In 2012, I went on a 10 month long journey to study in the north of France. Now, in 2016, I have decided to study abroad for 4 months in Australia. Therefore I have decided to resurrect my exchange blog for my four month excursion to Australia.
I arrived in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday July 24th. However, I had left San Jose on Friday, July 22nd. So technically I am living in the future.
I arrived after a very, very long flight in Australia at about 8 am. I then proceeded to wait through customs for about two hours. Typical. I arrived at my apartment around 10 am and found that I live right across the street from this awesome outdoor farmers market-like place called the Queen Victoria's Market (to the right). It is kind of a love child between a flea market and a farmers market. It is open everyday of the week (apart from Mondays and Wednesdays) from around 9 to 3pm-ish. It is gigantic and a place you could spend hours upon hours in. I have already several hours there despite me only being here for less than a week.
On top of that I have made many trips to the Melbourne city center and the city proper. F.Y.I. In Australia if you are not within the 10 or 15 blocks that is downtown you live in the suburbs which is a unique way to put it. So I, technically not in downtown, live in a suburb of Melbourne.
Melbourne has got to be one of the most unique cities, architecturally, that I have ever seen. There are plenty of modern buildings with slick lines but on the other hand there are some old apartments that look like Ancient china mixed with Buckingham Palace. There are oddly luxurious designs within the facade of many apartment buildings, but they have the same roof shape and colors as one would associate with traditional Chinese architecture.
I have already touched based with many of exchange student friends that I had made while in France. On my first night here I met up with Ashleigh, a girl I had met in France, who took me around the city. She is originally from Tasmania, the island south of Australia, but has lived in Melbourne with her boyfriend for several years. She took me on my first tram ride to downtown where we ate at this awesome Vietnamese restaurant in a little alley way. (The restaurant was called Mamma's Buoi) At this wonderful Vietnamese place, I ordered my first legal alcoholic beverage. (In France I was too young, in Ireland I was too young, and in America I will forever be too young) Apparently Melbourne is well known for their cute rue pietons, little alleyways that no cars can pass through. It was a wonderful introduction to the city and I found that the city truly lights up at night. Ashleigh also took me to Federation Square which truly reminded me of Disneyland. They had wonderful hanging lights that hung from restaurant to restaurant and the cobblestone steps were really a sight to see. I am excited to spend more nights there. The next day I decided to go on a solo adventure into the city to buy groceries and other necessities like a bath towel. I walked through the streets and started to get my bearings. I have found that Melbourne has the most diverse kinds of Asian food ever. And there is such a large quantity of them. On every block is a dim sum, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese place. Melbourne and I assume the rest of Australia is really big on take away sushi. Places where you walk in and there are large trays of pre-made sushi and you pick and choose what you want and they give it to you to-go. I had some and it was pretty good despite it making my stomach hurt after. But I have found that about many food that I have eaten here. Part of me thinks my stomach is still getting used to Australia as well as I am. On my excursion I went to Target to buy towels, yes Target does exist. (K-mart does as well) I also happened upon this fast food place called Hungry Jack's on the sign it said "Home of the Whopper." So what I have deciphered is that Hungry Jack's is Burger King.
On Wednesday we had our orientation at the University for the exchange students who were going to be attending the school this year. I got to meet many new people and I ran into some familiar faces. There is quite a large group of DePaul students who go to ACU and it was comforting to see some faces that I had seen around Chicago. That night we decided to do some school bonding and went to Winter/Night Market, which is a night event that happens at the Queen Victoria Market from about 5 to 10pm. The night market has much more hot food and drinks. There was a stall at the Night Market where they sold emu sausages, crocodile burgers, and kangaroo fillets. I, of course, had to try it. I decided on the crocodile burger. It was actually really good. The thing that surprised me was that the meat was white almost. It was quite good and I think next time I will have to get the kangaroo.
The one overwhelming feeling I have of this city is that is very up and coming and lively but somehow relaxed and not too congested. Despite there being hundreds of people on the street constantly, there is a calm nature to the city which I enjoy.So far it has been an exciting first week and I can't wait to see what the rest of my trip has in store. I am already planning trips across the country. I have plans to visit Perth, New Zealand, and of course the Great Barrier Reef.
