Queen Victoria Market: “eat authentic food”

On most mornings, the Queen Victoria Market is a hub of Australian fare; offering a wide selection of local fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, delicatessens, and handmade gifts. But on summer wednesday nights it becomes the UN of food, a meeting place for vendors of every tradition to celebrate their favorite dishes.  

Banjo's BBQ and Menu

As soon as you step into the open air market you are hit with a wall of smells. They make your mouth water and stomach growl, even if you were full before arrival. Big signs advertising signature meals catch your eye and the small fractions of your heritage are sparked alive at the sight of a dish your grandmother used to make. It is impossible to identify what you are smelling, as the vapors from each booth are in a constant competition to be the strongest and win the favor of your stomach. The combination of smells from food around the world combine into something magical and you think: this is what peace smells like. 

Deciding what to eat is a challenge; as soon as you are set on the Mexican stand, hear the sizzling of the German sausages, then you catch a glimpse of a spicy looking rice dish on the biggest frying pan you have ever seen, then the Polish pierogies and Asian dumplings make you think you want something doughy, until the Lebanese and South African stands make you want to try something different, then someone walks by with fried potato circles on a stick and you need to find those, the stick reminds you of Greek kabobs, the Greeks want to give you lamb, and then you see the big sign that says Emu! Croc! Roo! and you know you’ve made your decision. So when in Australia...you eat the kangaroo. 

Roo Burger

The juicy burger is grilled right in front of you, along with some sausages and other bits of meat that you don’t ask about. You order the Roo Burger with confidence (and a diet coke, just in case), forgo the sauce in order to get the full flavor, and wait with anticipation. Upon arrival it looks harmless, like any other burger. Because you can’t find a seat in the crowd, you stand off to the side (trash can near by) and take the leap. On first bite it tastes like all the other burgers you’ve had before, then you sense its a little bit sweeter, a little chewier and tougher, cooked to perfection, and actually quite good. It just similar enough to not startle you, but different enough to enjoy the change of flavor. You continue to eat, trying to identify exactly what is different (and not picture the beloved Winnie the Pooh characters Kanga and Roo), and by the time you’re done you’re glad you ate it and think you might even want to do it again sometime. 

The Queen Victoria Market also has to be one of the best places to people watch in the world. Couples of all shapes, sizes, and genders stroll hand-in-hand, sipping drinks, trying each other’s food, and looking extremely happy just to be together. After absorbing all the different faces around you, you close your eyes for a second and listen. All the skin colors and eye shapes, body types and hair styles have disappeared and you hear one accent. Australians may look very different from each other, but they all sound the same. They are Australian. They are accepting of all, encouraging of the differences, and proud of who they are. 

Queen Victoria Market summer nights capture the very best parts of the world and allows you to experience them all at once. Amidst the chaos of the crowd, you feel a sense of peace, happiness, and appreciation for the diverse world we live in. 

Melbourne City night

"Saint" Kilda

In February of 1841 the schooner the Lady of St. Kilda harbored in one of Melbourne’s suburbs: Port Philip. The area was soon named after the ship and became a popular Melbourne beach destination with an eclectic crowd. 

On a hot day 172 years later the small stretch of sand quickly became dotted with blankets, bathing suits, and dogs running through the shallow waters. The crowd is a mix of locals and tourists all looking forward to the calm, refreshing water. And after one hour and two busses later, our group was ready to join in the fun. 

Coming from a continent where there is snow on the ground and the average temperatures are currently in the low 50s, being on a beach in 90 degree weather was unreal. After laying out our towels, taking pictures, jumping in the water, and lying down to soak up the much needed sun, we all reflected on how amazing it was to be there. We all agreed this was one of the happiest moments in our young lives and we cannot imagine a better place to have come to live for the next 4 months. 

