Student Blog

O U T B A C K

Sandra from Austria — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:30:00 GMT

The time has come: I was finally able to find some time to see the red centre, the heart of Australia!

We took the Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs, which takes around 24h and is an amazing experience through the Outback. For students its about 200$ one way in comfy seats.

Arriving at noon in Alice Springs by 36 degrees we feel like dying, sooooo hot! We took a taxi to pick up our campervan and here comes the deal: As a student it is ideal to get a RELOCATION (possible in Oz and NZ). You re-locate a campervan from A to B as listed by the company. They need their van back at a specific branch and because you are so nice and drive it there you just pay a minimum amount of money for renting. Our deal was: Alice Springs to Adelaide in 4 days time with a 2berth Campervan with shower, toilet, tv, dvd player, bbq,... for 5$/day. Plus they’ll pay 210$ fuel for us. Here are two links where you can look up some possible re-locs, good luck.

(http://www.drivenow.com.au/onewayrentals.jspc; http://www.standbyrelocs.com/)

After 30mins we had the camper and we made our way to the Kings Canyon. The following days were packed with hikes, driving, wildlife and more. Our first hike was 3h through the cliffs of Kings Canyon to the Garden of Eden where you can have a beautiful swim in a waterhole. Our second hike was at the Olgas through the ‘Valley of the Winds’, which was pretty adventurous. The last walk was around parts of the base of Uluru, Ayers Rock, which was impressive too. On our way we saw heaps of animals: wild horses, cows, sheep, cats, rabbits, lots of camels but NO kangaroos (at least not alive ones). On the drive home a last stop over in Coober Pedy was planned where we visited the underground churches. Beautiful sunrises as well as sunsets were part of the whole journey while driving along those never ending roads...

PS. Thanks for your lovely comments on my past entries. I’m always happy to see that my blogs help people exploring the world :)

Adelaide out of control

Sandra from Austria — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:30:00 GMT

On the 8th of October 2011 Adelaide transformed into a gloomy and mysterious city. Dusk was approaching and strange creatures were spotted all over the streets.

At 7pm the traffic lights switched to orange flashing and brought the traffic to a standstill.
Cars were trying to find a detour and buses were honking the horn, but there was no escape.
Tourists were walking through the city clueless and fear was written all over their faces.

It was time for Adelaide's ZOMBIEWALK!!!
For an hour more than 3,000 Zombies trekked through Adelaide and ruled over the city looking for brains! While some participated just for fun, others really put in a lot of effort in creating their custome.

Find more info on http://www.adelaidezombiewalk.vacau.com and be part of this magic transformation next year!

Cairns - The Paradise

Sandra from Austria — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:30:00 GMT

In the holidays I had the chance to fly to Cairns for eight days. And I must say: IT WAS AMAZING!

If u think u know Australia after you have seen Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, I must tell u: U dont! Far North Queensland is magic and different! A whole other Australian experience!!!

The population is even more mixed up than in Adelaide. Plus there are lots of educated Aborigines and u can really see how well they are integrated up there. No matter where u go, everywhere are palms and they have a lagoon right at the sea where u can have a swim for free in the middle of the city. At the Reef Terminal u can take a ferry out to the sea and discover the Great Barrier Reef. I saw a whale and a sea turtle among many other colourful fish!

The nature is simply magnificent and the slogan ‘the rainforest meets the reef’ suits perfectly. After all the water adventure you can take a cable car into the mountains and hike through the rainforest and see tree kangaroos and cassowaries!

And if u prefer swimming in lakes and trying to hug giant trees u can go to the Tablelands where I also saw my first platypus and huge crocodiles!

So if u get the chance to travel u north, go to Cairns as it is a totally different experience!

Hello, Spring~! :)

Nina from China — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:30:00 GMT

G’Day, mate, how are ya? :)

Since the weather is getting nicer and nicer, everything around us is becoming more beautiful: the sunshine, the beaches, the gardens and the river. Hope you are all having a lovely week. Just a quick post, telling everyone how we are doing recently.

Highlight#1: Royal Adelaide Show

A show for everyone. They had showbags & carnival rides, various programs, such as Coca Cola Stage, Superstars Stage and Jenny Gilles Shows Daily. Most interestingly, there were different competitions going on, so check out the timetable, do not miss out the fun! Here is one we ambassadors were taking part of: Cow Milking Competition.

Have you ever seen a cow milking a cow? Probably not, right? But we’ve seen that, haha~~

Hightling#2: OzAsia Moon Lantern Festival-

Thanks indeed for being in a multicultural society in Adelaide. I had a chance to celebrate the moon lantern festival as I had at home --- when the moon was at its fullest and brightest, people simply to share happiness and hope.

Hightlight#3: Cooking class

Would you be interested in learning how to cook? Remember to come and join us!

Cheers.

Nina

...And Winter Came

Charles from Nigeria — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:30:00 GMT

It’s just over one year since I came to Adelaide and I still remember vividly some of the goals I had in my list to pull off as soon as I settled in. One of those was to perfect my swimming skills (or frankly, learn to swim... no kidding). My friends and I back in Nigeria always pictured Australia as the perfect place to enjoy water activities like surfing, Kayaking and others; of which swimming is a must.

Pre-planned Target: water activities

Fine, it was freezing cold in July when I arrived, however it’s inexplicable that the hot summer months that followed after spring came and went without any significant time devoted towards ticking “swimming” on my list. Or maybe there’s a good reason. I got caught unawares in the festivities of the “Festival State”; which happens to be South Australia’s slogan. As soon as the flowers and trees blossomed with life Adelaide sparked up with events upon events all through till the end of summer. The Royal Adelaide show, OzAsia festival, Adelaide Fringe festival and the Adelaide Cabaret festival are some of the much anticipated annual celebrations in Adelaide. With its pedigree for incorporating students in such activities, Adelaide has ensured that these events are easily accessible and I enjoyed every one of them.

Distractions: couldn’t be left out of the Festivals :)

Now at the start of my second spring season here, the buzzes of these festivals are very much in the air. The royal Adelaide show is already in full swing and I’m looking forward to participating in one of its funniest activity thanks to StudyAdelaide. With the lure of partaking in the ‘Milking the Cow’ competition with local T.V celebrities too strong to resist, I can only hope it’s not going to be a case of ‘here we go again’ by the time the summer is over. Hopefully, the next time Enya’s famous album (titled “And Winter Came”) plays in my mind again I would be smiling to myself (saying yes mate! wasn’t beaten twice), knowing that I eventually learned to swim amidst the many ‘distractions’. But then, if wishes were horses...only time will tell.

Cheers

Xcuse!

Sandra from Austria — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Hello @ll!

