Living in Student Residences abroad

-By Troy

I’m about ten weeks into my Study Abroad student exchange program at the University of Exeter in the UK.

As the semester comes to a close so does a crazy couple of months that has been living on campus.

I have lived in share houses many times before, from Brunswick to Hawthorn to Clifton Hill. Equally, I am lucky to have travelled a little bit across the USA, Canada and now the UK and I'm quite comfortable staying in hostels and backpackers. But NOTHING could have prepared me for putting 48 international students together in the one apartment block!

The first two weeks of semester,  there were parties just about every night. Every Sunday morning somewhere on campus, a kitchen looked like some kind of disaster zone from cramming a million people in there for drinking, socialising and debauchery!

As semester rolls along, you eventually find that assessments are due and you can’t be out every night. But you hear the music or the laughter drifting from your window or down the hallway and you are tempted to go and join in!

Living on campus has many perks. Everything is provided for: Internet, bills, rent- everything is included. You are walking distance to classes; you can quite easily roll out of bed 15 minutes before a lecture if you really want. For me, the campus gym is only a 10-minute walk away and the supermarket is an easy 15-minute stroll.

There is always someone to talk to and hang out with. I made toast at 2am last week and ended up chatting to my French comrades for an hour! During the first week we held an international dinner night where everyone cooked something from home. You are exposed to new cultures, new ways of doing things.

Of course there are also challenges! Sometimes you just need your own space, and it’s hard to have this with twelve others on the same floor as you. Noise can be problematic at night. Social politics and alliances emerge within the flat. Romantic relationships begin and evolve; jealousy and gossip can be sure to follow.

Coming back to the kitchen; with no common area, this has been the natural gathering point for each floor and never has it been such contentious ground to navigate. Food gets eaten, fridge space becomes a battleground, and people have no clue how to wash up or put away dishes.

After all the water restrictions we've had back home, I was horrified when several of my flat mates washed their dishes under a running tap! In light of all this, I thought it might be useful to offer some strategies that have worked for us over here:

• Establish a weekly garbage and recycling roster early on.
• Set up a Facebook Group for your floor as a forum to deal with issues as they come up. Drama is tough but don't avoid it!
• Split costs of expendables such as dishwashing liquid and toilet paper. Set aside a shelf or something to keep these things and make sure to contribute.
• Wash up your dishes after meals and put them away.
• Make your bedroom your own space where you can go if you need some timeout.
• Buy earplugs for the nights you need to study or sleep and can’t party. 
• Maximise services offered on campus such as the gym and the medical centre. These things are there to help you. 
• Get involved and get interested! So many cultures and new perspectives on life to learn about! 

Make the most of the parties and meeting new people. All the students living on campus are going through the same things as you. There are lifelong friendships to be formed even when you are on the other side of the world. I now have friends all over America, Canada and Europe who I can visit in the coming years!

Good luck and have fun!

   

Who needs a GAP year when you can travel and earn credits?

-By Vanessa

OK I must admit I am a study tour addict.

I have been to Tunisia to study Arabic.

I have been to China to study Chinese Commercial Law.

I have been to Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Prague, Geneva, Basel, Paris and London on my last trip on the AEF study Tour and maybe I still have my sights set on just one more before I graduate.

My Bucket list

 

Climb the Great Wall of China

Walk in Tienanmen Square

Eat chocolate in Switzerland

See the terracotta warriors

 Ride a camel through the Sahara

Go shopping at Harrods London

Dance all night at the 5 story nite club in Prague     

Ice skate on the Eiffel Tower

Ride on a Junk in Hong Kong

Walk on Tower Bridge aka London Bridge

Eat Frankfurt's/sausage in Frankfurt  

 

Stroll along Lake Geneva   

Celebrating New Years in a remote location with locals aka Sahara Desert.

I could go on but you get the idea.

In any case, remember travel insurance is an absolute must. Trust me, seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time out the back of an ambulance in Paris makes you really appreciate it.

  



O.K so its not all play, but even the serious aspects of Deakin University Overseas Study Tours are truly amazing!



Full-time student, part-time worker

-By Ryan

Have you ever had the experience of working full-time and studying part-time? You possibly have. But have you ever had the experience of studying full-time and working part-time? Possibly not! Welcome to university life!

While some students may decide not to work and instead focus entirely on their studies, there are others who wish to earn a few bucks. Especially, when the cost of living is high and the part-time income can help the student to be a bit more financially independent.

Finding a part-time job can be a daunting experience at times. When I came to Melbourne, I had no idea that I would have to wait for five months to find a part-time job. For five stressful months, I tried everything from applying online on popular websites and visiting job agencies to personally handing my resume at different stores. What eventually worked for me was a friend of mine, knowing someone through whom I got a job. As I reflected over this job-hunting experience of mine, I realised that I myself might have been responsible for my lack of success in obtaining a job. I had a lengthy resume with a list of qualifications which would clearly not help my case to find a simple part-time job requiring minimum qualifications. So the first lesson I learnt was: tailor your resume to the type of job you are applying for.

Once the stress of finding a job was over, there was a new kind of stress! Balancing studies and work; balancing them both can be a stressful experience at times. In my case, it was a bit difficult for me at the start juggling my university commitments and my work life. Sometimes, I wondered why there were just 24 hours in a day! Studying for a master’s degree is no cakewalk, and when you have a job as well, it makes it all the more tough. Some of my friends marvelled as to how I could balance study and work together. But I guess, it all comes down to self-discipline, and that means prioritising your commitments, keeping targets and believing in yourself. I have learnt to be more responsible and take things in my stride. At the end of the day, this experience has made me a more mature person. For now, I leave you with these thoughts of mine and wish you all the best as you pursue your dreams at Deakin.