I am entering a new world of sharing my ideas and thoughts and the strange thing is, I have no idea or control over who may be reading them. This is a strange phenomena to me, however fascinating, so I'm taking the plunge.

OK, I think a lot of things, but writing them down is harder than I thought it would be. Perhaps I'm not the complex, in-depth, introspective person I thought I was, but surely I am, I keep telling myself I am so now I believe it.

I recently attended the free festivities of the Melbourne Festival 2006 which have had a theme of celebrating Cultural Diversity in parallel with the Commonwealth Games. Although I haven't actually watched much of the Games, the festival has been fantastic! I have to say Melbourne has to be one of the best cities to be in at the moment. I'm interested in the idea of whether people in Australia actually value "Cultural Diversity". I mean I know all my lefty friends do but unfortunately we seem to be in the minority. But when I actually venture out into the broader community, I am pleasantly surprised by how many "Australians" are excited about learning and embracing different cultures. I find the enthusiasm refreshing and gives me hope that "mainstream" views portrayed in the media, that "Australians" want migrants to assimilate and adopt "Australian values" and "Australian Culture", is not indicative of all "Australians" who of course are all migrants anyway.

So I suppose I suggest that any migrant, refugee, asylum seeker or international student who feels they are unwelcome in this country because in fact you don't even know what "Australian Values" are (as is the case for myself, even though I was born here), that you venture out and have a look at what is on display in this wonderful, cosmopolitan city. Not only will you experience a joyous celebration of diverse cultures through an expression of art, music, dance, theatre, etc. But you may even realise that you are indeed welcomed in this country and that your differences enrich this country and that many Australians are privledged to have you share your culture with them.