Präriepost
Today from Sydney
September 8, 2018
It is springtime in the city, the sun peeks cautiously behind dark clouds, the daffodils are blooming, as are some of the azaleas Young people in this large city are enjoying their first outing on terraces overlooking the harbor. The eucalyptus trees are spreading their characteristic fragrance, after a long and steady rain.
The opera commands the harbor, people walk up and down the large staircase, they take pictures from all angles. The inside is majestic, high ceilings, wooden panels, the sound is captivating. They play the Academic Festival Overture, perhaps realizing that a new group of academics is in town. Brahms would have enjoyed listening to his piano concerto, the audience here appreciated it more than the critical assembly during his first performance at the Gewandhaus.
The city prides itself for several art museums. Aboriginal art is displayed in the Museum of Modern Art. John Mawurndjul proclaims, “I am the old and the new.” He shows his work of rarrk, cross-hatching paint on bark, a long tradition of the Kuninjku culture. The pictures show water spirits, rainbow serpents and ill-behaved mimih spirits. Much needs to be understood about these neglected people, their isolation is recognized as a challenge by the people in this town. Khadim Ali’s painting covers the entire entrance of the museum when coming in from the harbor site; it depicts the arrival of “demons,” migrants – on the edge, barely visible, looking, waiting – blue living beings with white beards and green skirts. They are serious creatures, watching for things to come, they are here today, gone tomorrow.
The cuisine in this town is marked by its English heritage. Baked beans served on toast, scones, salads. Of course, fish and chips, but also snapper and barracuda, best served with an English lager. The influence of Asian cuisine is also visible, the city is catching up with the other countries.
The scientists quickly move to the remote Blue Mountains to reflect on their new findings. They hike up and down a mountain, getting a good view of the Three Sisters. Steady they stand, upright, bold and unwavering. How beautiful, here, on the mountain range. The inspiring setting allows for discussions on resilience, the importance of education, occupational complexity, and an engaged life style. Adding social connectedness and activity, scientists appear to have found a recipe for cognitive reserves that help prevent or delay dementias. They also discuss sleep, iron intake, the importance of protein, FOXO3, APOE, and blood. They meet with nonagenarians and centenarians who tell their stories. Of diet (which diet?), exercise, past history, and happy childhoods. The search for immortality has just begun, here in the city down under, where Brahms triumphs, scientists debate, and where the barracuda is the local celebrity.