mihiro's blog: Warrnambool

My first overseas experience was when I was 16, and I spent one year at local high school in a country town of Australia without even having any foreign travel experience. After 4 and half years, I'm about to end my second Australian year as a university student. I can tell myself that I'm now totally in a different place from where I used to be in 4 years ago, but it is almost impossible to explain what I am today without my first overseas year in Australia.

After several times of delays, I finally made a trip back to Warrnambool, my first home town in Australia.

The town warmly welcomed me with unbelievably composed weather ( since Warrnambool is a bay side town, the weather is usually very windy and unpredictable). I was already at the beach in 15 minutes after arriving at my host family's place;P

I was too excited to notice the fact that I came too far away and so hastily rushed back for dinner which was the first night with my host parents after 4 years of time.

It was typical Warrnambool weather on the second day; rainy and cold. I went down to main street and wandered around the shops as I often did after school:)

... A little greetings for some of my beloved people from the maritime city:) Have you got it yet?

In the afternoon, I made a way to my old high school. Indeed I was expecting to be a complete stranger since I wasn't even sure whether there were still people I know.

But there they were.

My two most favorite teachers:Ms. Okeef, my ESL teacher and Ms. Stacy, my Health teacher and also the one who always cared about me at school than anyone else. They were just as same as 4 years ago and heartily welcomed me with their usual smiles. Also these two women are one of the teachers with passionate souls whom I only know a few in my entire life.

By the way, Ms. Okeef unexpectedly invited me for her ESL class and made me talk about my personal experience at Warrnambool college as a guest speaker! Hope I could somewhat encourage current students.

...With three Year 11 Japanese students. Someone is getting old;P

At night, I caught up with my old high school friend Aimee and her friends.

Next day I accidentally had another reunion in the town. I was looking for a cheap place to sit down to write my journal and ended up sitting in McDonald's on the main street. Then I found Amy who used to hang out in the same group at school. She was working there. We've kind of lost contact after I left Warrnambool so it was so unexpected to see her this time. Indeed we were very very excited to see each other again.

It was so nice to see you Amy! We'll stay in contact okay;)!

Luckily the weather cleared up around the noon and I had a big walk to Logans beach, my most favorite place in Warrnambool.

By the way, Logans beach is renowned as a nursery for Southern Right whales. Almost every year between June and September, female Southern Right whales return to the waters of Warrnamnool to calve. I saw them twice last time when I was there.

Beautiful walk to the beach...

...And finally.

The view was absolutely stunning. I can only stand there and spend hours just looking at the ocean. I'll post a video here to share even a tiny bit of this grandeur.

At night, I was invited for dinner at my Japanese coordinator's house. Fumiko and her husband David took care of me for almost everything when I was in Warrnambool. Dinner started at 6:00, and by the time they gave me a lift to home, it was 11:oo. We had so many things to catch up:) Thank you very much for a fabulous dinner, Fumiko and David. I'm looking forward to seeing you probably in Japan next time.

Lastly, more than anything else, I enjoyed staying with my host parents during my visit to Warrnambool. Like a child's piety to their parents, I simply wanted them to see how much I have changed and hopefully grown up from 16 year old girl.

Thank you Christine and Jim. You have been always my first reason to come back to this town, and it will remain same forever.