COMMENTS

Thanks for the comments so far!! I do make comment back but don't know if you get notified about it.
It's so cool that people actually care enough what I'm up to read this and I'm told by John-boy that you online lot are informing those who are technically challenged. Good to see the grapevine is being put to good use!!
If you want to know more about events you can also email me. somethings should only be discussed with friends!! lol.
Anyway big love to you all and don't worry I'm not forgetting about you! xx

ARCHITECTS PARTY

Now this was a pretty surreal experience as apparently all architects wear black clothes and big thick framed glasses (dad you could have told me this!!) well anyway Simon (havn't metioned the old fella for a while) invited us to his architects party and we went along paying 5 dollars to get into the rhino rooms.
Am, Joe, Jen and me may as well have had giant signs attached to us saying "quarantined - we are not architects, please don't speak to us!!" ha ha, but that was only the start of the night and it did get a lot better.
I had hiccups in the taxi on the way home and I've never seen a driver look so frightened. He kept slowing down and asking if i needed to stop, i was like its hiccups man!! Im not going to be sick!!! anyway it was pretty funny.

POTENTIAL WORK

So had a few more emails about work but kind of giving it a rest at the moment seeing as the legedary wawee (William, as others will know him - sorry!) is coming to visit me and then I'm away for a week anyway seeing Nat and Rumpler. I decided there's not much point harrassing employers only to tell them i can't start for two weeks actually.
But it's still in the mill, despite others attempts to destroy my search (yes alex, if i do need that certificate i will be blaming your nacho and guinness trickery!!)

UNI - BAND MEETING

We had our first meeting as a group (JB, Chrissy and myself) to discuss ideas for the music video and it all seems as though we are on the same page, which is excellent. As me and JB noted it was good that none of us wanted to go completely off tangent and make some kind of grinding rap video, we all pretty much wanted to stick to cutesy, idyllic settings to compliment the song.
We then had a meet with the band - thanks "We Grow Up" for letting us use your song and include you in the vid!! Hopefully it will turn out well and not look like a kids TV show using puppets/dolls!!
We do have strong faith!

AL FRESCO CINEMA

This was yet another wine club outing, they at least keep the social calender full! They were doing a free screening of the movie "bottle shock" on another of the uni's campus's. There was cheap drinks for members ($3 glasses of wine - bargain) and a bbq, plus popcorn. They even played loony toons cartoons beforehand!!!
I went with catherine, my awsome american buddy, and we met others there that were on the last wine evening (including alex, but not huon as he's a big lightweight!!) it was a really cool night despite being slightly eaten alive by mozzies.

BIRDS EYE VIEW OF rADELAIDE

SO i managed to find another person with a car! yay!! (although i know i know, I'm not allowed to borrow it) so anyway, my good friend and fellow wine connoisseur alex (otherwise known as Heath - you love it really!) drove me up to windy point on mount lofty to get a view of the whole city. it was amazing!! pictures to follow, although we were nearly highjacked in the car park and i think i would have done more damage than alex if we had had any trouble. ha ha.

SI's PAIN

Although this happened at the weekend I felt it needed an extra section all to itself. Simon, already getting grief for straightening his hair with GHDs is an extremely hairy man; it’s actually a bit scary. So as he told me he usually gets a wax now and again.
And this was that weekend…
Needless to say he wouldn’t let me, Am or Jen go with him (I wanted to film in order to document it) so we just had to see the after effects when he came home with blood already coming through his shirt. Bless, I actually was a bit sympathetic but not too much coz come on GAY! Ha ha.
There may be a documentation of hair growth back although I don’t know if we’ll actually see that through.

WEEKEND

Went out twice this weekend and all was good. Met some good people at the lovely Exeter where we had a legendary game of 21’s with some international students and also more English. One of them was actually even from Blackpool!! Needless to say Simon would not shut up about this!! Ha Ha.
We also found the funniest menu EVER, it was just the picture on it, hilarious!! (Leafy you would find it hilarious!!!) Don’t worry I’ll be bringing it home!
Also went for a run as I felt so ridiculously guilty for not going in the week (Radio Adelaide and Paddy’s day got in the way) then Beach volleyball on Sunday avo. That was BRILLIANT and I’m definitely going again, so much fun and a BBQ for a dollar, what more could you wish for?!

TV

Finally have a TV – if you can call it that! Ha ha, it’s pretty pathetic and my laptop screen is actually bigger than it!! But Joe-boy is happy now coz he can watch lots of DVDs without having to ask to use our laptops! : )

UP TO DATE?!

Right I think that’s all the back pedalling now and we’re up to the current date. Just got back from another beach day and today is the first day since being here that I’ve been burnt, : ( right on the bum too!! : (
Just cooked for the boys – again – and think we’re heading out tonight as Si’s just been given the night off work (wow this blogs getting a bit boring now ey?)

