"Australia is so cool that it's hard to even know where to start describing it. The beaches are beautiful; so is the weather. Not too crowded. Great food, great music, really nice people. It must be a lot like Los Angeles was many years ago. "- Mary-Kate Olsen

School is officially in Session!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I’m that excited about it. Why? Well it probably has to do with the fact that since December 18^th, 2009, I have had no schedule besides working at Best Buy. That’s a very long 2 ½ months for me not to be busy! Starting this past Monday, I’ve finally began a schedule!

Monday’s- I have all day free, because my first class of the day actually starts at 6:00pm. My first lecture is on Television and Popular Culture. I was a nervous on my first day because the lecture room held about 150 people but there were only about 80 students. Yes, 80 students, still seems a lot but I was relieved at that number! My course head, Lisa, began the class and like every other first week of school, she just went over what is expected and what we will be doing for the semester. She was different to say the least! Flaming dyed red/orange hair and think rimmed bright red glasses, and of course you have to add on the Australian accent.  The lecture each Monday is 1 ½ hours and then I go right to my tutes. ( a.k.a Tutorial). This is where I feel much more comfortable, since the class size it’s about 20 students.  Luckily I have the same professor, Lisa for my tutes and she makes it fun! I’m very excited about this class, I’m one of three American students and we had to introduce ourselves. Long story short, since it is a Television and Popular Culture class, they asked me if I watched the Jersey Shore…and I was proud to tell them NO. We are also working in partners for a project, and my partner is Emily, an already graduated Law student but she is currently working on her Bachelors for Arts.  I think we will be good partners, since we are doing our project on Crime shows, so of course CSI Las Vegas comes up and both of us agree. Perfect.

Tuesday’s- This is my semi busy day, its weird because I have to commute everyday from my apartment. On the bus. It’s only 7-10 minute ride, depending on the time of day. My roommate Melissa and I are both in our 9am, Australia’s Terrestrial Environment. It’s a biology class and is geared for students who are on exchange for a semester. It’s a big class because….we have field trips! It seems like a very interesting class, my professor Steve is a vertebrate Paleontologist, so its great to listen to him lecture. Only down side, I can’t write that fast! So I had to buy a voice recorder because the class is much larger then usual. So! My Field Trips! We go on three day trips and a 5 day trip. My day trips are Brisbane Forest Park, Lamington National Park, and “behind the scenes” tour of the Australia Zoo ( Steve Erwins zoo). The big field trip is the week before our semester break and it’s to Fraser Island, the biggest sand Island in the world. This link will direct you to a previous semester’s trip to Frazer Island, check out what I’ll be doing! (click--> BIOL2001) Of course, there trips come with reports that we must do, but  at least I get to see different parts of the city and learn!

I also have Australian Popular Culture on Tuesdays, but so far its not very exciting. We only went over the syllabus and the highlight of this class so far is that we have to watch a movie every week and discuss it. I think I can handle that. This is a boring class compared to the biology class.

Fun Fact of the Day!

You may be wondering why I am referring to my professors or lecturers by their first name. Well, in Australia everything including the classroom is casual, so the professors want to be called by their first name. They believe that they are not above us or special, of course they may be a doctor, or have their masters, but they don’t boast about it. If you call them Professor, they just give you a weird look and remind you what their name is. 

"It's like we're studying at a Hogwarts, just without the Great Hall, we have the Great Court."

This is my first school post! It's hard to believe but I AM studying here! If you don't already know, I am going to be studying at the University of Queensland at St. Lucia. I could go on about why I chose to go to school here but heres a few of my top reasons why I chose UQ over 25 other schools in Australia.

1. The weather! Sorry Massachusetts, but I hate SNOW. I'm the happiest in the summer or in the sun. In Brisbane, QLD, the coldest it gets is around 70 degrees in their winter. So for all your New Englanders...THIS WEATHER IS AWESOME.

2. University of Queensland is ranked one of the top schools in the world. Its ranked in the top 8 in Australia and as opposed to Bridgewater State College, this school has classes from Undergrad to PhD. They have research stations all over Australia and huge breakthroughs have happened here. Who wouldnt want to go to a school with such an amazing atmosphere.

3. Networking. If I meet the right people here and get my name out, being able to have networking oppourtunities in outher countries is a gift. I've already started that by joining the UQ Management Society, our first big event is "Speed Dating" which companies such as Loreal, Cadbury,  Ernst & Young and other global businesses will be there to talk about their company and just for the Undergrads to be able to learn how to hold professional conversations.

4. The city of Brisbane. This city is an up and coming young city. In the early 80's this place was considered the "country" and it has come far. Theres beaches, great public transportation, shops, open markets, street performers, clubs and anything that could fit a 20 somethings tastes. Each day of the week there is something to do, and if you really get that bored, we have Street Beach. A beach that was man made next to the river, but it has sand and palm trees. I literally have my own beach in my backyard.

Since these all seem like wonderful reasons to come here. I can't summarize how much of an impact my University has. Insted of me going on about it. I have a little Wiki excerpt.

"The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in Brisbane, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the older university in Queensland and the fifth in the nation. UQ is ranked among the top universities, both in Australia and the world. UQ research led by Professor Ian Frazer pioneered a vaccine for cervical cancer. The vaccine Gardasil protects against an approximate 70 perfect of human papilloma virus related cervical cancers. The 274 acre campus also includes sporting fields, gardens, duck ponds, and cycling tracks. The athletics centre features 21 floodlit tennis courts and Olympic standard swimming pool, a three-level gymnasium and a multi=purpose indoor center. The university is served by a CityCat wharf, two bus stations and is also served by the Eleanor Schonell Bridge providing pedestrian and bus access across the river to Dutton Park. " - Thank you Wikipedia! 

Okay, so now that you know a little bit about my school and how pretty much amazing it is, I’ll tell you my perspective! So yes, this is the most amazing and beautiful campus that I have ever seen but it’s defiantly a difference from the US Public school system. The biggest complaint I have it that at UQ, they want you to learn on your own, which includes how to pick classes. I have been so lost at picking classes and I’m usually really good at it! Let me just tell you how strange it is. Okay, so I can take 4 classes, because that is considered a full class load, as opposed to 5 classes at BSC. Now, we meet for up 1, 2 or 3 days in the week but when we meet, we have different times and different topics to discuss. Each class has a “lecture” or “contact” that is required. The some classes have a “Tutorial” that has numerous different hours/sections to pick from. So you have to pick a lecture and a tutorial and sometimes a practical, which is similar to a tutorial but apparently it’s different? But when you are picking your classes and everything is full, you email the course head and tell them you want to be in this class, and if enough people do that, then they open up a different section. It’s annoying beyond belief and most of you know me, I love picking classes, but not here. There are no advisors to help you, and if you do find a student center staff member, they just tell you to email the course. Everything is self taught. I just want my classes! Meh.

Fact Fact of the Day!
Did you know that I have a Ferris Wheel in my backyard? Well I didn't until we passed it for the first time on the way to my apartment! It was a plesant surprise! This is the Wheel of Brisbane! It stands 60 metres tall ( much smaller than the London Eye's 135m.) but it give tourists a bird eye view of the beautiful city! I love it at night because each capsule is lit up with bright blue LED lights and just adds to the city. Here is it during the day, I hope to get a picture of it at night soon!


Good day!