The weekend is over and it was a great one!!!
We all had fun welcoming you at the Xcuse Chill Out Party and were happy getting to know you. Having more than 100 people in the Festival Centre from all the different parts of the world was an amazing experience!

Again a huge thank you to our performers and if you want to hear more of them, check them out on YouTube! The ‘Kolab Crew’ has a video on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_WlJ_dzZM
And also the band ‘Lyon’ with Kent Sim has an own channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/thesim91.

Do not forget to upload your fun-picture on the StudyADL Facebook page till the end of the week. The picture with the most likes wins a 100$ Myers gift voucher :) Plus the application for the Governors International Student Awards is only open 2 more days.

Have a good start in the week and thanks again from all the Ambassadors.

Down Under versus Up Above

Sandra from Austria — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Guten Tag!

I've just been back home in Europe for some weeks and I loved it. While Australia is hibernating, the northern part of the world is relaxing outside enjoying the sun at the beach.
Coming home after more than a year was surprisingly easy and everyone was very welcoming. I though it might be strange meeting friends after a year but luckily being home felt like I haven't been away at all. Catching up with family and friends was fun and I was heaps busy all the time.
On my way back to Adelaide an Aussie passenger next to me asked me: 'You're flying home?' and I hesitated and answered: 'Actually, I am not sure. Somehow I am coming from home and I am going home!'
What a crazy life being an international student!! :)

If you want to go home to visit your family and friends, have a look at this link: http://www.studyadelaide.com/Competitions/CompetitionDetails.aspx?p=105,&id=14.
StudyADL created the ISA (International Student Awards) where you can win a FREE return ticket to your home country!

Good luck!

Living the student life

Shawny from Malaysia — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Nevertheless, this should not hinder us from enjoying our student lives. So in this post, I came up with a couple of tips which can come in handy to you students out there who are currently or will be studying in Adelaide in the future :)

1. Eat in (Cook your own meals :D)

Made this minestrone soup based on a recipe off the Coles store catalogue. Healthy yes? Hahas.

2. Look out for "Reduced" tags

Seeing these orange tags (in Woolies), never ceases to get me all excited :)

3. Buy in bulks (Buy big ! :D)

I lugged this 10kg bag of rice all the way home (a 1.5km walk). Very proud of myself actually ;)

4. Look out for good deals

Took this while I was queuing up at Chatime (popular for its awesome bubble tea) :p They were having a Buy 1, Get 1 Free introductory offer. Coming here I also picked up the habit of browsing through shopping catalogues of various supermarkets (Woolworths', Coles', K Mart etc.) to be in the know of the latest promotions :)

Warm Welcome to All New students

Nina from China — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Warm Welcome to All New students

G’Day mate, how are ya? J

Time flies. I was a new student about 2 years ago. Now I’m getting really “OLD” and leaving Uni soon. Warmest welcome to all new students and hope you guys doing well. This blog, I will give you a quick brief about the student activities happening in Adelaide recently.

Uni Orientation

Did you attend your orientation week at Uni? How much did you learn? How many new friends did you make? We were there at orientation BBQ place: Fitzner Court at Uni Adelaide, met heaps of new students. Were you there? Did you talk to us and register with StudyAdelaide? Grabbed free USB and cute koala toy? It was such a big pleasure to talk to new people.

City Salvos Social Networking

Come and socialise with us. Ice breaking activity (top 2 photos): use one sentence to describe your home country and the others make a guess. We also enjoyed the yummy lunch and causal chat. By the way, StudyAdelaide also organise the cooking lesson. Keep an eye on the updated event if you loving cookingJ

Fotty

If you come from overseas and study at Adelaide, AAMI Stadium is the place you MUST visit and Aussie Footy is the game you MUST watch~! Don’t wait, come to StudyAdelaide office and grab your free double pass footy tickets. ENJOY Aussie CULTURE in WINTER~~~~~~

C u soon:)

Ta.

Nina

Confessions of a food-junkie

Vishal from India — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:30:00 GMT

There's a lot of things I love about Adelaide and all that it has to offer as a city, and if you're a foodie (like me), you're in for a real treat. This city is buzzing with so many fantastic restaurants and cafés, and I'm actually rather worried I won't make it to all of them during my two years here. Anyways, I am trying hard to discover new places and I am excited to share my top 3 dinner destinations with you!

Ready, here we go?

Ying Chow – Definitely, one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in the city. Just head down to Gouger street on a Friday or Saturday, and as soon as you notice people queuing up outside a small Chinese food joint, you’ll know you’ve arrived. What they lack in service, they more than make up with their food. You MUST try their shallot pancakes, BBC and the red pepper chicken. You can BYO (bring your own drinks), enjoy delicious and student-friendly (read – well-priced) food and spend a chill, casual evening with your friends! Bonus – they’re open until quite late in the evenings!

Good Life Pizza – My absolute favourite pizza in this city. Every heard of organic pizza? If that were not enough, add carbon-zero to the mix. Not only is this place quite environmentally conscious, they are modern, creative and know how to serve some stunning pizzas. Spread across 3 locations (Hutt street, O’Connel street and Glenelg), they’re able to cater to their loyal fans like me. My favourites here – Seasonal Roast Organic Vegetables pizza and Spencer Gulf Monster Prawns (with basil, onion, tomato and chilli) . A bit more expensive than your regular pizza place, but worth every cent. Only downside – they don’t have a loyalty program (yet)!

(This was one of their specials the other night - chic peas, baby spinach, haloumi, sundried tomatoes!!)

Windy Point – Fancy a romantic evening while you enjoy a breathtaking view of Adelaide? You’ll need to drive up towards Belair and experience the charm of this place for yourself. They have a restaurant and a cafe and I quite prefer the latter. They serve small plates, medium plates and large plates. I love their forest mushroom risotto and my friends swear by their kangaroo filet. A bit pricy but it makes for a perfect celebration evening. Ooohh, do try the dessert tasting plate. You’ll thank me later!

What about you? What are your favourite places here?

Looking forward to sharing and exploring! Enjoy your time here ;-)

If you're a nature-lover . . .

Shawny from Malaysia — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:30:00 GMT

During one of the Saturdays, my friends and I made a trip to the Morialta Conservation Park somewhere in the Northern part of Adelaide (about a 30 minute drive from the city). It was a fairly cloudy day with some light drizzle (or spits as they refer to it over here) now and then. And as a result, we only went up to the First Falls Plateau Hike. The Second Falls Gorge Hike and the Three Falls Grand Hike would have to do another day :)

Some of my friends were attempting to conquer a certain small section of the rocky/cave-like place in the park. Having never rock-climbed in my entire life, I didn't think it was easy making my way through that area.

