Melbourne. Though the city center seems to have a fairly straightforward outlay on first glance, there are many small side-streets and hidden coffee places around every corner you will find. These so-called laneways seem to be rather shady at first, but once you get to know the city better, you know that the hidden gems are usually in these shady places. Many of them contain the most beautiful street-art, something Melbourne is very well-known for. Basically, the city is one big free outdoors art gallery, with Hosier Lane being the most famous gallery of all.

Melbourne has many approved street art locations, and real artists make use of these locations to show off their talents. It is not the basic graffiti you will find sprayed along the train tracks, nor is it just a random scatter of letters of which no one can make sense. These pieces are a real work of art, and Melbourne is the city in the world that appreciates this art stream perfectly. The colour, energy and sometimes even political messages are inspiring, and as a result, there are even various street art tours you can take around the city. It results in a vibrant urban environment and even restaurants and shops make use of the street art to promote their store or products. Here are some of my favourite pieces that I just had to share with you!

Last Friday, I handed in my last essay on the mandatory detention of refugee children. You might think, why is there not an explamantion mark behind that sentence? Aren't you happy you are done? And I am; it was a relieve not having to write about serial killers or the consequences of imprisonment any more, and closing my notes on the different criminological theories was an amazing feeling. However, it also made me realize how fast time had passed by, that I would no longer be a student at the University of Melbourne any more and that I would start to have to say goodbye to some amazing people I met here.

I really enjoyed being a student here, the people were so friendly, the subjects so interesting and the material very well-doable. I am going to miss the study-life here, with just 3 days of class and a 4-day weekend. And I am going to miss the crêpes on campus and the sunny afternoons on the grass at South Lawn. But most of all, I will miss the incredible atmosphere at Melbourne University. One that strives for both excellence but with a relaxed attitude. One that supports inclusion and diversity. One that encourages extracurricular activities. One that takes care of their students in every possible way you can imagine. Thank you UniMelb for this amazing experience!

However, as much as I will miss the university here, I am also looking forward to the time ahead of me. With somewhat less than three months to go, I have still so much on my list to see! First I will spend some 2 more weeks in Melbourne to explore the city and its surroundings a bit more, and to relax a bit before the intense travelling starts. Updates are guaranteed of course! Then, midway through November, I am going to New Zealand for two weeks and shortly after that I will travel to Tasmania. And then it is time for the grand finale, travelling down the east coast to see some of Australia's biggest highlights! I am so excited to spend more time with new and old friends, but also to meet new people along the way that will help expand my horizon and learn more about the world. It is time for another adventure!