Student blog
It could not be better than watching two Adelaide teams playing against each other – Port Adelaide versus the Crows.
It was a beautiful day, sunny and it was not too cold...perfect for a day out!
The stadium was almost full, 36, 000 fans cheering for their teams in a very friendly and family atmosphere – So many children with their parents having a great time! I was amazed how well the crowd behaved.
It took me a while to understand a little bit about the rules, but my boyfriend was there next to me to answer the millions of question I had. I wanted to be part of it and have the full experience.
I have to confess that I was pretty happy with the final results. I wanted Port Adelaide to win, and they did so. The team played brilliant and deserved the victory.
Now, I cannot wait for the next game. GO POWER, GO!
Myponga is in the country, south west of Adelaide,on the way to Kangaroo Island. It takes about one hour to get there.
The countryside is beautiful down there.Blue sky, green grass and many sheep on the hills. And the weather was just perfect. After a few days of rain, the countryside revealed a very green scene. I LOVE its magnificent scenery.
I took some pictures using my mobile phone. I hope that they aren't too blurry.
If you are looking for the scrummiest savoury or sweet pancakes then visit the Original Pancake Kitchen on Gilbert Place.
Natasha, Talita, Rakshet and I have been there together and as usual I couldn't resist the Dutch chocolate pancakes topped with strawberries, chocolate fudge and ice cream, hmmm truly delicious!
It is open 24/7 so take advantage of this place to enjoy a late night nosh!
Today, I saw a beautiful rainbow when I waited the bus at Tea Tree Plaza Interchange.
Adelaide is a "Rainbow City". I have seen rainbow for many times here.
When I first saw the rainbow in Adelaide, I was surprised and happy because I seldom saw rainbow in my hometown.
In China, rainbow symbolizes hope and happiness. Therefore, I always have good mood when I see the rainbow in the sky.
For international students, living and studying in a strange country is hard. Sometimes, we feel lonely and helpless. Don't cry and upset, just look up to the sky. I believe that you will find surprise which can make you happy.
Hello! :)
Last weekend I attended a conference in Brisbane. I was there for 5 days and thoroughly enjoyed experiencing a different part of Australia.
It seems that nearly three and a half months of university holidays are quickly coming to an end! I was asked the other day what I did over the holidays. To be honest, my answers were pretty lame. But the more I thought about it I realised I was so busy doing so many things that it all had turned into one big blur!
One of the most exciting things that I did was go to the Victorian Falls Festival. It is on the coast in Lorne, around 16,000 people go where you camp for 3 or 4 days. It is quite the experience! Its definitely an event that you have to see to believe. (Especially considering there are only 30 showers for all those people!)
It seems in a way that falls is the beginning of many amazing festivals around Australia but definitely inside Adelaide as well. There is Big Day Out in late January and then Womad and Fringe festival in March. (All the events are way to amazing to begin to describe so Google them!)
With the fringe festival comes the Garden of Unearthly Delights which just so happens to be my favourite thing about Adelaide. It’s actually opening tomorrow night and I’m very excited!
………………..I will let you know how it goes!
When you are looking for part-time work in Adelaide it can either be a very simple process or a long hard and just plain annoying one!
Many students in Adelaide (including myself) get jobs in hospitality- working in cafes, bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs, in order to make a little money to help live! It’s really convenient to get into this industry because most of the work is outside of uni hours and on weekends etc plus it usually pays a lot better than other jobs such as retail and fast food.
I know many people who arrive in Adelaide and start trying to find a job without any experience and find it very hard. As an Adelaidean I can see why this is. Here, just between you and I, I will let you in on Adelaide’s secret. - Because Adelaide is such a small place (compared to other major cities anyway) the saying goes that 'in Adelaide everyone knows everyone.' Because of this many managers and owners only employ people who they know and people who friends know.
SO- the tip to finding a part-time work in Adelaide is to make your self known as soon as you land! Meet as many people as you can and maybe even drop into conversation that you’re keen for some work and ask if they know anyone who is hiring.
It certainly won’t hurt! Good luck!
