mihiro's blog

Notification

2007-12-31T13:30:00.000+11:00

I've started my new blog so please visit
http://mihirosblog2.blogspot.com/
hope to see you there again!

Love,

This is another beginning

2007-11-26T17:46:00.000+11:00

It's hard to believe that this is my last post. Indeed I've been subconsciously postponing this moment since I knew that it will strongly make me realize that my year in Melbourne has been over, even though I can still vividly picture the panoramic view of the city from Flinders in my heart.

After almost 10 months of experience in Melbourne, now I see the world and also myself differently. It wasn't simply an experience of studying in foreign university. Everything and everyone I've seen and met there brought a new perspective to my life, and made it so treasurous as I will probably embrace it forever.

It will take a while until I eventually move onto another stage of life after such an unforgettable year. But I know I have to move on, and I believe that's how I can truly cherish my past 10 months; with all the experience I had in Melbourne I clearly see more potential and courage in myself, which will help me to keep on pursuing my goals and dreams.

Here for the last time I want to thank everyone who helped and supported me, and the one who always walked besides me to share the moments of smiles and even tears.

Lastly I also want to show my deep appreciation for those who have kept visiting my blog until now. Thank you so much, because you guys made all this worth it. Hope you also enjoyed and even felt a touch of my Melbourne every time you dropped by.

" Go on in pursuit of your dream. The dunes are changed by the wind, but the desert never changes. If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day."

A lot of love,

November 26, 2007

Mihiro

Home

2007-11-25T01:44:00.000+11:00

After more than 10 hours of flight, I'm now back in Japan.

Before my final update, I'm going to post one more from my last few days in Australia, with the most special one in my Melbourne year.

Always our best place for coffee and chat; and always sat at the same place.

...Though this time our order was orange juice. It was too hot for coffee that day!

And my last day in Melbourne.

The funny thing was that we both didn't wait to have our food until after we go home. The night before was Malaysian, and Japanese lunch for our last day in Melbourne:P.

Shopping at Melbourne Central after lunch.

...Last coffee time in the heavenly caffeinated city.

Hope you safely arrived home.

Departure

2007-11-22T08:06:00.000+11:00

Now time to move on.

Bye

2007-11-22T07:43:00.000+11:00

Flocks of bustling pedestrians, attached sound of trams, and stillness of Flinders.

I'll miss you Melbourne.

Lemongrass

2007-11-18T08:53:00.000+11:00

Friday night was a night of pure luxury as Wai Kitt lavished upon me with a fantastic dinner present. Dinner was in Lemongrass, one of Melbourne's classiest royal Thai restaurants.

The night was to commemorate the end of our fantastic year in Melbourne, and it was also my overly belated birthday celebration.

The restaurant was in an elegant setting of dark timber and traditional Thai artifact. The ambient was sumptuous, and we luckily had a table in a nice and quiet place which was exactly what I've requested:).

By the way, we were at Crown Casino before the dinner, and Wai Kitt won $50! How lucky as! On the other hand, I just stayed as an observer this time:P.

The food was scrumptious. Every dish was finely presented, and they also tasted as artful as they looked. I especially loved Papaya Salad!

Overall I was totally convinced that this is the award-winning restaurant. Everything was perfect. And the most of all, the company was wonderful. Thank you Wai Kitt:).

Now, my final week in Melbourne.

Tomoko

2007-11-17T13:26:00.000+11:00

Seems like everything is happening at the last minutes.

Our reunion after almost 5 years exceeded my expectation. It was an absolute fun!

5 years ago Tomoko and I came to Australia at the same time to study in Warrnambool; I was 16, and Tomoko was only 15 . We were one of few Japanese who strove to mingle with local students while most of the internationals secluded themselves in ESL room.

Now she has grown up as a beautiful mature lady who has the hottest (!) boyfriend I've ever seen!;P She's been studying hospitality and cooking at TAFE in Melbourne.

We had too many things to talk about, and could only finish talking about half of the topics which have been piling up for 5 years.