ANOTHER SIDE NOTE

Just to clarify to everyone for the millionth time NO SIMON AND I ARE NOT A COUPLE!!! YUK!! Ha ha, so many people keep asking if we are and apparently it’s coz we bicker a lot like a married couple. Fair enough. But just no, he’s like a brother and he’ll give me a gay comment for that!

SIMON MADE SOME FRIENDS!

A massive Toyota land cruiser nearly ran us down as we left the pub but we soon realised it was another two crazy architects who Simon knew. One of which is an aussie guy who did an exchange to Newcastle and only got back 3 weeks ago!! So we had lots to chat about and his name is LEIGH!! (there’s one for you leaf) Si says he looks like Peter Andre but I think he’s more like Aston from JLS (sorry if you read this Leigh!! I’m sure there’s a compliment there somewhere)

VOLEYBALL

Still going well and actually made it to the pub after training for free pint and cheap food. Was really good to chat to everyone outside of training and also got a lift to beach training on Sunday, where afterwards we have a BBQ, awesome.

THE WEATHER

What’s that I hear you say? It’s 35 degrees today? My word; positively balmy!!

HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY!!!

Well, the plan for today was to go to the live music on the lawns then get down to some work, go for a run then go to watch alice in wonderland. And it was all going swimmingly well until my good friend alex (an aussie from wine club) told me he was in the union having a few pints. Fair enough I though I’ll go for one then go for my run and then to the cinema (I’d already done quite a bit of work and helped Simon go shopping for bargains so he stops spending ridiculous amounts of money)
Well it actually worked out more feasible to get a jug, of green beer I might add! (damn what a pain) and so it began… Ha ha, needless to say I didn’t make it to the cinema and then also ended up getting apples thrown at me that had been floating in Guinness (thanks Justin) still a classic night and let’s be fair if I was in Newcastle I would have gone out (even if it’s only with one person, right Tara?!) but also sorry Mihai I was pretty mean to you, I blame the green in the beer.

RADIO ADELAIDE

Thought I’d go for an information evening at Radio Adelaide to see about any work experience or volunteer positions. Turns out pretty much all the staff there are actually volunteers and although it’s really interesting you have to go through a lot of training to actually volunteer and the training finishes in august (slightly difficult if your leaving in July) and you also have to be able to promise a minimum of a years work there. Kind of annoying but I think I will contact them this week about possible mail outs or data basing just to get in the atmosphere of a radio station and see the differences from a less commercial radio like Jack in the UK where I did my other work experience.

CLIPSAL 500

Everyone in the world should go to Clipsal and it should always be louder and faster! This is a big race between the V8 supercars Ford and Holden (Holden all the way baby!!) and they close down massive sections of the streets in Adelaide just for the race over 4 days. We only went for the last day but guess who was playing then; only bloody status quo!!! It was sooooooooo good, got amazing video and just the whole atmosphere was electrifying. I spent the whole day with a massive grin on my house and just jumping up and down!!

NEW HOUSE MATE – THE LOVELY JEN COME ON DOWN!!

So we finally got our new housemate even though her room was emptier than number 64b’s fridge! She had no bed, not even a mattress, oh how we love our landlord. But anyway we managed to get that sorted for the next day and in moved Jen.
We decided to all go out and have a few drinks seeing as it was coming to the end of the fringe and we all wanted to get to know each other.
Was a good one, and really nice to get to know Jen. Even if she eats more sauce than chips!! So good to have another female in the house too! She gives me some back up but I think sometimes she’s a tad overwhelmed by us all!! Sorry!!

GLENELG STUDY DAY

Another massive bonus of being here is I get Wednesday and Friday off. And if I haven’t mentioned before there is A LOT of reading for my course. Fortunately reading can be done anywhere, not just in your room or library and I feel the best reading is definitely done on the beach!! Ha ha.

ADELAIDE WINE CLUB

So come on, you see something like this which is only fifteen dollars for a semester. What am I meant to do? You do actually learn stuff though, I think. And we go on wine tours and learn about tasting.
Anyway I met some absolutely wicked people, I ended up going on my own (one of the few things me and Si don’t do together!!) and it was so much fun. – once I actually found out where it was, come on guys better advertisement is needed please! – so I signed up for one semester and they just gave me a glass and said yer just chat to people and get drinking!!! One of the highlighted red wines was of course called ‘Hooley Dooley!’ a well known phrase of Miss Kelly!
I met a few people from the RAH but then circled and met a great group of aussie guys. Turned into such a random night and excellent but one that Joe was not best pleased about when I came home and woke him up! (sorry again but it was funny)
So they have lots of events on throughout the year and I ended up making some really good friends there. Obviously wine makes you friends with anyone but I have met up with them since and their sound!!