One of the best things about studying in Adelaide is that there is ample opportunity to spend your weekends doing whatever you would like to do. A typical weekend for me during a uni term involves relaxing, working, studying and partying.
A typical Thursday night sees many uni students going out to one of the 4 busy pubs to enjoy the week nearly been over, cheap food and even cheaper drinks. Its rarely a late night as most of us need to get up early the next day for tutes and lectures.
As friday nears to a close, Adelaide seems to have a feel of excitement about it. i don't know whether its just sheer exhaustion from yet another busy week being over or anticipation of what the weekend will bring. My favourite way to spend a friday night is heading to the central markets for the freshest cheap food, local music and happy faces. there is always new foods to try and people to talk to.
If i am lucky and have Saturday off work i love getting some close friends together putting our surf boards on the car and head down south to check the waves for a fun filled day of surfing. Its the perfect way to spend a sunny day and if its freezing (which in winter is more often than not) hopefully the waves are awesome so you haven't wasted your time!
Saturday nights are best spent making your way around town catching up with friends and enjoying life. whether it be the East End of town or the West End many pubs have live music and great areas to enjoy a dance. As Adelaide is such a small town you are more than likely to catch up with friends that you haven't seen for ages and make new friends at the same time!
Sundays for me is usually work and study and catching up on some much needed sleep.
so there you have it.. a typical weekend in Adelaide summed up in a few sentences. there is so much to see and do.. and do again... if you have a sense of adventure and want to have a good time!
If you're a fan of outing, like a taste of adventure, love cycling, or simply want to dip yourself in the peacefulness of a picnic by River Torrens like me, here is something for you: cycling along the Torrens Trail. For me, I especially love cycling in winter, though you might have to wait for the whole week for some sunny days to come. Yet when the sun is high, the cool breeze of winter time will definitely add a little more enjoyment to your day out.
Have you got a bike? If you don't, just like me, it's not problems at all. To hire a bike from SA Cycle for one day for free is simply a cakewalk. Now, let's go through the checklist before we hit the road: Bike? Helmet? A bottle of water? Some food? A map? And yourself being so pumped up? All good? What else are you waiting for, the adventure is waiting for you.
The very last time I cycled with a friend of mine, we decided to change our circle-line route (which is basically similar to the Free Line bus 99c route) to a much more exciting yet a bit challenging cycling experience to West Beach. The trail along the Torrens River is about 15km one way. The trail is very easy to follow, much thanks to all the signs along the way. Yet if you're having a free day, it would be just a brilliant idea to stop by in the middle of the way and have a picnic with friends by the river bank with your friends. Adelaide is simple, yet for me, it is never boring if you find the way to live here. Sitting by the river bank, seeing a duckie family swimming enjoyfully in the water together, no car honking in rush hours like I've seen in many other big crowded cities I have been to, enjoying my clumsily made cold rolls with friends, talking about everything but anything with closed friends whom you know you would be in contact with for life, smiling with other cyclists going towards your direction because you know they would surely greet you cheerfully " G'day", life in Adelaide just drifts me through happiness simply like that.
The feeling of being on the wheels, cycling until your knees are tired, letting the bike freely run in sloping down parts is the best experience. You feel like the wind is racing with you, yet it is also gently drying all your sweats. And the lovely sun in winter time is shyly touching your face. How peaceful!
And of course, the best part of it all is when you can see your rewards, the deep blue sea awaiting for you right at the end of the main road.
It was a hell of an experience camping outdoors in a forest that was 1.5 hours away from Adelaide city. You know I have used the phrase 'pitched a tent' in my primary school essays without even knowing what it really entails. Well, on Saturday I actually got a chance to do exactly that. It was so cool to take out all the equipment, set it out on the ground. At first I could not make out all the rods and stuff but after the demo, it was pretty damn simple. I shared the tent with my partner. We laid out mats and our sleeping bags in the tent which was going to house us for the next two days. Then we cooked our dinner outdoors. It was super exciting to cook our meal and occasionally glance up to see the moon. I must say that was my favourite part of the whole trip! Each pair got one portable stove. Some cooked noodles and there were people who cooked meat. There were even a talented few who cooked gourmet pasta and stuff. And there was us, who cooked instant macaroni and cheese which was easy and we were done cooking within no time and cleaning up was a breeze. Did I tell you, how freaking cold it was even under those layers but sitting around the fire warmed us all up. I was trying to get as close as I could to the fire without getting myself burnt...haha. We were all playing games and told jokes while we ate roasted marshmallows. In between all of that, we went looking for wood to keep our fire alive. It was all good fun!
