Testimonials

I am an international student from China; however, the first time I saw O’Neill’s Adventureland I felt something familiar. I felt the desolation of the local suburb, just like what I can see in many small Chinese villages. Many young people in these small villages leave their historical hometown and go to the big cities in search of better opportunities. This is not only happening in small villages in China, but across the world. For example, many American fishing villages disappeared for the loss of a young generation.

 

I think in O’Neill’s Adventureland, I saw the same story in the Australian context. Young people leave their local suburb for better jobs in Sydney. Just like its name, I believe O’Neill’s Adventureland was actually once an adventureland for many young children: they experienced sociality, challenged themselves, shared sweet memories with families or fought with each other. However, when they grew up this adventureland became more and more boring. The younger generations were restless for what lie beyond their backyard. They could not wait to leave for challenges in the wider world and achieve their dreams. But will they feel regret? Will they miss O’Neill’s Adventureland as well as miss their local suburb? Will they want to come back and have a look?

 

To some extent, O’Neill’s Adventureland is not only a special place for the local suburb or people nearby, it is a representation of places and the memories we leave behind us. It recalls all my memories of my hometown, Harbin, a city which is famous for its ice sculptures in the winter. I started to miss it. Although it is not a prosperous city in China, I will never forget the smell of the winter and the beautiful lilacs in the spring. Will I go back to Harbin and find a job there? Will I sit by the Songhua River every summer’s night just as I did before? O’Neill’s Adventureland pushes me to ask myself these questions.

 

If you also have a place like O’Neill’s Adventureland in your heart, why not come and join the event? It will be an experience for us to recall past memories and wonder about our future.

 

Written by: Yi Zhou