My Australian Journey (Part 2)

DAY 2 June 19, 2010
§ And the Adventure Begins §

Every great work of art has two faces, one toward its own time and one toward the future, toward eternity.
(Daniel Barenboim; 20 January 1989)


In short, after an 8-hour flight, we reached Tullamarine airport, Melbourne. Okay, guys…the adventure begins!!!!
We walked along the corridor with some advertisements and “warnings”….Bringing this bringing that will put you in jail….what a scary poster??...Then we stood in line for the immigration…and all were okay. It’s time to claim the baggage…we got all our luggage..but Rizky Sarakhsi….he lost his…I got panicked…but I am sure this is not that way…I searched another side of the baggage claim area..and there it was…Rizky’s luggage was there..lying like a dead body.
Next, we had to face the customs’ personnel…I was scared…as the problem usually starts here…but thank God…I could pass through this safely…but wait a minute..where are some students…Oh no..they must have been trapped inside..and that’s right..after they came out they told me: It’s because of HOKA HOKA BENTO (Yes we bought it from Indonesia and they forgot to declare it) …so the customs asked them to eat it out….so funny…they were full while some others were still hungry.
The transportation agency from TOGOTO Australia took us directly to Hawthorn campus. It was about 30 minutes journey..when we arrived…the host families were already there and once the students got off from the van, they directly got on to the host’s cars and they revved the engine and disappeared down the road.
My host family was also there. Her name is Annie Vanston. She is at her 60’s. Yudijaya and I got on the car and Annie showed us the transportation system along with the way for to go from one place to another by using different means of transport (Train, Tram, Bus).
Annie seemed to know what we needed, so she took us to an Asian grocery….marvelous…all we needed was INDOMIE and SAOS PEDAS ABC and we grabbed as many as we can. I also used this chance to buy the Australian cell phone card…and I chose Optus for AUD$ 30. Actually, I was very tired but for the sake of being settled, I tried to keep my eyes open while Yudi has gone to his dreamland at the back seat of Annie’s car.
Finally, we arrived at Annie’s house. This house was not too big but looks cozy. It has two stories and our room was the first room near the entrance door. It’s clean with two beds with different sizes. On each side of the bed, there is a small table for us to write or put something.
Then we went to the kitchen. This kitchen is also not too big with some standard utensils (not too sophisticated, I guess). Then, we started cooking the noodle by ourselves. 4 noodle all at once…..it’s a BIG meal for us because we’re so hungry that we could eat a horse!!! While we were eating, Annie introduced us to another member of homestay…her name is Kay and she is from China. Currently she is taking Business Administration at Monash University. Kay was about 19 years old at average height, slanted eyes and little bit cubby cheeks. Her English was so so with a very strong Chinese accent.
After that, Annie took us to Brighton beach. It’s about 10 minutes drive from her house. The beach is so beautiful, but the very cold breeze of the wind made us freeze, so we didn’t spend a lot of time there. We went back home…and again Yudi could not hold his eyelids any longer. We drove Yudi back, while Annie and I went to Ormond station. It was only 5 minutes walk from Annie’s house. Annie showed me how to use the Metcard (a transportation card bought by Hawthorn for us which can be used unlimited for two weeks). Then, the train came…the sign said “Frankston” which means this train’s final stop is Frankston station and the direction is Melbourne Central station. On the journey, Annie told me a lot about Australian cultures while I did the same thing to her. She was not too surprised as she has hosted some Indonesian students before.
Finally, we arrived at the Melbourne Central station. The station was so clean yet a bit hectic even though it was Saturday. We walked upstairs and got out to Swanston street. In front of the exit, I saw a grand tall building with 18th century architecture ….yes.. that’s Victoria State Library …our favorite… (later, I’ll let you know why…)
We crossed the street and try to catch the tram…(that was the first time I saw and got on that kind of vehicle). While waiting for the tram, I saw a very famous sign of Indonesian restaurant…yes that’s Es Teller 77. I told Annie that it’s an Indonesian resto and she said that she might buy some food for our dinner there. Then, we headed to Flinders Street station. This is one of most historical stations in Melbourne because this is so old yet equipped with some sophisticated gadget. Annie took us to the Yara river next to the station..and told me that the famous name for the place is South bank. On Sunday, a lot of people will sell things along the bank…. wooww… I was very much interested.
Then, we crossed the road again just to come to an open place with some street performers and audience…it’s called the Federation Square. Annie took me to the Melbourne Visitor Centre…it’s like an information center for tourists. All info about Melbourne tourism resorts is available. I took some brochures and Annie showed me some souvenirs. I bought some postcards (which finally I realized that none of them was sent to Indonesia hehhehehe), key chain, and some fridge magnets….that was my first 20$ shopping. Opposite to the Melbourne Visitor Center was the Cathedral Church. It’s yellow and brown colors with some sharp towers showed that this building is at the same age as Flinders Station.
Annie and I finally decided to go back to Melbourne Central on foot. We crossed Collins Street and walk along the stores on Swanston Street. Then we stopped at Hot Potatoes Souvenir shop. Again, I went shopping…but this time I didn’t spend a lot of money and time…just a couple of dollars. Next two stores from Hot Potatoes was Es Teler 77 Resto…we went inside and ordered three portions of Fried rice enough for 10 people…then we went to an Ice cream booth in the corner of Melbourne Central station. It’s around 5.30 but it’s already dark just like 8 o’clock in Indonesia. So we decided to go home. I was very much exhausted…but I did enjoy the beauty of Melbourne Central and set my mind that the next day, I would visit and explore the city again.
We were home safely…and Yudijaya was still asleep. I took a bath while Annie was preparing for the dinner. Once I finished taking a bath, I woke Yudi up and I waited for the dinner to be ready.
And…18.30 Annie shouted: Dinner…dinner….and Yudi and I rushed into the dining room. Annie prepared 8 seats. I was wondering whom those seats were for. Oh…I finally knew it that there were some homestay students at Annie’s house. The seats were for us, Yudi and I, Annie, Roberto and Ana from Italy, Kay and Ricky from China, Febry from Saudi Arabia. The dinner was good, we got to know each other while learning somebody else’s culture. And I knew how important dinner was for most Australian families. It’s used as a means of communication between family members.
Since I was full and tired, I asked permission to leave early and went to bed and in minutes…I have gone to my dreamland. It seemed I didn’t dream at all.