I actually took this picture in the early days of Autumn at Torrens River but am only posting this up in the midst of Winter :p

It's so incredibly gorgeous down there and the best part of this place (for all you students out there) is that it's located close to the city centre area. In fact, it's just within walking distance of the University of Adelaide. It's no surprise how many of the university's students would lie under the shade of the trees in between classes and just take a step back from all the assignments and exam stress. Occasionally, you see ducks swimming in the river (if you look closely, you can see one at the bottom of the image on top) and there's something about such a scene that just equates to peace and serenity, things that every student would need every once in awhile, no? :)

Waltzing Matilda... sound familiar?

Charles from Nigeria — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:30:00 GMT

In one of those strings of emails at work, I spotted what I thought was an idiom - “...Waltzing Matilda by Frank”. That phrase made absolutely no sense to me. Hang on I thought, Frank (my colleague who sits on the next table) was going to waltz Matilda? That name doesn’t ring a bell. Oh yes! Again I thought, Matilda is my boss’ energetic and amusing little daughter whose presence in the office doesn’t go unnoticed. But still, what’s special about Frank waltzing little Matilda? She definitely must have been very good at it at an early age.

Over lunch, just to satisfy my curiosity I asked Frank who Matilda was, just in case there was a Matilda around that I wasn’t aware of. At first he was puzzled, then shortly he recalled the email that morning; he laughed at me first before explaining; of course Google and Wikipedia did the rest.

How could I have spent one year in Australia and not know “Waltzing Matilda”, a very popular song widely regarded as the “unofficial national anthem of Australia”? At least now I know, although not without a little embarrassmentJ. And by the way the “Frank” referred to in the email was also one of Australia’s celebrated country singer, Frank Ifield.

Students who have come to Adelaide and gone and even those (exchange students) about leaving at the start of this break might not have been bothered about that phrase “Waltzing Matilda”; but I bet you would definitely fancy the song ;)!!

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda, la la la la...

Good day mates, nbsto!! J

When in Rundle Mall

Shawny from Malaysia — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:30:00 GMT

And I say this because there is always some form of entertainment in the form of the many buskers who would be putting on a show somewhere along the length of the street. From singing, dancing, sketching to showing off really cool yo-yo skills, I like to think of walking along Rundle Mall as walking into a mini carnival.

I'll let the pictures do the talking this time :)

The talented bunch :)

Flinders Ranges

Sandra from Austria — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:30:00 GMT

undefinedundefinedundefined

Hello dutiful students!

The exams are on their way.... and what to do afterwards? If you are not going back home then take a trip up to the Flinders Ranges!! Here is a short extract of my diary-entry about my experience there last year (pics at the end!!):

On Sunday we drove up to Flinders Ranges National Park (about 450km north of Adelaide). When we arrived at the camping site we immediately started talking to a bunch of people who were also camping there. We had dinner together and sat around the camp fire and had fun until about 1am =)
As they were on their way from Darwin to Sydney and had to leave on Monday at about 1pm, we decided to hike with them on Monday in the morning. That meant getting up at 6:15am (without any sleep actually as we were all freeeeeezing in the tent the whole night long) and walking to "Wangara Lookout". The others went back then and we kept on walking to "St Mary Peak", the highest point in the Flinders Ranges (1170m). So after seeing lots of kangaroos, baby-emus, lizards, snakes and whatever and after working our way through about 24km, we came back to the camp ground at 4pm...quite exhausted and a bit sunburned actually, but it was an awesome walk with stunning views over the landscape; totally worth the efforts =) We then played soccer for a while, bought some groceries and had a great dinner at the camp fire again.
On Tuesday we decided to grab all our stuff and drive to Arkaroo Rock (including a 1.5 hours walk) to see some Aboriginal paintings in a cave. Wasn't as impressive as we thought it's gonna be, but worth having a short walk =) After that we drove to Quorn, had lunch there (pie and chocolate) and continued driving back south until we came to the Skillagalee Winery in Clare Valley, where we tasted some wines and awesome honey. After a second winery (of course we had to compare the wines in the region) we drove back to Adelaide. We were pretty tired and looking forward to our warm beds =D

Altogether, we had a fantastic time and it was really, really good to get out of the city for a few days and enjoy Australia's fantastic nature =)

Good luck with your exams & keep exploring Oz!

Sandra

Are you ready to apply Aussie Company?

Nina from China — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:30:00 GMT

As I mentioned in my first blog, studying overseas sometimes could be bitter. The experience of getting employment at overseas could be even bitterer. However, can International student work out this tough task? And how can we do it? Give yourself a big smile and read through this blog, you will find the answer. :)

There was a great workshop organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants on 2 June 2011, tailoring for International students who have passion to work in Australia. The speakers include two employers (one from big four accounting firm and the other from a medium size accounting firm) and three international students who are now working successfully as professional accountant in the business world.

I did enjoy the workshop a lot and would like to share the notes I took during the event with you guys.

From the panel side:

First of all, employers are looking for experience of working when they are recruiting. However, this working experience does not necessarily have to be in your study area as they understand that it might be hard for a student to step into a professional area. So working experience like selling donuts or retailing assistant are valuable points for building up resume.

Secondly, a successful candidate should be good at time management. As the panel mentioned, they would like to take the candidate who can handle several commitments at the same time. In other words, as a student, we should try to be capable to manage work or society contributions while studying.

In addition, accountability is another crucial criterion that panel addressed. An ideal candidate does not have to have strong academic record, but he/she has to be reliable and responsible in the working environment. Examples should be given to demonstrate your ability during the interview.

From the International students’ side:

Networking might be the first issue they raised. One of them actually said that she spent most of her time studying when she was at Uni. She hopes herself could be braver, then she would make more friends and enjoy networking more. It is true that we prefer to stay in our own familiar group and too shy to speak to strangers. A great suggestion was given during the workshop, let yourself go to a party and won’t leave until you know two strangers. We probably all should try this next time :).

Another suggestion which I was impressed with is be active with one sport you’re keen to. In most of the Aussie companies, employer actually encourages you to balance work and lifestyle. Sport like footy is a really hot topic in Aussie community. It does help you to integrate into working place if you know any of the footy teams or players. According to one of the speakers, working leave is allowed for the sports club commitments or volunteering contributions in some circumstances.

All right, are you ready for the new challenge?

Look forward to seeing you at next workshop

Cheers

Nina

International students in Adelaide take to the Arena – Paintballing!!

Charles from Nigeria — Sun, 22 May 2011 14:30:00 GMT

My experience of living in Adelaide has somewhat flawed the premise that ‘bigger is always better’. I’ll tell you why - Imagine travelling thousands of miles away from home to study in a foreign land and ending up on a campus in the middle of nowhere? Now that’s what I’m talking about. It’s funny that Adelaide is small enough to take a walk around the CBD perimeter in 3 hours (roughly) but so well planned that it accommodates almost anything and everything you’ll find in a modern city. The best part is that it boasts of no less than six education institutions within the CBD bursting with international students from all over the world.

