First Thoughts of Australia and Trip

Blog Post Assignment 1: travel experience, first impressions of Melbourne/Australia, and how the trip is going so far. 3 Days in!

"Once we arrived in Melbourne there was quite a bit of relief from myself and others that the flying was done and that we could mostly relax for the rest of the day. Another surprise was that the jetlag hasn’t been a huge factor. With the exception of waking up earlier and easier than normal which has been quite nice, the main thing has been staying up late enough the first day or two to make sure our sleep schedules are in line with the time zone. Overall, my first impressions of Australia have been very positive, Melbourne is a very beautiful and well-kept city with a lot of history. The people we have met here so far have been quite friendly and I look forward to exploring more of the city. In many ways I feel far more comfortable here than I originally thought I might. Traveling in groups has helped this feeling of comfort but mostly I’d argue that the city feels well organized and safe in all the areas I’ve been to so far.", ~Ben R.

"It was very uneasy to see because I’m so used to driving on the other side but that was definitely the first thing that made me really stop and realize I’m in Australia! " ~Jerry B.

"We took a quick tour around the CBD before visiting the Victoria Roasting Warehouse. We learned about their process and the problems they encountered during the pandemic. Afterward, we got to try some coffee and had some lunch. We completed a scavenger hunt and met Floyd and Amber at a restaurant for refreshments and food. Next, we visited the Melbourne Cricket Grounds and Australian Sports museum where we had an awesome tour around the whole facility and learned a lot about sports that I am very unfamiliar with. Afterward, we got burgers at a chain called Grill’d which we had been recommended by many of the people we have met so far.

So far, I am loving the city. It must be the cleanest city I have ever been two with some of the friendliest people. If it wasn’t halfway around the world from home, I would move here in a heartbeat." ~Jason P