noticing the direction I was heading in, he asked if my black car was parked further down? That flagged alerts. Seeing the look on my face and without having to say more, he said, "Sorry love, they got your windscreen."
That is such a common phrase around here now. That and "my house was been broken into" .
It's a common and rising problem. So common in fact, that when you hear it discussed, it is like hearing a discussion on the flu vax .... 'yeah I had mine done last week' .... 'I've had it 3 times now'..... 'five houses in the street just got theirs done'.....
Noone is shocked or overly sympathetic, in the same way that leprosy didn't shock anyone living on Moloka'i back in the 1900's.
Alice Springs is a town infrastructured on social services - take social services out of this town and there would be very little, if anything, to keep it going.
Ironic that while so much endless money and HR is being ploughed into projects and programs that go nowhere and do nothing, police and hospitals are severely under resourced and those living here to keep that social service infrastructure going, are themselves being victimised and under protected.
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