No wonder 7 students who went paintballing on a bright Sunday morning of May the 15^th turned out to be from 5 different continents. Funny enough none of us realized that until one of the paintball organisers pointed it out after registering the group...a small world after all! And then down business, we starting with the euphoria of getting into the field with each person’s firearm followed by the need to strategize after the warming-up (what I would call the initial stain/sting) exercise reminded everyone of the somewhat ‘tricky’ experience we were up for. As one of my visiting professors would say: (“where I come from...”) we were supposed to take it easy on the girls BUT I guess the guys were given a run for their money...hence the rules of engagement were re-drawn on the battlefield!!

Here is what some of them thought:

“...it was fun and worth the bruises...” Carina from Sweden

“The rules of engagement didn't protect you (Charles). Too bad, you were a target..! I had fun. Excellent...” Guma from PNG

“Awesome!!...” Tasneem from Canada

Talking about the friendly atmosphere here would be incomplete without mentioning the unflinching support from the institutions as well as StudyAdelaide who put everything in place to make learning more than just from and around the classroom. The UCL partly-sponsored paintball event is just one of the many ways students enjoy their stay here. And as one of the students here...oh what the heck? Free is good!!

Yes O, noring do me!!

Kangaroo Island

Sandra from Austria — Sat, 21 May 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Hello travellers!

Last week I flew to Kingscote, Kangaroo Island and stayed there for 5 days. The weather was cold but not rainy, so I was happy. This island is just amazing!!!!! After a 1,5h drive or 20mins flight from Adelaide you will be in a whole new magical world. Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island, but you can drive around it in 1 day ;)

The optimal length for being there is about 3-5days I reckon. So what can you do:
Eucalyptus Oil Distillery, Honey Farm, Sheep Dairy Farm, Parndana Wildlife Park, Seal Bay, Pelican feeding (5pm in Kingscote daily), Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, Willoughby Lighthouse, Little Sahara, Kelly Hill Caves and much more!

As you can see on this one island you can find diverse natural settings, such as sand dunes, drip stone caves, huge rocks, lagoons and so on. Have a look at the pics and then go and get your OWN EXPERIENCE!

Study overseas: Bittersweet

Nina from China — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:30:00 GMT

“G’Day, mate, how are u” :)

I’m Nina, one of the six ambassadors. Sorry for the late blog as May is a seriously tough month for me, both from Uni load and working shift. So glad we are in the corner to June. Finally, my life is becoming less busy.

For the very first blog, I would like to share with you guys about my experiences and thoughts of doing study overseas. It is really a combination of happiness and sadness, I do love the word: BitterSweet, which express my feeling exactly.

Landing at the Adelaide Airport still seems to be happened yesterday even though I have been here for two years already. Believe or not, time flies much quicker than you think! It was a gloomy day when I arrived: cloudy + shower, winter time of Adelaide. However, the warm welcome from host family made me feel like in spring. They picked me up from the airport and drove me straight away to the Central Market at where did impressive me a lot: countless coffee shops, lovely baking stores, yummy restaurants, fresh fruit and vegetables which are the key words I picked up from Central Market. This is how I started the new journey at overseas: Adelaide, South Australia, a totally new place for me!

Speaking English was my first task needed to work out at Adelaide. Still remember that I was crying when I talked to Mum on skype, because I barely understood local’s English and hardly communicated with others in English either. It was bitter for me to live in the new place at where different language is spoken. However, we all learn by practicing. I cherished every single chance to learn English and integrate into local community, such as communicated with my host family and neighbor, chatted with my mates at Uni, made new friends when volunteering. Now I am confident enough to say that English is no longer a barrier for me! Isn’t it a great happiness when you figure out the tough task and see the improvement?

Homesick might be a common thing for most of the International students. It is so true that nowhere is better than home. You would miss home and your close friends when you are alone, especially when there is a difficulty or hard decision you have to make. This is another bitter thing for me to study overseas. But I do have my own way to fight with homesick: networking which is the favorite thing in my spare time. Step out of the house, be active in the social community and join up the local events and activities. All of these not only help me fight with homesick, also provide me with knowledge of local culture. It is sweet to learn and experience different things and grow up in a different culture. What do you reckon?

Life is not easy for anyone, particularly when you study overseas. But it would be easier if you can stay positive and keep active. I do enjoy the bittersweet life at overseas. Please remember that whatever life throws to you, get up & walk away, give yourself a big smile. It is my way to cope with life’s challenges.

How do you find your life and study at overseas? Feel free to share yours with me.

Catch up soon

Cheers

Nina

Let's Get Personal!

Ammeline from Philippines — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Each year StudyAdelaide picks 6 international student representatives across all tafe and university campuses to serve as ambassadors for international students here in Adelaide. Here's a quick run through of all 6 from a diverse set of countries, their tips for fellow international students and how you can keep in touch with them:

Sandra loves the outdoors. She's currently completing her Masters degree in Tourism Management at University of South Australia. When not in uni, you’ll see her either in the field playing soccer or just chilling with friends. Aside from being a full-time student, she volunteers for organisations like the Tia International Aid (TIA) – a non-profit organisation that aims to help disadvantaged children in Bolivia, and Holiday Explorers – a tour operator that takes people with disabilities on holiday tours! During her spare time (yes, she still does have some spare time), she likes listening to music. Her favourite song is When You Were Young by The Killers.

Favourite Movies:

"Ice Age, Bolt, Freaky Friday, I Robot, Taking Lives and I Am Sam."

Name one thing you can’t live without.

"Lip balm."

How do you fight home sickness?

"Looking at pictures from home, talking to friends…"

Any coping advices or tips for international students?

"Participate in regional interest groups, sport clubs, music classes… These help you meet and get to know people easier."

Any motto you subscribe to?

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. by Augustinus Aurelius"

Learn more about Sandra and her experiences in Adelaide here.

Charles, aside from English, can speak other languages like Igbo, Pidgin and Waffi. He's currently taking up a Masters degree in Energy and Resources at the UCL Adelaide Campus. Like Sandra, he likes playing soccer and chilling with his friends. This social he-butterfly is always willing to reach out and ready to offer a helping hand every time you need one. This guy also knows how to have fun – he’s full of energy and lives a life full of action. If he’s not out laser tagging, he’s shooting paint balls with friends! What’s next Charles?

What are your hobbies?

"Playing soccer, listening to music and being on the Internet."

Favourite movies?

"Catch Me If You Can, LOTR"

One thing you can’t live without?

"Music."

