mr. rosendorf

when i was in high school, i remember writing in my economics essays that a major component of WA's GDP was in the resources sector, etc. we'd always write about the mining industry in particular, and of china's demand for iron ore in particular. while i'm very grateful to iron ore for our economic prosperity, it's not the most interesting natural resource to me. what is of interest to me (and every other girl) are the pink diamonds, found only in WA's own argyle mines.

i know that i am not the only asian kid in a western country who likes to distinguish herself from recent migrants, unkindly termed FOBs (fresh off the boat- a little old fashioned, i know). but standing there in trinity arcade and staring at the posters of rosendorf's, whilst clutching a piece of scrap paper with the address scribbled, mum and i successfully passed off as very FOB. we were in an alley very reminiscent of the harry potter movies being mocked by those posters whilst searching desperately for some sort of door/entrance that would let us into the said shop.

i then decided that we had to ascend a flight of stairs to get to the mysterious location of rosendorf's, and we passed by a gentleman who was locking a gate. so we approached him and asked for directions to rosendorf's. what are you looking for? he asked. pink diamonds, we told him. you're looking for the right place, he told us. rosendorf's is the best jewellery shop in Australia. i'll take you there. so we followed him, and lo and behold, it was only 5m down from the arcade, along the main street. i figured he must be the boss, or a manager or something.

he then approached one of the sales girls, told her that we were looking for pink diamonds, and asked her to look after us. she assured him she would. mum then asked are you in charge here? and i said he's the boss. but the salesgirl surprised us both. he's mr rosendorf, she said.