Australia 2004-2005
- Study at Macquarie University, Sydney -


As a study abroad student, I spent five month in Sydney at Macquarie University. Together with a friend from Germany I did some Business courses. It was a great time. The "easy going" culture of the Australians is one of the most pleasant cultures I know so far. Furthermore, nature in Australia is amazing with kangaroos, wombats, and so much more unique wildlife. Last but not least it is an excellent place for having some excellent parties! :-)

Macquarie University is a good university but unfortunately some miles outside of the city centre. Nevertheless, there were more than enough opportunities to explore Sydney. The Harbour Bridge, the Botanic Garden, the Luna Park, the Sydney Tower and beside many more beautiful places... of course, the Opera.

When we arrived in July, it was cold and it took several months until it became warmer. In the very beginning, I felt a little bit lonely although a friend from Germany was with me. Everything was new and so many things had to be done. Applying for a student visa (I entered Australia with a tourist visa), getting a flat, visiting the university and and and... But already after a few days the fun begun.

I lived in house together with four Chinese students and a Chinese family (mom, dad, child). We regularly cooked together and talked about our different cultures. Living five month together with them made me curious to get in touch closer with Chinese culture. I hope that there will be the opportunity for me to visit and live in China in near future.

And that was only the beginning. But look and see for yourself...





 
Chapter 01: Stopover in Hong Kong, July
Before the adventure of being a student in Australia began, I made a stopover in Hong Kong. That was as if I had entered a new world. It was incredible hot; it was incredible humid; it was incredible busy; it was incredible loud; it was incredible different and all that 24 hours a day. It seems as if Hong Kong is never sleeping. Kids are playing basketball on the streets at 3'o clock in the morning and street hawker are anywhere anytime.
 
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   


Chapter 02: Arriving in Sydney, July
From German's summer (23°C) to Hong Kong's heat (30°C; almost 100% humidity) to Australia's winter (16°C during the day; 10°C during the night): That was not really a pleasure. We stayed in a hostel without heating and the first days and particularly nights were really, really, cold. However, we were in Australia!!! The end of the world! The far away place where my father had been twice when I was a little child and with the biggest red coloured mud-pie in the world (my father sent me pictures!). The country without any ozone layer.

As soon as I got a flat, life began. I made new friends in my flat, many more during the intro week at university and some more wherever I just was. Australians are very sociable and it is no problem at all to get in contact with them. The picture above shows Tu Ying Hui from China. We just saw her surfing and a few seconds later, we had a conversation with her. And that was only the first time we had made that easy contact with others.
 
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
  
  


   


Chapter 03: August
After a few weeks, I got used to Australien life. Basically that means, I had lots of barbeques :-). When there was no BBQ with Australians, I cooked with my Chinese flat mates or my German friend and his flatmates from different countries in Asia.

The University offered many activities to get in touch with the city and other students. Life was certainly not cheap but for a city of that size reasonable.
 
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   


Chapter 04: September
In September, weather became warmer. Consequently, we had even more barbeques but also used the time to explore Sydney in sunshine. At university we had to hand in the first assignments. The way of learning is quite different in Australia in comparison to Germany. I would not say better or worse but different. In Australia, there is a much stronger focus on regularly individual homework (assignments) than in Germany. In Germany, subjects are usually assessed at the end of the term by an exam and assignments are not that popular. However, both systems have their benefits and limitations and I am happy to have experienced both.
 
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   


Chapter 05: October
Time passed by very fast. In October, half of the time was over and I had the feeling I just arrived. Still I regularly met new people and there were still places in Sydney I had never been before. Nevertheless, on sunny days I loved to spend my time in the Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden is just gorgeous. There were parrots, bats and many other exotic birds (exotic for my understanding - in Australia they were "normal"). Furthermore, the Botanical Garden is that huge that there is always a free place on the lawn to lay down and enjoy the sun.

But life was not only a pleasure ;-) Work on university was demandingly. Assignments and exams became more frequently and beside that I attended a conference about Contactless Integrated Circuit Cards. Nevertheless, there was enough free time to travel around at the weekends. One destination was the blue mountains, a truly nice place just an hour away from Sydney.
 
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   


Chapter 06: Short-Trip to Thailand
My father wanted to see his son. Since he already had been in Australia two times for one year, we decided to visit Thailand. I had holidays and time for visiting Thailand was excellent. Raining season was just over but not too many tourists would be there. We chose to go to Koh Samui, an island with beautiful beaches and accordingly to Lonely Planet with inhabitants having Thailand's most unique humour.

To make it short: There is a reason why so many people go to Thailand! No, I don't mean the prostitutes ;-). It is just wonderful. Perfect beaches, pleasant climate (a little bid too humid) and everything is comparatively cheap. I spend most of the time just relaxing on the beach. The picture above shows the beach, in front of our bungalow.
 
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   
 
 


   


Chapter 07: The End - November & December
A few days after coming back from Thailand University continued. The last two months were not that different from September, but weather was better. Despite that, I could realise an improvement of my English. In the beginning, I had problems listening to the lecturers and Australians in general. Meanwhile understanding was no problem at all. Also speaking to other people was fine and even the comments on my assignments regarding my English skills became better.