I am going Down Under!

[Tiberius]

But you'll look like Nikki Minaj.

Ugh.

[teacake]

I guess I should point out that being asian doesn't mean you aren't Australian.

[Jono]

Yeah, Australia has a high percentage of people not born here. It was around the 25% a couple of years ago and I think around a quarter of that was people born in Asia. Also around one in ten Australians have some Asian ancestry. You also might be in a suburb with a high Asian population as well.

Naira wrote:

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Hello everyone!

I am already in Brisbane! I've been here for two days and it seems lovely. I find it very hard to find a place to stay though, as everyone is waiting for the new wave of students in a few weeks and doesn't want to lease for only 3 months...

The Uni should have a service that can help with off-campus accommodation.

Anyway, things seem very nice (except that it is too hot! - and that's coming from a Greek person...). I hope I 'll have some time to see stuff outside the city as well, I wouldn't want to miss that opportunity.

Count yourself lucky you didn't have to spend a day in Syndey. They had a day in the mid-40s on Friday.

[Naira]

Tiberius wrote:

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Any chance you'll be able to pop down to Sydney to say hi?

Unfortunately no... However, I want to organize at least one excursion outside the city.

junxon wrote:

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cover yourself in vegemite. that'll draw australians to you.

I didn't know about this stuff. I guess I have to try it! (I mean taste it, not cover myself in it!)

teacake wrote:

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I guess I should point out that being asian doesn't mean you aren't Australian.

Of course, I was actually thinking how to phrase it when I wrote it so as not to be misunderstood. My point was that I would expect to see more people of non-Asian origin, which is not the case.

Jono wrote:

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The Uni should have a service that can help with off-campus accommodation.

It has but it is not of much help, as everyone is interested in at least 6 months lease, even if they do not say it upfront...

[Collingwood Nick]

gumtree.com.au should help you find accomodation. Be careful though some of those places are really dodgy.

Welcome to the country by the way.

Doesn't surprise me to hear that your uni is full of internationals. We sell our courses to anyone who can afford them.

[KimM]

Never been, would love to! Very very envious! Have fun!

[Naira]

Hi guys!

After almost two weeks in Brisbane, I thought to give you a little update.

I got settled in quite fast, I arrived on Friday and by Monday I had found a room in a shared-house to stay and had arranged all formal issues (getting a bank account, getting an office at the University etc). Since then, I haven't seen much of the city due to (1) work and (2) the rain! I got here just in time for the heavy rains but - fortunately - we did not have any flooding problems in my neighborhood.

Anyway, things seem so very quiet around here. Shops close around 5:30pm so there is not much to do after I return from the University. I live in a suburb so things are extremely quiet. The only thing around here is basically a super-market... I thought there would be more stuff available since I live so close to the campus.

I want to do some sight-seeing when I get the chance and visit a Koala park that is nearby. The life cost is generally high and it seems that you need a lot of money for any activity. However, I will try to actually see some stuff while I'm here.

EDIT: I tried some vegemite. I really didn't like it at all! Too strong...

[1001001]

Naira wrote:

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EDIT: I tried some vegemite. I really didn't like it at all! Too strong...

I thought so too when I first tried it. I learned that a very thin spread of vegemite on buttered toast is really good!

Have a great time!

[Naira]

^ Hmm... I'll give it another try then...

[Miss Chicken]

I gather you are nowhere near the floods?

[Collingwood Nick]

Brisbane is a pretty quiet place, like a gigantic country town. Melbourne and Sydney are much more like 'real' cities.

You are very lucky to be here at this time - except for the flooding of course. The NAB Cup starts in a couple of weeks and after that the AFL proper begins.

[Naira]

Miss Chicken wrote:

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I gather you are nowhere near the floods?

Fortunately not. We only had some power problems.

Collingwood Nick wrote:

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You are very lucky to be here at this time - except for the flooding of course. The NAB Cup starts in a couple of weeks and after that the AFL proper begins.

I sort of have my mind on the Formula 1 race in Melbourne.