Getting You To The Center Of Nowhere

Teacher: “Has anyone been to Central Australia?”

(Silence.)

Teacher: “Anyone?”

(Trying to break the silence with some humour:)

Me: “I’ve been to Campbelltown.”

(Campbelltown is 50 minutes drive southwest of Sydney. There is a tiny bit of laughter, followed by more silence.)

Student: “… Um, where is Central Australia?”

(Long, long silence…)

Teacher: “Okay, moving on…”