Take care, girl! We'll definitely have our reunion again.

unti then,

xoxo

5000 miles friendship

2007-11-16T10:13:00.000+11:00

In a land of different culture, meeting someone from our own country sometimes gives a special meaning. With Reina, nevertheless, it was more than just a simple affinity coming from shared cultural background, but a friendship truly tied with a profound respect between each other.

You were the one who always treasures friends, and also who were considerate, warm and self -determined which I always admired for.

I'm so glad that we met here in Melbourne.

Love and hugs,

Mihiro

floor mates and so much more

2007-11-14T18:48:00.000+11:00

Caught a shuttle bus to Peninsula campus, and walked down to the beach.

Our last big day out for the year. And for me, for good.

Delighted laughing of Sam from the kitchen. Nathan's penetratingly low voice from the corridor. They have already become indispensable parts of my life. You guys completed my Melbourne.

Lunch at the beach and afternoon napping later on. What a beautiful summer day.

After treasurable 9 months in Melbourne, I'm about to take one big step forward in my life.

Historical Walk

2007-11-13T22:51:00.000+11:00

It has been already another very hectic week; being out in the city almost everyday, and a lot of catching up with friends for the last time. Both yesterday and today , I had to say good-bye to some of my important people. Saying good-bye is always hard, and it'll never get easier. At the same time, however, it always makes me realize how important they have become in my life.

This afternoon, Nathan and I did self-guided walk in the city. We started at Federation Square, and discovered the elegant enclave in East Melbourne. We walked through the area, and saw the houses with elaborate ironwork, classic columns and lofty verandas from the Victoria era, which were amazingly enchanting.
By the way, we are both a little health/fitness fanatic, and we actually ended up walking almost 10km today;P My legs are totally tired now...

Tomorrow: Last going out with my floor mates to Peninsula beach. Woohoo!

For all Malaysian friends

2007-11-13T22:20:00.000+11:00

Safe trip to home, everyone, and thank you for a wonderful year.

Love,

Mihiro

farewell to my two best Singaporean friends

2007-11-11T21:24:00.000+11:00

Exam period is nearly coming to the end, and those who have finished their exams are heading to their home for the summer. The Halls are getting quieter day by day.

Varun and Ash, both from Singapore, have also left for their country for the holiday. They have been a great part of my life in Melbourne, and are also the first Singaporeans whom I become so close in my life.

Varun and I often hung out together with many others from his floor. He used to be my jogging buddy, and he was one of those few people whom I could count on in aussie booze although sometimes he was also quite intoxicated;P. His sharp wit and humor always entertained me and amazed me a lot.

Ash and I didn't live in the same hall, and it made us quite difficult to see each other often. But somehow I always felt connected to her, and I knew that she always cared about me,too. She was also the one who provided me well thought advice during moments of desperation.

Though I won't be here next year, nonetheless, it won't change a thing between us.

Thank you, Varun and Ash. One day, hopefully in near future, I'll see you both in your beautiful country, and we'll together miss this our crazy year at Monash.

Love and kisses,

Mihiro

Fitzroy Gardens

2007-11-11T20:44:00.000+11:00

Floral Conservatory

Captain James Cook's Cottage

One of Melbourne's greatest assets is the sea of green that weaves its way in and around the city. Those picturesque gardens and parks are why this city is forever known as the " Garden City".

Their beauty is at their best now.

More to come...

2007-11-07T21:05:00.000+11:00

Swanston Street

Federation Square

Bourke Street

Indigenous Art Exhibition at The Ian Potter Centre NGV Australia

Melbourne Zoo

2007-11-06T20:36:00.000+11:00

Today I was initially going to Bridge road by myself, but I met Makiko on the way to bus loop and she asked if I wanted to go to Melbourne Zoo! Indeed, I was missing going out with friends (...People! I'm eagerly waiting for you guys finishing your exams soon!), so why not?

Makiko, Akiko, and Korean girl Young were today's excursion buddies:)

The zoo looked more botanical setting than the zoo in Japan, and we took almost 3 hours to wander through everything! Yes, it was big.

That meerkat (upper right) was damn cute! He (or she) seemed so used to humans.

...And of course, there has to be something Australian:) Kangaroos. They were in the mid of afternoon napping.