THE COURSES AND GROWN UP STUFF

Some of you may be wondering whether I’m actually at uni or just having an amazing time but you’ll be pleased to know I’m up to date with all my readings and assignments so far and the courses are REALLY good.
It took me a while to get into them, and I was pretty overwhelmed at the start wondering what the hell I’d got myself in for. The readings seemed to be never ending (and even all the students were stressing to me how important they were and that we were tested on them!) so I was getting pretty worried. So anyway it’s taken a little while to get my head around it and I’m not sure I fully understand but it’s a great learning curve.
The courses are soooo different from the UK, much more media and communications than cultural studies and very practical.
Media Policy and Media Law
This is actually an amazing course to do because I actually learn all about the law behind media, what you can and can’t do which is great. They actually compare a lot of ideas from the law in the UK, so that’s interesting too as I don’t know much about that!! We also have to do a research brief and proposal, and then actually do the research and essay which is perfect as I’m missing that assignment/dissertation prep in England. (Liviu and Denise will definitely be pleased at Newcastle with that!)
Media Democracies and E-Participation
This links heavily with politics, but it’s actually quite interesting. And also seems to overlap a lot with Media Policy and Media Law. The e-participation part is wicked; the lecturer has made an online world called Incognita where we all have our own character which we’ve made up. Each seminar group is a group in this world, and our one is the liberal media group. I made my character as the editor of the broadsheet newspaper.
We all have to have a secret to our character too which only us and the lecturer know, so no-one else in the group does. Half way through the semester there will be a big event in the town which every group will need to react to, and if it’s not getting exciting enough then the lecturer will start revealing people’s secrets! It’s teaching us about democracies but as actually virtually living in one so it’s pretty interesting.
Video Production B
I blagged my way onto this course big time as you’re supposed to have done Video Production A first! (as I mentioned before) and it’s pretty overwhelming but sooooo exciting!! We have two projects, one that we do on our own (or in groups of 2-3) and then a big group one.
The first one I’m working with two others who seem really nice (and both volunteer at Radio Adelaide!) and we’re making a music video. Got to enhance my skills for the dream job obviously! It’s really professional though, we have to find an unsigned band and have lots of meetings with them to make sure we’re doing what they want, also has to be contracted up as they could actually use it as their first music video!
The second project is a short film, which is also pretty profess as the lecturer has told us we could actually enter them into short film comps if their good enough.
We all had to write a film synopsis for the first week and then the lecturer read them out and we all voted on the three we wanted to make. 3 groups of 9 and I’m working on one that incorporates some facebook payback.

FUTURE

This was a last minute decision after weeks of pestering from Joe and Simon as “The Prodigy are playing, Ria!!” so I finally decided I would worry about the money later and just went for it. A good group of us actually turned out going (Simon, Joe, Me, Am, her Canadian friend Rema and the Irish girl she was travelling with, Dani) was such a wicked day.
We saw some pretty good djs, took funny pictures and didn’t actually drink too much. David Guetta played, then Franz Ferdinand and THE PRODIGY. They were awesome except they stopped letting people into the main dance area so it was pretty much empty but we still couldn’t get in, more than frustrating!! Anyway I just danced like a lunatic as usual but just in a very enclosed space! Rema also found a good moneymaker because she had her big professional camera with her, loads people kept asking her to take their picture thinking she was an official photographer. We contemplated charging and that will be the aim for next festival!
We also went to the 24 pancake place afterwards where I had gone a bit crazy hyper by then so made for some funny times. And that’s right fans I did say TWENTY FOUR HOUR PANCAKE HOUSE. YUM!!

WE LOVE YOU GERMANY

So after meeting the melonari man he introduced us to his friends from home, who were travelling around in an awesome campervan (Simon will later paint this beast of a van out of the good of his heart – yes I was shocked too). They couldn’t camp in his garden anymore so came to ours and the rest, as they say, is history (or squirrel!!) We got quite used to having them around and they even cooked for us which was sooooooooooo good (even if it was luminous green, we were told that was the spinach.) and we all went out into the city a few times to have very random evenings. Certain things always seem to happen to me in Australia which I can only describe as random or funny.

WOMADELAIDE

This is an awesome festival that involved world food and music and it’s just amazing even though I didn’t go to the whole four days. This is the festival where I did 16 hours bar work to gain a four day pass which should be over $300, which I thought was pretty good. The first 8 hours was just sorting out the volunteer database for the volunteer coordinator and then decorating the main bar which was pretty fun although we decorated the whole thing, realised it looked rubbish and so started the whole thing again! This I did with more Canadians! They’re everywhere I swear. Tee hee. Then the second shift was bar work which was so much fun! Met some such great people, and listened to amazing music. The first guy after the Canadians I met was actually from London though, ha ha. (Walthamstow massive- that’s not meant to be offensive Liam!) We were definitely on the best bar on Saturday night, although it did mean I missed Xavier Rudd which I was absolutely gutted about so if there’s a chance I can see him again I definitely will.
There is also a Womadelaide in England somewhere which Liam and I have made a pact to go see (right?!) and mum and chris I recommend you go for research purposes!

POINTLESS?

I’ve been thinking as I type these ramblings that I’ve told most of you what I’m up to anyway by now so this is probably a bit pointless but I’m going to keep going anyway as it helps me to remember too and not all of you have had a lengthy email yet! (sorry-but once again I don’t have internet at home!)

