From Tasmania~Day4

Today, we got up early again and joined a tour to go to the Port Arthur which was established as a traditional prison of convicts from England in 1830. As it is said that Tasmania has a sad history of Australia, I did not know that such a historical place is located there but in the main land. On the bus, each of us got a tramp card which a man or woman was drawn. These people were people in the prison and found at the Museum. The man who was printed on my card was chased by gangs moved there. People were sent there even though their crimes were not so heavy. Some of them seemed to commit crime to escape from poor life.

When I went out the museum, I was so surprised because there were so beautiful yard and buildings. I supposed convicts' mind would have become pure if they stayed there for a while. But, I changed my mind. When I had a look a penitentiary, I did not want to imagine what I would have done or something like that. Some rooms did not have any rooves and floors...

Around 1 o'clock, we joined a harbour tour which we can get explanation of the history at an outer island. The island also looked nice. There had also graves sad histories of convicts though...

We learned much history of it, which was good while we were not so comfortable. However, it must be necessary for us to go traveling not just for fun. That is why I cannot stop traveling! Of course, we enjoyed this traveling a lot! It would be the last trip for me in Australia. I really want to thank Kasumi (sitting next to me in the right photo) who invited me and Grace (the second right of the right photo) and Cici (the right of the right photo) for traveling together.

In Tasmania~Day3

This morning, we got up very early to go to Mount Wellington because we had to take the rental car back to a rent shop. Also, it looked hard to clime the Mountain without cars. Getting lost many times on our way to the top on Mountain, we saw beautiful scenery of Hobart city. But, the most wonderful view was from the top. We were above cloud and saw the city in hole of cloud. In addition, there was still snow on surface of roads. It was the first time for me to see snow in Australia!

Then, we went to the Salamanca Market. I like markets because we can know about the place from what are sold in markets. There were something interesting which I had not found in markets in Sydney. For example, fruit leather, Tasmanian Devil's mitten, antique musical instruments. and so on. More over, many musicians from young to old generations were playing music between shops, which was very interesting for me♪ We did not buy anything there because we did not want to make our luggage bigger. (Our luggage had already been filled with chocolate...)

After that, we hanged around city. The orchid festival was held at Town Hall, which mended our tiredness. And, we studied maritime history at the Maritime Museum next to Town Hall. To my surprise, people in Tasmania did whale hunting as well as Japanese! (I can argue about it in class because we have had some discussion of whale hunting in this semester.)

At night, we ate Indian dishes. We could eat anything, but there were few restaurants around our backpacker even though it was Saturday today. It was the last night in Tasmania. We enjoyed chatting over.

In Tasmania~Day2

Today, we rent a car to go away from Hobert. Today's theme was EATING! It's dangerous theme for me who is on diet...

First, we dropped at a cheese factory. It was much smaller than we expected. We tasted more than five cheese made in the factory. Goat cheese had a strong smell and taste. (I didn't like it.) We bought nothing and drove for the next food.

Next food was chocolate! In Australia, there is a famous sweets company, Cadbury which deals with chocolate, ice cream, candy and so on. Grace and Cici really wanted to come to the factory so that they decided the factory as the first destination. They applied a visitor tour for an hour. Contrary to our expectation, what we did there was to have explanation of how to make chocolate and history of the company. We were depressed and bought a lot of cheaper chocolates which were not sold because of defect.

The last food was bread. While it took about two hours to get there, we, Japanese wanted to go to a famous bakery 'Ross Village Bakery'. It is said that Studio Giburi movie 'Kiki's delivery service (魔女の宅急便)' was based on the bakery. I love the movie! The bakery was a bit different from our images. But, we found a black cat, gigi's dolls were sold. Shopper aunt seemed to be accustomed to Japanese tourists. She suggested us to take a picture at a counter with Kiki's pose like resting our chin on our hands, which made my interests gone, unfortunately...

After that, we thought we had time to go to wineries. However, because of clapped car navigation, we got lost and ran out of time to go. Instead, we went out to a pub 'New Sydney' (even though we were in Tasmania!) and drunk Tasman beer and wine. Though I could not distinguish how was different from normal beer and wine, I was satisfied with fashionable night at the pub with live musical performance. Umm...I ate much today...

To Tasmania~Day1

During this mid semester brake, where do I go? It was a difficult question...because this vacation would be the last chance for me to go traveling in Australia now. As everyone says, Australia is too big to go traveling. Then, I got an invitation from Kasumi, Japanese who stayed with me in previous place for a month. My destination was set to Tasmania!

Honestly, Tasmania is not so famous amongst Japanese because I did not know it when I was in Japan. But, I thought I would never go there straight from Japan. (I might have chance to go to Cairns from Japan. Don't you think so?)

I went there with Kasumi, Grace(her current flat mate from Hong Kong), and Cici(Grace's friend from China). Though I had not met Cici, we could get along with each other as soon as we met at the airport. After two hours flight from Sydney, where we arrived was the center of Tasmania, Hobart. We caught a taxi and went to places to eat seafood. In fact, I cannot eat seafood so much because these especially shellfish did not appeal to me...I had never eaten oyster which is famous in Tasmania. But, we were traveling. I thought I should not miss it!...I ate it for the first time in my life. umm...I might eat again!...,which would make my family surprised:)

After that, we walked around the city and had a rest at Cenotaph which was made for commemoration of ANZAC. Although it was the center of the state, Hobart was a country side. Also, there were a few Asian. I thought as if I were in a small European country which is not multicultural one... Thinking of that kind of things, we went back to a backpacker and went to bed a bit early for tomorrow.

