First blog from Sydney

Having arrived 3 weeks ago now, I feel like I’ve got my bearings and pretty much settled in. I decided not to go for University accommodation (which is very limited generally in Australian universities and expensive!) and thankfully my housing situation has turned out really well. Organised completely over the internet (could have all gone horribly wrong!) I moved in with 3 other people into a house about a 20 minute walk from UNSW, a 15 minute bus ride from the city and 10 minutes on a bus to the beaches. I definitely think I made the right choice in terms of living arrangements, after being in a flat in Edinburgh I don’t think I could go back to halls and I am getting on with my housemates. I’ve learned quite quickly that there is an infinite amount of accommodation available in Sydney, catered to all kinds of people and budgets so even if things had gone wrong here, there’s no doubt I could have found a place quite easily. My rent is $150 a week, which works out as approximately £260 a month.

I flew into Sydney on the 13^th of July, with the ‘Orientation Week’ for exchange students starting on the 17^th, going against the general advice to arrive at least a week before uni starts, but again I think this was the best choice, as it meant that things pretty much got started straight away after I had got over a bit of jet lag, no time to get homesick or feel lost! The ‘Orientation Week’ was good, 3 days of information, talks and a couple of trips in and around Sydney, really well organised topped off with vegemite sandwiches…yum.

I’m now going into my third week of uni and already there are differences in the teaching that you realise immediately. On the whole, the atmosphere is more relaxed, adhering to the stereotypical view of Australians, but that isn’t to say that it is any less academic as some may conclude. I have found that the approach is a little more flexible, for example, history tutors are more than happy for you to analyse a film instead of a book as long as it is relevant and you validate your choice. The most significant difference is perhaps in the lectures which come off as much more interactive than what I’m used to in Edinburgh. Whereas back in Scotland most sink into their seat and avoids eye contact when the lecturer asks one question in 3 months, at UNSW the floor is open to raise questions, challenge any information and chat with your neighbour about a particular topic. This of course varies from lecturer to lecturer, I have heard horror stories about some that are very strict, but in my courses, you are encouraged and expected to speak up. So while I’m there feeling thoroughly embarrassed for the person who has just interrupted the lecturer, everyone else is formulating their own questions and waiting for the right time to pounce!

There is so much to do in Sydney. I’ve made it into the city a couple of times, just wandering around and trying to get to know it. Last weekend I went to see Harry Potter at the IMAX Theatre which is home to the largest 3D movie screen in the world! I’ve also taken a day trip out to the Blue Mountains, which is a 2 hour train’s journey from Sydney, which was awesome having met up with some old school friends for the day (it’s a small world after all). There are heaps of markets happening every day, which I love, the only one I’ve managed to get to so far has been Paddington with my housemate, lots of art, amazing food and bargains galore. The walk along the coast from Bronte to Bondi is beautiful, and although in the midst of winter, the sun is out every day shining down on the crisp outlining of the beaches.  Picture perfect.