TableofContent
PartIP.3-5MonthlyActivityLogPartIIP.6-8GeneralExchangeInformationPartIIIP.9-10ItemstoBringPartIVP.11UsefulLinksofContacts
PartI
MonthlyActivityLog
JulyIarrivedatAustraliaaboutamonthsoonerthanthestartoftheuniversityon31stJuly.Thiswaspartlybecauseoftheearlybeginningofthecontractonstudentaccommodation.IvisitedafriendfromBrisbanebeforeIwenttoSydney.Brisbanewasbeautifulinthesensethatitwassurroundedbynaturalenvironment.Therewerealotofrecreationalspaces.ThefamousGoldCoastwasstunninglybeautiful.Icheckedinthestudentaccommodation,QueenMaryBuildingafterwards.Itwasabigcomplexwithgoodfacilities.Therewasalsoagoodblendoflocalstudentsandinternationalstudents.IspentthemonthinjoininghallactivitiesandwalkingaroundthenearbyareanamedNewTown.IalsowenttosomefamoustouristattractionssuchastheOperaHouseandDarlingHarbour.
AugustTheschoollifekickedoffattheendofJuly.Iwasstayingatthemaincampus,whichwasaround20-minuteshortwalkfrommyhall.ThemaincampuswascomprisedwithnewandoldbuildingswheretheoldestonewastheQuadrangle,whichwasbuiltsince1850s.Duringthemonth,studyingwasnottoostressfulsoIspenttimeonexploringthecity.IalsojoinedanexclusivetourorganisedbytheuniversityforexchangestudentsheadingtotheHunterValleyandPortStephens.Whalewatchingwasoneofmyfavouriteitineraryandwewereluckytospotthreeinthatafternoon!
SeptemberSeptemberwasachallengingmonth.Workloadgotheavieratthattimebutmyadventurewentonanyway.IenrolledinahikingcourseforexchangestudentsatuniversityandwehikedonaprestigiousnationalparkcalledBlueMountainforthreedays.ItwasatoughtripbutIdidit!IalsowenttosomemorespotsinSydneyliketheBondiBeach,theRocksarea,TarongaZooandPaddington.Theywereamazing!IalsotriedaChineserestauranttoyumcha,whichwascalledZilver.Thedimsumwasnicethereandthepricewasreasonable.Itwasaninterestingexperience.
OctoberItwastheMid-AutumnfestivalintheearlyOctober.ItwasthefirsttimethatIdidnotcelebrateitwithfamilybutmyfriendshereandIgatheredtogethertohavedinnersandatemooncake.IwenttoaChineserestaurantcalledSpicyJointwithmyChinesefriendsandcookedwithanothergroupoffriendsforanothernight.Bothnightswerefulloffestivalsentimentsandwehadalotoffun!ItisalsoworthmentioningthatIwenttoonefoodfestivalinSydneycalledtheNoodlesMarket.FoodtherewasnotlimitedtonoodlesbutalsoexoticfoodlikeMalaysiaLasakandPadThai.Sydneywasaculturallydiversecityandthemarkettotallyreflectedthat.
NovemberItwasmylastmonthhereinSydneysoIgrabbedtochancestogoasmanyplacesasIcanaftermyexaminations.IhadaroundtwoweeksafterthosesoIspenteightdaysgoingonaroadtripinTasmaniawithotherexchangestudents.Tasmaniawasnamedastheheavenonearthanditwasright!Everywhereisuntainted,theoceanandtheskywerestunninglyblue.JustwhenIthoughtthattheywerebeautifulenoughinSydney,thoseinTasmaniawasevenmoreastonishing.Also,wewenttoazoocalledUnzoo.Itwasbuiltonahillwheremostoftheanimalscanrunfreely.WealsosawTasmaniaDevils,whichlookedsocuteandinnocentthatIalmostforgottheyatemeat.ForthefewdaysremaininginSydney,IwenttotheOperaHouseagainforadramaandmetupwithmyfriendsatsomeotherundiscoveredspotsinSydney.
PartII
GeneralExchangeInformation
VisaProceduresApplyingvisawasnotdifficultbutitrequiredcoordinationfromsomeauthorityandme.IhadtocommunicatewithmyexchangeadviseratthehostuniversityforseveraltimesinordertogetastudyproofcalledcOEandpurchaseinsuranceduringmyapplicationforvisaasthetwomaterialswererequiredintheprocess.Atthesametime,thevisaauthorityneededproofonmyhealthsoIwenttoahealthcentreappointedbytheAustralianconsulate.Sincegoingthroughtheprocesstooktime,Isuggestedyoutostartbeginningwitheverythingatleasttwomonthspriortoyourtrip.OrientationActivitiesTherewasanorientationdayorganisedbytheuniversitywherewegottoseealloftheexchangestudentsfromaroundtheworld.ThehostuniversityarrangedaquicklunchmealandletusgatherintheGreatHalloftheuniversitywherewegottoenjoyadanceshowfromaboriginalpeople.Also,theygaveussometalkswithawarmwelcomingbooklet.Mostofthestudentaccommodationsalsoofferedorientationactivitieswheremineweretalksandgathersessions.InternationalServices&ActivitiesTherewerelotsofculturalactivitiesforinternationalstudentstojoin.TherewasaninternationalstudentcentreattheWentworthBuildingwheretheyorganisedalargenumberofthoseactivities.IjoinedaweeklyEnglishcommunicationsessionandtherewouldbealocalstudenttalkingabouttheircultureeachweek.Therewasevenasessionaboutdatingtipswithlocalpeople!Itwasinterestingtointeractwithotherinternationalstudentsaswellaslocalpeoplelikethis.IalsojoinedseveralotheractivitiesliketheBoomerangpainting.AccommodationsTheuniversityofferedustwoguaranteedaccommodationscalledUrbanestandQueenMaryBuilding.Ichosethelatterbecauseofitsproximitytotheuniversity.Thepricewasnotcheapbutwasreasonableascomparedtootherstudenthousing.Theinformationaboutaccommodationswillbesenttoyouaroundamonthpriortoyourarrivalbyyourexchangeadviseratthehostuniversity.CoursesRegistrationCourseregistrationwasquitedifferentfromtheoneinHongKong.Ionlyknewthetimetableofthecoursesafterenrolment,whichmeansthatitwasassigned.Beforetheenrolment,youwillgettochoosethetimeyouwanttokeepfreeandtheuniversitysystemwilltrytoaccommodateyourwantsasmuchasitcan.
