It's that time of the
year! That time of the year when you have to pack your bags, bid adieu to all
that's familiar and embark on that new journey and new phase of life. So much
to look forward to, so much to be nervous about! As an international student
moving to Australia for the first time, I'm undergoing all of the above.
Butterflies in the stomach would be an understatement, they feel more like
wallabies! Only 48 hours to go before I arrive in Sydney to pursue a Masters
degree at the University of Sydney.
I'm looking forward to
seeing the Sydney you see in postcards - the Opera House, the Harbour bridge,
the golden sands and blue water of Bondi - the works! I'm even more excited to
be back at University, especially at a campus as alluring as the University of
Sydney's. I'm lucky to fulfill that childhood dream of attending a school that
looks just like Hogwarts! I think the prospect of exploring a new city is what
makes studying in a different country most exciting. In order to prepare for
it, I've been doing some research into Sydney's must-dos and must-sees. Not
only am I relying on the trustworthy Lonely Planet guides but have also been
looking into suggestions by Destination NSW and reading blogs by expats and travellers in
Sydney. Now the city doesn't feel like a stranger anymore!
I'm excited to discover
the city and get a taste of the Australian culture - get acquainted with the
accent, expand my Ozzie vocabulary, watch a rugby game, have a
"barbie" at the beach and acquire a taste for Vegemite! The best way
to integrate into a new country is to become a cultural chameleon. I'm looking
forward to embracing some of the Australianisms.
First impressions always matter when you move to a country so it's very important to me to ensure that I have a smooth and hassle-free arrival in Australia. I received some very helpful suggestions from friends in Australia to help with my packing and planning before I land in the down under:
- Carry an up-to-date and valid passport and visa and their photocopies.
- Carry adaptor plugs if necessary. Electrical sockets (outlets) in the Commonwealth of Australia are the "Type I".
- Ensure that you have some Australian dollars at your disposal before you arrive in the country.
- Check Australia’s customs and quarantine regulations and make sure you declare items such as food. Dairy and forestry products are a big no-no. Visit this website for more details: http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/travel/entering-australia/cant-take
- Carry contact details and addresses of people you may know in the city as well as your University’s point of contact and your home country’s embassy in Australia.
- Try and arrange for temporary accommodation when you just arrive in the city. There are plenty of backpackers hostels and lodges and options such as Couchsurfing. Some of the Universities also offer casual accommodation in their halls of residence.
- Figure out how you're going to get to your destination - trains are the cheapest for individuals with a one way ticket costing $16 and taking only 20 minutes. A cab ride to the city will probably set you back at least $40-50 dollars. It's worth taking a cab if you're travelling with two or more people!
Getting ready for a new
adventure also means budgeting wisely. Sydney may be an expensive city but
there's always ways to cut down expenses - sharing a room, living close to campus
to cut down travel costs, using services like Nexpay etc. I believe as
students, we have a knack for discovering places with best value for money. I
hope to do the same in Sydney. Watch this space for more!
I believe people maketh a
place. It's the people you meet and the experiences you have with them that
make your time abroad more memorable. Before moving to Sydney, I've already
started connecting with students in my cohort and tracking down friends and
family who are now based in Sydney. Although meeting new people is exciting,
it's always good to have a network of people from one's own home country too to
make it easier to settle in a home away from home.
24 hours to go till the
flight, I think I'm as set as I can be before the start of a new
journey. As Henry Miller once proclaimed, "One’s destination is
never a place, but a new way of
seeing things.” I'm ready for my new destination. See you in the land down
under!
