Beautiful Bond
Sorry guys but this is not a fake picture to make you jealous...this is Bond University!
It's got a beautiful campus, surrounded by a lake and lawns and everything seems so modern and new.
Nope...I will and cannot compare it to Kingston University where I normally study at.
I love London, no doubt about that, but I think all of my K-town friends can agree with me saying that KU (Kingston University) cannot keep up with this beauty!
It's got a beautiful campus, surrounded by a lake and lawns and everything seems so modern and new.
Nope...I will and cannot compare it to Kingston University where I normally study at.
I love London, no doubt about that, but I think all of my K-town friends can agree with me saying that KU (Kingston University) cannot keep up with this beauty!
What to expect when studying at Bond?
First of all there's going to be lots of parties and there is no avoiding it because this will be how you firstly get to meet people. So the first week as you could probably see in the other post, is all about having fun, dancing your a** off...and to be honest having a culture shock. Aussies drink a lot, same goes for Americans, most of all those who are not yet 21 and like to take advantage of studying abroad where they can legally party. So for those of us who have been to several parties in their lives or have already experienced European uni life before coming here might be a little shocked or even just weirdly fascinated by those party animals! Don't get me wrong, I'm most definitely not uptight! I love going out, rocking the dancefloor and having a few drinks, however I'm not the kind of girl who does binge drinking, twerking or whatever it is what they call that kind of "dancing"... Anyways I think you got the idea. Still I'ven been to some parties I really liked, had some good nights out and lots of fun over here! Surfer's is unfortunately very trashy because of all the tourism going on there, Broadbeach is a little better and Byron was great fun! So it really depends on where you're going, who you're with and probably how much alcohol you already drank before hitting the clubs...;) The clubs and Bond parties are quite expensive though, not just the drinks but most of all the entry. After a while however, it all calms down and now we only go out like once week and I'm pretty sure that as soon as the midterms, essays and exams are around the corner we'll have to cut ourselves off from social life anyways...
which brings me to my next point: Are you even studying over there, it just seems like one big summer camp?!
which brings me to my next point: Are you even studying over there, it just seems like one big summer camp?!
Yup that's what all my friends think, they see the pictures of me having fun, spending my days at the beach or pool...! Dear friends and family, that's not all! I really do have to learn, write and read quite a lot for university. Even though I do not post these things on facebook because it would probably bore you to death and you would call me a cry-baby, Bond is a very good Uni and thus they are expecting lots from their students. Every week I have to do my readings, answer questions for tutorials, write blog entries, prepare a podcast or essays and of course get ready for exams! It is a huge amount of work, more than last year, but that's okay because I'm second year now and as students we are supposed to learn something and not just have the time of our lives.
What are Aussie's like and how's the lifestyle over there?
Aussies are mostly layed back and very nice, always asking you 'how are you going...what have you been up to today' even if you don't know them at all. However they kind of keep to themselves as they are here for more than one semester...other than the international students. So I get why they prefer to befriend those who stay more than one semester, or they have already been at Bond quite a while and therefore have their group of friends established. I do have some Aussie friends for example my flatmate, but I didn't get to meet as many Aussies as I expected. Another reason for this is that I mostly hang out with german people...there are so many Germans here studying abroad this semester, it is insane!! It would be nice to speak some more english but as longs as my courses are in english I'm fine with it and I really do get along well with the Germans.
Different from what I expected, Aussies like to dress up! When I packed my bags I thought of Australia in a way backpackers would think about it, that they are all really chilled and represent that hippie-surfer style, however it really depends on where you're staying at. Of course you can wear whatever you feel like but the gold coast is not really hippie-like! It is where the rich and pretty people live, also it seems that it is more and more becoming the plastic surgery capital of the world. Furthermore Australians are really fit and super skinny! They really pay attention to how they present themselves which is quite superficial at times... At my uni which is located at the Gold coast many people are snobbish and look like barbie but there are other people as well. I really do like it here but the pressure to go to the gym, keep the wardrobe up to date and stay fit is enormous! After all your bikini will be one of your most used outfits in the sunshine state.
Different from what I expected, Aussies like to dress up! When I packed my bags I thought of Australia in a way backpackers would think about it, that they are all really chilled and represent that hippie-surfer style, however it really depends on where you're staying at. Of course you can wear whatever you feel like but the gold coast is not really hippie-like! It is where the rich and pretty people live, also it seems that it is more and more becoming the plastic surgery capital of the world. Furthermore Australians are really fit and super skinny! They really pay attention to how they present themselves which is quite superficial at times... At my uni which is located at the Gold coast many people are snobbish and look like barbie but there are other people as well. I really do like it here but the pressure to go to the gym, keep the wardrobe up to date and stay fit is enormous! After all your bikini will be one of your most used outfits in the sunshine state.
money money money? more like debts debts debts...
no illusions! This country is amazing, beautiful beaches, nice people, cool style...but nobody's perfect: it is freaking expensive to live and study over here!
Australian people earn more money so it is normal that the prices are higher...students like me who do not have a job or cannot apply for one with their visa are basically screwed because you cannot avoid spending money when you want to actually experience the lifestyle! If you want to travel around, have all the fun and not miss out on anything, you will spend a huge amount of money if you can afford it or not... I do not want to know what my balance looks like right now or worse will look like after my semester abroad because I have the feeling that I'm spending way more money than I should be. I always try to find deals when going grocery shopping or booking a trip and I try to talk myself out of buying more clothes (I will not be able to fit into my suitcase anyways). And yet the money just keeps running through my fingers like sand. Almost everything is more expensive in Australia and believe me I know what I'm talking about...I am from Luxembourg!
However, they money you spend on trips is definitely worth it! How often do you have the opportunity to come to Australia? I bet most people don't and if they do it is a once in a lifetime thing so right now I cannot worry about how to broke I'm gonna be after this year, right now I can only think of how many experiences I will take with me, how many amazing spots I will have seen and always remember. I believe that life is not about money or success because in the end you will leave this world empty handed anyways. But no one can take away thoughts, memories and experiences, they belong to you and what life is all about.
Australian people earn more money so it is normal that the prices are higher...students like me who do not have a job or cannot apply for one with their visa are basically screwed because you cannot avoid spending money when you want to actually experience the lifestyle! If you want to travel around, have all the fun and not miss out on anything, you will spend a huge amount of money if you can afford it or not... I do not want to know what my balance looks like right now or worse will look like after my semester abroad because I have the feeling that I'm spending way more money than I should be. I always try to find deals when going grocery shopping or booking a trip and I try to talk myself out of buying more clothes (I will not be able to fit into my suitcase anyways). And yet the money just keeps running through my fingers like sand. Almost everything is more expensive in Australia and believe me I know what I'm talking about...I am from Luxembourg!
However, they money you spend on trips is definitely worth it! How often do you have the opportunity to come to Australia? I bet most people don't and if they do it is a once in a lifetime thing so right now I cannot worry about how to broke I'm gonna be after this year, right now I can only think of how many experiences I will take with me, how many amazing spots I will have seen and always remember. I believe that life is not about money or success because in the end you will leave this world empty handed anyways. But no one can take away thoughts, memories and experiences, they belong to you and what life is all about.
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