In Alice Springs~Day4

I had a looooong sleep. Though I stayed at a share room with three females, two of them had already gone out when I woke up. A woman was very kind. I asked her many things about around the accommodation. She explained and took me to the main street.

I hanged around the central town of Alice Springs. I sent a post card to my family as I did in Melbourne. There were souvenir shops, accommodations, petrol stations, tour shops... most of shops were for tourists. I saw a lot of Aboriginal people. Central Australia is the place where Aboriginal people live. We should not live there for long time. I found a kinder garden and a hospital for only Aboriginal people. As I learned about complicated racism in a class in last semester, it might be difficult to live together... I could study a little for an hour on my way to an accommodation.

This trip was quite different from last one to Melbourne. I touched nature and had a wild experience. I did not want to be a typical Japanese tourist who went there just for having a look a model of a movie. I tried to think about a lot of things including myself. Could I mature a little bit...?

At Kings Canyon~Day3

Following yesterday, we got up before 6 o'clock. We went to Kings Canyon to climb. Before I came to Central Australia, I asked about it to my local friends. No one knew it as a sightseeing spot. But I wanted to go there because I thought I would never go in my life. That is why I chose the tour including Kings Canyon. It was much harder than I expected!!

We climbed the first point. It was enough to see a great landscape. At the moment, a tour guide said "we will come back here after 3 and a half hours~!" I doubted of my ears. I have never climbed so long time:-( It must be a good exercise! I did not turn back to release my daily fat! Everything was rocks. All of them were shaped by nature. The tour guide told us that canyon means rocks which was made by earthquake. In this meaning, Grand Canyon which was made by water in the US uses the word "canyon" in a wrong way. We were in a real canyon. Thought it was not so popular spot, there were grant walls and "Lost city". I could see an unique atmosphere of "Lost city". I heard winds like voices.

We survived! We came back! I talked about like that with girls. This activity made our lunch more yummy:) Our tour schedule nearly finished. We had got on a bus for five hours to get to accommodations. I had a good sleep on the bus. Tour members got off the bus one ofter another. In the tour, many members were from German spoken countries. I could not talk so much...But I enjoyed the tour with them. "A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME CHANCE."

At Uluru~Day2

The reason why we got up 5:30 was... to watch Uluru at sunrise! It was still very dark and cold. A tour guide took us the best point. We stood for a while in admiration of the view. (I prefer sunset view to sunrise though...:)

Today's destination was only Uluru! We walked around Uluru for about two hours. It seems to be 10kilometers. What we saw walking was rocks, rocks, and ROCKS! I found a rock like a monster. I could not believe that Uluru was a monolith. There were some places where Aboriginal people prohibited us from taking pictures. Although it was hard for me to understand Aboriginal customs and faith, it must mean that nature is so big that we cannot explain without such a legend!

Even though Aboriginal people do not want others to climb Uluru, many people enjoyed climbing. I thought it would be a good memory. But I was so tired and gave up to do. I advised me to have followed Aboriginal will. According to the tour guide, some people was wound or dead by falling down. I did not want to die at Central Australia even if Uluru is famous for a Japanese movie which a heroine wished her boyfriend to sprinkle her bone there...

We spend all day around Uluru and moved to a campsite near by Kings Canyon. A dinner was made by Dutch ovens. We slept in a swag tonight as well. However, dingos started howling at 2am. I was so scared that I could not fall asleep...it was a wild night, wasn't it?

To Ayers Rock~Day1

I went traveling alone again! My destination was Central Australia! I heard that it was the best season to go there now. As you know, Ayers Rock is famous for a Japanese movie. The reason why I wanted to go was not only because of the movie but I wanted to visit natural places of Aboriginal people. I thought I would never go there if I miss this time!

I left Sydney in the early morning. To my luck, I did not have any trouble of an engineering strike. I got Ayers Rock airport at noon. There are a time difference for 30minutes between Sydney and Ayers Rock! In total, I took on an airplane for 3 hours. In case of Japan, we can go abroad with 3 hours flight! Can you imagine how big Australia is?

