My Neighbourhood #1


Since I have some time on my hands and have been wandering around my neighbourhood, I thought I'd share some of the special sites that mark my travels. I am lucky enough to live in Cabramatta, one of the most energetic and multicultural suburbs in Sydney, perhaps in the world. More than half the residents of Cabramatta were born somewhere else - primarily Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, but increasingly from China, Iraq and Sudan. There are also pockets of Serbians, Croatians, Ukrainians, Poles, Italians, Chileans, Uruguayans, Russians and Estonians. One need never hear English spoken on the streets around here, though among young people there is a ubiquitous 'Cabra Accent' which incorporates the slang and intonations of Vietnamese, Khmer and Arabic - it is truly unique, and seems to cross all racial boundaries.
This building is just around the corner from my house, and is one of my faves - they have lion dancing practise there, and also ballroom dancing classes for the elderly Vietnamese-Chinese who frequent the centre. I am led to believe that the Teo Chew are among the more numerous of overseas Chinese communities, and are particularly prominent in Bangkok.

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