Hannah

Ah, France. Yes, I certainly want to come back here. And guess what? It looks very much like next year I will be studying in Lille. For the year! Ha ha. HAHAHAHAHA. Oh dear me, it is too wonderful. I’m thinking of visiting my friend in Germany, travelling the UK, and perhaps popping on down to Spain…. yes, maybe a little unrealistic, but we shall see. To leave AUstralia…. no, it doesn’t concern me so much, I miss travelling too much to say.

Well, I should be able to get to the Czech Republic when I stay in Lille next year. I’m quite looking forward to seeing my relatives, though my level of Czech is shocking for one who’s mother speaks it fluently. My grandmother came to visit not long ago, and gave me a book on the history of Prague written a veeery long time ago, in Czech. The language is a bit difficult, but I can read what it sounds like anyway…. yes, I’ll most certainly have to practice. I think when one’s first language is English one tends to think one doesn’t need to even try attempting the language of the country one is visiting, ha hoom! I shall be staying in Police, if anyone has heard of it… not so far from Praha.

Wow, so I finally got to Japan. It must be one of the most awesome places I have been to yet. After three weeks staying there my years of study proved to be worthwhile, I’m passively fluent. I spent my first week travelling in a state of ecstacy, just mouthing ‘bizarre’ walking around in a daze every day. Japan has it’s own beauty, the forests and temples are perfect. But it has this sense of… something else, I doubt there is a word for it. The class division is clear, but there’s a type of respect involved that you just don’t find in other countries. The mannerisms I picked up are my favourites, the way they act when shopping. The ways to count long objects and short objects…... there is an endless list of amazing things about Japan. It surely must be one of the most unique places in the world. Okinawa is a recommendation, but make sure you get to the well knowns too… Hiroshima, Tokyo, and Kyoto especially. If you have time I recommend trying the Steel Dragon at Nagashima Spaland – you won’t regret the two hour wait in line, trust me!!! Try every type of mochi you can find (marron too, if you visit in autumn), and don’t forget to change your slippers for the bathrooms. You’ll come back feeling you’ve lived, with the most beautiful photographs in the world, and memories that better them.

The urge to travel here was almost entirely inspired by Alex Garland’s book, ‘The Beach’. If you haven’t read it, you should. Yes, it would seem that I share very similar travel philosophies as Garland, very similar indeed…

It’s not much of a place, but I really loved staying there. We found a nice little group of shops on cherry lane, and I remember getting fish and chips and eating it in the park nearby, opposite the pet cemetary with those funny toys that blow round like pretty flowers in the wind. I remember that it was cod, not flake, in the fish and chips, which is different to Aus. Mmm, funny all the little things you miss, the buses, I miss that bus trip, and walking in the rain past that paddock, under that bridge….......................... I’m hopeless.

6 months!! I can’t wait, I’ve been talking to Ayaka, who revisited Australia at New Years and she said she would take me to some of her favourite places in Kyoto… wooooooo bike riding in Hagi…!! Hitomi is arriving late in March, so that should be great too. I can’t wait to try the food, and REAL sushi.. mmmm, too much to look forward to, I think I need to start saving up, I’m going to buy so much useless junk while I’m over there!

I stayed right near Albert Dock when I was there. One of the first things we did there was buy ice-cream and walk on the riverside walk while it started to rain. It was windy and lovely. I’m not sure why I miss it so badly, though it’s the whole country too! I just keeping having dreams about Liverpool and England, it’s quite wonderfully odd!

I would love to go to Iceland. I’ve heard from quite a few people that it’s a lovely place to visit. Sigur Ros are just magical. I don’t mind the cold either, unstable weather suits me fine, I would love to live there for a while some time in the future, though I do say that about many countries.

Hmmm… going overseas really makes you appreciate home. Melbourne is a wonderful city, full of life yet nice and laid back. You find little hidden shops everywhere, I love living in Melbourne.

Leprechauns, it’s all for the Leprechauns. I mean, mmm, I dreamt about going to Ireland not that long ago, wow, I really would love to see if it’s as good as everyone says. :)))))))))) There was a ferry to Ireland in Liverpool…..