Six Years in Melbourne, and these 5 Things Still Surprise Me Every Single Day

On 21 February 2020, I arrived in Melbourne with excitement, uncertainty, and many assumptions about what life in Australia would be like. I thought I already had a picture of this country in my mind, beaches, relaxed people, and an easygoing lifestyle. But over the past six years, Melbourne has shown me a completely different side of Australia.

Living here has been more than just moving to another country. It has been a journey of learning, adapting, unlearning, and growing. Some things that felt strange in the beginning have now become normal parts of my life, while other things still continue to amaze me every single day.

From the discipline on the roads, to the convenience of public systems, to the multicultural communities that make this city feel alive, Melbourne has changed the way I see the world in many ways. And even after six years, there are still moments when I stop and think, “Wow, this still surprises me.”

Here are five things about Melbourne that still leave me amazed every day.

Trained to Teach, Discarded by the System

Bhutan’s education system is beginning to resemble a revolving door. Teachers are recruited during crises, praised as nation builders, deployed to difficult schools, and then quietly pushed aside once administrative priorities shift.

The recent accounts of PGDE-trained Dzongkha teachers losing their jobs expose more than individual hardship. They expose a deeper failure in workforce planning.

Bhutanese in Australia, a Community Rising Between Hope and Homesickness

In 2026, Perth is no longer just another Australian city for Bhutanese migrants. For thousands of Bhutanese, Perth has quietly become a second home, a place where dreams are rebuilt through warehouse shifts, nursing placements, Uber rides, construction jobs, childcare work, and late-night study sessions.

Over the last few years, the Bhutanese population in Perth has grown so rapidly that it now represents one of the largest Bhutanese communities outside Bhutan itself. What began as student migration has evolved into something much bigger, permanent settlement, family migration, and the creation of an entirely new Bhutanese diaspora identity.

Bhutan’s GST Gamble Is Starting to Look Like a Costly Mistake

Bhutan introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) promising modernization, efficiency, and stronger domestic revenue. Four months later, the system is already facing a credibility problem.

The numbers alone are difficult to ignore. Bhutan reportedly collected around Nu 3.17 billion in net GST revenue over four months and six days, falling short of internal targets by roughly Nu 1.58 billion. Even more concerning, the average monthly GST collection is reportedly lower than what the older sales tax system collected, despite GST now covering a much broader range of goods and services.

Bhutan’s Healthcare Debate Is No Longer About Ideology, It Is About Survival

Bhutan’s long-standing pride in free public healthcare is now colliding with an uncomfortable reality, the system is under growing pressure, and the old model alone may no longer be enough.

The recent debate in the National Council over allowing greater private sector participation in healthcare reflects a shift that would have been politically sensitive only a few years ago. Today, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.