Eventually, everyone turned in. Was so cold, I almost died getting into my sleeping bag. Anyway, that night I had the most restless and broken sleep ever. I was shivering continuously throughout the night and it was horrible to wake up to footsteps(could have been some kangaroos visiting us). I told myself the next time round I would be more prepared and bring thermals which a fellow mate had told me would keep me warm even in the coldest of nights.
The next day it was more bushwalking. We had to locate several checkpoints and do some challenges as a team. That was tiring but also good fun. Before I knew it was time to pack and deflate all the tents and we were heading back to the city.
Camping is seriously a great way to have family reunions and team bonding and I see myself camping in the forest sometime soon! The best part is that all the required gear for camp can be hired so you could go on a camping trip even tomorrow if you wanted to!
How to live cheaply in Adelaide
Living cheaply in Adelaide is a very achievable thing. If you have a tight budget throughout the uni or schooling year there are many things that you can do to make the money go a very long way. Here are a few ideas on how to scrape through cheaply:
1) Make use of specials in supermarkets
2) Go shopping on a Sunday afternoon when much of the food is getting replaced and sold at very cheap prices. Also in the central markets on a Saturday afternoon.
3) Make the most of ‘cheap-ass Tuesday’ when many entertainment complex’s sell tickets at children’s prices
4) Plan to meet up with friends during ‘Happy Hour’ where many pubs and bars have specials on beer, wine and spirits. Can make your night a very cheap one!
Finding accommodation in Adelaide can be very expensive or very cheap depending on what you are looking for. If you live within the 4 corners of Adelaide it can be very expensive per week however you don’t need to pay for buses or taxis etc.
Shared accommodation is probably the best option economically speaking as you can share all the bills, food shopping etc and it is probably one of the best opportunities to make friends.
I can confidently say that Adelaide is the kind of city that all sorts of budgets can survive in.
Ps: an excellent way to make money in Adelaide is to save all your beer bottles after parties- you get 10 cents for every bottle that you return. (It also explains why you will find people going through bins on every street corner!)
All who know me pretty well all admit that they always see me over-exicted on Friday nights, just a little bit. I can share with you, the feeling at the moment you walk out of your last Maths lecture at 4pm on Friday night, after one busy and highly committed week, is beyond words.
I recall those days back then when I was doing secondary school in Vietnam, weekend was a vague notion. We still had schools on Saturday, meaning your weekend is basically chopped half. And just an add on to that, on Sunday, my schedule would be filled with all sorts of extra. out-of-school-hours classes. The only thing that remarked my enjoyful weekend back then was: the chance to watch another movie on Saturday night and to sleep in for 1 more hour on Sunday morning. And that was about it. Every week is the same until summer holidays come.
Things are a little bit different here in Australia. Oh well, to me, ever since I came here. I start to plan for weekends as well since every weekend, there will be something new on my agenda. It's not the same-old-same weekend routine anymore. Plus, no more sleep-in-till-the-sun-is-high. You might wonder, why on earth would you wake up early during weekend? Isn't weekend supposed to be relaxing - being lazy ? Okay I'm going to share with you one of my weekend. Let's pick randomly: the one last week.
I got out of bed at around 7.30, prepared breakfast for myself and my housemates: special today - pancake for the weekend. It would be a grave grave mistake if you underestimate the level of complexity and challenging in making pancake. Pancake making job is nothing similar to Pho (it is Vietnamese noodles), one that I used to help my mom to make during weekend back at home. Trust me, I have burnt a couple of pans before succeeding in making well-done brownie pancakes. Making pancake is an art. And pancake with chocolate topping and a scoop of vanila ice-cream can absolutely make you feel high for the rest of the day. Ever since I came over my best Aussie friend - Jax's house and learnt the pancake recipe from her mom, I unconditionally felt in love with this special dish. Anyways, keep it short, so that was how I started my weekend.