Humans were also sleepy...;P

Overall, I really loved Melbourne Zoo. And you know what! It was very very clean and I didn't even smell anything unlike our zoo in Japan;P!

Warrnambool

2007-11-04T15:29:00.000+11:00

My first overseas experience was when I was 16, and I spent one year at local high school in a country town of Australia without even having any foreign travel experience. After 4 and half years, I'm about to end my second Australian year as a university student. I can tell myself that I'm now totally in a different place from where I used to be in 4 years ago, but it is almost impossible to explain what I am today without my first overseas year in Australia.

After several times of delays, I finally made a trip back to Warrnambool, my first home town in Australia.

The town warmly welcomed me with unbelievably composed weather ( since Warrnambool is a bay side town, the weather is usually very windy and unpredictable). I was already at the beach in 15 minutes after arriving at my host family's place;P

I was too excited to notice the fact that I came too far away and so hastily rushed back for dinner which was the first night with my host parents after 4 years of time.

It was typical Warrnambool weather on the second day; rainy and cold. I went down to main street and wandered around the shops as I often did after school:)

... A little greetings for some of my beloved people from the maritime city:) Have you got it yet?

In the afternoon, I made a way to my old high school. Indeed I was expecting to be a complete stranger since I wasn't even sure whether there were still people I know.

But there they were.

My two most favorite teachers:Ms. Okeef, my ESL teacher and Ms. Stacy, my Health teacher and also the one who always cared about me at school than anyone else. They were just as same as 4 years ago and heartily welcomed me with their usual smiles. Also these two women are one of the teachers with passionate souls whom I only know a few in my entire life.

By the way, Ms. Okeef unexpectedly invited me for her ESL class and made me talk about my personal experience at Warrnambool college as a guest speaker! Hope I could somewhat encourage current students.

...With three Year 11 Japanese students. Someone is getting old;P

At night, I caught up with my old high school friend Aimee and her friends.

Next day I accidentally had another reunion in the town. I was looking for a cheap place to sit down to write my journal and ended up sitting in McDonald's on the main street. Then I found Amy who used to hang out in the same group at school. She was working there. We've kind of lost contact after I left Warrnambool so it was so unexpected to see her this time. Indeed we were very very excited to see each other again.

It was so nice to see you Amy! We'll stay in contact okay;)!

Luckily the weather cleared up around the noon and I had a big walk to Logans beach, my most favorite place in Warrnambool.

By the way, Logans beach is renowned as a nursery for Southern Right whales. Almost every year between June and September, female Southern Right whales return to the waters of Warrnamnool to calve. I saw them twice last time when I was there.

Beautiful walk to the beach...

...And finally.

The view was absolutely stunning. I can only stand there and spend hours just looking at the ocean. I'll post a video here to share even a tiny bit of this grandeur.

At night, I was invited for dinner at my Japanese coordinator's house. Fumiko and her husband David took care of me for almost everything when I was in Warrnambool. Dinner started at 6:00, and by the time they gave me a lift to home, it was 11:oo. We had so many things to catch up:) Thank you very much for a fabulous dinner, Fumiko and David. I'm looking forward to seeing you probably in Japan next time.

Lastly, more than anything else, I enjoyed staying with my host parents during my visit to Warrnambool. Like a child's piety to their parents, I simply wanted them to see how much I have changed and hopefully grown up from 16 year old girl.

Thank you Christine and Jim. You have been always my first reason to come back to this town, and it will remain same forever.

I think this is probably true. " More time passes, more beautiful life becomes".

...I'm back in Melbourne again!

Taco Bill (not "Bell")

2007-10-30T21:47:00.000+11:00

Some of you guys might know about Mexican-fast food chain "Taco Bell" in US. In Australia, however, we can see a slightly different version of Mexican food restaurant called " Taco Bill". It's certainly a imitation of American "Taco Bell", but I'm not sure whether ours is authentically called "fast food" since they serve quite proper dish meal. Anyways, Hannah, Sho and I went there for la comida mexicana * my tiny Spanish vocabularies*.

