Orientation is just around the corner, and we'll soon have a big group of new bloggers telling you all about it, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, if you're a new student at the University of Melbourne and still don't know what's going on at Orientation, or haven't got yourself organised for the week yet, check out the site: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/transition/orient/ugrad/index.html
Have a great week everyone!
just a short post to say congratulations to all the guys and girls who will be starting uni at Melbourne this year :)
If you would, then please apply to be a first year blogger by down loading an application form at
http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/transition/downloads/BlogFlyer.2010.pdf
and submitting it to Transition & Orientation Programs, 4th floor, Walter Boas Building, or email your responses to rbaird@unimelb.edu.au
It comes to me as a bit of a shock, the end of the year. And is best summed up as a general:
"What? 1st year is over already?"
I mean, the year for me has felt extraordinarily quick. I hear about Yr 12's finishing (before me, bah!) and it takes a few seconds to remember that, yeah hold on, that was a year ago. And now in a measly three months I'll be in second year, with another 8 subjects and another bunch of new faces to meet up with.
Now though all I'm feeling is this empty tired feeling; sleep, relax, chill, which I'm a bit ambivalent about. I mean I could, on the one hand, relax and chill doing what ever I'd like to do, but on the other hand I could be working to earn cold hard cash. Which I really only need for the occasional going out, however those occasional going outs are turning into frequent ones. Making money a bit of a problem.
I mean I regret the fact that I choose the "no money" road to walk by not working this semester, but then again without work it has been a more enjoyable semester. Besides with this mentality I'll get a wide variety of work experience. Yet.. these holidays are still looking very empty in the realm of employment.
It's interesting to note how people drift pretty far away when it comes around to holiday time. Not that its their fault, more the fact that everyone I've met at university seems to always have a plan instore for the holidays. This makes meet ups pretty difficult to arrange. And if you've forgottern to ask for details there is no chance for holiday meet ups. So here's a friendly reminder to stay friendly and ask for details, with people at uni.
Weirdly enough, for many people at university they're a third of the way through their course. Well for many people. Not really much to say about that except, wow again, time travels fast.
I'll keep updating during these December holidays and hopefully see you all next year.
Thanks,
Daniel
There have been times in my life that I have wished for a Tardis. (Specifically, to fast-forward through awkward public transport experiences with sex pests, and to time-travel back so I could relive certain moments of my life, generally involving live music, wanton imbibing and/or Japan. Also every time I've ever missed Q & A on Thursday nights.)
BUT if David Tenant extended his hand to me in a come-hither fashion, I would not step back in time. Not that first year hasn't been fun, but I'm happy to move on. It will be a vast relief to know bathroom locations come O-week next year, and it looks like I'm off to France in November 2010 to undertake the subject Paris: La Ville Lumiere (read: gaze lecherously at boys in berets).
And for now, I'm working manically (to finance said European gallivanting), waving my hands in the air like I just don't care (The Jezabels, this Saturday, Newtown Worker's) and cheerfully watching the Liberal Party self-combust (except that the looped visuals of Joe Hockey make me vomit in my mouth).
Here in what may or may not be my final blog post for this year, I give you lessons learned, 2009:
1. Stay away from the Socialist Alternative. Do you know, I once tried to mention the good ol' S.A. in a comment on a blog post on this very website and IT BLOCKED ME. That's how poisonous this cult is, folks. Right up there with spam and the c-word, apparently.
I realise I may get stabbed in the face by an over-zealous member for writing this, but it's the best advice I can give any prospective first year. How to explain? Um, it's like the Peoples Temple. End of discussion.
Now, now, lest you brand me a card-carrying, bible-bashing member of the "radical right", or being a "politically apathetic Gen Y-er", I should make this clear: I'm not. Don't get excited; I "identify" as a "leftie", I like to draw moustaches on Andrew Bolt in each morning's Sun and, in fact, I "agree" with a number of the S.A.'s "policies". But political and social views become largely irrelevant once you're sucked into the puritan vortex of the Socialist Alternative. They don't care whether or not you agree, whether or not you speak English, whether or not you've got time to stand there being browbeaten. They just want to yell things at you in a rather intimidating and ill-informed fashion. It's all very Two Minutes' Hate.