A little while later a friend and I went for a walk along the water and to explore a pier on the other side of the beach. We walked in our bikinis, enjoying the water and people watching, listening to the local accents and soaking up the culture like the sun. As we walked along the pier we watched jet skiers fly by and became enthralled with a man using a water jet pack to propel himself into the air. We were soon interrupted by an older gentleman walking in the opposite direction who pointed at us and told us, “It is called Saint Kilda for a reason. Saint Kilda, it’s religious,” insinuating that walking along the pier in our bathing suits was inappropriate. His friend than told him that we were obviously not from here. 

Even though there is actually no Saint Kilda (the beach was named after the ship, which was named in honor of Lady Grange who was imprisoned by her husband on the largest island in the St. Kilda archipelago on the western shore of Scotland) we were very taken aback by this accusation. We were immediately embarrassed, turning around and heading back to the beach where everyone else was similarly dressed. On the way back we looked for signs saying no bathing suits allowed, but could not find any and came to the conclusion that maybe the culture is a little more different from our own than we had initially believed. 

We also came to realize the reputation Americans carry in other parts of the world. 

This was not the only instance we received different treatment for being Americans. As a group of us tried to enter a club with American passports a $12 cover charge suddenly appeared following the comment, “oh you’re from America?” Another bouncer gave us a history lesson on how the money America received from selling their gold when they changed currency tenders went to support the Nazi party in Germany. And I can not even count the times people have immediately known we were from Loyola after saying we were from the States because of the reputation past Loyola students have left. 

So while the general population of Australians have been extremely welcoming to us as guests in their country and interested in the culture we come from, some have their judgements and are not willing to change. Now it is our responsibility to not confirm their opinions, but work to help them see Americans in a better light.

First Impressions

Fearless bugs. Quiet beaches. An endless city. The accent that has both the sophistication of the British and the laid back attitude of the American South. Unpredictable and frequently changing weather (but mostly pretty damn hot). And the nicest people you will ever meet.

 Australia is a complex and unique place. It is the largest island and the smallest continent. They have a culture that is not entirely their own; borrowing bits and pieces from all over the world and putting their own spin on it to form something “Australian.” And what they have created is amazing. 

In my short time here I have already come to 

feel at home. Melbourne is a place with an endless amount of entertainment, from a different pub on every corner to the museums and arts festivals, from the sandy beaches with refreshing water to the clean city streets lined with shops and churches--I don’t think I will ever be bored here. The people are the nicest I have ever met. They apologize when you bump into them, offer directions when you appear lost, introduce themselves on elevators; even their street signs and trash cans are polite saying “give way” instead of yield and “rubbish please” instead of trash. The graffiti says “smile” instead of obscenities.

City at Night from SkyDeck view

Walking around the city, swimming in the water, riding the tram, and even just sitting at a picnic table on campus I am overwhelmed with the promise of adventure. I feel my throat close and the threat of tears come as I realize how happy I am to just be apart of this amazing place, even if it is just for a short while. 

Adventure is out there!

This last week before my departure I have had a lot of mixed feelings. Nerves about leaving, fear of forgetting important items or my luggage being too heavy, excitement about everything I am going to experience, and anticipation, just being ready to finally go. I think by this point I truly am ready. Now that my “to do before I go” list is complete, I’ve decided to make a “to do abroad” list. Just a general outline of the things I would like to accomplish in order to make the most of this once in a lifetime experience. 

To Do Abroad:

-do something that scares me

-eat authentic food 

-make a new friend

-meet someone interesting

-do something “cultural” 

-learn something

-see and experience as much as I possibly can

-don’t waste a minute

-write about it all

Making lists has always helped me feel calm about any major task ahead of me. However, this one has made me more excited and ready to leave. I know the waves of nerves and fear and anticipation will still come and go, even long after I arrive in the land “Down Under,” but there is one silly thing that has kept reminding me to be excited. When I think of all the adventures I am about to have, all I hear is the voice of little Ellie from the Disney Pixar movie UP saying: “Adventure is Out There!” It reminds me of how as a kid everything is an adventure, and that is how I want to view this semester: one big adventure.