Any coping tips for international students?

"You are just invaluable as the next person."

A motto you subscribe to:

"Keep hoping…no matter the ‘wahala’. Be grateful for life because with it comes hope."

Find out more about Charles and his experiences in Adelaide here.

Igor is currently taking up Business Double Masters Degree in Supply Chain Management and International Studies at University of South Australia. This bloke with his unique sense of humour never fails to lighten up the whole room with his candid comments. He likes listening to music, watching movies and spending time with his family. He’s an active member of the Brazilian Community in Adelaide – a group that aims to assist Brazilians who are living in Adelaide and South Australia.

What’s your favourite song?

“My Way by Frank Sinatra.”

When not in uni, where would we likely see you?

“In Glenelg during summer, in my pj’s during winter.”

Name 3 things that would sum up your life right now here in Adelaide.

“Having a baby, studying, and growing.”

One thing you can’t live without?

“God.”

Get to know more about Igor and his experiences in Adelaide here.

Nina has got to be one of the busiest people you’ll ever know – when not in uni, she’s just everywhere! Volunteering, attending seminars and conferences…everything! She puts personal growth as her top priority which is very inspiring. She’s currently taking her Masters in Professional Accounting in University of South Australia. She’s very much active in the field of volunteering. According to her, it’s a really good way to enjoy life while overseas as it helps her integrate well with the local community.

Childhood dream job:

“From memory, maybe a schoolteacher as I wanted to be a person who sets up and marks assignments instead of doing it! Haha!”

Coping tips for international students you’d like to share?

“Step out of the house, catch up with the Aussie community, make yourself visible to new friends and learn experiences from others.”

Most memorable experience in Adelaide:

“I love Adelaide people for they are always willing to help others out. I used to live in a home stay setting and my Australian mum, Margarita, was the very first person I met in Adelaide. She was holding my hand and teaching me everything about living in Adelaide from the very basics such as learning how to read the bus timetable. I do appreciate what she has taught me. It made my life so much easier in Adelaide!”

Catch her on Facebook at shennan851208@live.com!

Vishal calls himself the catalyst and I believe everyone can attest to that! He's a certified think tank and the perfect go-to guy. He currently goes to University of Adelaide taking up Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. When not in uni, you'd likely see him out and about riding his motor bike, chilling drinking coffee at Wilsons Organics (his favourite coffee place) or just enjoying the breeze at River Torrens. He loves discovering new things by travelling, watching movies and spending time on the Internet/social media. After having a chat with him you'll find yourself instantly inspired with his fresh ideas, ready to face challenges and determined not just to take advantage of opportunities but make them!

Childhood dream:

“To be a karate champion. Eventually did get a black belt but then got bored and left.”

Most memorable experience in Adelaide:

“My very first flying lesson experience.”

Coping tips for fellow international students:

“Get busy. There’s so much happening around, make the most of your time here.”

A motto you subscribe to:

“The difference between the ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”

Read more about Vish and his experiences in Adelaide here. Follow him on Twitter @VJThecatalyst

I’m currently taking up Masters in Social Work at University of South Australia. Aside from being a full-time student and a part-time child care assistant, I volunteer at Red Cross Australia and Goodwood Community Centre. It’s a bit weird writing my own description here so let me just share with you a few things about me:

Hobbies :

Chilling with friends, listening to music, eating, shopping, surfing the Internet

Childhood dream job:

Teacher. I remember having my own class of inanimate objects like dolls and stuffed toys when I was little, a tiny blackboard and a lot of rambling about culture and Math.

Things I can’t live without:

My laptop, Internet, coffee and music.

Coping tips for fellow international students:

Get involved. Learning doesn’t just happen inside the classroom – you’ll have to go out and experience life beyond books and assignments.

More of my ramblings and experiences here. Follow me on Twitter @tweetammie

We hope to see you all in the next activities and events to come!

Cheers x

Confessions of a Caffeineaholic

Ammeline from Philippines — Sat, 14 May 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Last night at a party, I downed 5 shots – one after the other – of not tequila, vodka or jagermeister... but espresso. Ironic huh? Who chugs coffee before going to the dance floor instead of a beer or a jagerbomb or <insert favorite alcoholic beverage here>? Well, guess I’m that much of a caffeineaholic.

Coffee’s one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide along with tea and beer. According to the International Coffee Organization (ICO), about 1.4 billion cups of coffee are consumed by people worldwide on a daily basis...that’s more than 500 billion cups a year!

Personally, I consume at least 1 cup of coffee a day and 5 cups at most depending on how much brain cells are needed to be activated so I could fully function and survive an Ammie day. It’s like my own personal brand of petrol (not heroin, if I may just borrow the infamous Twilight line), for without it the Ammie engine just won't work. So how am I like without a cup of coffee you might ask? Like a zombie. And honestly, you wouldn’t want to see me coffee-deprived because I will (without having second thoughts) eat your brains out. Seriously. :)

I loved coffee so much that my mom fed me coffee instead of milk when I was a baby. True story. Now I know why I’m vertically challenged. ON A SIDE NOTE: Hi Ma! :D Anyway kidding aside, I never really used to love coffee. As a matter of fact, I hated it. But like most love stories, it all starts with good ol’ hating before eventually falling madly in love. Yep. Coffee and I had the same love story. Glad that even though I'm here in Australia right now, I know it’s one of the few things I certainly won’t miss!

Along Hindley-Rundle Street alone, you can already find more than 10 different coffee shops standing just a few blocks away from each other. For a coffee avid fan like me, that’s enough to keep me happy! I just wish they’d offer more variety though, like custom iced coffee or a frappuccino. I know it’s not something one would normally look for since winter is fast approaching but trust me when summer does come, you WILL find the need for this!

What about you - are you a self-confessed coffee addict? How much coffee do you consume each day? Which cafe is by far your most favourite here in Adelaide? For me, I'm not really picky. So long as my coffee's dairy-free, then I'm 110% good!

Hope all’s having a great weekend!

xx,

Cooking Class

Igor from Brazil — Sun, 08 May 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Hi everybody!

First of all, I must say it is a pleasure to be a Student Ambassador. I really hope I can help StudyAdelaide with their amazing work of supporting international students!

Being an international student myself, I am often asked what I like about living overseas. And one of my answers (and I bet a lot of you also say that) is that I enjoy meeting people and learning about new cultures.

Well last Friday I had the chance of doing that in a great way – with food!

StudyAdelaide along with CitySalvos has promoted a cooking class for international students. We had an Indian chef – Promila Gupta – showing us some of her secrets and at the end we had a little taste, of course.

I must say I was a little bit worried, since I am not a big fan of spicy foods. But for my surprise, it was really good! The secret was the combination of flavours, not all ingredients are hot, you just need to learn how to balance them.

