Study Melbourne partnered with Melbourne Writers Festival 2017 to host a storytelling competition for international students. ‘Follow your dreams’ by Natthichat Chungkanipaporn from Thailand was shortlisted in the English Language Training category.

Follow your dreams

Melbourne is the most multicultural city that I have ever been to. The city is full of people who are coming from different countries, and who speak different languages. Sometimes it is hard to separate the local people from the foreigners. There is such a variety here.

One of the best experiences that I will never forget is meeting a very sweet and gentle man who is now my loving boyfriend. Recently we shared some special moments together enjoying activities such as The Melbourne Star Observation Wheel and also sharing hot soup at the firelight festival. On the Melbourne Star we could see the breathtaking sights of Melbourne, with views Melbourne’s CBD and Port Phillip Bay. It is one of the only four giant observation wheels in the world. I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting in Melbourne.

I want to tell the people at home how amazing the city of Melbourne is and hope that one day they can come to experience it like I did. People here so kind and friendly. I feel safer here than my home city. I met a lovely Australian family as well. They invited me to have lunch and gave me advice on how to enjoy my time living here. First I met them in Bangkok, Thailand. They knew I was going to live in Melbourne so they gave me their contact details so we still keep in touch.

I have a lot of new friends now, especially one good friend from Colombia. She teaches me a lot about the history of South America. She is very nice.

Just like the locals here, I think coffee is basically a way of life here. I like walking along the street and looking for nice café where I can enjoy drinking my flat white coffee.

The inspiration for my journey is knowing I live in one of the best countries, the best city to live for 6th consecutive year. I have been to several countries in Asia but here is the first country outside of Asia that I have been to. It was first on my bucket list.