JOBS

This was the week I really started looking for work now that we finally had a house and the uni work load wasn’t to crazy so updated all my CVs to make sure they were Australian legitimate and started handing them out. Many places seemed not be hiring but happy to take my ‘resume’ and let me know. I’m not here for long people!!
So anyway, I found one place in the first week where I had to book in for an info evening. It was with a company called “Groovy Chics and Pirate Ships” and they do childrens parties. It sounded so much fun and was good pay. The information evening also made me want to do it but I got the feeling they wanted you to be able to commit to being there for some time, especially as you go through a lot of training and work for one day a week (which is such a full on day they only recommend you do one!) after the information evening we were supposed to write a brief description of why we would be good at the job to go with our resume, highlighting the things she had mentioned in the information evening, then if that was good enough we would be called to an interview, then put on a trial if we got through the interview. So I didn’t really see much point as by the time I got to working I’d probably be asking for time off to go visit Nat and Dave on the Gold Coast. Ha ha. (you guys come here soon, yay!!) and also it would be a waste of their time as they seemed to be looking for people who would be with them for a while.

AM'S MANSION APPARTMENT

So Am ‘n Cheese did pretty well for herself in the house stakes, despite it being pricey pricey. Her apartment is directly opposite our uni (the good one – ha ha) and also the 13th storey so it’s awesome views! There was an ACDC concert on at the Adelaide oval, which you can see from Am’s house and there were rumours you could hear the concert from up to 50kms away. They were true.
The concert was viewed from Am’s balcony with a few beers and LOADS of stupid pictures once we found the timer did multi-shots. You could hear the music so well and everyone cheering plus could see the big screen really clearly! It was amazing so we’re looking up all the concerts coming up and checking with Am we can use her balcony for our viewing pleasure. Score.

CLUBS AND ATTEMPTING TO BE A FITTY

The day before Victor Harbour Si and I went to the first volleyball club. It was so much fun even though the bruising on my arms made it look like I had meningitis! We are obviously in the beginners as we are pretty rubbish but it’s just a good atmosphere and we’ll get better. I also joined the Adelaide athletics club who go jogging Monday and Wednesday evenings and also Thursday morning. I’ve not done a morning run yet but I think I might give it a go as it’s probably cooler then, but I go to the Monday and Wednesday ones. So far I’ve only missed two (one because of a meeting and one because of the future music festival!) which I think is pretty good. I don’t always run the whole way so far but at least I do walk, run, walk, run. Have got up to nearly 6km now, too.

AN EVENING WITH MR MELONARI

After getting back from the day trip I headed to the library to check emails and the readings lists for my course (yes, I’m still a geek) but got a phone call from Mr M as he wanted to go for a beer, easily led astray I am. So I sacked that off and went and met him for bevvies. I could possibly describe him as a male Anna (although I obviously love Anna more, sorry Mihai)
Went to the Stag which has an awesome view and then onto the free concerts at the Garden!! I love that place. And I won free tickets to a show!! (told you I would tell you about that later) it was awesome, it was a show called Luck which is about a women who’s father was a professional gambler and it’s about her life. She teaches you card tricks, and there’s humour but also the serious and a quite sad side to it. We got a goody bag at the end though and there was a thing about having luck and a bracelet to bring you luck and positive thinking. I loved it.

VICTOR HARBOUR AND WILDLIFE PARK

This was a trip for international students to a wildlife park then the ‘must see’ Victor Harbour. I knew a few people from the RAH that were going but we kind of got a bit split up and I ended up sitting next to the infamous Mihai Melonari!! The wildlife park was pretty standard Aussie Fayre, of kangaroos, koalas, etc. Was nice though, but damn hot! Got a nice pic of me with a koala, bless it.
Victor harbour was pretty nice, not the beach but the Island was lovely. Apparently there are supposed to be penguins there but we didn’t see any. The Pink bird you can see actually talks! It says "how you doing", funny funny

MEG

As you see before I mentioned myself as Meg, this is somewhat affectionate (I hope) term that the delightful Am ‘n Cheese gave me while staying at The Blue Gallah. We were talking about family guy and how Simon was definitely Quagmire and Am’s words were, so does that make you Meg? I was not happy but we had a lot of drinks and I ended up laughing it off. I guess it’s actually quite funny now, except when I get told to shut up (“Shut up Meg” while I’m trying to tell stories which are genuinely amusing! (Jim that was the moment I text you and you didn’t know who I was!!) I also let her off coz Am is from “canadia” so sometimes they don’t understand what they’re saying. Ha ha, I kid. I kid.

