An American in Melbourne: My First Days | Onya Magazine by Elspeth Velten

An American in Melbourne: My First Days | Onya Magazine

7/30/13 7:46 PM

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An American in Melbourne: My First Days by ELSPETH VELTEN on Jul 30, 2013 • 7:19 PM

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Since arriving in Melbourne about one month ago, I pretty much feel like Iʼm still in the States. I came here to live with my Brit boyfriend, and live together we are doing, in our newly rented two-bedroom apartment in Brunswick. There have been little things that are different for me, good and bad. The bad differences always seem easier to notice, like the ridiculous Myki system (sorry), the sizes of items in grocery stores (tiny), the price and availability of Internet (lacking). But, I feel a good sense of neighbourhood. Iʼve recognised people on the tram from previous tram trips, whether it was earlier that day or even two weeks ago. That does not happen in New York. Things like beer and dinner are striking me as super expensive here. Clean Skins wine has become my go-to bev of choice. Donʼt judge, it can go either way. At $3 per bottle, the stakes are low. Iʼve only eaten out formally here twice. One was before I knew any better and ended up paying about $15 for a bagel with some cheese and avocado on it, and the other time was for a $12 steak night at a pub (totally worth it). Donʼt get me wrong, food in NYC isnʼt always cheap, but thereʼs usually a bodega on the corner where I can get a cheap egg sandwich. Iʼm sure I just havenʼt done enough exploring yet, but my New York staples just arenʼt the same here. Iʼve only tried the one bagel, and canʼt really even contemplate pizza. Mexican food really doesnʼt make the cut, either. These things are sacred to a New Yorker. Other foreigners have warned me to stop comparing the prices with those at home, but until Iʼm making the same wage as an educated Australian, Iʼll continue to compare, thanks. The one type of food I can afford to eat out is any delicious variation of Lebanese dough filled with cheese, spinach, falafel, or mince, which basically lets me eat anywhere on Sydney Road, conveniently. These are delicious, and look great on my waist. Also: Dark Chocolate Tim Tams. Awesome. Coffee. Not only is my pronunciation of the word a problem, but my lack of experience pouring anything besides drip brew thatʼs been sitting for hours on a hot plate at a deli basically renders me useless at any attractive 9-5 day job in hospitality. People are super serious about coffee here, but obviously you donʼt need me to say that. The fact that Iʼve only seen two Starbucks in the entire city so far is shocking and refreshing, but I do have a current Starbucks gift-cards I need to use. Iʼve tried to order a “black coffee” and an “iced coffee” a few times and luckily Iʼve been corrected quickly enough, in the case of the iced coffee, to change my order. No, I donʼt want ice cream. I want a large glass with ice cubes and black, cold coffee in it. I do enjoy the serious attitude towards coffee, but I donʼt think I should feel intimidated when I enter a coffee shop (this goes out to you, in East Brunswick, with the No Bloggers sign on your door). A coffee shop should also have Internet. Most donʼt.

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An American in Melbourne: My First Days | Onya Magazine

7/30/13 7:46 PM

I find that Iʼm being taken more seriously professionally here than ever in NYC. In the one month Iʼve been in Melbourne, Iʼve emailed about 15 publications and heard back about writing for 5 of them. In NYC, I spent two years pitching ideas and applying for jobs, and heard nothing positive, ever. Iʼm not sure if this is due to less competition by sheer numbers, the novelty of being an American/New Yorker all the way in Australia, or if Iʼm finally just getting the attention I deserve. Iʼd like to think itʼs the latter, but Iʼm sure itʼs a combination of the three. Itʼs great to have the reinforcement that comes from successful writers actually answering my emails. Thatʼs definitely a confidence booster. I do like it here. The people here are nicer. Besides the women in ANZ on Swanston Street, everyone Iʼve approached or queried on the street or in a train station has been really helpful and friendly. Australians just seem like genuinely nice people. Thatʼs definitely not a given in New York. I love Sydney Road with its odd collection of cheapo homewares stores and bars. I love getting a whole tray of fish for $10 at the end of the day at Vic Market, and the $3 spicy lamb and vegetable borek that I get with it. I love shopping at veg shops where fruits donʼt look perfect and symmetrical like theyʼve had drugs pumped through them, and I love talking to cab drivers from a totally different side of the world. There are little green parrots flitting around and olive trees on almost every property in my neighborhood. Despite the differences Iʼve noticed from my home in New York, I can definitely see myself getting comfortable in Melbourne. Like

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