The restaurant was filled with cheerful Latin american music, and cactus outside the window took us away to the totally different continent;)

We all had different Burrito, which was quite okay. We also indulged ourselves with sinful chocolate mousse dessert. After two hours of chatting, I was sure that our Japanese conversation invaded the entire land of Mexico;P

I'm leaving for Warrnambool tomorrow but haven't even start packing yet!

Hasta luego!

Simply luxurious

2007-10-29T19:06:00.000+11:00

Since all my friends are still in the mid of their exam period, I've been alone wandering around my favorite places in Melbourne city.

After spending some time in Chapel street for browsing (!) through all the expensive boutiques, I went down to the city and took a big walk in Royal Votanic Gardens. It was perfect weather, and I regret that I didn't bring my book with me;(

Walked up to Shrine of Remembrance war memorial. Doesn't it a bit look like our kokkai building?;P haha.

On the way back to the city, I also checked out Asian art exhibition at National Gallery of Victoria.

Lastly, filled my thirsty body with cold bubble milk tea in China Town:)

...well, I'm truly in love with this city!

early summer greetings...

2007-10-28T21:20:00.000+11:00

Melbourne is undoubtedly heading to summer. Yesterday was 29℃, and I saw people with their shorts sitting under the Christmas tree in City Square. Geez. I'm so scared to go back to Japan where people are already dressed with jackets and boots according to my mom:( Daylight saving also started this morning, so our clock is one hour forward now (+2 hours to Japan time).

All the best for everyone who is having exams!

The end of Monash chapter

2007-10-26T20:06:00.000+10:00

After a month of insane workload, the submission of the last sociology essay ended the whole chapter of my academic life at Monash university.

As you might have guessed from my silence for the past few weeks, I've been swamped by inhumane amount of assessment tasks. But it's over now. No more essays, reports and tests. And I'll never get to sit in the lecture theater or tutorial room as a monash student. Even though there are still too many things I haven't learnt.

I won't look back all my learning history at monash here, but I just want to send my deepest gratitude for Matthew, my best study advisor. He has been helping me with my work since last semester when I was totally at a loss for my study. His encouraging, caring and enthusiastic assistance has given me numerous wonderful learning experiences. I'll miss him so much after I go back to home.

Studying in Australian university has changed what 'learning' means to me. We can agree, disagree or even challenge to the existing argument. And participation made learning even more interesting. Every time when I stepped out of the classroom after tutorial, I could see the world with another new perception.

...Okay, enough with my study story. Now it's time to commemorate the completion of this academic year, and time to enjoy the last moment of my stay in Melbourne! I have the whole month to have a fun until my good-bye to this country. It's still early to get nostalgic...!

Melbourne Marathon 2007

2007-10-07T14:35:00.000+10:00

We made it.

This morning, about 16,000 runners were set to pound the street of Melbourne city. Of course, I was there.

Since the beginning of the year, I've been consistently running with group of friends, and this Melbourne marathon has been our ultimate goal as something to work towards. Unfortunately, some have given up and some have got too busy to train;( But Nathan unexpectedly showed his interest in the race, and this morning we both made it across the finish line. By the way, I did 10km, while Nathan chose to do 5km. Tarli from our hall also came with us for 10km.

10km commenced outside the MCG( Melbourne Cricket Ground) at 8:45am, with about 8000 other competitors flocking at starting line. I wasn't competitive enough to squash into the massive crowd, so it took quite while to actually set off even after the starting whistle.

I never had such an amazing run. Whole marathon was awesome. We entered into the city, and ran all the way around the Royal Botanic Gardens, and then followed the way back to MCG. I hardly felt tired while running since I was so fascinated by all the beautiful scenery of the city.

We finished up at MCG, and it was the greatest part ever. As entering the stadium, I heard the roar cheering up all the participants, and I felt as if I was an Olympic runner;P

Nathan completed his race, too. He is now thinking of getting proper shoes and starting running as routine;) ...and guess what. Tarli won the third place in 10km (37min)!! Nathan and I were feeling so proud while she was having presentation in the stadium. You are great Tarli!

