Challenging the stereotypes

Thanks to popular media and classic cases of “I’ve heard from someone”, most international students land in Australia with some stereotypes about the country and its people. I did as well, but the last 6 months have challenged and shattered some of these preconceived notions.

So, what were some of the incorrectly held stereotypes about the land down under, “where the women glow and men plunder”?

1. Where the wild things are – When you mention Australia, people picture kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles and all sorts of creepy and crawlies. Much to your surprise and/or disappointment, most cities in Australia aren’t as wild as you would think. I have lived in Sydney about six months now and I still haven’t spotted a kangaroo or wrestled a crocodile!

2. More than just shrimp on the barbie – Yes, barbeques are popular, especially during the summer, but shrimp is not the only thing on the menu! Also no one really uses that phrase, in fact they call them prawns (not shrimp).

3. It’s always sunny in Australia – Wrong! Many people just pack their thongs, bikinis and summer wear before moving to Australia. Little do they realise that it gets cold and has long stretches of a wet spell too. Summer is glorious but there are many a rainy and grey days as well! Also, not everyone in Australia is always at the beach. There’s more to the country than sun, sand and surf.

4. Fosters beer – Fosters beer seems to be world famous everywhere except Australia. Much to my surprise, I’ve only seen Fosters being served at a couple of bars in Sydney so far! Australians like their beer but Fosters isn’t the one!

5. Must play sports – People assume that everyone in Australia is extremely fit and an athlete of some sort (rugby players in particular). That is not the case. Yes, in general, I’ve noticed that several people work out and choose to live a healthy lifestyle but there are also many exceptions to the rule. The country also caters very well to those who are not outdoorsy and sporty.

6. Slanguage – There’s a stereotype that Australians have a peculiar way of talking which involves several slang words that are unknown to foreigners and also that the accent is hard to comprehend. However, I quickly realised that Australia is very multicultural, the accent changes from person to person, it’s just a matter of time before you get acquainted with the accent. Sure, they do have a few slang words such as “your shout”, “sheila” etc but learning some of these beforehand comes handy!

So yes, there are a few myths out there. Stereotypes certainly have some level of truth or history to it but it’s pleasantly surprising and exciting to have them challenged every now and then!

Apps to make student life easier

As a Postgrad student who is back at Uni after three years, I’ve just discovered the awesomeness of smartphone Apps and the highly vital role they can play in making Uni life easier and more fun. Here are some of recommendations (which can be downloaded from iTunes and the Google Play store).

Student life:

Lost on Campus:

This is a really handy app to have, especially in the first few weeks of University as you are trying to familiarize yourself with a new campus and its surroundings. From suggestions for best coffee to locating a lecture hall, this app has it all to make sure you are not lost on campus.

Australia Student Guide:

This is a comprehensive app targeted at local and international students, that includes all you need to know about things to do, places to see, events to attend and specials to grab in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.

My Weekly budget:

This app helps to keep you on top of your finances by helping you track your spending and plan your expenses on a weekly basis.  Highly recommended for budget-constrained but impulsive hearted shoppers like myself!

Good Tonight:

Developed by a University of  Sydney student, this App ensures that every night is a good night. It helps you find bars and venues based on your preferences, popularity and specials so you can plan ahead or even find a venue nearby when you are on-the-go. This helps to explore the city and find your new favourite “hangouts”.

Study aides and Productivity tools

Evernote:

A must-have for students! This is a fantastic app to boost your productivity by helping you make to-do lists, write notes and save photos across all devices.  

Dropbox:

A great app to have for file sharing, especially when working on group assignments. Collating files has never been easier!

Erudio:

Here’s another app to help you organize your day and semester better.

Flashcards:

This app was developed at Harvard University to make virtual flashcards. You can create your own or use one of the tens of millions of pre-made decks to assist your memory.

Pocket:

This is an award winning app - great for student activities and just general browsing. You can simply put away articles that you want to read later or again in the “pocket” which can be accessed easily. This syncs across all your devices and allows you to read articles, look through photos and view videos whenever you need.

WolframAlpha:

An amazing app for those of you dealing with stats, numbers and formulas. WolframAlpha is like a mathematical version of Google in your pocket that can instantly assist with any technical query you have.

Communication Apps

Whatsapp:

Again a great tool for teamwork, especially for those working in virtual teams. Also, a good way to communicate with your dear and near ones overseas.

Snapchat:

This is the newest craze for students in Australia where you communicate using only photos that last on your friend’s screen for just a few seconds. Mainly used for fun and interactive communication.

Hope these help you have an appsolutely good time at Uni :). Watch this space for more!

Some fun facts about the Australian Currency

It's been two months since I've arrived in Australia and I still find it hard to distinguish between the 20-cent and 50-cent coins! I thought I should share some interesting facts about the Australian currency:

• When European settlers first arrived in Australia, a barter system, including rum, was used as currency instead of money.

• Till 1963, Australia used the “Australian Pound” as its main currency. More than 1,000 entries were made to name the new currency, including the Royal, Roo and Kanga, before Dollar’was chosen.

• In 1988, Australia invented "plastic" money, replacing its paper notes with polymer notes to combat counterfeiting. In 1996, Australia became the first country in the world to have a complete series of polymer notes.

• Australia prints polymer notes for more than 15 other countries, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Chile, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Western Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

• Highlighting its diverse wildlife, Australia’s coins feature the only two mammals in the world to lay eggs. The 20-cent coin features the platypus, while the 5 cent coin the echidna.

• As of early 2013, The Australian dollar was the fifth most traded currency in the world.

• Defacing or destroying current coins or current paper money is technically punishable by law and carries fines of upwards of $5,000 or 2 years in prison.

Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (http://www.dfat.gov.au/), 

              BigPondMoney (http://www.bigpondmoney.com.au/)