13. Little fish, big pond
We all have different childhood experiences, settings, neighbourhoods, schools, etc. There is a lot to be said about the location of our upbringing, specifically growing up in a city or a country town, and I’ve been observing these differences over time. Since moving to the city, these disparities come to the surface. Growing up in a small town, the only references to city life were from the people we knew living there.
Whether it be your dad’s friend from an old job or your mum’s brother living far away, there is a certain admiration for the stories they tell us, mere country bumpkins. I was personally infatuated by hearing about Krispy Kreme or their shopping centre trips on a Sunday. They have a shopping centre!! That’s open on a Sunday!!! Country town stores shut at 1:00 pm on a Saturday (lucky to have a decent film showing at the cinema on Sunday).
When asked by a Melburnian what it was like growing up in a small town, I’m not sure what answer they were expecting. Understandably, they might have stereotypes shaping their prediction of my answer, just as I have various stereotypes associated with growing up in the city. It is a peculiar question that if I asked, I doubt they would immediately think, “Well, it doesn’t take me 3 hours to get to the MCG”. Just as I wouldn’t say how I camp every weekend, know everyone in town, and ride a horse to school (the only clichés they would have considered, right?). The thing with stereotypes is that they’re often true; it’s why they exist. I could go camping a lot (if I wanted to) and I know lots of locals. However, an equestrian-themed birthday party in 2012 was the last time I rode a horse. We just had different experiences and expectations of what it is to grow up on what feels like a different planet 3 hours away.
For instance, I am writing this at a cafe in one of the 900 suburbs of Melbourne, and the scenery isn’t all that different from a country town near home. But 30 minutes on the train would launch me into a different place altogether. My naivety brings unpredictability everywhere I go nowadays, and I enjoy not having preconceptions of every suburb.
I sometimes miss the familiarity and closeness of everything in my hometown. I miss sharing meals with my family, calling around to my friend’s houses, and everything within a 10-minute drive. So far, I love the convenience of the city too (the proximity to shopping centres is unmatched). But who knows how long the excitement of a new area lasts? Perhaps in 20 years, I’ll write this article reversed, ready for a change from Melbourne. Depending on my dating life, I could be returning to the country to raise a family or moving across the world to start a new life. I’ll check in with you then.
