Qiu Wei

Tianjin University, China
Exchange to Australian National University, Australia

I would like to share my social experiences, and my happiness as well, about living in Canberra with readers, especially those who come from East Asia and will stay in Canberra for a short term about several months to one year. And I wish someone may benefit more or less from the following paragraphs.

Habitation. As for a short term visitor, it is neither feasible nor economical to buy or rent a whole house. One can choose to rent a single-room flat or department, or to have one room of a house and share other spaces, such as kitchen and bathroom, with others. I chose the latter. My home is in Torrens, a peaceful and beautiful suburb located at the northeast foot of Mt. Taylor Hill and about 18km away from the city center. Not only my landlord, but also other lodgers of my house are Chinese people. Living in a circumstance of mother language is just like holding a double-edge sword. With the great help of these Chinese fellows, I was familiar with the life in Aussie in just couple of days. However, I lost lots of chances to improve my spoken English and hearing and to learn Australian culture. Fortunately, I worked in a laboratory full of English speakers.

Necessary. Something is necessary as for a beginner living in this city. Most of the available rooms have a bed, a table and cabinets, but you should prepare own dishware and cookware. Besides, the winter’s night in Canberra would be very, very cold, hence a warm quilt is necessary. But it is far from difficult to get one, as pure wool quilts are available at every Plaza and supermarket. I cannot imagine a better one than any Aussie-made wool quilt.

Transportation. Canberra is hardly a city traveling by your feet. Perhaps every local resident has his own car. But, surely, it is not feasible for a visitor like me. Every weekday, I went to my laboratory in Australian National University by bus. Both my house and my office are next to the route of Series 300, the most frequent bus route in Canberra. I got an International Student Card from the travel agency STA, it enabled me to take each bus for less than half price. While, if one resides in a suburb near the working place, riding a bike is a good idea.

Shopping. There are five plazas in Canberra. They are, from the north to the south, Gungahlin, Belconnen, City Center, Woden and Taggerranong. All of these Plazas are very huge, there are many different stores in them, where you can get everything you need. Correspondingly, the goods in the Plazas of Gungahlin and Taggerranong may be more cheap, and those in Woden and Belconnen more abundant. Moreover, almost every suburb has its own shopping center, where locates one or two supermarkets, quite a few stores and one post office. Besides, three big Asian shops locate in the Dickson, which nearly become the Chinatown in Canberra.

Eating. Thank my mother for imparting me with excellent cooking skills. Everyday, I took raw foods from the Woolworths in Woden on the way home, and then prepare the supper and the lunch of next day by myself. As for me, DIY is very happy, but it really cost me lots of time. If you are too busy to prepare your food, or you are a greener of cooking, KFC, McDonald’s and other analogues may be optional. But please forgive my blather “snack is not good for your health”. What’s more, Canberra has quiet a few wonderful Asian restaurant, such as Four River (Sichuang flavor) in Dickson.

Some little advices. Be careful of magpies when you walk near a wood during October and November, since they may think you are going to raid their babies. Film enough suntan oil on your skin before going out under the sun during summer, as the ultraviolet radiation in Australia is far more intense than that in the Northern Hemisphere. Walk on the left of the road. And, say “please” or “sorry” all the time.

As for me, the six month’s life is so colorful that I do not know how to describe it in just several paragraphs. What I can only do is to select some aspects of my numerous experiences and feelings, which I regard to be advisable. Just as the lyric of CAT, the most famous Broadway music drama, pictured “I remember, the time I knew what happiness was, Let the memory live again.”

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