This touching guest post comes from Bicycle Create Change’s Research Assistant Nao Kamakura. Nao has recently completed her residency with BBC and is currently traveling Australia, then home to Japan. Here, Nao reflects on her time as a new international student in Brisbane and how hard it was to meet locals. Nao found a commonality with others when riding her bike and this post recounts some of the memorable times she had – thanks to her bike. We can all relate to moments in this post. Thanks for sharing Nao – happy travels and enjoy your rides! NG.
Nao’s Reflections on bicycles, Brisbane and networking
Today, I would like to write about my bicycle experience in Brisbane.
Ever since I first came to Brisbane, I have always looked for authentic opportunities to meet new people, make some local friends and build my network. This is because I came to Brisbane alone and didn’t know anyone.
Bicycles helped me communicate with new people
When I first started as Nina’s researcher, I went to a networking event held in the city. Of course, I didn’t know anyone.
Some people are very good at communicating with new people, but unfortunately, I am not that kind of person.
My mind was always fighting – I want to go to this event, but I really don’t want to go!! In addition, I was still worried about my English speaking skill.
So I was a bit nervous.
In my mind, I felt a little bit of panic, things like “With whom should I talk to first?” or “What should I talk about?”.
Then, one person came late and he said “Sorry I’m late and sweaty – it’s because I came by bicycle”
Chaaaance.
I told him that I was a research assistant for a Griffith academic and I was investigating mountain biking.
That was how I could start a conversation with him – about bicycles. It was as easy as that.
Coincidently, he had just finished his PhD at the same University and he told me all about his research. This kind of communication was very interesting for me. But it was only made possible because of bicycles.
This small bicycle conversation led me to build an interesting network.
Evenso, at this early stage, I still didn’t have a special interest in bicycles – yet.
In the workplace – ‘the bicycle girl’
A few weeks later, I bought a bicycle.
To finish my studies, I had to do a workplace intership. I wanted to use the bike to get to there because my student concession travel card had expired. Basically, I just wanted to save money.
It was 6km from my home to the company. The road included some slopes and hills, so it was not easy for me to ride the bike for the first few weeks.
At work, people noticed that I rode there and home each day.
Work colleagues started to talk to me about bicycles and riding.
I was surprised.
I wouldn’t have known what to talk about with these same colleagues if I didn’t have my bicycle. But now, people were starting a conversation with me and they wanted to keep talking about it!
Everyone recognised me as ‘the bicycle girl’.
This meant I had many conversations and met even more new people.
One time, a colleague invited me to join a bicycle event with her – and she also asked me to go to Fraser Island with her!
What a miracle! Lucky me!
Riding a bicycle helped my communication and confidence in this new work environment. It was a very special opportunity that I would not have experinced without a bike.
Out and about
As for getting used to riding a bicycle, I started to use my bike as ‘recreational equipment’.
I often went to the farmer’s markets near the city on my bike.
Cycling became my new hobby in Brisbane.
On the way to go to markets, I could see that Brisbane’s scenery is very, very beautiful.
Just riding along the riverside made me happy.
It was during this time that I realised the full attractiveness of bicycles.
This is just my personal opinion, but I REALLY love riding bikes now.
It puts me into a positive mindset.
When I sold my bicycle (because I had to move out), I was extremely sad….without my bicycle I felt naked!
This website’s title is ‘Bicycle Creates Change’ That is very true.
‘Change’ depends on the person. My bicycle helped me to communicate with people and that was a big change for me 🙂
Nao Kamakura