HOME SWEET HOME

Went to look at some rooms on Goodwood Road and it turned out we could have 3 of them. This saw the end of the Joe, Am an Cheese, Meg and Sipod house hunt as the big cheese found a place in the city and me and the lads settled on Goodwood Road.
When we went to view the house it wasn’t finished and needless to say it doesn’t look a whole lot different apart form the beds, desks, fridge and kitchen table. The masking tape is still around the lights and skirtings, we had to clean the fridge ourselves and the floor isn’t done. But that’s student living for you and it is a brand new build which is pretty cool, us being the first people to live here!
Goodwood Road is also awesome and we’re right opposite a newly refurbished cinema, foodland, bakery and a MASSIVE HIGHLIGHT we are directly behind a dessert café!
Its open weds to Sunday from 8pm to late!! And only serves coffee and desserts, its ace (even though we’ve only tried one thing so far)
Also for those of you who are parental or otherwise don’t read this last bit!;

There are about 4 sex shops near us! It’s really weird, because their in between really nice wine shops and cafes. Ha Ha, Joe tried to get a job at one but apparently they aren’t hiring. LOL

"THE GARDEN"

Actually went to something in the garden which I paid for! Me and Si decided it was time for a freak show. Went into the mutant barnyard which included skeletons of all stuff “The space cowboy” had collected over the years. They included skeletons of two headed cows, ducks, a 3 legged chicken and numerous other oddities which he gave full explanation of and answered any questions. Pretty freaky but, then again, in a strange way very interesting.

WE HAVE SO MANY PICS OF HOUSES SI COULD BECOME AN ESTATE AGENT!

So we carried on the search for more houses and found some proper mansions which were ace and really cheap, although you had to apply for them and needless to say we never heard back! Pictures are still looked at with a “here’s what you could have had” vibe. But it’s good to know what’s out there!

JOB HUNT

This wasn’t a massive section on my agenda as I thought having a place to live would probably aid me more but I applied to volunteer at Womadelaide festival and waited for a response. 16 hours volunteer work and you get a free ticket to the four day festival which should cost over $300!

...HQ!

As some of you may be aware from my facebook this was a momentus occasion and one that will not be forgotten in a hurry. One of the funniest nights in Adelaide so far!!
So the story goes that Am was going with some mates and was told it was flashdance night where people dress up in 80’s theme and before 10pm if your dressed up you get in for free.
So you know me, I went completely dressed up in my luminous green high tops, pink leggings, glow sticks, etc. And if I’d had leg warmers I would have done that too. So me and Simon wandered down (he had even donned a luminous pink top and glowsticks with the promise of a headband from Am) and on the way I was thinking, ‘hey you know what, theres not many people dressed up walking this way’ but thought nothing of it. Got to the club, went through what I can only describe as airport security! And here’s where the laughter began; I’ll relay the conversation for effect.
Woman: “$10 dollars please”
Me: “I was told it was free before 10pm”
Woman: “yes, what’s the theme?”
Me: “80’s”
Woman: “That’s next week, this week is Rocky Horror Picture Show”
OHHHHHHHHHHHHH HOW WE LAUGHED!!!So I has to pay ten dollars to look like a complete chump and I wasn’t even drunk!! Me and Si spent the whole night absolutely crying with laughter while people walked past looking at me like I was a complete lunatic. (not much change there)
The club was the randomest thing ever too, it was kind of a mix between a show and a club, you didn’t know whether to look at the stage or dance to the music. I use music in a very loose term, my god it was like a terrible night in a 90’s club in Ibiza or something (or Blackpool as Simon pointed out actually!) Hilarious anyway and we just danced like idiots all night.

QUIZ NIGHTS

We went to two quiz nights; one in the international o week and one in the normal o week. The first was all questions on Australia which was actually quite interesting and I realised I think I know more about Aus than England. Whoops! But they got millions of pizza too!! It was amazing, we had about 4 whole pizzas on a table of 8 people.
So anyway we met some cool people.
Especially chatted to lots of people at the second quiz where we sat down on a table with all girls (Simon’s choice! Obviously. But it was while I was at the bar, obviously. Ha ha) This was a quiz night put on by the German club where there was pretzels on the tables (not as good as pizza) and the questions were a bit more varied. Found out half way through the quiz that 3 of the girls on the table were doing media, and they end up being in one my lectures! One also lived on Goodwood Road, where we eventually move to! After this quiz was…

JOE'S SISTER

The lovely Joe actually has family over here which is where he got the idea to come and work, which turned out is brilliant for us!! She has a house in a place called Semiphore (one of the many places me and Si actually went to look at a house) which is a really chilled out place. She also has a pool! YAY, so a big thanks to her on a damn windy day where beaching it would have resulted in a loss of skin cells that she let us use her pool and house. It was a brilliant day and also where we found an AMAZING restaurant and had gorgeous food and wine while watching the sunset. Oh…the student life, ha ha.

