I've been in Melbourne for a little over a month now, and I should really write about it for my own documentation's sake and for my future writing career's sake. (I've been trying to write this post since the first week I've been here... but yeah... my writing kick hasn't kicked in in awhile.)
Melbourne was everything I expected it to be, yet not really.
There are always the established truths, you know? The few things people seem to always say- like how good their transport systems are compared to KL, and the cheap beers (where else would you get $1 champagnes?! 4.50 glasses of wine, or 3.50 for beers?), or the erratic weather (and here, I blame everything on the weather, e.g. my appetite). But hearing things from all these people and experiencing them for yourselves are two totally different things. Nothing beats being present so that you can contest with the facts, and agree for yourself, or disprove of all that you had previously come to know.
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Yes, Melbourne is entirely cosmopolitan. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an equally mixed city. Its like a shake n’ bake- add equal parts Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Singaporean, Indian, Italian, Greek, one part Black, one part Caucasian etc. etc., shake well and you have Melbourne.
You see a whole lot more color in the streets, and I'm not just talking about ethnicity, but about styles and clothes too. I love that people here express themselves this way, and even fat people dress up. [By the way, everything's bigger here (black woman goes: "mmm hmmm"), my Aussie housemates says I'm small, and sometimes, I can even fit into their XS-es. (oh my goodness hallelujah! Life is good)]
And I absolutely love that I can wear whatever I want and people don’t stare. Here's another thing, people don’t stare like how aunties, uncles, girls and boys do in KL. I have a thing about people and staring, I find it incredibly rude. Its good that they have manners here. They greet you and smile when you enter stores, and even if its superficial and trained I'd take that any day than what we're used to. Manners.
Thank you Melbourne, you developed country you.
There’s also a large goth/punk/street/metal following here. There’s more of a market here anyway, evident in the magazines in local convenience stores dedicated to tattoos, piercings and metal. You see many shaved/colored-hair, studded people, and you wouldn't even bat an eyelid. Speaking of market, there's also a bigger Indie scene, which means I get the clothes I want, at the price I want it (well not always, unless we're talking about today where I got this top for AUD$2. Oh my goodness freaking 2 DOLLARS! Are you kidding me? seriously I feel like they want to give away clothes here)
As a side note, I'm also getting totally immersed in their sports culture. Its a norm to engage in at least some form of physical activity. Last week I played soccer for the first time, and this coming Monday I'm going to play squash. I went jogging twice, which is a far better record than I ever had back home.
Towns are organized well. The train, market, bank, and schools are all within walking distance. Good city planning Melbourne, well on you. Also, I’m still not over the best ice-cream in the world (Lygon street!), nor the best chai latte at Seven Seeds, nor the best burgasmic burgers in the world (Andrews!).
And then there are the things you’re almost always expected to miss - like Malaysian food and your family and friends. Maybe its only been a month, but I don’t think I miss Malaysian food as much as I’m supposed to. Maybe because Im blessed enough to live with Chester, Wye Sern who cook chinese food. Yes, but the family and friends part, I can't help it, I'm going to miss the ones I love no matter where I am. But each time I do, I think about how blessed I am to be here, and its such a great, privileged thing to be able to experience this.
In all its 'greatness', there are also these things that people don’t say about a country though. Like how like any city in the world, they have their idiots, sleazy men, rude people, and degenerate population. They have the dodgy, not-so-nice parts of town, and people that live below the poverty lines. There are trains that are really dirty, and streets that need improvement. There's a whole load of saving that needs to be done, and not everything is picture perfect painted. There are racists, and then there are also people that are perfectly open and tolerant. Aware, accepting and even lovely and accommodating to me, which makes me feel totally welcome.
There is, and should always be a complete view in every picture, and its important not to be enamored by blue eyes, higher GDPs and a stronger currency. Just sayin'...
I’m still not entirely used to drinking water out of the tap without boiling it first, and this is the one and only time you’d hear me say I miss driving. Waiting for your transport is boring (obviously replacing the other word that starts with a 'b' cause I’m trying to be 'family-friendly' after realizing my family read my blog) and time consuming (this is making me early for things. Poo.) unless something interesting happens like Mormons approaching you and thinking you need saving, or 12 year old boys trying to hit on you.
Funny stories.
Contrary to popular belief, I don't hate cleaning up after myself. I actually love doing laundry, and can't wait for the clothes to pile up so I can do a full load. Call me crazy. And I love cooking. and I don't hate dish washing, its just a natural thing, you make the mess, you clean it. Its simple, and I like taking care of myself. Sorting my own bills, and just being my own woman. Its the most empowering feeling in the world to not rely on anyone else. So, I don't think working in the future will be that bad as I've previously lamented.
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The general sentiment back home tends to be an elitists’ view about white people and white countries. Maybe its about how much of the Western world is essentially already a developed world and we’re trying to model after that to finally strip the ‘developing’ country label. But growing up with parents like mine, I've always been exposed to alternate views- books, videos and a whole load of 'thinking outside the box' in everything. This kind of critical/deep thinking, has indirectly instilled in me a whole load of Asian pride, like "no, I've never had the urge to date an 'ang moh'." or "yeah, its great that they have all this...but.... (and there's always a but)". I've just never had that amazement that some people have with white people, and I have never been that intimidated. I recognize the good in all the Western world has, but there is so much good in being Malaysian, being Chinese that we're not owning up for, and its time we did.
Home, will always be home. There's no urge to migrate or get a PR because my heart has always been to work and toil in the land I came from. I'm taking in every experience here, and seeing the good in this place, so that I can take it back home and make things better cause I would then know how, and in being here I'd have the authority to say "This is what I've seen, and its good, and its so worth modeling after." and call me idealistic, but I believe it can be done.
:)
P.s. Good news. I have a heightened tolerance towards the cold now. Previously, when my hands used to get cold, that's when I know I'm cold. Here, my hands are always cold. So my 'cold' has shifted to, when I'm literally shivering, then I'm cold.
Shiok mou?
Life motto: "Its just a feeeelingggg...."
Thank you Jinguling.
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