Traveling to Melbourne Au

The journey to Australia proved to be quite a challenge, but fortunately, everything went smoothly. I must confess that I underestimated the sheer magnitude of the trip, but I suppose it's hard not to. The reality of a 16-hour flight only sinks in once you experience it firsthand. However, what truly amazed me was the city's remarkable ethnic diversity. Prior to my visit, I did not realize that Melbourne was such a multicultural hub. While I had anticipated interacting mainly with Australian-born individuals, I found myself engaging with people from various ethnic backgrounds—particularly in stores and restaurants. This delightful surprise allowed me to immerse myself in different cultures and savor a wide array of ethnic cuisines. Another unexpected aspect of Melbourne was its abundance of historical landmarks and buildings. Considering that Melbourne is a relatively young city, having been founded in 1835 (in comparison to NYC's founding date of 1624), I hadn't anticipated encountering so many historical sites. It became apparent that despite its youth, Australia boasts a rich history. ~Jack W.

The next day, we went to a coffee brew house in the morning, which is very popular in Australia. We got a tour of the production and how they operate on a daily basis. We got some coffee and food and enjoyed lunch before starting our scavenger hunt around the city. After visiting some awesome historic sites and talking to some locals we moved onto the Carlton brewhouse, a very popular beer company here in Australia. On our tour we got to see how they make the beer and how they bottle and distribute across the country. After the tour we got some samples of their drinks and some more great food before making our way back to the hotel and going to bed. ~Hayden B.

After the scavenger hunt, we ended the day at the Carlton Brewery. I have never seen a brewery from the inside and seen the actual beer making process, so I found that extremely interesting. I’m a big beer fan and seeing the whole process was really cool and our tour guide, Patrick, did a great job and I was happy he was able to see the factory as well. Overall, I’ve made new friends and had a great time so far on this trip. There is so much more to come and I cannot wait to see what awaits. ~Dylan M.