Advice, etc...

Room pictures: Kitchen-->

Kitchen is connected to small living room. There is a hallway running down between bedrooms and open bathroom, with separate small rooms for toilet and shower. Bedrooms look like this, with a wardrobe that contains a three-compartment dresser.

Hello friends! I know it has been a bit since my last post, but things have been pretty crazy here! Before I get into a lot, I figure I should put down some advice for the people coming in upcoming semesters.

1) Don't bother with a hiking backpack. It doesn't carry as much as usual luggage, can't be used for a carryon, and they provide them for outdoor ed. Plus, a normal backpack is way better for school... obviously.
2) Prep your classes before coming. You can search for preferable class times under the Lismore search engine under timetables link on the top of the MySCU page. This way, you can know your schedule, enrol easier, and get into the tutorials you want. The system for enrolment is really bad here, and if you put it off you run the risk of not getting into the good tutorials, having classes late in the week, and having to really badger people to get you in to the right classes.

3) Along with that, count on your enrolment screwing up. Don't get that upset, it happens to over half the people here.

4) Spend the first week meeting people. That is really what O-week is for. Aussie connections are key, and try to find someone with a car. Most of you will have a roommate with one, but it really helps to know a few people who do.

5) Don't worry about fitting in. Only half the people living on campus are Australian. The other half are international, with a majority from the U.S. Essentially, everyone is different- not just you.

6) Get used to drinking, or at least being around drunk people. Aussies start drinking as early as 1-2 in the afternoon, and there are always people drinking. Every night.

7) Split the stuff you need with the people in your flat, and wait til your Aussie roomies to show up before getting anything big. The flats come with a microwave, in case you were curious. I will load pictures of the flat, too, so you can get an idea.

8) Classes are way different here. Much more relaxed, much less assignments, and very friendly profs.

9) Go to Fiji, or the like. It is by far the best way to meet the people you will have to depend on for the next 4 months, along with a few other internationals. Beachcomber was cool, but I have heard there are better, less 'touristy' places.

10) Start planning trips before you come. I am planning a trip to New Zealand over first break, and the plane tickets would have been a lot less if I would have done it earlier. Even if you want to wait to meet people, be ready to see the Travel Agent on campus the first week you are here.