One thing about studying abroad is that, one day you would realize that your mom is not at your door complaining about your teenage-typical messy, or "creative" as I used to defence myself, room anymore. And that's when you grow a little bit and realize that you can't possibly find everything so easily after 2 seconds thinking if you don't clean your room. Sometimes cleaning your room can be fun. That's when you can stick some lovely messages from your friends on the board, just to motivate yourself to keep being energized in doing whatever you're doing. It's about taking care of your guitar. It's about re-arranging your bookshelf. It's about having so much laughs with your housemates while doing the laundry. It's about shifting your bed, your shelf, your desk so you have some changes in the room - sometimes changes are good.
10 o'clock sharp.
I caught the bus to the city for my ball-room dancing class. Even though I'm a horrible dancer who always steps on the foot of my partner, dancing definitely colors my life with the brightest and most vivid crayon. It's when you feel like the music is flowing in you. I once never thought that dancing would be something I do, yet saying yes to something new is all that it takes (my motivation is pumped up after I realized my addiction to So you think you can dance - Australia). Last week we did a bit of revision on valse and practiced more on rumba.
After class, I caught up with some friends in the city and we did grocery shopping. Have you ever thrown yourself to a full-of-energy Saturday Market? That's defintely something you should do if you want to shop for fresh food at good price. You see happy faces everywhere in the market. Happy sellers. Happy buyers. Families. Elders. Students. Kids. Last Saturday we had a girl ministry - basically a girl gathering - so shopping was essential. Since I am a big fan of food - going to the market is something I love always. Filling your nose with the irresistable smell of coffee beans. Tasting some creamy cheese. Buying some hot-fresh nuts. Getting an ice-cream cone.
Last Saturday was a big night. Girls from OCF, an organization at uni that I join, gathered at an uni apartment and cooked. IT was truly a blast, being able to try so many dishes from different countries. And above all, it was precious time to get to know your friends better, getting closer. As we talked, time just passed by unknowingly.
I promised to myself that I would finish my Jurisprudence reading for this week over the weekend. So Sunday was dedicated for catching up and preparing school work for a new week. Yet it was always fun, because Sunday was often my study group time. Sometimes we do the same subject, sometimes each can study their own subjects but we all sit together. Having friends in different departments is one of the best experience in uni: you can learn more things outside of your area of study. Everyone has something to bring to the table: a bit of history, a bit of International relation, a bit of Economics, a bit of Music. In between, we went out for lovely lunch in a Malaysian restaurant.
My weekend always concludes with my two favorite things in the to-do list: number 1, to have a guitar lesson at my friend's. Number 2, to watch Rove in channel 10 at 9.30. Rove is undeniably one of the most popular TV shows in Australia: many witty comments about current affairs. And it's just truly relaxing to refill yourself with energy for a new Monday.
Everyweek there would be something new. Sometimes I take a long bus to Harbour Town to shop with my friends. Sometimes, it's a picnic by Torrens River. Sometimes, it's a day-out to make more sketches of the GPO. Sometimes, it's a sporty day playing captain ball with my friends. Sometimes, it's a long ride down to Victor Harbour. Sometimes, it's just simply a chat at my friend's house and playing with her dogs.
And that's how I always get excited on Friday night: because my weekend is coming again, time to love the sun, love the music and love your friends.
Is Adelaide fun or boring??
An interesting question this one depending on your expectations. I have lived in Adelaide my entire life so I can assure you its nothing like New York, Tokyo or Sydney and can definitely look boring from the surface!