It was really interesting to know some ingredients which are not common in my country. My favourite was the paneer cheese.

After the class and the tasting we had a beautiful and noble activity, helping serve lunch for people in need – mostly homeless. It felt great being able to help others and see their smiles on their face as they thank us at the end.

I definitely recommend this activity for those who want to learn a bit of international culinary and also help someone in need.

Don’t forget to register at the StudyAdelaide website in order to receive newsletters with information regarding new activities.

Hope to see you in the next one.

Tchau! (Brazilian way of saying Bye)

Igor

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Vishal from India — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:30:00 GMT

I woke up at 5 am, even before my alarm went off (very unusual once you get to know me). But then, today was different. I was in for the ride of my life. Literally!

Mr. Chapman (76), a friend’s grandfather had invited me to go flying! A modest, two-seater aircraft awaited us in an aerodrome just one hour from the city. I soaked in the sunrise on this crisp morning, and looked out optimistically at the kangaroo and koala road-signs.

Once there, I was given my apprentice cap and duties were assigned. I opened the doors, helped in moving the aircrafts (woahhhh!!) and observed diligently as he fuelled up the tank and made entries in his journal. I learnt that you need to work hard on the ground to earn your right to soar the skies.

And then it finally happened. I found myself fastening my seat-belt, putting on the headphones and introducing myself on the radio! Captain Chapman let the world know that we were ready to take off! I felt goose bumps all over, the wheels were off the ground and soon we were looking down at the hills, people seemed like ants, the houses as if from a game of Lego and the landscape -absolutely breathtaking.

I was introduced to the controls and the region – Victor Harbor, the Murray River, Strathalbyn and even his daughter’s house. He was focused and in control, but made it seem effortless. I was simply clicking away and capturing all these stunning views for myself and understanding what actually happens in a cockpit. Just to experience South Australia this way and getting an insight into flying has been such a adventure. I can’t put into the words the rush of feelings I experienced in that very moment. Unbelievable!

He patiently answered all my questions about the aircraft and the region. And then he declared it was time to land. I looked around one last time and pinched myself to believe this was true. The smooth landing marked the end of the adventure, and at the same time made me realize that in many ways, that the journey had only just begun.

Thank you Captain Chapman. This is co-captain Vishal signing off ;-)

Around SA in 8 hours!!!

Charles from Nigeria — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Around SA in 8 hours!!!

Another memorable day it was...not referring to the colourful parade on Australia Day or the action-packed Adelaide Fringe’s starter. It was a day’s tour of South Australia’s rich vistas from the North-East to the South-West of Adelaide. The orientation week for the new intakes at UCL Adelaide Campus was capped with a pleasure trip to the “highs” and “lows” of Adelaide.

The early morning showers of Friday the 25^th of February did everything but dampen the spirits of every student on the bus as the day kicked off with a drive up the hills to Gorge Wildlife Park. It was a delight to see the Kangaroos, Koalas, and Kookaburras all in one place. More so for me having conceded that another long trip to the Flinders ranges would be a certainty to get such an opportunity. And guess what? That was just a starter. Driving through the scenic beauty of the Adelaide hills was more icing on the cake as we made way to the Mount Lofty lookout; the telescopic view of the Adelaide CBD and environs...certainly a sight to behold!

Again that’s not all, we headed southwards to the Wirra Wirra winery at Mclaren Vale for wine tasting - of course a tour is never complete without a new South Australian wine to excite the taste buds.;)). Finally, just when it was time to get wet at the Port Willunga beach the sun was smiling brightly J at us…you just couldn’t ask for any more in 8 hours.

Thinking about experiencing the sights and sounds of Oz?... short of enough time to have a long trip?...then one way is Tom’s Tours and explore so much in 8 hours!!

Cheers mates!! nbsto :D

Charles

South Australia, the Festival State

Sandra from Austria — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Adelaide is amazing concerning events, festivals and other social activities held throughout the year.

Especially from January till March it is busy in this small town :)

The event season starts with the German ‘Schützenfest’ followed by the ‘Tour Down Under’ and leading to ‘Australia Day’. After celebrating ‘Chinese New Year’ other community festivals such as the ‘Greek Festival’ and the ‘Italian Carnevale’ take place. Then it slowly goes over to music, arts and dance hosting two festivals ‘Future’ and ‘Big Day Out’ while having the ‘Fringe’ and ‘WOMADelaide’ (see pic). Last but not least the motorsport highlight ‘Clipsal 500’ marks the end of the busy season. The Valentine’s Day celebration nearly goes down with all the stuff going on :)

Huuuuh... finally some time to concentrate on Uni again before in September ‘Malaysian Carneval’ is celebrated in the city. After that a charity event ‘Light the Night’ takes place and one week later the ‘OzAsia Festival’ (see pic).

The ‘Zombiewalk’ (see pic) at the beginning of October is another highlight held in the streets of Adelaide before the Christmas celebrations start with the ‘Christmas Pageant’.

Attending all of those activities will be hard, but nothing is impossible :)

By the way some of the events have no entry fees and even if they have there is always the opportunity to volunteer on-site. That means you can enjoy the atmosphere for free and at the same time get work experience for your resume.

Good luck!!!

Sandra

Adelaide Thus Far :)

Shawny from Malaysia — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:30:00 GMT

From the moment I stepped off the plane at the Adelaide Airport, I knew I would be leading a relatively different life from the one I had been living merely a day before. It is, after all, my first time being away from home and a far way away at that. Being independent has never quite found its way into my dictionary. Back home, I had always been chauffeured around by my parents, taken to and fro school, shopping malls and pretty much anywhere else I wanted to go. I have travelled by public transport a few times but those were rare occasions and it was only the LRT (Light Rail Transit) or taxi but taking the bus was never an option. All that would change over here.

Only a day after I arrived in Adelaide, I had to hail a bus to get to the city and that will be my sole means of commuting over here from now on. It is a huge leap from being driven around if I do say so myself. In addition to that, the process of taking the bus would involve my crossing a road outside the place I am currently staying at. Now I would just like to point out that back home, people could pretty much cross the road at any point; in other words, we could jaywalk and get away with it. Over here however, jaywalking is illegal – so I have been told – and in the event you are caught in doing so, you will be slapped with a $55.00 fine. This is certainly not a small amount and hence it would be wise to abide by the law and cross the road using the pedestrian paths provided.

My first two weeks here were basically spent exploring the city and learning up the bus routes lest I get lost. Well, then again, being lost isn’t really an issue. Just ask for help from anyone walking next to you and they’d be happy to lead you back in the right direction. I am enjoying every bit of my time as a student here in Adelaide so far and it has only been about two months plus since I got here.