I'm thinking of coming back to Melbourne for the marathon some time in the future. Hopefully I'll be doing half marathon next time:)

Sorry I didn't take camera with me, so no picture of my contended face with the medal;(

Okay, I'll take a short nap now...

life still goes on

2007-10-06T13:31:00.000+10:00

Completed my business letter assignment yesterday, which was 4 days late due to my sickness.

Also had my feature article assignment back, which was 18/35. I screwed up.

Assignments after assignments. I can hardly picture myself finishing everything in three weeks.

But one still needs some getaway from these craziness;
Melbourne marathon is tomorrow! yay!

Gread Ocean drive

2007-09-30T17:08:00.000+10:00

Having been sick almost for the whole week; staying in my room, but being unable to study. My last half of mid semester break was sadly nothing. Uni starts tomorrow again.

But I had last minutes' fun with my neighbours; Four of us from 11th floor, Nathan, Samantha, Brian and I hit the road and made a day trip to Great Ocean Road.

We left the hall around 6:30am. I was half asleep on the way to Apollo Bay;P

The drive along the coast was amazing. It was raining so the ocean looked incredibly rough, but it was another magnificence of the nature.

We reached the Twelve Apostles, but bad rain and wind prevented us from walking up to the observatory. Sam and Nathan dared to go out in the ultra harsh rain, while Brian and I gave up after a glance at the apostles;(

This is the only picture I could take;(

Two brave neighbours who got completely wet after seeing the apostles;)

We made our way back around the noon and had warm lunch at noodle bar in Collac.

It was pity we couldn't see much of the Great Ocean Road this time due to unpleasant weather, but we somehow still enjoyed our little day out from the hall, and mostly each other's company in the car. 6hour ( or more) drive was probably the best part of today's journey.

These people now mean so much more to my life in Melbourne.

Tomorrow is already October―my last 3 weeks of uni in Australia.

happy birthday for...

2007-09-26T13:02:00.000+10:00

For the neighbour whom I always seek for help

For the neighbour whom I always find myself happier after talking with ( in the kitchen or corridor)

For the neighbour whom I found the most hard working person on 11th floor

For the neighbour who is currently addicted to the guitar and australian idols:)

For the neighbour who is generous, warm and has the most gorgeous smile I've ever seen!

Happy 25th birthday Nathan! I'm so lucky to have happened to live your next door!

...by the way, I'm totally sick now.

2 happiest girls in down under

2007-09-24T13:25:00.000+10:00

Since she arrived in Melbourne, I don't know how many times we've laughed.

On Friday afternoon, we went down to St. Kilda and had a fabulous time over mexican lunch, and also pampered ourselves with delicious cakes, which compensated for our dinner;P

I had my second creme bluree in St. Kilda;) haha.

Walked to near the water afterwards.

We left the hall around the noon Saturday morning and headed off to Brunswick street in Fitzroy. When I first went to Fitzroy, I assured myself that Naoko would love there since Fitzroy has heaps of nice cafes and interior shops which I thought she might like; in fact, she totally, totally loved the place.

After filling up our tummies with a lovely brunch and chatting, we spent entire afternoon walking around the street and enjoyed discovering melbourne's hippiest precinct.

By the way, I tried hot chocolate-chai ( it was called GANDHI!) at the famous chocolateria on Brunswick street. It was absolutely orgasmic, but I would say it was almost like chocolate-soup;)

The wind was already really chilly by the time we finished crawling through all the shops on the street.

Sunday morning started with checking out the works of melbournian artists. We went down to Art Market at South bank, and Naoko especially sounded excited seeing the city of Melbourne over the Yarra river.

Two happiest Japanese girls in down under:)

After lunch, we headed down to Queen Victoria Market.

...A little comfort after another long day out:)

At night, we invited Sam, Nathan, and Wai Kitt for Japanese curry dinner. Curry turned out really well, and it even led into wine opening session;P

I think we were laughing every single moment during she was here. I'm sure we'll remember this wonderful 4 days and laugh again when I go back to Japan on November.

Thanks for coming over to Melbourne Nao chan! 4 days were too short, but I believe we could make up for more than 8 months which we were apart. Enjoy your last semester of university, and I'll see you when I get home! It was more than amazing to see you.

love and hugs,

Mihiro