BUT, when you are studying in Adelaide, there is definitely an abundance of things that can make your life here a fun and interesting place to be. Open most days there is movie theatres in convenient places, sports clubs everywhere that are very welcoming to new people, many different, cheap and unusual places to eat, the zoo, shopping complexes, beautiful walks and even better beaches, ice skating complex and night clubs just to name a few things to keep you entertained while in Adelaide. (The worst thing about Adelaide is that most shops close at 5.30 during the week and even earlier on weekends!)
Of course, Adelaide can get boring especially after you have done these things a million times. But, at the end of the day if you have awesome friends and an imagination you can make anything fun any day!
When Adelaide does get boring, especially in the summer holidays take a trip to other cities in Australia, these days plane tickets are very cheap so there is no excuse!
Join as many clubs as possible and go out of your way to meet new people and then Adelaide will be one of the best places you visit!
After a hectic week at uni, some might wonder what is there to do on a Friday night. You could probably watch a movie and unwind at home but if you are thinking of being in the midst of a buzzing crowd and a wide array of food, Central Market is the place to go! There is countless number of cafes, restaurants, Asian grocery stores and not to mention bubble tea. You could wine and dine at the restaurants lined up at gouger st or if you are looking for something more affordable head further down to the food court-even the most fastidious of you are bound to find something that will satisfy your taste buds. So grab a friend cause you just made plans for Friday night.
When you think about it what is boring about living in a city far from home? I love the freedom to explore a new way of life and culture. The other day I went to watch a game of AFL between Port Power and Richmond. If you want to experience real Australian culture go to one of these games. The game is like nothing I’ve ever seen and the people who support it are also a little crazy but it is anything but boring. All you have to do is get outside and explore what Adelaide has to offer and I think you will find it has plenty.
When it has been a super long day, filled with lectures after lectures, one cannot help but feel mentally exhausted with all the incredible amount of processing to do. To unwind and catch a breather, you might wonder where to go. Here is the thing-I know the perfect place! It is none other than the Torrens River which somehow manages to be only a stone's throw away from the city uni campus. Sitting down on the green fields, looking straight into the huge, woody trees allows you to get lost in your own world. During your breaks, instead of being crammed indoors, come out and experience the serenity that the river and the creatures there has to offer.
Botanic Garden is the place to take off these winter blows. It is a place to see the distinctive, historic garden of Adelaide boasting of many scientific and educational shows about exotic and native plants, to top it off there are free guided tours to show you around. Garden with lakes and exceptional conservatory makes it unique attraction.
For me it is the lunch time to come back and again in the garden. Passing the gate makes you feel away from the fast paced city and the University, a time to relax and enjoy the sheer calmness with breath of fresh air and Sun in this winter. A landmark not to miss out, if you are looking to get away from your busy study life and can’t afford to go far away.
What is your getaway in the busy schedule?
As I held fondly to Liv and Steph's arms, pulled our heads together and said "Eynesbury Rocks", hundreds of camera, continously flashing, were directed towards us. The photographer asked us all to wave our hands in the air for the last shoot. For our dear teachers. For our "hip to hip" classmates. For two years of unbelievably meaningful, exciting and meaningful years. Goodbye to you all, the class of 2008.
To be honest, I'm feeling so ambivalent at the moment about having graduated from Eynesbury. THere is a side of me being so excited about having finally reached the end of a long, and perhaps, demanding journey. We worked our best, we had fun, we grew up, we learnt what is even beyond the edge of textbooks, we studied and challenged ourself. Should there be some degree of pride, it would also be reasonable. Meanwhile, another side of me tells me all about the eagerness of a long-due holiday and even further away, about stepping through a new door to go to tertiary education. But along all these positive feeling, it's undeniably true that I'm overwhelmed in an unexplainable sadness. Perhaps, it would not be entirely correct to not name "sadness" a positive feeling though.
