Melbourne Sundays

Melbourne, Victoria

Australia

How ya goin’ mates? (ya, it’s better with the accent). So first of all, the rush of posts – it’s my new favorite procrastination tactic. I used to do this in college all the time; whenever I needed to be studying or writing a paper (oh, how very much I don’t miss that) I would be up all night cleaning and like disinfecting my earrings or something; ya know, prioritizing, as I should be. Seriously though, my roommate came home one time and I was up on a chair cleaning a light fixture, and she was like, “Midterm?” and I was like, “Yep.” But that was the most pristine light fixture that apartment has ever seen.

This week I’m fighting off a sore throat. But it’s ok, because my roommates have the same thing, so at least I have people to hang out with while I’m sick. We banned together and saw a movie the other day: at ten o’clock on a Friday night. Kind of humiliating walking around in what was practically pajamas on a Friday night in hoppin Melbourne central. Plus the nearest movie theater is in the middle of a Casino, which also houses multiple clubs that were raging last night.

The only thing more shameful than attending the Friday ten o’clock showing of “Valentine’s Day” was leaving the show at midnight; still clad in pajamas while the drunk and fabulous spilled out of the clubs.

By the way, such a good movie! Ladies, if you’ve ever seen “Love Actually,” it’s just like that but about Valentine’s Day and set in America. If you haven’t, you desperately need to see “Love Actually,” first actually. Anyways, Valentine’s Day was the one holiday I didn’t mind being away from home for this year. Usually, it’s super depressing when you have no valentine, but because Australia doesn’t do holiday’s that big I kind of forgot that it was even coming. And, as per usual, everything was closed for the holiday – on a Sunday. Australia: backwards ass country.

In the spirit of the holiday, our hostel did put on Speed Dating night, which was weird. I already knew most of the people that I was “speed dating,” so really it turned into taking shots and shotgunning beers with your best buddies of the opposite sex. As I’m sure you can imagine, I didn’t last long with the “dates” at three-minute intervals. But it was a laugh, probably the only time we’ll be able to shamelessly speed date.

And the other morning the mood struck to go to 7:30 AM Tai Chi in Federation Square. Haven’t we all been overcome by such an urge…. No, but really we’d been hearing that Tai Chi takes places in different locations in Melbourne throughout the week, so one perky Tuesday morning we all got out tired little backpacker butts up together and headed out for a round of public shaming.

It was actually really fun and pretty easy to go along with, it was just that none of us had ever done it before so we were prone to feeling mildly ridiculous at the least. At one point, I gracefully rotated to my right, only to be staring my roommate in the face. I had a good chuckle at my backwards roommate, only to realize that I was facing the entire class. Ya, she had a good hardy laugh during and after class over that one. I shouldn’t be surprised… I’ve always been terrible at navigation, ask my dad; the man’s got stories for days.

Aside from my inherent gift to mirror the class, the class IS sweet. It’s FREE and held in three different locations around Melbourne and any and everyone is welcome. And I mean everyone. There were old women and men, business professionals in suits and heels, other backpackers; I mean, it’s impressive. And I forgot the best part - on Friday we get to use swords. I like swords. And there’s this super enthusiastic instructor who demonstrates every move (secretly judging the backpackers I’m sure). And lit up in the background is this big screen with nature imagery in sync with music that sounds like it’s straight off the Mulan soundtrack. It’s an experience, albeit one I didn’t anticipate to have in Australia, but we’re embracing these things.

So far my favorite is the “Lotus Pose” (one of the easier exercises). But "Holy Concentration Batman!" I mean, you really have to pay attention. It’s very doable, but it’s fluid and constant so you’re always in motion striving to reach the next position. Overall I’m a BIG fan.

My roommates and I also recently ventured out to see the Melbourne’s mighty Eureka Skydeck 88 (crowd roars in background), “the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere.” Ok, it’s not really THAT thrilling, but the view is. A friend had mentioned that it was fantastic at night and I mean, Spectacular. We went up for sunset which was beautiful, but when night falls and the city lights up, it is really something. Something to write home about, one might say.

And as breathtaking as it was, it also made me realize that I need to get out and see Melbourne. I was so consumed with getting a job and staying abroad that I’ve been in Melbourne for nearly two months and I still haven’t really experienced all there is to do in Melbourne. It’s an aesthetically beautiful city, the people are some of the friendliest I’ve met and the more I venture out of my hostel the more I need to see. I just hate to be somewhere so vibrant, and doing something I could be doing from my parent’s couch. But I guess it was a necessary evil.

In the name of being a true “Melbournite,” pronounced “Melbin”ites (yes, they really call themselves that), my friend Brona and I went and had a true Melbourne Sunday. After a mischievous night of drinking and dancing, we pulled ourselves out of bed and onto the St. Kilda beach. A beach that I had yet to enjoy, even with the end of summer nearing! After the sun dried us out, we walked along the shore and found this sweet little pub where we made some friends and had a couple more rounds. When it finally grew dark and my cheeks were sore from laughing we called it a night and went and had an Irish coffee at the PJ O’Brien’s, which so fortunately is on my route home. It was such a lovely day in the sun.

While job hunting, or frantically dispersing my resume in the Melbourne work force, around five I

always found myself passing these fabulous people out on the decks in the sun having cocktails and beers and just generally a good time. On Sunday, I finally got to be one of the fabulous, and I gotta say, I don’t hate it! People really know how to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Everywhere we went that day, whether they be travelers or Australians, young or old, everyone was down for a chat and a laugh. I think that experience is a huge contributor to the vibe of Melbourne. Very laid back and “enjoy the sun while it’s still here” kind of attitude.

Yes it is still summer here, and notoriously the best season for weather Melbourne sees. At the same time, Melbourne is known for crazy weather, even in the summer fun. But really, it hasn’t been THAT bad, inconvenient at times, but in general you see many more pleasant days than anything else; they’re merely punctuated by thunderstorms and windy days.

Love you guys so much and talk to ya soon!!!

XOXO