First semester UQ

Okay, so this is my first blog in the right place but it is a bit too late to say it’s even close to being written at the right time.

I’m living in Taringa, west of Brisbane by 15 minutes, and attending the University of Queensland and so far I have had a blast.

My first few days were sort of a blur. Having arrived at my apartments (the Uni will arrange for you to be picked up from the airport if you’d like, and this can be at any time, check Uni website, you have to book 24 hours in advance) I didn’t really know what to do with myself.

The first few days, I was looking about my new surroundings like some shocked rabbit. I was exceedingly tired. The citycat, which is the boat… or cat… which travels along the Brisbane river, is ideal to see the city and give you an idea of your proximities. They will tell you what is located at each stop usually, and it is also a very scenic way to see Brisbane.

I found generally all the local transport to be fantastic. Translink and Queensland rail offer a fantastic comprehensive service and website, translink.com.au

On here you can search your journey from street addresses and it will tell you all of the times etc. This teamed up with google.maps and your sorted.

The buses and trains are alot more on time and frequent than in Glasgow or the outskirts, and all students with the QR symbol on their student cards (a reason to get your student card asap when you are offered at the beginning of term) receive half price tickets – this has been sooo good. I went up to Rockhampton and to Hervey bay for trips up the coast, and it is so much cheaper than a regular fair. However, we do not receive these benefits out of our state, unless you just try and blag your way I guess.

I wouldn’t say the University was more academic than Glasgow, but more focus is definitely pinned upon course work in some of the classes undertaken. However for one of my classes this did not hold true, so I guess it really just varies from what you take.

The apartments I stay in are called Altitude at Taringa, and can be found on this website – http://www.altitudeapartments.com.au/ – the prices in all of the accomodation I found in the surrounding area was not greatly varied, and if it is really cheap you are usually sharing with at least 4 or 5 other people and there are 2 bathrooms between you all. However, some of the old Queenslander houses have separate toilets from the bathroom, so this does help you if you live in one of these type homes. This webpage just has some examples of the type of accomodation available – http://www.share-house.com.au/brisbane/. Also, check the site that your brochure gives, I’m sure it is a lettings agency, as they had loads of options too.

The other option is colleges at University. All of the prices range for these, you could be sharing or have an en-suite. It isn’t like he Glasgow halls, there is a more communal approach to the colleges and there are inter-college challenges and start of year balls etc. Check here for all of the St. Lucia colleges – http://www.accommodation.uq.edu.au/index.html?id=61318

For my mid semester break (which was really badly spaced out, and ended up being really early in the semester) I went to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island. Fraser Island was literally like paradise – literally. They have these perched dune lakes and they are all clear fresh water. Unfortunately we did not see any dingoes, which was good I guess. Look on my personal blog for more on Fraser Island. http://lynnebaillie.wordpress.com/ There are heaps of pictures on there and info about the trip.

In Hervey Bay before we departed for Fraser Island, we stayed in the Aussie Woolshed backpackers, which was like $20 per night when we stayed there in a 6 room mixed dorm. http://www.woolshedbackpackers.com/

This place totally captured my heart as it was so covered in plants and was just the most enchanted place I had ever seen (I have seen better now). It was also really close to the beach, like 5 mins walk along 2 streets, and they had loads of tours and travel information which you could book from the backpackers.

Then it was back to the laborious work of studying, which is fine once you get into it. There are loads of extra curricular activities at UQ, dance classes (I take Ballet), horse riding adventures, surfing escapes, and of course heaps of general sports clubs – not to forget extreme frizby. The same crazy variety goes for the commities aswell.

The actual campus which I attend at St.Lucia is really gorgeous (go on my bailliesasa.wordpress.com and click on the flickr) and has a lovely courtyard which is duly splashed across the brochure. But it really does look like that.

You will meet heaps of international friends, most of mine are from the US as alot of them stayed in the apartments with me. It is a very international university and alot of students from Asia go there to study, just as alot of European’s come to our university.

All of the American’s I met went home at the end of the semester, as they usually only come for one semester whereas people from Canada and the UK stay for the year.

It was hard to say goodbye, as I felt I had a bond with the friends I made here as they were like my family. I saw them every day, lived with them, had their ups and downs. You’ll find that you make very strong connections with people in a short amount of time. That thought itself was enough a one year ago to make me want to come.

It is true what they say about Queenslander’s, that they are laid back. You’ll fit right in, if like me, you just go with the flow. In the city, as in all cities, the atmosphere is a little more hectic, people rushing around attending to daily business, but in Brisbane it would have get 1000 times more uptight to be anything near London.

I’m optimistic about my future time here in Australia, I have adventures to be had and lots of other things to get out of the way too (exams ahhh). You have to keep a cool head, remember that someone at Uni will help you, and just think keep it in mind that you have got this far and you will sort your way through, because you know it will be damn worth it!