Teaching&AssessmentMethodsSimilartoHKUST’s,coursesatthehostuniversityarecomprisedoftwosessions,lecturesandtutoriallessons.Mostofthetutoriallessonsarecompulsory.Notonlyisattendancetakenbutalsoparticipationisrequired.Theyareveryinteractive.Incaseyoucannotmakeittothelectures,youcanviewthelecturevideosafterwards.Sports&RecreationFacilitiesTherearetwolargesportscomplexonthemaincampusbutbothrequiredregistration.Tocompletetheregistration,youneedtopurchasemembershipfromtheuniversity.Therearefreegymfacilitiesatmyaccommodation,QueenMaryBuildingthough.Finance&BankingThefinancialserviceisexcellent.Youcanregisterforabankaccountatoneofthelocalbanksandusethecreditcardtopayalmosteverywhere.IusedCommonwealthBankandtheyevenhaveanapponthephonetoletyoutransfermoneyfromoneaccounttoanotherandtofacilitatethetakingoutofmoneyatATM.LivingstandardofAustraliaishighsomakesureyoupreparemorethansufficientamountofmoney.Eatingoutingeneralrestaurantwillcostmorethan70HongKongdollarsforameal.Ispentaround18000AUDforthewholetrip.SocialClubs&NetworkingOpportunitiesTherearenumerousstudentsocietiesatthehostuniversitywherethetwodaysoforientationfromtheclubwerenotevenabletoshowallofthem.Bepreparedtopay5to20dollarsformembershipofasocietyforonesemester.Networkingopportunitiesarealsoabundantnotonlyprovidedbytheclubsbutdifferentschoolsattheuniversity.Makesureyoudonotmissemailsandkeeptrackofthewebsiteoftheuniversity.Health&SafetyInsurancecanbepurchasedfromeithertheuniversityordirectlyfromthecompaniesprovidingOverseasStudentHealthCoverage.Itismoreconvenienttobuyviatheuniversitybutitcanonlybebroughtforoneyearsoyouhavetoclaimfortheremainingunusedcoverageafteryourexchangetrip.FoodAustraliaisahighlydiversecityintermsofethnicitysothereareawidevarietyofchoicesonfood.NearandwithinthemaincampustherearealotofAsianchoicesoffoodwherethepricewasgenerallyaround80HongKongdollarspermeeal.TransportationShortafterarrival,youwillberemindedtoapplyforaconcessioncardfortransportation,whichwillletyouenjoyhalfofthepriceformostofpublictransportsyoutakeinSydney.Themajortypesoftransportaretrainsandbuses.
ClimateThereisalargedailyrangeoftemperatureatSydneysolayersofclothingarerecommended.CommunicationTherearemanypeoplecomingfromdifferentculturalbackgroundsinAustraliabutEnglishisstillthemajortypeoflanguage.CautionarymeasuresSunshineisabundantaswellsomakesureyouapplyenoughsunscreeneveryday.
PartIII
ItemstoBring
Wearing(Layersofclothingaresuggestedfortheever-changingweatherinSydney)Long-sleevedshirts Swimsuit Sweaters Underwear fleecejacket/othercoats
Sunglasses
boots Rainjacket Scarf Socks T-shirts umbrella jeans runningshoes shorts Abackpack Belt Formaloutfit Pyjamas/sleepwear ElectronicDevicesCellphonesandcharger(portablecharger)
Electricconvertersandadapters
Notebookandcharger
Headphone
ToiletryBasics
• Toothbrushandtoothpaste(foraweek)
• Comb
• Shampooandconditioner(forshorttravel)
• Bodywash(forshorttravel)
• Sunscreenandlotion
• Personalhygieneitems
• Towel • bandages MedicationPrescriptionmedicationwiththelabel/script(PleasecheckiftheycanbebroughtintoAustralia)
EyeDrops(PleasecheckiftheycanbebroughtintoAustralia)
TravelDocumentsandNecessityCash CreditCard ElectroniccOE Printoutof
ElectronicVISA
Flighttickets TravelDocumentPhotos
InsuranceCertificates
PartIV
UsefulLinksofContacts
AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofImmigrationandBorderProtectionhttp://www.homeaffairs.gov.auAllianzGlobalAssistance(OSHC)https://allianzassistancehealth.com.au/en/OfficialAustralianTourismWebsitehttps://www.australia.com/enTheUniversityofSydneyonOrientationWeekhttps://orientation.sydney.edu.auUniversityofSydneyStudentAccommodationServicesPortalhttps://usyd.starrezhousing.com/StarRezPortal/Default.aspx?Params=L9ezxPcQnQuRGKTzF%2b4sxeNblvAA%2b26c