Amazing, beautiful. I miss it and I am developing withdrawal symptoms. So much happened, I met new people I am still in contact with and have planned to travel to once I complete my studies. I broadcasted several dozen radio shows and interviewed amazing bands at SYN radio to a live global audience of over 50,000 people (and still continue to work with them as a podcaster). I drank a lot, travelled the countryside, organized events for the queer department and rocked out with people I never met (who ended up being Ball Park Music!). Watched Australian rules football (Amazing game), and played against the North Melbourne Kangaroos squad in a friendly match. Never a dull moment, I can’t wait to return.

At first I was incredibly excited, I was leaving to travel to Australia, the land of surfing and sun. My expectations were normal of someone travelling to another country to study, great excitement with sudden bouts of worry and anxiety of being on my own for the first time then again excitement (or is that just me?). However unlike a lot of my peers who were International Students studying in London I was a home student, so going to study in Australia was my real first experience of having to move my life to a different country and learn how to adapt to different cultures, people and lifestyles in general.

I received unusual questions and quotes from my friends and colleagues when I told them I was going to study in Australia.

“Why would you go there?”
“OMG I LOVE KANGAROOS”
“You going to have an Aussie accent when you’re back? Yeah? I don’t think we can be friends if you have one~”
“My Ex is from there…see you when you get back…”

All in jest I am assuming, however it did make me wonder, why was I going there? Was it the sun (I love snow as well)? Beaches? Kangaroos? Historic cities? Cities of culture and art?

My reason. I was told I could go. I attended the placement meetings; I attended the study abroad meetings, the study abroad appealed to me more. I was born and raised in the UK, my parents came from Malaysia and studied in the UK, I wanted to do the same, I knew I would regret it if I didn’t apply, so I applied for the study abroad, no regrets.

I based my self at RMIT village, a student housing directly linked with RMIT as well as Monash Uni, University of Melbourne, Deakin Uni, Australian Catholic Uni and William Anglis. I wanted to mix with the largest group of Aussie students and assimilate into the culture. I wasn’t the only international student there; there were others from the UK, dozens from the USA and several from around Asia. I quickly made friends with the Aussies and Americans through what is known as ‘Goon’ and various games that utilized ‘Goon’… those who want to know Google it~

RMIT is an amazing University. The first building I saw was the new business school hub, the SAB. A tall structure of a building (12 floors) with jaggered edges, sharp points and made to look like someone broke through 2 floors, with splashes of reds, blues, yellows and greens along the walls, floors, chairs, table and lecture halls. I promised myself to do as much possible, I went to events to meet other international students and joined clubs (Badminton, surfing, RMIT music, SYN radio, Outdoors club, snowsports club and joined the Queer department), as a new international student this was the best way to meet people and stop me from thinking “I want to go back to London…”. There are always events on every week, with major parties being held by the student union. The tutors at RMIT are a mix of charismatic hyperactivity, much like the idea of Robin Williams in Dead poets society or Whoppi Goldberg in Sister act, and always down for a chat about anything and making sure the students are happy within the course itself.

Melbourne itself is a hub of food, cultures and events, there are dozens of mini events every week and almost every 3 weeks there are major events that are open to the public. Closing down the CBD of Melbourne and brings out the hundreds of cultures that inhabit the city of Melbourne and country Victoria. It’s simply electric, people are happy, hanging about, taking to each other on trams, trains, buses, while walking and at any point. There is such a causal approach with the people there and it’s infections and makes you happy to be where you are.

To those going to Deakin (just outside of Melbourne) or RMIT I suggest you attend the night markets in the Summer (November-March) and a few music festivals (Falls festival, Big Day Out, Soundwave etc), art projects around the city. Travel the country, I couldn’t’ do the whole country in my year, but I guess that means I’ll be returning soon to seek out Australia once more.

This blog is written by Alex Matthew-John  who is studying BA Business Management with International Business (SW)

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