THe better time we had together, the more we're gonna miss that time when summer comes. And when the feeling of missing, regretting mounts up, it brings "sadness" into the picture. Many memories flash back and forth in my mind. My Politics class and the very first time I stood up in front of people to do debate. My firstoral presentation and completely ruined my time-frame for the speech. My last oral presentation in Economics about Economic Development in Vietnam which I spent so much time to prepare for it. Exams and all the frustration. Library and our hard-to-deal-with-Maths Projects. Rehearsal of our graduation performance. Lunches that we had together in the lush green grass in Victoria Square. Times when I, Jax and Anita ran to China Town after our Legal class for lunch. Conversation about music, about our love and our passion to instrumental music. Talks about food. Joint-plan for the pyjama party at Steph's for the long weekend. Quick runs to Coles for chocolate bars. A drop-in chat with teachers about the subjects, about your homesick issues, about George Orwell, about newspapers, about movies
The end of one story is the beginning of another. Yet, the ended story of mine in Eynesbury shall be mentioned in the next chapter of my story, as it has helped shaped characters in my story.
After what seemed like a hectic week, a stroll down the glenelg beach was what I needed. Licking my favourite choc fudge vannila drumstick, I took a lesiurely stroll for about an hour, stopping occasional to gaze at the marvellous sunset. I explored the parts of the beach I had not before and wondered why I had not given this stroll a go before. We would have kept going down the path we had taken if not for the fact that we were drifting furthur away from the tram stop.
NEvertheless, it was an amazing way to get some fresh air and really just to relax. Beautiful weather and company--It was absolutely perfect!
School today was pretty easy. We finished the syllabus for most of the subjects, so we ended up doing a zillion questions for maths while english was more interesting. We played double jeopardy which was good fun! So yeah, these two weeks of hols are critical according to my teachers and I can see where they are coming from but being the last day of term I took a break from schoolwork.
Today has been quite eventful. I had two stuff on. One was this study adelaide event where they were presenting awards to winners of the letters home competition. The other was my club presentation where all the netball teams playing under the club name came together and presented awards and basically gave all the teams an opportunity to catch up with their mates... It was a potluck thing so we all brought a dish, making the event all the more exciting-You know how I love food! I received a check for umpiring throughout the season. It felt good holding onto the fruits of my labor in more ways than one. I was also nominated for the senior club girl award. So yeah, it was simple gathering of its kind and it went better than I thought it would.
I have a few things to look forward to during the hols. There is a 18th birthday party on the first saturday and um....a deepavali function which I am the Mc for on the second saturday. In between, I have all the revision classes. As my school is having the abestos removed, we have to have the hols revision in a boat shed...That would be interesting, learning by the Torrens River. I have like 4 tests on the first week back to school including the tamil written, oral and listening components...so yup this hols is a good chance to buckle down and consolidate the year's work. Good luck to me and anyone else who find themselves in a similar situation!
The final exams are starting in about 1.5 months time, so yeah, pretty much busy preparing for it. Although I have to admit I spent a great deal of time reading the whole sequel of twilight...yes all 4 of them in the past week. I pretty much had countable hours of sleep that week just so I am not totally neglecting my school work. I do feel a tiny bit sad about having finished the sequel...but since it was a happy ending i was okay with it. I have to say New moon was not what i expected it to be but eclipse was better and breaking dawn was great(except for the whole build up of the war which never happens). Have to say twilight is the best of all four!
Went for friend's 18th birthday party last saturday and had a great time. She had all sorts of games...Karoke, the dance mat thingy, table tennis, soccer. Oh yeah !Iforgot to add that it was a costume party. I went as a jypsy...so I wore this cool orange top and yoga pants....put on heaps of bangles and bam I was all set to go!! It was interesting to see my friends all dressed up as different things and people. It was super colourful and we had so much fun. It was an exceptional way to wrap up my week.
All the international student ambassadors of StudyAdelaide, including myself, came together yesterday to have a gathering at UniSA campus. Having this massive free Barbeque for international students was a student ambassador initiative and I must say it went really well.
We had raffle draws, where a lucky few walked away with a 2GB thumb drive, not to mention the sausages and veggie patties that were served hot and crispy for many of the students who attended it. It was a short gathering but it was the highlight of the day. We got the chance to talk to many other students and enlighten them on the future events StudyAdelaide is organising. There is always something to do or somewhere to chill in Adelaide. You have got to check the StudyAdelaide website frequently to be sure you don’t miss the exciting outings and the numerous events that come your way.