I am a prime candidate for S.A. attack: rather small (almost 5.2") and not terribly assertive (I once became a Buddhist so as not to upset my Japanese host family. I'm actually not kidding), and I learned the hard way. So, in short, I am passing on this nugget of wisdom: when you pass a trestle table bedecked in red and black, surrounded by excitable S.A. members - don't make eye contact, and run.
2. Avoid wankers. Can I use the term 'wankers' on this blog? I'm sure I'll be alerted otherwise, and we can insert some asterisks. Look, here's how you can tell: a sweet scarf-wearing boy on the tram reading Raymond Carver is probably just that - a charming specimen, and full points to you if you can refrain from dribbling, ladies*. An apparently sweet scarf-wearing boy talking loudly about how much he loves Carver's sparse minimalist prose is a pretentious dong, and should probably be disabled. Learn to discern, and save yourselves much heartache.
Wankers are a part of life, and they apparently thrive in the university environment. Don't sit next to them in tutes, and if you do, just say something like, "Woody Allen? Who's Woody Allen?", and they shall ignore you forevermore.
* The same most likely applies to pretentious gals, no? Your thoughts, please, boys.
3. Be flexible. Have you got your mind set on, for example, clinical psychology? One might just surprise oneself when, unexpectedly, one's psych. subjects begin to drain one's will to live, but Post-VCE French is so enjoyable that it almost feels a bit rude. Of course, these are mere examples, but one might then begin to reconsider career aspirations. Which is scary and exciting all at once.
4. Enjoy it. O yes, and now I'm going to end on a gag-inducingly saccharine note and we're all going to have a Breakfast Club moment of unity. Seriously, though, first year is pretty sweet. Just do your readings before class, don't join any cults, and enjoy a goon on South Lawn every once in awhile.
Ta for perusing my (mostly) irrelevant musings. Have a swell summer, and if you've got tickets to the Laneway Festival, please gyrate suggestively at Mumford & Sons on my behalf.
Before i continue singing the tune to quite possibly the worst Madonna song in existence i want to cleverly allude to the related and yet 1000x better topic that is: Summer Holidays.
ahh for years my whole life it seems has been a build up to what is probably the best time of the whole year; when the tall and skinny seconds hand rigidly makes its final arc shaped swoop that signals the final 30 seconds of one's final exam. Don't you love that feeling? When you know that even if you wanted to, nothing more could be added, could be changed, all you have to do is sit patiently while attempting to cover the excitement on your face with a look of utter disappointment so as to avoid looking quite the geek in front of fellow classmates. Then the papers are collected and you make your way out of the building trying to manoeuvre between hordes of cliques asking the all-too-common questions of "How'd you go?" and "What one did you do?".
What i love most possibly about the final exam day is the feeling of "What do i have to do now?" that immediately moves over me - do i need to study for another exam? Run to uni to hand something in? Bring back a library book? the feeling of complete freedom when you realise that no, i don't need to do ANYTHING for the next FOUR MONTHS is (in the words of MasterCard) priceless.
Well, i do have to do some things during the next four months, some of them amazing, some of them quite the opposite. It’s Christmas, it’s annoying Christmas customers (i work in retail – i’m sure some of you will understand!), it’s Boxing Day sales (yay!), it’s NYE (i still can’t imagine writing a year ending ’10), it’s getting my licence, it’s scorching February days (ugh!), it’s Big Day Out and most importantly (well, for me at least) it’s my birthday.
Having explained why i love summer holidays the most, i just want say thanks to all you fellow first year bloggers for making my first year at Melb Uni very welcoming. As i stated in my initial post, this was NOT my first, second or third preference; but having met the people i’ve met, and learnt the things i’ve learnt, i could not imagine studying at any other uni or having this much fun anywhere else. Have a marvellous Christmas and New Year, and i hope to be writing with all of you about our time in Back For Seconds (oh my goodness! Second year uni students ALREADY!!)
Take Care,
Nicole (Nik).
I am thoroughly confused. Once again.
Christmas is coming coming up, and I walk around in shorts. I feel like a red lobster the moment I step outside. It's times like these, that I hear the word "foreigner" and "tourist" come to mind. There is so much more to learn.
I can't believe it's almost been a year ago since I landed in Melbourne. Like a small dot in the world. I look back to see that even the smallest dot in the world can make a difference. I've learnt so much from being here, living in another country and all. I hope you will take the opportunity to do the same.
