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.
Road speed and road rules in Victoria.
One of the first things that shocked me in Melbourne was how organized and disciplined the roads are. Back home, driving often depends on instinct, quick judgement, and adapting to unexpected situations. But here in Victoria, the roads almost feel like a system where everyone understands their role and follows it properly.
People stop immediately at pedestrian crossings, even if there is only one person waiting. Drivers stay in their lanes properly, indicate before turning, maintain safe distances, and follow speed limits very seriously. At first, I found it stressful because there are so many rules to remember, speed cameras, hook turns, school zones, parking restrictions, tram rules, and road signs everywhere. But over time, I realized these rules are what make the roads feel safe and predictable.
What amazes me even more is how people respect public systems. Even late at night, when there are barely any cars around, many drivers still stop at red lights and follow speed limits. That level of discipline was surprising to me. The roads are designed carefully, the lines are clear, the signs are visible, and technology is used everywhere to improve safety.
The speed of traffic here also amazed me in the beginning. Cars move fast, but in a controlled and confident way. On highways, everyone keeps flowing smoothly instead of constantly overtaking aggressively. It took me time to gain confidence driving here, but now I appreciate how organized the whole system is.
Different facilities and services.
Sometimes I still stop and think about how convenient daily life is in Melbourne. There are systems and facilities everywhere that people almost take for granted, but for someone coming from a different background, they are genuinely impressive.
Public transport is one of them. Trams, trains, and buses connect so many parts of the city. The fact that you can check schedules on your phone, tap a Myki card, and move around without needing cash still feels modern and efficient to me. The trams especially amazed me because they are so connected to Melbourne’s identity and daily life.
Then there are the everyday services. Bin collection happens regularly and systematically. There are separate bins for recycling, food waste, and general waste, which encourages people to think more about cleanliness and the environment. Public parks are maintained beautifully. Libraries are free and full of resources. Public toilets are available in many places and are often clean and functional.
ATMs, online banking, contactless payments, and digital services make life so much easier. Many government services can be accessed online without complicated paperwork. Medicare, Centrelink, public schools, maternal health services, childcare subsidies, and community support systems show that there are structures in place to support people during different stages of life.
As an educator, I also notice how much investment goes into children and families. Parks are designed thoughtfully, early childhood centres are well regulated, and there are many resources available for children with additional needs or families requiring support. There is a strong sense that systems are created not just for convenience, but also for community wellbeing.
People not being judgy at all.
This is probably one of the biggest personal changes I experienced after moving to Melbourne. Back home, people often know each other closely, and because communities are smaller, people naturally notice and talk about each other’s lives. There can sometimes be pressure to behave a certain way, dress a certain way, or meet certain social expectations.
But in Melbourne, I felt a different kind of freedom.
People generally let others live their lives without interfering too much. Nobody really cares what you are wearing, what language you are speaking, what food you are eating, or what lifestyle you choose. You see people expressing themselves openly in different ways, through fashion, hairstyles, tattoos, careers, relationships, or beliefs, and most people simply accept it as normal.
At first, this felt strange to me because I was so used to being conscious of how others might perceive me. Over time, I started appreciating the freedom that comes with living in a place where individuality is respected.
I also noticed that people are usually polite and respectful in public spaces. Even simple things like saying “thank you” to bus drivers, respecting personal space, waiting in queues properly, and not staring at others made a strong impression on me.
Of course, no society is perfect, and discrimination still exists in different forms. But overall, Melbourne feels far more accepting and less judgmental than many places I have experienced. That openness helped me settle in and feel comfortable being myself while still holding onto my own cultural identity.
Not all Aussies are Chillips.
Before coming to Australia, I had a very limited picture of what Australians would be like. I imagined surfers, beaches, BBQs, and very relaxed people everywhere. I thought most Australians would fit the same stereotype we often see in movies and social media.
But Melbourne completely changed that perception.
Melbourne is one of the most multicultural cities I have ever experienced. Walking through the city feels like travelling through many parts of the world at once. You hear different languages everywhere, Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, Nepali, and so many others. There are restaurants, grocery stores, temples, mosques, churches, and cultural festivals from all kinds of communities.
What amazed me is how normal multiculturalism feels here. People from different backgrounds work together, study together, and build communities together. Many suburbs have strong migrant communities, and you can feel the cultural diversity through food, celebrations, businesses, and everyday interactions.
I also realized Australians are not all the same personality type. Some are relaxed and easygoing, while others are highly ambitious, career focused, disciplined, or reserved. Many people work extremely hard and live busy lives. Melbourne especially feels fast paced and competitive in many ways.
This diversity changed my understanding of Australia completely. Australia is not just one culture or one type of person. It is a country built by many people from many different backgrounds, and Melbourne reflects that strongly.
Aboriginal people remind me of our Sharchops.
As I learned more about Aboriginal culture and history, I found myself reflecting deeply on similarities with our own indigenous and traditional communities back home, especially the Sharchops.
The connection to land is something that feels very familiar. Aboriginal culture carries a deep spiritual and cultural relationship with Country, where land is not just property but part of identity, ancestry, and belonging. That reminded me of how many traditional communities back home also see land, nature, and ancestry as deeply connected to who they are.
Storytelling is another similarity that stood out to me. Aboriginal communities pass knowledge, values, and history through oral traditions, stories, songs, art, and ceremonies. In many ways, this reflects how our elders also preserved culture and wisdom through stories and lived experiences passed down from generation to generation.
There is also a strong respect for elders, family ties, and cultural continuity. Despite colonization, historical trauma, and modern pressures, Aboriginal communities continue working to preserve their languages, traditions, and identity. That resilience feels powerful and inspiring.
At the same time, learning about Aboriginal history also made me reflect more critically on colonization, inequality, and the struggles Indigenous people continue facing today. It reminded me that cultural survival often requires strength, pride, and collective memory.
Living in Australia has made me appreciate Indigenous cultures more deeply, not only Aboriginal culture here, but also the value of preserving our own cultures and identities back home.
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