February 23rd, 2018
First Week in Perth, Australia:
Upon arriving in Perth, my cousin, Jay, and his wife, Vivien, picked me up from the airport and welcomed me into their arms. I felt extremely fortunate to have them there, especially when navigating a foreign airport/new country. After we claimed my baggage and left the airport, we took the scenic route to their beautiful home. I immediately fell in love with the decorations! Everything felt so inviting yet familiar at the same time. They then gave me a tour of their residence and offered me some time to settle in. Together we became acquainted while dining on pizza and Skyping my mom.
Following my incredibly overdue slumber, we spent the next day exploring Kings Park. I must say; Kings Park makes every other park look mediocre! The intense greenery and surrounding nature worked wonders in easing my scattered brain. Around 13:00, we perused Fremantle and took a quick stop at the Hamptons for lunch. It was almost impossible to engage in conversation because the ocean view kept hogging my attention. They then transported me to my host university in which I rapidly unpacked and decided what to purchase from the grocery store. Apparently I didn’t do very good job considering I visited the supermarket every day this week!
After spending a few days familiarizing myself with the flat, I started exploring Curtin University. I was speechless; I couldn’t believe how colorful and vibrant the buildings were! It didn’t take me long to realize that this university was much larger than the one I’m accustomed to. The building numbering system is also quite a bit different. This made learning my way around a daily challenge. By the end of the week, I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and excited for the semester to start.
This week the university also hosted their iconic “orientation week”. During this time, students were given the opportunity to join new clubs, interact with peers, and enjoy live music. Curtin also hosted “Food Truck Friday” and several other festive events.
Out of every phenomenal activity the University had hosted, visiting Caversham Wildlife Park was the most engaging. I got to pet a koala, witness a sheep sheering, and feed an abundance of kangaroos! The only thing I wish I could have changed was the unrelenting humidity and and scorching Australian rays. Other than that, my first week in Australia was an overall success!
Following my incredibly overdue slumber, we spent the next day exploring Kings Park. I must say; Kings Park makes every other park look mediocre! The intense greenery and surrounding nature worked wonders in easing my scattered brain. Around 13:00, we perused Fremantle and took a quick stop at the Hamptons for lunch. It was almost impossible to engage in conversation because the ocean view kept hogging my attention. They then transported me to my host university in which I rapidly unpacked and decided what to purchase from the grocery store. Apparently I didn’t do very good job considering I visited the supermarket every day this week!
After spending a few days familiarizing myself with the flat, I started exploring Curtin University. I was speechless; I couldn’t believe how colorful and vibrant the buildings were! It didn’t take me long to realize that this university was much larger than the one I’m accustomed to. The building numbering system is also quite a bit different. This made learning my way around a daily challenge. By the end of the week, I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and excited for the semester to start.
This week the university also hosted their iconic “orientation week”. During this time, students were given the opportunity to join new clubs, interact with peers, and enjoy live music. Curtin also hosted “Food Truck Friday” and several other festive events.
Out of every phenomenal activity the University had hosted, visiting Caversham Wildlife Park was the most engaging. I got to pet a koala, witness a sheep sheering, and feed an abundance of kangaroos! The only thing I wish I could have changed was the unrelenting humidity and and scorching Australian rays. Other than that, my first week in Australia was an overall success!
What's your living space like? Who do you live with? How is your home abroad different from your home in the US?
My accommodation here at Curtin University is called a “flat”. Flats are similar to apartments in that my five roommates and I share a common space, a kitchen, and designated gender toilets/showers. We are further supplied with our own bedrooms and bathroom shelving.
The nationalities of my roommates and I are quite the mixing pot of countries. Out of the six of us, there are two Australian boys, one Australian girl, one Malaysian boy, one French girl, and American ol’ me. We all spend time playing Cards Against Humanity together and watching the Olympics. Sometimes we even plan shop visits or participate in flat-only activities.
My accommodation abroad is different from my accommodation at home because I don’t live with five other college students! The toilet and the shower in my house are also in the same room, which makes peeing freely a bit difficult. Here, I can use the toilet whenever I please! I also have a much bigger desk with a beautiful view of the University’s soccer field.
The nationalities of my roommates and I are quite the mixing pot of countries. Out of the six of us, there are two Australian boys, one Australian girl, one Malaysian boy, one French girl, and American ol’ me. We all spend time playing Cards Against Humanity together and watching the Olympics. Sometimes we even plan shop visits or participate in flat-only activities.
My accommodation abroad is different from my accommodation at home because I don’t live with five other college students! The toilet and the shower in my house are also in the same room, which makes peeing freely a bit difficult. Here, I can use the toilet whenever I please! I also have a much bigger desk with a beautiful view of the University’s soccer field.
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