Wow, times flies in Adelaide. When you turn a new page in the diary, it's already September.
My September calendar is often decorated with heaps colourful reminder notes. Purple is coded for tests, blue is for assignments and projects, pink is for practicals, and orange is for presentations. Yes, this is a busy time of the year, especially to a senior student like me. When you can see the finish line no longer too far away, you heat up all the energy, speed up to hit the goal at your personal best. Our very last tests and assignments for year 12 are due in a week or two. Our school library is more crowded during free lessons. I and my pals spend more time revising all the concepts we have done throughout the year. Let's put some more effort in because you will get out what you get in. :P
Something more special today, I and Steph stuck a new note into our diaries, a big fat green on: our post-senior resolutions. You know, besides school life, we should all enjoy these incredible high-school days. There is something about Adelaide that makes my days here absolutely awesome: my Aussie and my international friends at school. And Steph is my best Aussie friend (eventhough she maybe the worst person to cover "Headlines" by Spicegirls, no kidding). Anyway, we have agreed that: after our super super important external exams in November (which we will need to revise very carefully together), we will make this year summer holiday the best one ever. Even though I can head home right after I finish my exams, I will stay here for another month to celebrate Chrissie (that's how we call Christmas) and New Year with Steph in the tent at the back of her yard. A couple of things that we have jotted down in the resolution: Linh needs to try some sport, and Steph will be Linh's personal coach, Steph needs to learn some Vietnamese and Linh will be Steph's private tutor. One more thing, I may learn how to ride Steph's horse. That is a very promising plan isn't it?
Spring is in the air. Beautiful weather. Busy school. And Happy Friends.
A couple of students from Adelaide High, including myself made our way down to 55 currie street to donate blood today. It was the first time for majority of the students going but since I had done it once before, I was more familiar with the process. We had to fill in some forms and were advised to drink loads of water while we were waiting for our turn to be examined by the nurses. I was feeling quite alright about the whole thing till I found myself laying in the chair, waiting in anticipation for what was to follow.
A friendly nurse attended to me. She was extremely encouraging and was willing to explain the whole process. Being me, I had some burning questions to ask about some of the procedures not because I was anxious but more so due to my curiousity. She was very engaging and we ended up talking a great deal. The best part was finding out all the information about blood and how they go about testing and collecting it. The pain felt was minimal but the fulfillment of having contributed was priceless. They say each donation can save 3 lives, so you do the math. It was an enriching experience which I hope to make regular.
In June this year I went to Kangaroo Island with about 15 other international students and it was fantastic. There were so many animals and some of the beaches were amazing! We saw kangaroos, emus, koalas and seals. The first day we were there we went to a place where you had to climb through a rock tunnel to get to a secret beach. I think it is called Stokes Bay. There was no-one on that beach except for us.
We stayed for one night at a farm house where we lit a bonfire to stay warm and a couple of the guys cooked us all one of the biggest barbeques I’ve seen – there was heaps of food.
On our last day we went to Flinders Chase National Park where we saw the Remarkable Rocks and Admiral’s Arch. Later on we went to Seal Bay and walked past some of the lazy seals lying on the beach. A baby seal even came right up to us.
Education Adelaide arranged this trip for us and I’m so glad I went – it was a great way to meet other students and make friends. What’s your best SA adventure been so far?
One of the best things about being a StudyAdelaide student Ambassador is that I’ve got to make some great friends and we get to do some cool stuff. Just after I started as an Ambassador we got to go kayaking at Port Adelaide on the Port River.
I had never been in a kayak before and was a bit nervous but our instructor, Tom, had a great way of explaining how not to fall out of the boat. When we got on the water we paddled up stream and then in amongst the mangroves. It was amazing to find out that a place like this existed so close to the centre of the city.
Maybe the best part was when we saw a dolphin and its baby swimming towards us. They did not stay for very long, they swam away, but Tom says he sees them all the time. Because I did not know about this place I think it is one of Adelaide’s best kept secrets. What is you favourite secret spot in South Australia?