UNI – OH YER THAT’S WHAT I’M HERE FOR

Went to the official university welcome by the vice chancellor which was pretty interesting, there was also guest speakers and a former student who gave real accounts of the university life and how well he’s done with his life since then. It could have been pretty patronising but I thought it was presented well.
Then a good old free bbq (which was actually supposed to be just for first years, ha ha suckers!) and more houses were viewed afterwards, bless us. Si and I also developed a mild form of delirium which sent us laughing for about a day over random subjects and walked around most of the suburbs of Adelaide as we didn’t know which buses to get. Went and looked at all the clubs we could join and got lots of free stuff, always a bonus. There is a whole separate sports association which is different to the clubs and that was where most of my interests lay. The clubs were pretty specific to countries, religions and hobbies. E.g: The German Club, The Spanish Club, Oxfam, Karate, etc.
I signed up to the Athletics Club and Volleyball, also Board-riders in an attempt to get amazingly good at kite surfing but haven’t heard from them yet : (

SIDE NOTE

Just to mention to anyone wanting to do an exchange, the housing scenario isn’t as terrible as it sounds. I think I mine was made more dramatic by the fact I changed what I was looking for half way through, and looking for just one room in a share house is a lot easier than looking for a whole house, or 4 rooms. The university accommodation is ridiculously expensive and from what I’ve heard it’s not that great (not the same as Newcastle, and other universities, first year accommodation anyway) so anyone else coming I’d definitely do it the way I did. Plus to be honest we saw a lot of the surrounding areas while house searching, which was good and you get to see the differences in what you get for your money.

HOUSES, FOR SALE, FOR RENT, not FOR US

Looking for a house instead of one room had slight ramifications and there were angry moments (on my part obviously) where I almost gave up and moved in with the catdog man or any of the 500 other places I viewed. Also adding to the pressure was that it seemed only two out of the four were looking, grrr. Granted joe was working everyday and am had uni stuff but still.
So anyway lots of places don’t want to let a house for 6 months, one had no furniture whatsoever and others were plain right mansions and we were slightly kidding ourselves but we got pictures of some sweet pads.

GLENELG AGAIN

This time was on an organised uni trip which was pretty funny. We also got a lovely talk from a lifeguard terrifying us all from going on the beach with fear of drowing, jelly fish, sharks and creepy spikey shells that can kill you. Fun Fun, but don’t worry THE BEACHES ARE SAFE. HA HA HA
Also spent day on the beach on Sunday and got fish and chips with am, joe and si. yum yum. If you look at my facebook there are a lot of pictures of me and am with food, it’s a theme that we both enjoy! We also had pineapple fritters, which am had never had. Oh yer amazing! And we all watched the sunset while having a delightful glass of goon.
For those of you who don’t know, Goon is very cheap boxed wine in Australia. It’s usually about $10-$12 for 4 litres (about 30 drinks)! But it does contain the warning;
“Produced with the aid of milk, fish, egg and nut products and traces may remain. Sugar added.” Nice.

BUSKERS CORNER

As mentioned before I love “The garden!!” and there is an excellent little area called Busker s Corner where there are loads of street performers on all evening and they just ask for a donation at the end of their performance or if you have no money to at least go and thank them (one of the things I chose frequently after using all my cash – whoops) there were loads of performances including flame throwing, putting your whole body through a tennis racket!!! and getting out of chains, ropes, etc.
One of the most exiting though had to be Flame Oz, they travel all over and doing amazing fire shows!! Si got some wicked pics and I actually went to see them twice. (Mr Kingston if your reading this – the guy looked JUST like you, it was a bit creepy, lol)

THE BLUE GALLAH HOSTEL

Friday came around and I was informed my time at ‘the prison’ was up which proved slightly concerning but I managed to move to the Blue Gallah Hostel on King William Street instead (luckily also to be where Am, Joe and Si were staying) and it was right in the centre of town with a big balcony overlooking one of the main streets. Cheap beer was also a bonus, although on the first two hours some pikeys stole my food which I had only just bought. Bloody backpackers!! HA HA.
We went to the opening of the fringe festival too, which was a big parade with carnival floats. Some were so random and the funniest one was promoting the morning after pill with two cartoon people in a big bed being like oops!! It was sooooooo random!!! There was a lot of promotion of green issues and recycling which was what can be expected from Australia and I thought it was really good. It was CRAZY busy though, and I was glad to get back to the safety of the balcony terrace to have a few bevies there. Although your charged for taking alcohol in to the hostel. ANNOYING.

O WEEK (INTERNATIONAL)

Lets just call it searching for houses week. And getting to know that Simon is a complete turd but I do laugh lots.
Oh also discovering that exchange students aren’t supposed to take a media degree. HA HA; that was a fun one. Anyway I soon got that sorted.
FREE BBQS AND BUY ONE GET ONE FREE FOOD WERE ALSO A HIGHLIGHT.
I also went on art gallery tour, (see I’m barely drinking and ding cultural things!!) which had lots of aboriginal art and we got the history of it which was really interesting. Went to a couple of inductions but a lot seemed to be aimed at students with lets say limited English skills and were fairly patronising. Also to people who had never been away from home before, to any other country than their own, etc. A fair amount of people seemed to think I was Australian too, so questioned why I was even there! Oh well, at least I tried!