I joined a tour from Ayers Rock on the way to Katajuta. Katajuta was made by 36 rocks. There is the valley of wind which is a model of "風の谷のナウシカ". Definitely, I have seen the view in the movie... I talked with tour members walking around there. Most of them were from Europe. (Germany, France, England, Ireland, and Austria)

We moved to Uluru which is the most famous sightseeing spot in Central Australia. We enjoyed watching sunset and drinking champagne. Colours were changing with sunset. I cannot describe how beautiful it was...! I was typical Japanese tourist then, so I took funny pictures. Other tour members imitated me :)

At a campsite, we had a BBQ around campfire. I think it was Australian camp style. I chose this tour because I can sleep in a permanent tent at night. But, our tour guide suggested that we should sleep outside with a swag. Swag is like a sleeping bag and has a mattress in there. No one sleep in any tents. I followed others and saw falling stars!

for the first time, and the last time

IELTS, International English Language Testing System, is one of the most common English tests in Australia. Today, I took the test at UTS. We, international students, need a high score of IELTS to enter a faculty. But it is quite expensive to take it. I applied only once because I did not have enough time to prepare. I had never taken it before...

I was busy to do assignments in this semester. So, I actually started studying just for the preparation after I finished all assignments. Though it might not be enough and cannot be an excuse, I went to UTS library to study almost everyday. (To my shame, I had not studied so hard to take English tests since I took TOEFL test in Japan...) I had Japanese friends who would take it at the same day. We encouraged to study each other, which stimulated me to study very much. Some local friends helped me to practice speaking and to check my writing. Thank you everyone!

Nevertheless, to be frank, I cannot say I did well on the test. I do not have a confidence to get a good result... However, the most important thing must be a process of preparation of it. I have to accept the result as my English ability. Unless I want to get a civil right in Australia, I will never take IELTS in my future. It was the first time and the last time for me. But, I could notice that I need more study. KEEP STUDYING!

unexpected present

Today, I got a present from Mandy, one of JASS (Japanese and Australian Students Society) members. (an eco bag, UTS ball point pen, and a card) "Akiyama Miho 先生", which was written on the envelop of a card. It was a gift for us who were teachers of Japanese.

In this semester, I taught Japanese to students who belong to JASS as a teacher. Students were divided into three levels. I was a teacher of a intermediate class with Mai. There were no textbook and no plan. We could teach anything we wanted, which was the most difficult to have classes every week. We do not have any teaching skills because we had not taken education subjects even though we belong to the education faculty. Sometimes, we made a document referring a Japanese textbook of an official Japanese class at UTS. I could not teach and explain Japanese well. I feel sorry for students to be a bad teacher. To be frank, I had felt nervous to have a class. But, thanks to Mai and students, I could continue teaching Japanese. At the same time, they told me difficulties of Japanese very much!

I did not expect to get any present from them because I could not play a role as a Japanese teacher... So, I was very surprised and glad to receive it. Thank you, JASS!

One of my desire...

Speaking of Sydney, what image do you have? One of the most famous places is the Opera House, isn't it? Our friends who are leaving Australia wanted to go there. They booked a ticket for me.

The name of the program is 'Edward Scissor hands'. This story became a movie before. While I had never watched the movie...I did enjoyed watching the musical!!! The musical had no songs, no lines. Actors and actresses just danced with music. But I could understand contents and have a fun to watch so many elements of dancing that I did not want to blink not to miss any dancing and performances. Though I tend to see musicals and concerts as one of music players (I don't like this habit...), I was impressed and pleased! I'm frustrated not to be able to describe my impression because of a lack of my vocabulary!

It is said that we should wear a formal costume to the Opera House. So, I wore a dress which I brought from Japan and had never taken on so far. However, surprisingly, there were many people who took quite casual clothes like jeans. A custom seems to be changing. We were satisfied spending a night with an affected way. Night views from the Sydney Harbour were so beautiful! I really thought that I lived in such a stunning city! Even if I'm with a normal guy there, I might fall in love easily~:-) I want to go to a brass band concert If I have money...

No music, No my life!

