Chelsea from China
Chelsea
Studying: Bachelor of Law, University of Adelaide
Loves: Playing piano and watching the sunset
Dream job: Diplomat
To celebrate our new found freedom brought by the end of the exams, we took a 15-minute drive up to the end of Kensington Road, where situated a small lookout overlooking the square city of Adelaide.
Going to the theatre is one of Adelaide’s favourite pastimes. If you walk pass the Festival Theatre – a large building with white roofs sloping at funky angles situated at the heart of the city – on a Friday evening, you are most likely to see groups of ladies and gentlemen in their evening attires, walking up the steps arm in arm, just like depicted in the Victorian novels. This was our share of the experience.
Shopping in Adelaide is fun and easy. Rundle Mall – Adelaide’s central shopping street – is a one-stop-fits-all shopping precinct, providing all sorts of merchandises from eggs to electric tools within its three-block distance packed with shops and stores.
Weeks of readings, studying, attending lectures, and answering tutorial questions were all leading up to this point, when I strode into the exam venue, my heart pounding furiously like a rabbit trapped inside my chest.
It was the final countdown to the end of the exams.
Saturday morning dawned cool and breezy, the sky was overcast with thick rolling clouds – the weather was perfect for the annual Christmas Pageant. But rather than heading into the city to enjoy the festivity with the rest of Adelaidians, I heaved a heavy bag of notes and textbooks onto my shoulder, and set off for the Wayville Showground – for my end-of-semester exam.
Stress is inevitable as the exams approach. Nevertheless, the quiet charming city of Adelaide offers many subtle gifts to help you through the stressful time of the year – all you need to do is to discover the little spot that brings you peace and joy.
One of the fringe benefits of studying in Adelaide, amongst other things, is that at the end of your studies, you would be invited to the home of Governor of South Australia, Admiral Kevin Scarce, for a farewell party.
There is nothing better than watching the sun setting peacefully on a clear evening, especially at the end of a very long and stressful week.
South Australia, with its warm and dry climate, is ideal for wine-production, and indeed SA not only is the host of the National Wine Centre, but also produces 80% of Australia’s annual export of wine to overseas – so I was told by the tour guide on the bus ride to the Barossa Valley: a town famous for its wine-production, located an hour outside of Adelaide City.
Australian Beaches, with their white strips of sand and pure blue water, form a charming and rather irresistible part of the country.
When you’re away from home, friends are well and truly the best substitute for family.
The Royal Adelaide Show is one of the most exciting events of the year. It is a great place to catch up with friends, and to indulge yourself by spending the day like a child.
Last Saturday night I went to a friend’s 21st birthday party, which had the theme of ‘Alice in Wonder Land’!!
Living in a homestay in Adelaide was the best way to learn english, understand the Australian way of life and make friends for life!