It's amazing, come to think of it. All the dots coming together. Like those dotted diagrams they have in drawing books for children. I wonder what the image would be: a united globe? I wish.
I'd like to thank everyone for this wonderful opportunity. I know it's going to sound cliche (I hate the fact Aussie keyboards don't allow you to do the proper accent above the e) and perhaps a wee bit sad, but I am going to miss this country, this uni and all my new friends. At least I'll come back .
For the time being, I have to prepare myself for a Swedish winter and a reverse culture shock. Back to the world I came from. Back to celebrate Christmas on the 24th. The way it "should" be.
All the best,
Olle
Well it's finally the end of the year and thus my first year at university. I'll no longer be a new guy! Hoorah!
So I've decided for some tips for myself, if I had a time machine to give them back to myself:
One thing that I must stress, if you are interested in Understanding Asia because it might have something to do with Japan, you'd be partly right but not satisfactorily so. I mean the religion of Asia's done pretty well, so is the history (well recent history) but if you wanted something with a bit more edge to the IDF, I would go Globalization. I went to two of the lectures for some fun (a friend had it) and I was enthralled by it. So as a tip to the people still having to choose IDF's go with Globalization, they have funny youtube videos.
This brings me to my next point; make a habit of going to other people’s lectures, just for the first two weeks of semester, not the last couple when you can't change your subject. A.) if it's boring you can get some work done/sleep and B.) You’re getting the most out of your university fee... Besides you can learn interesting things/broaden your horizons.
When trying to meet new people don't do so with old friends, as human nature goes you like to stick what you've already got and so won't get to know new people, because you won't be going out of your comfort zones. Besides you can always meet up with people during your breaks.
More friends = more fun. Don't stop trying to meet new people, often after you make a friend, you meet their friends and their friends, and so on and so forth. It's a huge cycle and eventually you'll find your niche.
Talk and make mistakes. In tutorials you gotta remember everyone's just as human as you are, so don't be afraid to talk, even if you can't remember names or talking topics. A "Hey, what's up?" usually can start any conversation.
And that's about all the tips I have for my start of year self, everything else is more or less common sense, especially with people. Do what's natural and everything'll be fine.
As a general round up, first year's been fun, first semester especially. All I have to do now is get past exams and then I'm home free to do whatever subjects I want for next year.
Good Luck to all!
Daniel
P.S I'm back home after a two week and a bit stint at my friend's place. It was fun and especially breezy... I just don't like dogs indoors who need to go to the bathroom.
Not really, I've just moved in with a friend of mine while his parents are gone for a month. So while technically I have moved out from home, I'll be certainly back there soon enough. All I can say for sure is that anyone who has a big bath can be my roommate. At "home home" we have a cramped tiny little bowl capable of submerging one leg. Here at my friend's place, on the other hand, is the perfect bathtub, and I have to say when you are in it, you are in heaven. Especially after exercise, work, stress, before going to bed, anything at all, it'll make you feel so relaxed.
Oh one other thing about moving out, dogs are pests if they aren't let out in time.
Now what else?
Currently I've been feeling the drain of university or perhaps everyday life as even when I sleep in I've been struggling to keep my eyes open in lectures. It could be a lack of stress or motivation, or even more far fetched an increase in the CO2 levels of the earth? In anycase I've turned to exercise so as to make sure my body uses up it's energy before I go to bed, not after. So far the effects seem negligible. Oh well, perhaps those lectures are meant to be slept in.
I've also been bitten by the not-so-smart-bug-blues bite of receiving a decent mark, that leaves you feeling less than equal to everyone else in your course. Especially when you've spent some time on that mark, which was supposed to be better than decent. Oh well.... I guess I'll have to just learn to accept my limitations, but not feel so depressed, so as to feel stupid at university. My worse nightmare would be to suddenly wake up at university realising that all the work I'd done before was merely marked highly or well due to a sense of pity. I know in reality nobody would be that nice, to give a mark, to make someone feel pleased about their own existence. Then again some people lie.
I guess in the end I'll just have to keep on truckin, without going overboard.
Hope everyone is enjoying the last 3 weeks of uni for their first year. It's gone by ridiculously fast.
Enjoy the rest of it!
Daniel
So, I finally kicked my ass into gear and went about finding some farm work for the holidays. It was a mildly frightening task (for a sufferer of social anxiety) made more difficult by the unfortunate fact that farmers are not keen on the internet.