THE UNI (PART 2)

This was stress and a half. (I’m beginning to sound like Charlie Tweed – everything stressful!) anyway, so I go to enrol which I though I had actually already done in
England but apparently not and get told by the ‘help’ that I’m trying to enrol in third year courses which I’m not allowed to do, or I will find it too hard. Oh and also the main thing which is in the enrolment guide. MEDIA STUDIES IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXCHANGE/INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.
WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SO by this time I was slightly distressed and headed over to the humanities department trying to be polite and calm. The woman there was very helpful and explained that within humanities they actually don’t have a distinction between second and third year anymore. It is now just first year and then advanced level. She also told me that that didn’t matter anyway as international/exchange students were pretty much allowed to take what the wanted because their grades went back to the home university so it was up to them to say no, who thankfully didn’t. Thanks Newcastle!! : )
The next thing was being me, I wanted to take a video production course but in second year you could only take Video Production B, which had a pre-requisite of Video Production A. I basically went and had a chat with the head of media and told him my work experience and he reckoned I should be fine. I think my lecturer was slightly worried when I arrived in class and I was the only person he didn’t know. To be honest I think he’s still terrified I’ll let my group down but if you ever read this; Phil, don’t worry!! I’m a fast learner I promise!!
So after this fiasco I went to enrol again only to have a big warning flash up saying all the course I had had pre-requisites and I had to get a manual overwrite…. Patience, patience.
Off I trundle back to the humanities office, Hiya – me again!! I gave the forms to a girl on the desk who just went, ok. Didn’t check any of the numerous documents I had to say I could do the course and did the overwrite. Surely that could have been done before?!
Anyway so there I am enrolled on courses I should have millions of pre-requisites and a two third year courses. Typical me! Ha ha.

HOUSING

Despite searching with the others I still made a few appointments for houses with just one room to keep my options open. Saw some ok places but nothing that really grabbed me. One of the funniest comment in a house I went to view was from an Indian guy who said “don’t worry your safe here, we all have girlfriends” WEIRDO! Ha ha, I think he was just trying to be nice but still, I’d only just met him.

THE SPORTS BAR ON HINDLEY

The only place so far that sells full pints (in a glass tankard I might add!!!) for 5 bucks, bargain.
This is also where I met the lovely Amandine (AKA Am, ‘am and cheese, Aberdeen) and Joe (AKA Doolan) and we decided to look for a house altogether in between me falling asleep at the table (sorry guys, yes it was personal. I kid, I kid)
And of all the people I end up living with in Australia, it’s a guy from Preston and a guy from Blackpool!!! Haha, will the rah comments never end?

THE MEETING OF THE SIPOD

Some of you might know that before going to Oz I was in contact with a random man also at Newcastle uni (I use the term ‘man’ loosely) who is a 5th year architect and also heading to the land down under for 6 months like me. As I didn’t have access to the internet too much I just sent a message saying I had arrived in the city if he fancied a drink and thought I’d worry about that later.
However sitting in the accommodation office with Cecilia looking for accommodation a tall, skinny, hairy guy stood up dramatically and pointed at me with the words “YOU, Where are you from?” quietly and slightly scared I said England and he was like “yer but where?!” and in that moment Ria met Simon.
After a slightly awkward are we going for a handshake or hug (I went for a handshake, (parental folk; you taught me well) we said we’d meet up for drinks along with some others from his hostel and there’s where the magic began.
By the way if you think I’m being slightly abusive to Si throughout any of this. It’s fine, I totally am and he hates me too! Ha ha. “Ohhh herrooooo”

AND SO THE SEARCH BEGINS...

Vowing that I would NOT stay in temp accommodation for any longer than a week, the search for accommodation began. I went to all the notice boards at the uni and made notes of all the number that were advertising accommodation and starting calling to make appointments. The houses were interesting to say the least and I soon discovered that there is a HUGE Asian community in Adelaide, all of whom seem to rent to students! But of whom a lot seem to not recognise being from the UK as being an international student. Very odd.
Anyway, the first guys house was actually an Australian who lived with a Chinese couple already, his cat and a dog. The place was extreme cheap and included all bills, however I was told there was a chance I would have to leave as the previous occupant could return, but there were plans for a caravan in the garden where I could still use the house facilities but my room would be the caravan. There was also stuff everywhere! I don’t know how I would have got to the cooker as it was covered in stuff. Bless him though. He told me about his cat for about an hour and then showed me pics of him with his cat. Nicest man ever but perhaps keep looking for now. Lol.

THE FESTIVAL STATE

On many car numbers plates in SA you will see it defined as the festival state and this is totally true at the moment (except ask an Adelaide-ian and they will tell you to enjoy it while it lasts as the city soon turns into a retirement village)
The start to the Adelaide Fringe was a week of “The Garden of Unearthly Delights” (and if Si makes one more comment about that I will punch him) which is absolutely mentally awesome!It’s like a big circus show thing in one of the parks and it has tents, food, some free shows, a buskers pitch and random people with microphones yelling at the crowd that they’re show is the best. The atmosphere is absolutely awesome and even if you don’t go to any of the shows just sitting having a beer and people watching is wicked. This still runs through the whole Fringe Festival month which made me so very happy, even more so when I won free tickets to a show called Luck, which I’ll remember forever. But I’ll explain about that more later...