The second guest from Japan

This weekend, my mum came to Australia. As I wrote, she had been here in March with my younger sister. But, in this time, she was alone! When I was in Japan, she was not such a brave person. She might have been changed with me...

In fact, she was going to go to Cairns with me, which plan was changed because it was a bit difficult to make schedule with me. Finaly, she came to Sydney where I am again. That is why there are not much place to go in city. I tried to find sightseeing spots where she has never been. For example, Manly beach, the Rocks Market, Fetherdale wild life park and Blue Mountain. My mum seemed to remember what she saw at the last time. I think I could guide her much better than before. Now, I know some good restaurants or cafes as well.

My mum and I talked all the time. But our contents of conversations were different from before one. I have only two months left to stay here. I have to think about my future before I start finding a job. Regarding my situation, it was a good chance for me to talk with my mum what I would do. I do not mean I obey what my parents want me to do. But, I rely on them. I should listen to their opinions as one of advices...As a result, what I should do in Australia is to improve my English skill and to decide my future having various experiences as much as I can! For me, my mum is the best adviser in my family. Did you have a good time here, mum?

By the way, the first thing what my mum said to me was...'you got fat, Miho~!' I try to get my previous body back...

Happy B'day♪

In this month, my friends from Yamanashi University called 'Nashi Girls', Kanako, Mai and Tomoko, have their birthdays. Two more Japanese friends also have their birthdays as well. So, they held a big BBQ birthday party all together. In Australia, birthday people normally hold a party and invite others by themselves.

The venue is Mai's place in Oatley because Mai and Kanako are right next door. I had visited Kanako's place some times before. Though it is far from City, I like that kind of atmosphere. (My previous place, Hurstville is a bit different area.) For five birthday people, about fifty people including local students and exchange students gathered at the party. I brought a sort of apple pie, presents and letters for them. Especially, I have been with Nashi Girls so long! It was a good chance to cerebrate with a lot of thanks!!! They seemed to be glad to get my present and a hammy letter (I honestly wrote embarrassing things!) , I guess. While we were caught in a shower, we had a nice time there.

At the same time, I envied them to see them being celebrated and getting presents...because my birthday is in December. Then, I will be in Japan. (Ironically, my passport will be expired on my birthday.) I have already bought an airplane ticket in Japan. I won't change the date of it. I cannot change my birthday...it cannot be helped...If I can say a selfish thing, I wanted to spend my birthday in Australia. For such a person, me, Mai kindly gave me a present even though we have two months until my birthday. Thanks~!

Anyway...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

HOPE YOUR MARVELOUS TIME BOTH IN AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN!!!

The first guest from Japan

Two guests are supposed to come to Australia from Japan. This weekend, one of them came over down under.

He had never been to any foreign countries. So, I really worried him...He did not have even a passport. In addition, though he is in summer vacation in Japan, he seems to be busy. I guess he did not have enough time to prepare because when he was sure to come was quite recent. Anyway, he come here safely. We met each other for the first time in seven months. I told him many thing about my life guiding and also he taught me many thing about Japan. As I wrote, Australia is the first foreign country for him, which made me have a kind of responsibility to show a foreign country. Also, his stay was only for three days. I thought I should tell him everything attractive about Sydney without wasting a time...

Everything depended on me. I felt as if I were a tour planner and a tour guide. What I am familiar to were new for him. He reminded me of what I felt when I came to Australia seven months ago. I could meet my Japanese and Australian friends with him. He is originally shy, so he might have been uncomfortable to talk with them. But, after that, he seemed to notice that he has to study English more, which was good!
I hope he could spend a good time to stay in Australia. C ya soon in Japan:)

with high school students

In this semester, I go to a local high school every Friday to help teaching Japanese as an assistant. (I will write about this volunteer work later...) Normally, I follow a Japanese teacher and attend Japanese classes at the school. But today, students had an excursion. Kindly, the teacher took me with students for free!

We got on a bus and went to the Nihongo Tanken centre (Japanese Language Centre) in Kirawee high school (30minutes from Central by trains). In the campus, there was a Japanese traditional building like a house next to a gym, which was a bit strange. Staff members are a native Japanese and an Australian who can speak Japanese very well. A lot of activities in Japanese had already been prepared for students such as Interview game, Kansuji game (calculation with kansuji), and so on. For students, it must have been the first time to be in Japanese tatami mat room with a tokonoma and shoji screens. Also, they had rice crackers and a Japanese lunch box. I wish I had such an excursion some times to promote studying English! I do not know what style of excursion we could do though...I strongly thought that there is no culture like Japanese one! Everything there reminds me of Japan.

Students seemed to enjoy activities. However, some students could not catch up with games because two staff members did not speak English at all. It was because they tried to do activities following a new styled teaching strategy. I had heard about the strategy which is done only in the second language without explanation in the first language. Which is better to acquire language skill? No one would have known yet...Today, I did think about language education.