My first foray into farm work was a complete failure. I googled 'Merino Stud Victoria' hoping that a sheep, being somewhat less damaging than a 700kg cow and hugely less valuable than a thoroughbred racehorse, would be a safe first choice with milder consquences in case of a complete balls-up. I sent 5 properties a hopeful e-mail, asking them if they would like two weeks of free labour. I was careful to emphasize my gratitude for their consideration, my complete lack of experience and my inability to pay for accommodation. I waited six weeks and received one reply which went something like, 'Thanks, but no.'
Disaster!
It was a week before the spring break and I had nothing lined up, with barely any work experience complete and a jam-packed year ahead. I was wailing over my free tea (a faculty perk!) when a well-connected friend from the country took pity on my plight and sent me a contact. Within three exchanges of e-mails, I was taking a V-line to Bairnsdale, with a week's worth of work and free accommodation! I couldn't believe how easy just knowing people made the entire process.
As a sheltered Melbournite, I'd never been to East Gippsland before, let alone lived at a complete stranger's house and wrangled their livestock. This wasn't just any old farm either, it was a massive sprawling property with over 6000 head of sheep, a proportion of that being high quality merino (19 micron!) Once I'd gotten over my fears of being murdered horribly Wolf Creek style, however, I had a glorious time. My host and his wife were disturbingly hospitable, and I greatly regret leaving that stain on the bedroom carpet (I don't even know if it was me! Perhaps it was the dog?), as well as hogging all of the hot water (definitely my fault, especially in a drought).
Thanks to my farm work, I have wonderful memories of sitting at the dining room table, consuming large quantities of ginger cake and tea, discussing the wonders of improved pasture and the dangers of those colourful clostridial diseases - pulpy kidney, black leg, black disease, malignant oedema and tetanus. I read the Weekly Times instead of The Age, where breaking news was of the 'Oh my god it is raining!' variety, while the Sydney dust storms merited only a small mention in the middle of the paper. The food tasted a million times better, the air was fresh and sweet with the tang of sheep, and I felt as if I should give up my bleary existence as a university student and move out to the country, where life obviously occured on a higher plane of being.
This was before the second day, when I began to realise that being a farmer consists of mainly bloody hard work at 7am in the morning, and that sheep are silly buggers who constantly go in the wrong direction with lambs that are pretty much just assholes. I got up at 6am, dragged on filth-stained overalls and stumbled out into the yards, where hundreds of evil-eyed fluffy monsters would be glaring at me and waiting for me to get close before yelling, 'BAAAAAA-AA-AAAA' into my vulnerable earholes. I was a glorified sheep dog, basically, except that I was nowhere near as competent. I'd run at sheep screaming 'GET ON YOU LOT!', and they'd wait insolently until I was within a 5 meter radius before they would deign to swing around and make their way deeper into the flock. The dog on the other hand, merely had to glare at the nearest sheep before it would turn tail and frantically try to escape through the closest gate. I tried doing the same, but my squint and snarl were distinctly lacking a certain something.
Anyway, it would take far more time than I have right now (hello exams!) to write out everything I did here. A small sample: I cut off tails, castrated little boy-lambs, thrust my hand bravely through curtains of dangling sheep dags, reunited lost babies with their mothers (often after exhausting cross-country chases and multiple failed attempts to scoop up those wriggling little bastards into my arms), rode a motorbike for the first time and rounded up 1800 sheep through a 2 meter gate by running heavily and screaming myself hoarse in the pouring rain.
In conclusion, it seems pretty tough. I worked 12-13 hour days, was constantly filthy, got hit by spraying jets of blood, was subjected to psych-outs by all the locals ('watch this, peech' = *dread*), and saw some really freaky stuff (like thousands of little maggots eating away a live sheep's bottom). But despite, or maybe because of all this, I feel like my farm work was an incredibly valuable experience.
The best result is that highly physical aspect of veterinary science has always scared me a little, since I'm small and weak and was always picked last for sports teams. But after wrestling with sheep and falling into mud and hefting lambs over fences, I feel like I'm ready for anything. Maybe I'll try Angus bulls next. Or if anyone knows the number of a decent elephant farm, please let me know! I reckon I could manage.
PS. I totally have tickets to the Big Day Out! Yeaaaah! :)
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