New Friend Alert!
A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Aurora concert in Melbourne (thanks to my friend and fellow Aurora fan, Thomas), and there I met a bunch of amazing people—that’s what happens when you’re eleven hours early. Right before the concert started, I got to talking to Hannah. She’s from Melbourne but had also come alone. We didn’t have much time to talk before the show began (I don’t think we’d even exchanged names yet), but by the end of it, we were great friends.
I love to dance—most people who know me know this. If there’s music playing, I’m moving. Sometimes it’s subtle, but it’s almost impossible for me to stay still to any kind of rhythm. So, obviously, at a concert, I’ll be the first to jump, sway, and throw my arms in the air.
I liked Hannah immediately because she did the exact same thing. While most of the front-row fans stood still, swaying gently with their arms crossed or holding up their phones, she and I danced like maniacs, singing the lyrics to each other as if we hadn’t just met.
During Runaway—probably Aurora’s best-known song—I barely looked at the stage. I was too intrigued by Hannah’s dancing. Her arms floated high above her head, her hands gliding through the air with incredible elegance, perfectly in sync with the music and Aurora’s character. Then, I realised she wasn’t just dancing – she was signing (this is not a typo, I’m sure she was singing too, but yes, she was signing). She had told me she studied sign language and was hard-of-hearing herself, but I’d never seen someone do it so gracefully. It was beautiful, and somehow, it made the song feel even more powerful.
And Exploring a New Place in Melbourne Alert!
We stayed in touch after the concert, and met up in the city once before. Last week, though, she had invited me to come stay over at her house, to see another part of Melbourne. Hannah didn’t live at the beach, but more in-land, also a good trainride away from the city. So, last Wednesday, I took the train to Melbourne city, and after spending a couple of hours there, took another train to Heidelberg where Hannah and her mom picked me up.
Their house is beautiful, with a view of high green trees that house colorful birds and fast-moving possums. I talked a lot with Hannah’s parents, two travel-enthusiasts who have spent years traveling the world before the settled down in Australia. They had great stories and even better spirit—they were very supportive (persistant even) that Hannah should save up and go travel too.
The next morning, she took me to Montsalvat, a hidden gem in Melbourne’s leafy suburb of Eltham. Established in 1934 by artist Justus Jorgensen, it is Australia’s oldest artists’ colony, blending medieval European architecture with a uniquely Australian landscape. The place looks a bit worn, but that only adds to its charm. Hannah told me she used to go there almost every day, and I can’t blame her—it seems like the perfect place for a young girl to carve out a secret hideaway, a quiet escape from the rest of the world.
Montsalvat has long been a sanctuary for creatives, hosting exhibitions, performances, and workshops that celebrate art in all its forms. Many of the studios now stand empty as the site undergoes restoration following the toll of the pandemic, but some of its longtime residents were at work when we passed their spaces. As we walk the premises and the historic halls, the place itself feels alive, breathing in the stories of all the artists who have created in this beautiful place.
After our visit to the artist’s colony, we walked back and had a quick lunch before Hannah had to go to her work. Sharon, her mom, gave me a lift to the train station and we said goodbye. On my way back to Melbourne, I enjoyed the 50 minutes of reading time. I bought The Secret History from Donna Tartt in an op shop for 3AUD (€1,70) and was reading it every time I was on the go—even when I was walking.
Back to the City
I spent the rest of the day in a park, reading and writing some more, enjoying the weather, until it was 20:30 and I was supposed to meet Ciara. It has gotten so casual meeting up with Ciara, just as living with Daisy feels so normal, that I sometimes forget in two weeks I won’t be able to see them so often anymore.
Ciara and me went for drinks and then to a club called Yah Yah’s. I had to take an Uber back to Seaford, where I arrived around 4 in the morning. Three and a half hours before my shift at the Spanish Bar started.
Experiencing Australian Footy
After work, I hurried to the Daniels’ house, full of excitement for the evening’s events. While most Belgians have a soccer team they support, whether out of passion or family loyalty, Australians grow up pledging their allegiance to a footy team. Footy, short for Australian Rules Football, is not to be confused with American football. It’s closer to rugby—in some regions, like New South Wales and Queensland, “footy” actually refers to rugby instead.
Daisy’s family supports the Hawks, the team from Hawthorn. The Hawks are one of the most successful clubs in the AFL, with a strong history of premiership wins, especially during their golden era in the 1980s and again in the early 2010s. One of their most popular players was called The Wizard, nicknamed for his ability to “do special things in his attacks,” according to the official Hawks website.
While I don’t have a specific sports team I support, I love watching sports and get competitive even if I barely know the game. I enjoy the atmosphere and the way it brings so many people together. The Hawks’ colors are yellow and brown—shades I don’t have in my limited wardrobe—but lately, I’ve been practicing fun eye makeup looks, so I decided to paint tiny hawks on my eyelids. I think it turned out pretty great!
Most of the family was already there—Daisy had arrived early to secure good seats—when we got to the MCG, the biggest stadium in Melbourne. I came with Sarah (Daisy’s mom) and Morris (her brother), and by the time we found our spots, the game was already a few minutes in.
We were in the second row, and sometimes the players were so close I could see the sweat dripping down their faces. In the first quarter, I was surprised by how quiet it was. While I haven’t been to many soccer games, I’ve experienced the aggressive screaming, cursing, and endless chanting multiple times. I remember thinking how respectful everyone seemed toward the ref—something soccer referees definitely can’t relate to.
Even more striking was the respect between fans of opposing teams. I thought about the masses of police security present at every soccer game in Bruges, where matches often end in terrible fights. But here, supporters of rival teams sat together—friendly, indifferent, even joking with one another. There was no aggression, no tension in the air. After the game, everyone walked back to their cars or the station, and aside from the colored shirts and scarves, there was no sign that this crowd had been divided into two competing fanbases just moments ago.
Becoming an official Hawks Supporter
The Hawks won the game, which was incredibly exciting. I also now officially identify as a Hawks supporter—The Wizard is truly spectacular! He’s two years younger than me and only two centimeters taller, yet he’s as fast as a bullet and must be a descendant of kangaroos with the way he jumps into the air.
At the end of every game, the players sign a bunch of footballs and hand them out to young fans. To top off the excitement of the evening, Rupert—the youngest of the Daniels family—managed to catch the attention of the team’s captain, who walked over and handed him a ball. It wasn’t without the help of his siblings, all of whom were pointing at their little brother and shouting to get noticed.
Okay, I’m not going to lie: I’m a couple of weeks behind with my blogposts. I’ve been having an amazing time here in Seaford, but can’t seem to find the motivation to write about it… sorry!
I’ll try to catch up, because there is a lot I want to share. This might be my favorite place from since I’ve started traveling. I feel at home here, but I’ll write about that soon! (hopefully)
-Cels
CelsAway 
Leave a comment