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Friday 10 August 2012

Friends: adding that extra zing to university life


-By Karen
Ann yeoung!
Konichiwa!
Xin chao!
Ni hao!
Bonjour!
Ciao!
Hola!
Sawadee!
Namaste!
Kumusta!
Ok, I think you get the gist by now. Those are just some of the "Hello"s of the world that I have learned so far in this journey called 'life'. The most awesome part about that is, I learned all of them from a bunch of amazing people that I had the privilege of meeting while at University.

If you're like me then you'll know that being so far away from home can really tear you apart, and that feeling can sometimes make the university experience much more daunting than it already is. I remember being so excited that I would start packing my luggage 1-2 weeks prior to the end of the semester (and this is coming from one person who hates packing with a passion!) And I did all of that just so I could board the next flight home as soon as the semester break begins.

But of course, this does not mean that I hated my time at university. I loved it and I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to chase my dreams. I am also grateful for the people that I've met along the way, and they are the reason behind my writing today. Being away from home and family meant leaving my bubble world and stepping out of my comfort zone. And the further away I was, the more desperately I wanted to keep my family close. Yes, there is a never-ending list of ways I can communicate with my family but it isn't the same as being "home". And it was times like these that friends played an even bigger role in my life. They became my comfort zone and my family while I was miles away from mine. Their presence added that extra zing factor to my achievements at Deakin University.

So here's ONE tiny advice I'm sharing with you today about surviving university life, especially if you're far away from home. Establish positive and meaningful friendships with those around you. The next time you're early for a lecture or tutorial, sit next to someone and say, "Hello". Chances are they will say "Hello" back! And by the end of the semester, you might have just extended your knowledge with a few new languages.



Here's a song that I would listen to on repeat for days when I'd feel extra homesick. A beautiful song performed by one of my favourite artists and from my favourite cartoon show. Don't judge me, but I still love my cartoons. Haha!

What are your tips to surviving life at university? Share it with me and everyone else in the comments section below =)

xx Karen

Friday 3 August 2012

Shop till you drop


-By Edwina 
       
Shopping! Well who doesn’t like to shop? Whether you’re a boy, shopping for gadgets and gizmos, or a girl shopping for the latest fashion, shopping somehow plays an important role in our lives. Shopping can also be our companion at times when we are sad or depressed or even when we go through a break up! It's not called retail therapy for nothing.

Well! When I first came to Australia, and to be more precise, when I first went out shopping, I was in wonderland. The shops in the city, the mannequins, all wearing designer wear blew me away; it was as if I was living my dream, and I did not want it to end. But it did end once it hit 5pm at the shopping centers (still not used to the shops closing at 5pm)

                            
              


Forever New was the first place I shopped since I needed a dress for a party, and honestly I had never shopped for party wear before; this was my first time which made it even more exciting. Till date it’s my favorite shopping destination. There is never something that you won’t like at Forever New. My cousin for her 18th actually bought everything the mannequin was wearing, because it gave her a complete look.
But ‘complete looks’ do cost a fortune and for me shopping at Forever New won’t be on a daily basis.

As I started getting used to the place, K-Mart and Coles, came to my rescue. I can shop for all my necessities from toothbrushes to make-up from Coles.And K-Mart of course is from where I get my basic T’s, singlets and even sandals. And not to forget jumpers from Coles, which are really warm and stylish as well, as I purchased one yesterday.

Let’s not forget shoes; well I still am aghast as I turn into every corner and there’s a shoe shop with sparkling shoes which look gorgeous from afar, but untouchable for me at this time of the year, but on sales days and especially on Boxing Day, it’s all mine. Boxing Day for example is a great way to shop from stores you have never shopped from before. On Boxing Day last year, I shopped from Myers, Just Jeans, Rubi Shoes, and Bardot - shops I could never think of shopping at on a daily basis, since I had just got a job and I didn’t want to burn a hole in my pocket. These brands were actually my incentive to work even harder. 
At the end of the day it doesn’t matter where you shop from, it doesn’t matter whether you paid 10 dollars or 30 dollars for the same item, all that matters is whether you feel good in what you wear. Its not about following fashion, it’s about how you can make a simple item like a tee and a pair of jeans into something fashionable that you feel proud of. I believe fashion is not about following the latest trends but what you feel comfortable in.