G’day mates! :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Rakshet from Thailand — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:30:00 GMT

I'm guessing this may be the last blog posted for the year 20-10. So from me and all the ambassadors this year along with the most wonderful staff at StudyAdelaide I want to wish everyone a merry christmas and a happy new year. May next year be just as great as this one, though it may be hard to do for me since I made such wonderful friends this year working with StudyAdelaide. They truly have made this year stand out amongst all others, and I know that the friends I have made now I will keep for ever and ever. So I want to thank them as well, as they have made my experience along with the experience of all the others here in Adelaide as great as it could be.

Signing off for the year,
Rakshet

Stay Connected

Rakshet from Thailand — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 13:30:00 GMT

Having the Internet always accessible is always a must. Let me tell you about 3 events I've recently been to where I got free entrance or invites through the internet.
Firstly, last week on thursday, I read on my twitter account that the University of Adelaide was giving out free double passes to see "The Social Network" presented by a company called Fusion and all you had to do was be on of the first 10 people to send them an email. Luckily, I have internet access on my Blackberry so I was able to quickly send in an email and snag an invite. My friend and I were lucky enough to go see the movie for free. And another surprise, you'll never know who are at these sort of events, like running into some StudyAdelaide staff as well. [On a side note, the movie is a must watch, it was quite amazing]
Secondly, that saturday, the day before Halloween, a International Student Halloween party was going on. Luckily because of Facebook I was able to get tickets for my friend and I as well. So we both got all dressed up [I went as Chuck, she went as a witch] and danced the night away.
Lastly, yesterday, I was luckily enough to get invited to participated in TedxAdelaide, an independent Ted conference organised by local people here. All I had to do was submit in an application and I was fortunate to be chosen to go watch. It was a superb experience as there were talks by people in all different fields, and I was able to meet some very interesting people.
So the catch line is always stay connected wherever you are, you never know what freebies you may be able to catch up.
Also keep an eye out for the StudyAdelaide newsletters, they always have passes to events happening in Adelaide

Happy Hunting :)

Longview Vineyard

Faye from India — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:30:00 GMT

I went for a friend's wedding located at Macclesfield in Longview vineyard which is about an hours drive from the city via the south eastern freeway.

The view was simply breathtaking, so lush green and refreshing. Longview is a family owned vineyard and it has accommodation as well as a very popular Sunday Tapas. What a great way to spend a summers day on the luxuriant lawn with an opulent Mediterranean platter!

Luckily the sun was out that day and I managed to take some nice pics. I'd say that it is a 'must see' place and a hot spot for wine lovers too!

Engineering Exhibition

Natasha from Botswana — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:30:00 GMT

The University of Adelaide holds an exhibition at the Adelaide Showgrounds for Mechanical Engineering students to exhibit their final year projects. This year the exhibition will fall on Wednesday 27th October and runs from 9am to 4pm.

The exhibition is an opportunity for the fourth year students to exhibit their projects to the public, everyone is welcome to come by and have a look. The school of Mechanical Engineering includes aerospace, mechanical, mechatronic and automotive engineering and hence there is a large variety of projects to have a look at some of them you may even have a go at using. Many of the projects are design and build but there are also research projects into advanced topics that are being researched globally.

There is a shuttle from the University of Adelaide which takes you to the showgrounds but there is also the option of taking public transport (for specific buses and times please check www.adelaidemetro.com.au) such as buses or trams.

This week Sunday (24th October 2010) from 10am to 3pm Gouger street will be holding the Moving Cities Event. Some of the sustainable engineering projects developed of this year will also be exhibited at this event amongst food and a wide range of activities and products.

The students are always eager to show the work they have been involved in. So if you are interested in pursuing a career in this field or just want to come and have a look at what some of your fellow peers have been doing come down next Wednesday and have a look around! =D

Lovely people in Adelaide

Karen from China — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:30:00 GMT

Last week, I went shopping to buy a gift for one of my best friends.When I walked into the shop the owner was very nice, greeting me with a great smile (^^). She gave me a warm reception introducing all the products in the shop to me. Then, I told her that I would like to buy a gift for my best friend and she kindly gave me many suggestions.

The products in the store are so sweet and adorable that I wandered for a while in the shop to decide what to buy.

Finally, I made a decision and went to pay for the product but I then realised my wallet was not in my bag. I flushed crimson with embarrassment ( >.<) and apologised about that and promised I would back soon to pay. The shop owner comforted me and told me not be panic, it was no problem at all.

This is what I love about Adelaide, the people are so friendly. (n.n)

And then, I run back immediately and grab my wallet to pay.

Beautiful central of Australia

Daisy from China — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:30:00 GMT

I just came back from Northern Territory. The trip is fantastic! I saw the different landscape: rocks, red soil, desert and low bushes.

ULURU (Ayers rock) is a mysterious and beautiful rock.

I share some pictures with you:)

Haigh’s Chocolate Factory Tour

Talita from Brazil — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Yummy...Do you love chocolate? Well, I do.

I had a great experience of learning about how chocolate is made, where it comes from, and the BEST part I TRIED some delicious Haigh’s CHOCOLATE – chocolate macadamia, dark and milk chocolate, and cafe latte truffle.

You might be wondering where I went. I will give you the answer... at Haigh’s factory.

The factory is located on Greenhill Road, not far from the CBD. You can catch the tram, go by bus or go for a walk – burning the calories you will put on. I walked there in a beautiful sunshine day!

Have a look at the location:

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=154+Greenhill+Road,+Parkside&fb=1&gl=au&hnear=Adelaide+SA&view=map&cid=

The visitor tours run Monday to Saturday at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 2.00pm. Bookings are essential – to book call (08) 8372 7077. I promise you that it will be a FANTASTIC and DELICIOUS experience.

If you would like to read about the history and find where the Haigh’s stores are located go on the website http://haighschocolates.com.au/index.html

OzAsia Festival

Natasha from Botswana — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Adelaide is known as the city of festivals and yet again we see why. OzAsia is a 15 day festival with plays, shows, food and many more activities from around Asia. This year the festival will run from Friday 17 September to Saturday 02 October.

Many of the plays and shows require tickets (specific dates and prices can be found on OzAsia website http://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/ozasia/) however one of the most celebrates events is the Moon Lantern Festival. This is a free event and will occur on Wednesday 22 September 2010 from 15:30-20:30pm. The festival will take place at Elder Park on the banks of the Torrens River (location can be seen at http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=wl). The Moon Lantern Festival is open to all age groups and on the day you will find Asian food, crafts, lanterns, stalls, workshops and much more. The night will end with a fireworks show! I have been to Moon Lantern Festival many times before and it is a lovely way to take a break from study/work and learn a bit more about different countries and cultures.

