Calling Oakland Home

After an exhilarating and exhausting ten-day road trip across the states, I have moved to Oakland, California. Close to San Francisco, close to art, dance and yoga and within reach of California’s incredible national parks! 

So, Oakland. The most dangerous city in California. Christened ‘baby Iraq’, with around 10,000 Latino gang members and a murder every three days. I admit I’m getting this from possibly sensationalist media sources, but the crime stats definitely hold up. Worse in West and East Oakland neighbourhoods (I’m in the centre at least).

Check out this doco on YouTube ‘Gang Wars’.

Being a delicate Canberran (well, not really true, I originally come from the ‘wild west’ of Dubbo) my imagination and heart ran a bit wild reading all of this, and checking out things like gang territory maps (oh I see, the Norteños run this part of town, better leave that red t-shirt in the cupboard).

But I’ve been in all kinds of cities in all kinds of countries and so far I like the energy around my new neighbourhood, but I am taking extra precautions (mum).

Anyway, always reassuring to see Christian fundamentalism alive and kicking in Oakland with a large billboard featuring T Rex and promoting the Creation Museum (‘prepare to believe’)! Just like ‘home’! (Mid-West USA that is). 

Check out their new exhibit designed ‘to expose the scientific bankruptcy of the evolutionary interpretation of the famous so-called ape-woman Lucy.’ 

Ugh, almost more depressing then violent crime.

I cruised around Lake Merritt on my first day and on a few golden evenings since. Former sewer (before 1875) now wildlife refuge and Oakland community hub. A lovely lake that reminds me of Canberra’s lakes… and smelled a bit similar ;). How can I not love a place that has a ‘Fairy Land’ and strange twisting trees! 

It is the USA’s first designated wildlife refuge and there are HUNDREDS of water birds of unusual size and number dominating the shores of the lake. I’m really not exaggerating. Geese, Herons, Ducks, Pelicans and many more! They are slightly scary (I’ve seen to many aggressive geese/swans on ‘Funniest Home Videos’ to be complacent). 

I also spied flyers promoting a rally scattered around the lake.  A City Council member has proposed to ban 'tools of violence' at protests. Apparently ‘the way this proposed ordinance is written, any and everything can be deemed a 'tool of violence' by the police and used as a pretext for an unconstitutional arrest including water bottles, protest signs, mobility devices and camera monopods.’  America, the Police State.

My new housemate is energetic and fun and dances salsa! We went to an exhibition ‘closing’ with some of her friends the other night. This unfolded in a tattoo parlour… I carelessly ducked through to the next room to find wine, only to catch a glimpse of a spreadeagled individual undergoing some kind of tortuous tattoo ritual.

The exhibition showcased Hoda Rashad’s photo-journalistic style images and launched her book 'Rising From Tahrir' which ‘weaves together ten stories of Egyptian activists, writers, celebrities and regular citizens into a tale of culture, courage and the fight for freedom.’ Basically, stories of the key people involved in the Egyptian revolution which forced President Mubarak to step down. Needless to say it was a riveting and intense experience, especially as she described and showed video depicting awful violence and abuse of human rights. I needed that wine and a debrief with my housemate on the walk home.

In more recent news, as I walked to the bank past the usual colourful characters like a woman on the street in her PJ’s and robe, wearing an olive green face-mask barking instructions at her male friend who was cleaning a microwave in the gutter… I walked right past an unfolding crime scene! There was an ambulance and police car out the front of an office building, a police officer snapping on blue latex gloves, and several people staring resignedly into the boot of a car. Um yeah (?) :S

I always enjoy exploring my local Wholefoods, this time the good looking check-out dude asked me about Australia. He said that the world map should be up the other way, with Australia at the top. He said ‘word’ a lot - it was sublime.

On the weekend I went to the bustling Farmers Market by the lake with my housemate. We sampled every kind of fruit, cheese, bread, dip and chai infused coffee!

I think I'm going to love Oakland!