About Steph

Kia ora,

I’m kiwi Steph! Otherwise known as “stiff” by my lovely peers at Janet Clark Hall where I am currently residing. More on my “accent” later…

So this is my first blog here, which means I have to put you through the pain of learning some new things about me.

I am indeed from New Zealand, a born and bred JAFA from the North Shore (Auckland). I’m 18-years-old, a fresher at college (yes I came out of O-week unscathed), and a first year meddie.

Here are some other things you will not have known about me:
• I once went orange. Yes that’s right, I went orange. About two years ago when I was eating at least 10 mandarins a day, along with carrots, pumpkin and oranges, I got an excess of beta-carotene and the palms of my hands went orange. Go figure. I have now cut back to only one orange a day. I have painful memories of my “no orange” diet which resulted, amongst other things, in me having to pick out all the orange bits from fruit salads.
• I was on the National NZ Karate Team for a few years before moving to Melbourne, representing NZ at Commonwealth Karate and Oceania championships where I even met some Australians who are now good friends. I used to always hassle them about “feeeesh n cheeeeps” (fish ‘n chips) and “seeeex” (six). For the past 3 weeks in College I’ve been free entertainment at the dinner table. On an average night, the average college student will ask me to say “fush n chups” at least 5 times and say “sux” at least thrice. And as for my name, my o-week leaders thought I said “Hi I’m Stiff” when I really said “Hi I’m Steph” but in my kiwi accent. So from then on my name has been “Stiff”. Karma I tell you.
• I hate peanuts. ‘Nuff said.
• I love love love pineapple. You should see me at College when I see they’ve put out pineapple slices at lunch. I’m like a kid at Christmas. For me, everyday is Christmas when there’s pineapple on the table.
• My immediate family, back home in Auckland, consists of a mummy, daddy and two younger brothers. Us kids were all born in Auckland but mummy and daddy are both from Indonesia. While English is my first language, I am also fluent in Indonesian though I speak it with a funny European accent.
• I scuba dive wherever I go. It’s one of my life missions.

Most likely there’ll be a hundred and one other things you’ll learn about me through this blog, whether you like it or not!

So, what made me apply to be a blogger?

Deciding to come to Melbourne was the hardest decision of my life (that’s 18 years and counting) but also one of the easiest in a way. (That story will be another blog in itself)

When one needs to make an important decision, one usually does one’s research. One of my sources for “researching” the pros and cons of moving, was, surprise surprise, the first year at Melb uni blog. I read through most of the blog posts posted by my predecessors in order to find out:
• What it was like moving to a new city
• What it was like living in a new city
• How uni works
• What can I expect from uni and what can uni expect from me?
• Work hard, play hard. What is there to “play” in Melbourne?
• What are some of the problems students have to face?
• What has Melbourne got that Auckland doesn’t have?
• What accommodation options do I have?
• What costs am I going to run into?

While we are all individuals with different wants and needs, I feel that this blog will definitely be beneficial to anyone wanting to know more about moving away from home for the first time, and also for first-time uni students.

I look forward to sharing my experiences in this blog and if I can help just one person with the questions they may have, I’ll be a very happy kiwi.