Back in Melborne, living a bit differently

So,

Back from Vietnam, in a land where people actually speak the language, and I don't need to bargain at all (although sometimes I still try...).  I'm on the couchsurfing kick now, for a bit of a change of pace before I go up to Cairns to get on the Reef.  The people I am staying with are squatting in a house in North Melbourne. 

It sounds a bit dodgy, and it is.  The house isn't theirs, it's totally unfinished (although there is gas in the kitchen, electricity in part of the house, and the plumbing/running water works fine), and the food that they obtain is through dumpster-diving.

Note on dumpster-diving:  This blows my mind.  I realize that food is wasted all the time, especially working in the restaurant industry.  However, the things these people are living off of is amazing.  They cook every (are forced to), the food they use isn't bad (it just is a bit ripe, or a label fell off or something), and they need to get new stuff all the time, so food doesn't go bad (and they don't have a very big fridge).  The end result is that they seem to eat better than most people I know.  They take the time to forage and cook something that will be a good amount of sustanance, and much of the evening is focused on the meal, turning it into a social affair (which has always been my thing, as well as most of my friends, and I absolutely love it).  Last night, we made a vegetarian pasta sauce over pasta.  Tonight, Tomato Soup, Potato Salad, and an Apple/Strawberry crisp (Can you tell I'm helping tonight?).  There is no mindset of getting something fast and cheap, as cheap doesn't even fulfill their needs.  They do buy staples like milk/butter, but everything else can be found.  They have high class dijon mustard, free range eggs, all sorts of craziness...

And these people are so freaking intelligent.  Of course, they have a particular mindset about life and social awareness, but the hospitality I have recieved in the less than 24 hours I've been there has blown everything I know (and expect) from an affluent society out of the water.  I feel at home, part of the family, and finally accepted into a foreign country as something other than a tourist.

It's pretty damned awesome.  And I have all week...

The library is closing now, so I'm gonna go back and get some butter for dessert... I hope everyone's doing well!

Don't worry, I'm finally travelling how I wanted to...