RMIT

RMIT's facilities are great. They have an outstanding fashion design facility with plenty of industrial machines and a shoe making lab. The textile Technology building is fully stocked with fantastic equipment and learning tools. They also have a full body scanner.




Textile Chemistry Lab


Dye Tests


Textile testing


Circular and Flatbed Knitting Machines

Drape

Royal Victoria Gallery International

Fashions on display at the Royal Victoria Gallery International for the Drape exhibit.

Sunset from Eureka Skydeck

Great Ocean Road

Of all the things to do and see in Melbourne the one thing that is a must do is to take a drive down the Great Ocean Road. This road fallows along the cost line west of the city. Set a side a day or two to spend seeing some of the great beaches and cliffs that speckle the drive. I was lucky enough to get to take this drive and experience the amazing Aussie coast line. IT is something I will never forget.

Victoria Market

One of the greatest things you will find in Melbourne is the Queen Victoria Market. This is a one stop for anything you could possible need. The massive selection of fresh produce allows you to shop around for the lowest prices and freshest goods. There deli is superb as well as the swap-meet goods.





You can find an array of souvenirs and house hold goods along with cheap fashions. I love to look at the chickens at the fresh egg stands.





Its cheap and fresh. The bast time to head to the market is an hour or two before closing and on Sunday when you will find the best deals on produce.


Good thing I know how to cut a pineapple, it was so cheap I couldn't not buy it.

Art Gallery

About a week ago I found myself wandering around the CBD of Melbourne looking for something to do. In my wanderings I found myself at Federation Square. Federation Square is home to many outdoor events, recently the mayors student welcome, as well as Home to the National Gallery of Victoria. Here there are a selection of free collections for public viewing.



I decided to wander in and take a look around. I first found myself in the The Ian Potter Centre which is dedicated exclusively to Australian art. They had a great collection with a lot of different pieces too veiw and enjoy. Continuing through the complex are a few different collections that are changed out every so often.



The best part of my visit was coming to the exhibit Together Alone. You walk through the door way and find yourself in a room filled with beautiful and wonderful Australian and New Zealand fashions. A $6.80 all day tram ticket was definitely worth it to see the collection. Although it was a bit small the garments were delightful and made me really want to sew something myself. I walked around and snapped a few photos, even after I was told not to, for you to view.




This is a place I would most certainly return to to spend another evening enjoying.

For more information about Together Alone and some nicer photos head to http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/togetheralone/.
http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/togetheralone/qtvr/Panorama.html





http://www.fedsquare.com/
http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/

Clothinmg Swap

RMIT has done what I have always wanted FSA (Fashion Student Association) to do. Yesterday they held a Clothing swap. You bring in 6 unwanted, in good condition, garments or accessories to swap for other participants items.



They had a great setup in the RMIT Brunswick campus library building. Items brought in were inspected for quality and then hung up on hangers and racks in a very professional manner. They had a great turn out with a wide variety of items to browse through. On lookers watched participants casually look through the goods with a slightly envious look in there eyes. Refreshments and snacks were served as well making it an excellent event.



It is a great way to recycle old clothes and get ones that are new to you. I really want to get more involved with FSA now to get a clothing swap at Buffalo State. Look out for a clothing swap event at Buffalo State in the 10/11 school year.

Finding a home

My experience here so far hasn’t been the most pleasant. I spent tis first week franticly searching for a home with not even a lead. The biggest issue was the reservation I had at my hotel was running out and there were fully booked for the next week as well as a friends hotel.

I was told at Buff State that “oh it will be easy, you’ll meet people” with doesn’t seem to be true. Yes I did meet a lot of people at orientation but they all were looking for apartments or rooms.

The first difficulty in finding a place is finding one that has a negotiable lease. Most places minimum is 6 months when the semester is only 4 and a half. You could possibly arrive earlier and stay later but that would require knowing the circumstance before you get here to book your flights at a more appropriate time. The next problem is finding a place that is furnished. You certainly don’t want to buy furniture here then have to get rid of it in 4 months. The last two things you also have to keep in mind are price and location. Paying 200 a week may seem like a lot but if it’s furnished and closer to school it is worth it. Melbourne is an extremely accessible city. You can live further away and take a tram, train, or bus in.

My advice to anyone who has decided to do study abroad at RMIT is to get into the student housing in Melbourne. It may cost more and you will have to sign a 6 month lease, you will be happier. By applying for a room at one of the many complexes in the area you will save time and a lot of tears trying to find a place.

It is easier to find a room in a house then renting an apartment yourself. Rooms in houses though are quickly filled and the tenants favour older professionals that are looking to get longer leases. If you do want to just get a room in a house it is best to plan to arrive here earlier and avoid the rush of students when its closer to classes beginning.

You can sign a lease for 6 months and only stay 5; paying for a month you are not here. You can also plan to be here for 6 and when school is not in session plan a few trips around the country.

I got really luck. I explained my situation to a councillor here and she knew of a girl who could offer me a room until I found a place or I could rent it for 4 months. I am living I the suburb or West Brunswick. It is a tram ride away form campus and into the city. I think I want to stay the full time I am here.

We don’t have internet at the apartment but will soon. I hope to get some more post up once we do.

Day 1

Today after 30+ hours of travel, flying and waiting to fly, I have made it to Melbourne Australia. I feel like I am in a completely different world although the language is the same. It is a major relief to finally be here. It is certainly a process you have to go through but completely worth it. I do feel a bit scared, especially because I have to find an apartment in 4 days, but I am really lucky to have a great support system back home so I know I can make it through these next 5 months with a great experience.

Upon arrival the temperature was 22⁰C humid with overcast skies. Almost everyone is wearing pants though I certainly could have rolled mine up. It’s really nice to have escaped the New York weather for summer heat. Tomorrow’s forecast is rain which is better than blizzard. I can’t wait for the sun to come out so I can break out my shorts and get some sun on my legs.

A few things I have noticed so far are:
*Very much like any other country that is not the USA, things in Australia are smaller such as cars and shampoo bottles.
*Almost every single guy I have see is wearing skinny jeans
*The trees have a very strange shape and texture as does the grass.
*Australians are very friendly people.


Average Temperatures for Australia (what I am to expect over my 5 months here):

February: 18.5°C (65°F) - 25.5°C (78°F)
March: 17.5°C (63°F) - 24.5°C (76°F)
April: 14.5°C (58°F) - 21.5°C (71°F)
May: 11°C (52°F) - 19°C (66°F)
June: 9°C (48°F) - 16°C (61°F)
July: 8°C (46°F) - 15.5°C (60°F)

Introduction

My name is Julia. I am a junior at Buffalo State College studying Fashion Design. This semester I will not be returning to Buffalo but instead am studying abroad in Melbourne Australia at RMIT.

My choice to study abroad this semester was brought on by a lack of challenge, or more so interest, from Buffalo State. I figured that I could find something interesting and new by going to some place interesting and new. I hope RMIT can offer me a learning environment that I can absorb new things from. It’s not that the classes at Buffalo state are bad but I have a different problem. While in high school I attended vocational school. The classes I have taken at Buffalo State just feel like reviews of things I already know.

So why Australia? I don’t really know. I guess it was the farthest away that spoke English and I do find it to be a fascinating place.

So with this blog I hope to bring a little bit of Australian fashion to home and help others with their choice of studying abroad.

I leave for Melbourne on February 11th. The trip time will take about 24 hours and with Melbourne being 16 hours ahead of North Eastern time I will arrive there on February 13th. Orientation is on the 17th and class begins on March 1st.

There is a lot that I need to get done before I leave New York so hopefully everything will be done by the 11^th.