A Morning with Coffee and Creativity
On my second morning in Melbourne, I woke up still carrying a little sleep in my eyes. In my pocket was a brand-new myki card, something I had bought just the day before. With this, I could finally take the trams and buses, and little by little I was learning how to move around the city.
That morning, someone I had met invited me for coffee. The meeting place was a calm, welcoming spot near a church. Inside, I found myself surrounded by film directors, designers, and people from all sorts of creative fields.
The air was filled with conversation and ideas, and for a moment I felt as if I had stepped into a scene from a movie. The aroma of coffee rising from a single cup reached deeply into me.
Although I wanted to stay longer and talk more, I had work scheduled, so after about an hour I quietly left.
Learning About the Past
In the afternoon, the same person contacted me again. “There’s an Aboriginal event happening today. If you’re interested, come along.”
It was National Sorry Day—a day when the Australian government and society express apologies to Aboriginal people for past discrimination and forced assimilation policies.
At the event, I saw napkins laid out in black, red, and yellow. Only then did I learn that these are the symbolic colors of the Aboriginal people.
The word “Aboriginal” had always been familiar to me in passing. But here, in front of me, it was carried by faces, voices, and a weight of history. Traveling isn’t only about seeing new landscapes. It’s also about touching the history, the background, and the feelings of the people who live there. For me, this was one of the most important kinds of learning.
I am not a journalist. But through my travels, I want to face the real world with my own eyes and heart.
Guided by Kindness
After the event, I returned to my hotel to pack my things. Soon after, someone I had connected with on social media offered, “Come stay at my place.”
Once again, kindness I had stumbled upon in the city guided the next step of my journey. That evening, I was treated to a warm bowl of ramen. Each mouthful carried comfort that reached not only my body but also my heart.
Later, lying back in the hotel bed, I thought about the day. It felt as though my world had grown just a little wider.
