25, April

If you are Japanese, do you know ANZAC day? ANZAC means Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

It was ANZAC day, today. It is one of important public holidays when we remind soldiers who fought and died in World War. We have learnt about it as a part of Australian culture in classes. Though it seems to relate with Japan, I did not know anything. Have you Japanese studied about it in history class?

The service and a big parade were held in City. I saw the parade on our way to Darling Harbour with my host family. What I heard at first was sounds of the bagpipe. With these sounds, many people walked slowly taking medals which praise going to the War. They did never look happy but serious.

At grocery shops, we can buy ANZAC biscuits which evoked biscuits made by mothers and wives of soldiers to send to fighting places. Naturally, this biscuits sold out on that day. I will buy it to taste a military food and for a snack.

In Melbourne city~Day5

The last day, I enjoyed going around rest of Melbourne city.

I confirmed if I can enter or not, I had a look in St. Paul Cathedral. When I went to St. Patrick's Cathedral, I could not take a picture in there because of a service. Can you see a beautiful stained glass?

Thinking about traffic routes, I went to the Albert Park. This park is famous for a venue of Formula One Melbourne Cup. I used to watch F1 with my father in Japan. But, there were nothing related with this big event. It was normal and so quiet that I could not believe that the event was held in here. I wanted to come here during the event...

One of important events of traveling for girls is shopping! I walked along Chapel Street in St.Gilda. Unfortunately, I did not have enough money to buy clothes. In addition, if I buy many thing, I can't take them to Japan...I bought only a tea assort set as my souvenir. I really wanted to have a lunch at the Pancake Parlor which was printed on many guide books. I was satisfied having a last rich lunch in Melbourne.

The last point is the Immigration Museum. In fact, I didn't know about it and included my traveling plan. But, it was very useful for me to study. I want to recommend especially ELSSA students to go there! Many immigrant from several areas were introduced in a specific section. A delegate of Japanese immigrant who spread Japanese traditional NOU and KYOUGEN seemed to be born in Yamanashi. I want to be proud of it!

If I can speak English better, I might have enjoyed the travel more and more... I need study...This travel made me notice the purpose of staying in Australia!!!

From Melboune ~Day3,4

I joined an English tour and went to Great Ocean Road and Grampians National Park. These places are famous as sightseeing spots. When I talked about Melbourne with a tour planner, he recommended me to go there strongly!

In the English tour which he day before yesterday, some Japanese participated while I didn't talk with them a lot. However, there are NO Japanese, NO Asian except me in this tour! I was very nervous at the same time I thought it was a big chance to speak and listen English and not to depend on others...

We went to some beaches and have a look beautiful landscapes driving along seaside. On our way to main spot, we dropped in a restaurant in Apollo bay and had shark as a Fish and Chips. I didn't expect to have shark though I couldn't define difference of it with other fish.

The place where I was impressed me was Twelve Apostles. It was much better than what I had seen in a guide book about it! I was excited quietly...! I irritated not to be able to express my feeling in English because of a lack of my vocabularies. Stephenie, who is from France and met in this tour, said "it must be changing everyday. We can never see the same view..." We didn't want to leave there standing cold and wind.

After all schedules, we stayed at an accommodation. It was the first time for me to do that. But I was more comfortable than I expected and I experienced one of Australian traveling styles. A bus guide invited us to go bush walking at night. We came across wild Kangaroo!

We left the accommodation early morning to Grampians National Park. I could not believe it that there was so natural and inartificial place in the world. This place has a eucalyptus smell. Wherever I went in the tour, I was surprised how wonderful wild nature was!

In spite of two day tour, it took much time to move to other places.

This tour finished at noon. We had to say good bye to other participants. Most of them got on another bus and went to Adelaide. See you and thank you, traveling companion;^)

In Melbourne city~Day2

The second day was a free day. I planned by myself and enjoyed going around some places just where I was interested!

I went to the Fitzroy garden at first. There are Captain Cock's cottage. His house was small and so cute. I could not believe that famous Captain Cock lived at so pretty house. He seemed to have many herb gardens. I want to live such a house!, which is my comment I wrote on a comment book in his house.

At St.Patrick's Cathedral, I attended the Fifth Easter service. I tried to be a Christian and did something together with others. I could hear beautiful hymns and sounds of a big pipe organ. I reminded my Catholic preschool...The atmosphere made me relaxed.

Royal Exibition building was set as a World Heritage Site. The art festival had been held until that day in there. It seemed to be a art event for purchasers. So, I hesitated to be in venue. But I continue to have a look many pictures. I noticed that I like abstract pictures and photographs. But, I did not understand what some pictures described in the campus. I have to train my sensitivity as well as English...

Accidentally, I met my friends, Tomoko and Simon at Melbourne museum! We talked about our own travel and said see you again in Sydney. I was so happy and excited;) Unfortunately, I did not have a time to watch everything,
At night, I went to the Observation Deck to see a night view of Melbourne city. This city is built by grids like Kyoto. I could define it very well. Also, how large Australia is! If it is sunny in daytime, I might have saw Sydney city from there.

I got lost sometimes, which was all my faults. But I did not have a trouble with anyone. Do I get used to go around an unknown place alone?

To Melbourne ~Day1

Yesterday, I left Sydney to Merboune. It's the first traveling alone. I was going to go travel with friends at first. No one had a good schedule with me. This travel was not just for a fun, but a challenge!

I got a night bus from Sydney to Melbourne. It took almost twelve hours... When I arrived at Melbourne, I was like economy class syndrome. Today's schedule was to join a tour to the Philip island. I hanged around the Visitor Centre and the Queen Victoria Market until a meeting time. This market was similar with Paddy's market in Sydney, and sold many stuff (vegitables, fruits, meat, fish,dairy products, clothes, and so on).