It is a wonderful way to spend an even with friends or family under the stars and this year you will find a host of StudyAdelaide representitives at the festival! Hope to see you there too! =)

The Adelaide Show :)

Rakshet from Thailand — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Every year, around the end of August to Early September, Adelaide goes into showbag frenzy. Now if you don't understand what I mean, that would mean you've never been to the Adelaide Show. Located out at Wayville Showgrounds (which is actually where we have our exams, ironic, right) the show is a moving amusement park with rides, animals, food and of course show bags. I recently went to the Adelaide show with another StudyAdelaide Ambassador, Natasha, and we both had a great time. We are both adrenaline junkies so we had a great time going on all the rides (though 1 did give us both really bad headaches). We then ate curly fries with cheese, which was quite delicious. Now if you don't know, a showbag is usually a themed gift bag that you can purchase with lots of fun stuff in it. Though neither of us bought showbags we did have quite an enjoyable evening. And the night ended with a spectacular fireworks display (no matter how old you are, you always enjoy fireworks). I would recommend anyone that hasn't been in a long time to definitely make a day of the show because theres always something new to do.

Making travel Plan by yourself (Alice Spring)

Daisy from China — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:30:00 GMT

September is coming. I will have one week holiday after 16th September.

I am planning to travel to Alice Spring with my friends in my holiday. I share some imformation which I searched on website with you. I hope my plan can help you to make your travel plan if you will go to Alice Spring too.

Below information is our plan:

1. Booking the train tickets (from Adelaide to Alice Spring) online (http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/home.jsp). We will take train because we can see unique and beautiful scenery by train.The train will depart form Adeliade on Sunday and arrive in Alice Spring on Monday. You need to be cautious of timetable of train because it just departs from Adelaide on Sunday and Wednesday.

2. Booking the accommodation on YHA website (http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/nt/central-australia/alice-springs/popup-details/). You also can search other hostels on Google.The train will get Alice Spring about 2:00 pm , so we will have some time to go around. Then we will go back the accommodation and stay for one night.

3 Booking tour (http://www.territorydiscoveries.com/product-page/tour/854). The name of this tour is "Rock to Water". It departs from Alice Spring on every Tuesday. The destination is Adelaide. It will spend 6 days on tavelling all famous landscapes. It is interesting that we can camp at Ayers Rock Campground and stay at underground dormitory style accommodation in Coober Pedy. More detail is on its website:)

I am looking forward to travelling to Alice Spring. I also hope that these information can help you to make plan.

Kangaroo Island

Natasha from Botswana — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Kangaroo Island is an island off the coast of Adelaide. A short drive to Cape Jervis and ferry trip will put you at Penneshaw in K.I. If you don't have access to a car Sealink provides buses that will get you down to Cape Jervis. Their website (http://www.sealink.com.au/) will also provide ticket prices, accommodation spots and tours and packages.

There is some beautiful scenery and wildlife to see, particularly the seals and sunsets on the beach. There is also the opportunity to see baby kangaroos and hold them as well as koalas. A lavneder farm has lovely tea and cakes and there are some lovely gifts for friends and family.

Winter might not be the best time to enjoy the sea but the accommodation caters for all seasons. Worth a visit at least once during your student/working career in Adelaide! =)

Adelaide Around the World

Rakshet from Thailand — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:30:00 GMT

I just recently got back from a trip to the Big Apple, but lets leave that story for another time. The first thing that caught my attention before I boarded my flight from Sydney to San Francisco is that I saw someone carrying a studyadelaide bag. But mainly, my first friend here in Adelaide is now doing an internship in New York. It was great being able to catch up with her after not seeing her for over a year as she was only here for a semester on exchange. Having a friend there to do the most random things with like go see lady gaga at 4 am in the morning or walk around the streets at 10:30 pm looking for cupcakes is always fun, but knowing that I made this friend here at university was even more special. Its so true and great that all the international friends you make at your time here are there whenever and wherever your travels take you down the line.

Start of another semester

Natasha from Botswana — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Hello all! =)

I have been in Europe for the past few weeks hence the lack of posts till now. I hope you all enjoyed your winter break and hopefully managed to do some travelling around the country!! There is so much to see and every city is so different, I have been to Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne but it is always a good feeling to come back to the relaxed life of Adelaide.

To all the students who are starting welcome! Unfortunately the rain and cold isn't the best welcome to Adelaide but there are many fine places you go to stay warm. My favourite places are Cocolate and Chocolate Bean down rundle street for a warm cup of hot chocolate (down Rundle Street). Also down Rundle is the Belgian Beer Bar which can be really nice on an evening they have some really interesting things on their menu (both food and drink). Also down Unley there is a place called Spatz. They open quite late in the evening and stay open till early hours of the morning, not quite in the city but they have some delicious deserts! =)

29TH Showdown - Port Adelaide versus Crows at AAMI Stadium

Talita from Brazil — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:30:00 GMT

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!

Drive to countryside

Karen from China — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:30:00 GMT

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.

In the mood for pancakes?

Faye from India — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:30:00 GMT

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!

Rainbow

Daisy from China — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:30:00 GMT

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.

Trip to Brisbane

Natasha from Botswana — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Hello! :)

Last weekend I attended a conference in Brisbane. I was there for 5 days and thoroughly enjoyed experiencing a different part of Australia.

Festivals

Lea-Anne from Australia — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:30:00 GMT

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!

Adelaides secret

Lea-Anne from Australia — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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!

A typical Weekend for me

Lea-Anne from Australia — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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!

Biking

Linh from Vietnam — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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.

CAMPING TRIP

Ranjani from Singapore — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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!

Saving money in adelaide

Lea-Anne from Australia — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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!)

Weekend

Linh from Vietnam — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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.

Adelaide

Lea-Anne from Australia — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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!

Central Market

Ranjani from Singapore — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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.

Make your own fun

Maninder from India — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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.

TORRENS RIVER

Ranjani from Singapore — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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.

Adelaide Botanic Garden

Maninder from India — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

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?

Graduation

Linh from Vietnam — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:30:00 GMT

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.

Stroll down the beach

Ranjani from Singapore — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:30:00 GMT

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!

Hols!!!

Ranjani from Singapore — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:30:00 GMT

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!

My week's been...

Ranjani from Singapore — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:30:00 GMT

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.

Barbeque in UniSA

Ranjani from Singapore — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:30:00 GMT

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.

My September

Linh from Vietnam — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:30:00 GMT

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.

Blood donation drive

Ranjani from Singapore — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:30:00 GMT

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.

My adventure to Kangaroo Island

Ranjani from Singapore — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:30:00 GMT

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?

My favourite secret spot

Linh from Vietnam — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:30:00 GMT

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?