HOW IS LIVING IN MELBOURNE?

by Adriana Quinones (Chile)

Making a local connection Australia

I come from a relatively small city, despite being the second most important in my country, Chile, it is almost the opposite of my second home: Melbourne, Australia. I have been living in this place for 5 years now, I have moved 5 times around the city, I have tried everything that I could and I have done practically everything that I wanted. Free in any activity and free in any experience. Melbourne is an immigrant destination (for sure). A cosmopolitan piece of earth in all his extension, super diverse, full of colours, flavours, fragrances and of course: experiences. Honestly, I did not expect much of that when I decided to come here. Moreover, when I moved to this side of the planet, truthfully, I didn’t research too much about this place (I didn’t do my homework. I know!). I just get carried away by the surprise of the experience and you know what? This was totally worth It and I felt totally in love of this city, totally in love of this country. Different languages, manners, food, people, rhythms, essence ... and many others that come to my head but I prefer not to mention them so they can be surprised when you will visit here. Finding NOT to do in this place is almost impossible. It is a city where activities of all kinds abound; Indoor, outdoor, alone, full of people or with some, quiet or noisy … you can choose everything you want. There are for all tastes and also, for all budgets, trust me, it’s impossible to get bored in this piece of heaven. From internationally renowned museums like the NGV (The National Gallery of Victoria) or magical dream landscapes, like the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, this is a place that never ceases to amaze those who know it for the first time in their lives. Did I mention his free fairs, festivals of all kinds and fireworks almost every Friday in Docklands or near the Yarra River in the CBD? – Please, do not forget the dumplings of China Town, the sunsets with a good beer in St Kilda beach and a perfect coffee while picking your favourite fruit in The Victoria Market every Sunday morning. Living here is almost like living in a dream, which is why many people visit it almost uninterrupted throughout the year and many of them end up living in this city for a long time ... almost without wanting to go back to where they came from. That sounds almost extreme, doesn't it? For many reasons, this city was named for 7 consecutive years "the most liveable city in the world", a title that is no less, considering the number of great cities around the globe. It can be his structure, his landscapes, his monuments, his tall skyscrapers, the infinite number of parks and green areas everywhere, its means of transport (did I tell you that inside the city the tram is free? Awesome, right?!), his restaurants, his hidden bars or bars on the roofs of buildings in the city centre, his exquisite and unique coffee at any time of day, it’s almost majestic libraries and entertainment centres, it’s no pollution or the friendliness of the locals with tourists ... it maybe everything, maybe is his energy … however, I still feel that I fall short in this brief description. It will never be enough. Never. Despite being a relatively expensive destination (obviously depending on the place that you come) it is totally and absolutely worth it. In addition, it is important to highlight the proximity of Australia to Asia, where crossing the paradisiacal beaches of Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia is relatively cheaper, easier and faster. Sounds like the perfect destination, doesn't it? Trust me. It is. For me it is, do not imagine settling here for such a long period of time. Moreover, I think that at first, it was never in the plans, but when you fall in love with a place, you fall in love, don't you?