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.