The tour I joined today was day trip. We went to the Maru zoo and watched some animals. There were rare white kangaroos. I could watch Koalas as well! But touching them is banned even in Victoria...I just enjoyed taking photos.
We dropped in a beach on our way to the Penguin Parade. I sunk down in thought watching sunset and over the ocean (There must be the South Pole)! We had already been in the Philip island. Little penguin which is the most little penguin in the world came out at sunset. Many people waited them taking on big jackets. Because of a sea gull which is a natural enemy, penguins were scared to appear. It took more than one hour to watch them. It was so cute that I wanted to take one of them to home. Unforunately, taking photo is prohibited to protect their lives. According to a bus guide, tourism issues are quite serious esperially in Australia...

Although I have been to some zoo in Australia, today's tour let me know new faces. Also, I made a friend who is from Germany and stays in Sydney in the tour!

Sushi day!

JASS organized "Sushi Day", Sushi party. Japanese members were demanded to teach local students how to make Sushi which is called "Roll Sushi". For Roll Sushi, what JASS presidents prepared all ingredients for Sushi were cooked rice, tuna, cucumber, carrot, wasabi, and soy source. We, Japanese don't eat carrots with Sushi, do we? But it is nomal for them.
At the party, I didn't have to teach them how to make it actually. As you know, it's very easy. I just showed to make it. The only difficult thing for them was to use Makisu. Some of them made wasabi sushi and tried to make others eat it! I was likely to eat a terrible sushi!

After eating, we went to Karaoke. It was the second time for me. This time, majority of members were local students. But they can sing Japanese songs very well. Also, they know Japanese songs better than me. We enjoyed dancing with singing "Chu-lip" which is sung by Ai Otsuka. I challenged to sing a English song "Sk8er boi" as well. I wish I could sing naturally... I decided to listen to English song more to go to Karaoke with them again!

My Tandem buddy!

We, international students, have several Tandem buddies. Tandem is one of UTS project for us to make local friends and to know about life in Australia. We participated "Tandem party" in February. And then, I found a buddy, Edward. I have kept contact with him. Today, I will introduce my Tandem buddy!

My buddy, Edward (everyone calls him Ed), is a UTS student and a member of peer net workers which is an association to help students. He is famous among local students because of his character. He is very very friendly and sooooooo kind that Japanese friends envy me! (According to him, he is a friend of Koimai san who was my senior in Yamanashi University and stayed in here like me) At the party, he spoken me and became my buddy. Actually, he has more three buddies. But he seems to share time with most of us. we sometimes have a lunch and meet at a Tandem coffee chat which is held for us to get opportunities to talk with our buddies in spite of his busy life. He helps me to study as well. Last week, I asked him to do my homework. In this week, we have an interview assignment to research Australian culture. He took on to be my interviewee readily and answered all questions helpfully.

I don't know how many times he has helped me and how much advice he has given me so far! Someday, I want to repay kindness with kindness to him ;^)

In Flemish...

As you can find a picture in this blog, host mother's father and mother have stayed at home. They came here three weeks ago from Belgium. It seems to be an annual event for them to visit my host family in this season. So, I will have spent with them for six months. Host grandma speak only Flemish which is a public language in Belgium. Flemish is mixed language with French and German. I can't use English with her as a communication tool. But, I can learn non-verbal communication and a little Flemish. For example, "good morning", "thank you", and so on. (I don't know these spellings...) I barely communicate with her without any common languages with gestures.

Today was Meme (grandma in Flemish)'s birthday. I gave her a birthday card. Though I tried to search a Flemish dictionary and to write a message in Flemish by myself, I could not find anything. So, I asked my host mother to translate my massage into Flemish.

Gelukkige! (Happy birthday!)

Blij dat je hier bent. (I'm happy to spend with you.)

Geviet van de dag. (Hope you have a wonderful time.)

I wrote down these sentences on a birthday card. It's precious experience to spend Belgian and to cerebrate her in Australia. Gelukkige Meme!

time slip

Australia adopts Summer time. Today, it finished at 3a.m. We set our clocks back one hour . Time difference between Australia and Japan became for an hour. When I came to here, I must have moved two hours before during flight. It was the first experience for me to feel as if I did a time slip.
Talking of time, time flies very fast though our life must be slow in Australia. People don't care about time. Buses drive more than fifteen minutes late. Sometimes, train leave a station a couple of minutes before. When I came here, I was often annoyed about it. But, I seem to get used to Australian lifestyle for time. Surely, I do not be late to go to school! Some friends said that Japanese people were too punctual. It's one of nationality. I may have trouble to change my attitude of time after going back to Japan.

fashionable afternoon

Today, one of my friends invited me to go to the Rocks market. She is Soomin, cute Korean girl;^) We met at the first cocktail party and took a same class. She is also an international student (I will post her photo next time!). Sometimes, we talk about worries of life just for international students. Her English is much better than mine!

The Rocks market is famous as a sightseeing place. I wanted to go there when my mother and younger sister came to here. (Then, we gave up to go to the Rocks market and went to the Paddington market.) It was similar with Paddington market. But I think travelers can find good souvenirs at the Rocks market better than the Paddington market. I bought a ring which Soomin recommended me, a bracelet, and postcards.
After enjoying shopping, we went to the pancake restaurant. I was going to take my family there as well! Pancakes are too big for girls like us who take care about weight. So we shared strawberry one with a cup of coffee with chatting. Recently, I tend to think that it is usual to stay here and to talk with foreigners. I should treasure fabulous everyday...