I pledge my loyalty to Australia and his people
Whose democratic beliefs I share
Whose rights and liberties I respect
And whose law I `ll uphold and obey
Those were the words I spoke on an early morning the first July. From that time forward I could call Australia my true home. And what kind of a home!
Three years ago I came here as a Belgian boy. And today I stand here as an Australian man. Three years of experiences behind my wildest dreams and imaginations. Believes that were shattered, believes that were discovered. Dreams that crashed, dreams that were created. The highest emotions and lowest emotions.
Coming to a place where you truly can choose how you wanna live. Where you have the freedom to make a choice. Going from, Living among millions of other humans, going to living among millions of other species and everything between it. Every lifestyle you decide to follow. Never now what the next day will bring. Dead or live. Happiness or sadness. Beauty or ugliness. Love or hate.
What do I love this country!
.JPG)
The morning started like a true Australian ceremony by arriving with 1.3 promille in my blood and a bouncing head. Nervous for my new identity, I followed the ceremony and hoping that it want be to long. The water a few meters away was calling to mix with the still present alcohol in my blood. After a never ending speech of 8 minutes it was time for the pledge. All the future aussies had to stand up. I noticed that moment that all the future true blues were at the front. All together with one empty seat among them that supposed to be mine. But there I was, standing all alone between the sitting spectators somewhere at the back. During our vow, that I learned a few days before, my mind was wondering off.
This is truly my place. Was it luck? Was it faith? Was it the alcohol? Was it my bouncing head? Was it stupidity? Was it a sign? This is who I am. Me standing alone far away from the crowd. Australia accepted me how I am; Australia let me be how I am. Reflecting my life, I always noticed that I really didn’t fit in the crowd. Always had a strange behaviour that didn’t fit in the people’s mind. From that moment, standing away from the horde, I found peace in myself. Accepting that I’m not a crowd person and always will be.
The day ended with firecrackers all around the centre town from Australia. No, not to welcome all the first day aussies, but to celebrate the territory. A yearly tradition that every unexperienced can buy firecrackers and really light them of, causing all the logical problems with it. Lighting up all the front yards with a big bang in the neighbourhood, even light up the palm trees in the front yard and warning the owner of the front yard to put the fire out.
Definitely, a day to remember.