Following yesterday, Hoe Yin took us to the Jazz and Blues Festival. She is really kind:)

This festival was held in Darling Harbour for three days. When we went there was the second day. We could listen to jazz and blues which were played by famous bands for free. I didn't know any bands and solo singers, which did not matter! I heard Australian jazz for the first time. As it is said that Japanese are not good at playing impromptu performance, I cannot play jazz music well. Is it because of nationality? Especially, a session of the drums and the conga was so cool! I remember that I played the conga in a big competition two years ago. Among many kinds of jazz groups, I liked a big band jazz the best. It might be because I used to listened to the brass band music. I was so excited!!

Since I came here, I have not touch any musical instruments. If I were in Japan, I would be busy to practice playing music with my members of the wind orchestra club... Though UTS has a orchestra club, they do not seem to have a percussion section. Are there any place to play music in Australia...? I NEED MUSIC! Today, I carefully thought about that.

Are they high school students...!?

They were very good actors and actresses!... One of my friend, Hoe Yin, got tickets for us to watch a high school musical. Her high school has an annual big musical. The title of musical was 'La Perichole'. Students seemed to have an audition at the beginning of a year. From them, they had practiced performance for four months. While I expected to watch a nice musical, their performance was much better than I expected!!

As you know, I love music. What I was excited about at first was a youth orchestra. There was a legitimate orchestra pit. I really wanted to join them. Surely, their singing and acting were so marvelous! I could not believe that all of them were students. I have performed a little in a school festival when I was a junior high school and high school student. But I think it was not in the same class as the musical. I should not compared with two of them... In spite I could not catch their lines and lyrics, I could see their efforts so much. At the same time, I thought I wanted to watch it before my presentation. We had to have a presentation about Australian culture as the last task in a subject. I explained about music habits of Australian youth. I said that Australian youth people do not listen to classical music because of a current musical trend (For example, it is common for them to get new music especially pop and rock online, etc...) My hypothesis and opinion might have changed if I watch the musical earlier. They must have opportunities to touch music more than Japanese students. I wish I joined a youth orchestra club when I was a high school. On my way to home, I could not help describing my impression!

Mystery Excursion

Today, we had the last class in this semester! The content of today's class was... MYSTERY EXCURSION! No students knew our destination. We just gathered at Circular Quay and followed our teachers.

The venue was...a teacher's house! It was so grant and big. She must be rich...More than 30 students and teachers were there and enjoyed talking and eating, which was like a party! Was it a sort of excursion. We were divided into three classes at the beginning of this semester. The party was held for us all together. All of us were international or exchange students. As far as I know, there were students who are from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Korea, and Japan. We rarely have opportunities to meet such international people at the same time. Some of us are leaving Australia in this month. We had a precious time to talk with many students. Whenever I talk with international friends, I can notice a power of languages. Even though some people argue if English is the main language in the world or not, our common tool to communicate each other is English. One of reason why I chose to come to Australia is because I can meet many kinds of people. I do achieve my purpose just now! Thank you teachers and my friends for spending with me in this semester! My first semester passed very quickly!!

...Of course, I have to study English even in holiday anyway...

a little before...

One of my classmates, Hikaru, left Australia. He had studied in Australia from last semester. Even though this semester has not finished yet, he had to go back to Japan for job hunting.

For him who leaves a little earlier than others who will finish their studying in Australia, my classmates organized a farewell party. We went to Taramara (I'm not sure the name.) beach and had a BBQ. Even in Autumn, there were a lot of surfers. Not only Japanese but also local students whoever know Hikaru came to the party. However, today's main character did not come early because of his assignment. I had a same one. So, I could not ask him to come earlier... Finally when he arrived, most of foods had already left. Though I could not talk with him a lot in the party, I remember many memories with him. He helped and gave me advises many times! Otherwise I could not continue to take a subject on Thursday...His character often made me laugh:) Hikaru, I hope your good future and seeing you again in Japan!

Following him, Hiroko and Yu who are also my classmate will finish their studies in Australia. I could not believe that some Japanese students would leave. Untill then, I want to share time with them a lot. At the same time, I thought about my future when I will go back to Japan seriously. When I leave, how am I going...?