GLENELG

The first weekend obviously had to be a beach one and a big group of us at the RAH clubbed together to head down on the tram (which will become the hub of all journeys) for a day in the sun. It was really nice and definitely worth a google check up for anyone who’s interested. Bought a frizbee and in typical tourist style, a massive beach towel with the aussie flag on of course! Ha Ha

THE UNI (PART 1)

So there welcoming tactics were slight shock as it was pretty much get on with it for the first few days. Granted the orientation hadn’t started but come on, I’ve just got off a million hour flight (if you think that’s an exaggeration you do it on your own!), been greeted by the mafia, thrown into prison to stay for a week and then not eaten you kind of want some joy. I was given a red bag and told to enjoy my weekend.
I have to say though, the excitement of a red bag full of leaflets I shall never use and an immense study Adelaide water bottle was actually pretty exciting!

THE INFAMOUS RAH

As many of you lovely lot know my temporary accommodation the uni set up for 7 days on my arrival was in none other than Adelaide’s hospital! Ha Ha, maybe it’s like quarantine for foreigners, it definitely felt like it anyway!
Right so there’s a campaign at the mo to save the Royal Adelaide Hospital as instead of re-furbing it they are planning to knock it down and build a completely new one (I think that’s the gist of it anyway)
Well from my first view of it in the ‘delightful’ residential wing they definitely need to do something with it, perhaps instead of knocking it down they could turn it into the city prison!!! It was HORRIBLE!! If I was staying there and was sick I think I’d jump out the window. Not only cold you not open the window but the blind was also broken so in lovely 29 degree plus Australia I was in a blackout room. Happy much?!
Although, the room was pretty cool (temp wise, obviously)
There were two kitchens on the ‘student’ floor which was well equip with an oven, hob, sink, fridge and …. Oh yer nothing else! Not even a cup or a spoon in the whole place which was interesting to say the least, pot noodles and plastic cutlery here we come.
The people I met there were pretty sweet though and on the first night I was out until around 3am. Not sure if that was time difference effecting or perhaps the fact I couldn’t face the thought of the room! But anyway special mention to The Canadians (I end up meeting a lot of them), Swedish and Americans who made my first night in Oz.

ARRIVAL TO rADELAIDE

Nearly went to the wrong university but they were just so damn welcoming. Uni SA were at the top of the gangway waving and smiling so I just thought yep must be for me. NO NO!! They all introduced themselves and we got chatting then after about 5 mins they realised I was nothing to do with them and was actually going to Uni Adelaide.
Worked out there’s a touch of rivalry in the not a proper uni stakes (a bit like Northumbria and Newcastle; JOKE)
So I trundled off down the escalator to be greeted by an EXTREMELY mafia-esk man (sorry mate, you turned out to be nice though) with my surname on one of those board things, pretty celeb like. And off we went into the city.
(don’t worry, this blog will become more exciting but you have to have all the background, its just the way it is)
On the journey Mr Suit (can’t for the life of me remember his name) gave me a brief guided tour of the city and gave me some cultural insiders about how if you sit in the front of a taxi (which I had just done) it can be constrewed that you want to chat up the driver!
Don’t worry I found out later from another ‘local’ that this is some old tale and as long as you don’t try and cuddle them while their driving they shouldn’t get the wrong idea!

FLIGHTS

Soooooo I’ll start from the beginning…
Left UK Wednesday 10th, evening after having nearly the whole day at the airport with lovely mother, as we had been a bit too cautious with our timings. All good though and definitely better than being late (we didn’t want another crazy Thailand rush!)
Flight was pretty good, straight forward and up until Singapore only had 2 people on a 3 row, plus it was the emergency exit seats which I never had before!!
Sat back and planned my movie viewing for the trip then promptly fell asleep and only got to watch one series. What a shame! Although the food kept me going and there was no stupid pre-meal snack to get my hopes up and then completely dash it (as with the infamous New York flight – right poobs?)
HIGHLIGHT OF THE JOURNEY – ICE CREAM AS A MID FLIGHT SNACK BEFORE SYDNEY!!!
Had 6 hours to kill in Sydney so posted cards to the relevant folk (sorry guys I couldn’t do everyone!) and chilled in the lovely Sunshine. Weird being back in Sydney but in a good way, just knew exactly where to go, good cafes and no wandering aimlessly to find things. That was a big positive thing as my bag could have weighed down a small horse (as john-boy knows!)

G'day and Welcome!

So, this is the start of my blog. I might miss some bits out and have to edit the first sections as I go but I’m starting it third week in so give me a break!
Also I don’t have internet at our lovely house yet which is bit of a bugger.