Student Life Away From Family
Closing my books, clicking ‘save my documents’, and turning off my laptop means another productive week had ended. I finally have the chance to make time for myself, and that means exploring the wonders of Melbourne where I am pursuing my university degree. As a student in Melbourne, being up to date with heavy content and workload can be exhausting, so making time to release that pressure is extremely important.
Melbourne offers countless avenues for that - from visiting local cafes for brunch, gazing at the fresh produce in Queen Victoria Market, to embracing the vibrant nature in the parks of inner suburbs, like the Royal Botanic Gardens and the stretch of the Yarra River. As a Filipino who had lived in multiple cities, I can say Melbourne is definitely unique for having food from any cuisine you can think of! Vietnamese Pho from Richmond, Indonesian ‘Murtabak’ or Nasi Goreng (at ‘YOI’) on Franklin Street or a local Lemon Panna Cotta from Vertue Coffee Roasters at Carlton.
Another aspect I love about the city of Melbourne is how close everything is - everything is basically walking distance! If you have the whole day, you could visit almost every hotspot I mentioned. The frequent trams and trains make it even more convenient. After a pleasant brunch, I always enjoy the stroll to my next destination, taking my time to digest all the deliciousness I had consumed while looking up at the beautiful high-rise buildings that form the hustle-and-bustle aesthetic of Melbourne.
A view of the Me Bank building from Swanston Street. An eye-catching view in Melbourne’s CBD, just before sunset.
Arts House located in the inner suburb of North Melbourne. It is a center for contemporary arts - connected to the North Melbourne Library and Post Office.
Of course, it is impossible to ignore Melbourne’s coffee! A hot oat latte paired with an anzac cookie, on a winter’s day, does not fail to feed comfort to the soul. Some of my favourite cafes include: Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters, Little Rogue, Code Black Coffee and Palette Cafe.
Melbourne brunch outdoors at Ample Cafe in North Melbourne.
Delicious pastries from A Treat of France - a bakery and cafe located opposite Royal Melbourne Hospital. My go-to study snack would be their banana bread.
A flat white a hot cocoa from 279 cafe in West Melbourne. A perfect treat with my best friend to cool down after exams.
I find myself taken aback by the rich South East Asian culture that resides here and I am grateful for a community that opens its arms to foreigners like me from all around the world. Coming to Melbourne was initially intimidating, however, meeting other international students from countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and many more, created a sense of familiarity and home. I realised the values we shared were the same and I was able to create a hub of supportive friends; a group of people definitely needed in this difficult time of isolation.
With my university friends on our road trip to Mornington Peninsula. An area popular for its holiday homes and outdoor activities such as camping, sailing or playing football in large areas of grass. That’s me in the middle, seated!
At Bells Beach near Geelong, a city in southwest Melbourne known for its Waterfront. We had to make a stop to appreciate this vibrant yellow canola field behind us.
As a foreigner living here, I feel a push to acknowledge the history of Australia and its original landowners, the Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. I am grateful to live in this amazing city and encourage my fellow Filipinos to experience the beauty of Melbourne - once travelling is back to normal.
