Today was a quirky day for me. I woke up and got ready for class earlier than usual to get work done on my lab report. I skipped my 'Pie Face' coffee for it's lovely worth to make sure I had plenty of time to work on my report. Standing at the bus stop, I was waiting as the other commuters for the next bus to arrive. Surely enough it came, surprisingly punctual, oddly empty. I sat and watched as the bus crossed the bridge and passed the skyscrapers in the city centre until I got a surprising call on my phone; Blocked call.
I've never questioned the anonymity of blocked calls so I answered as per. Pleasantly enough it was Mandy, the exchange coordinator who helped me earlier put my application through. She'd called to thank me for my help in the exchange fair last week to which I'd thought surely mustn't warrant a phone call. It didn't. Mandy was calling me to let me know I had been accepted by Ljubljana despite the limited numbers available. Even further to let me know that the extent I went to in contacting the head of program in Slovenia and other staff helped along my application (The Australian secretariat was rather doubtful initially about my chances at Slovenia).
Well this definitely did make me smile but interestingly it did not appear to have kicked in for me yet. I still feel as though I am waiting for an acceptance even now that I have it.
I can't write much else on this as I am feeling tired and right now there is not much else to say on how I feel or what else has happened. I need to get the application forms filled in and submitted by the end of the week to get the 'rubber stamp' approval and begin sorting my visa, accommodation and plane tickets. I really can't think of much else to say, so I'll cut it short here.
Tschüss!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Obsessions, Obsessions..
This blog is actually from the 7th April which I did on my phone on the bus but I was too lazy to upload it when I got home. :P
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Yesterday I participated in the UWS Exchange Fair.
Unfortunately the weather was very wet and windy but that didn't stop it from being a great day as I got to meet others who were just as enthusiastic about traveling abroad as I was (and I got to speak to those who came back from last semester's exchange too). We stood just out the front of "the Hub" on our Parramatta campus and spoke to other students who were interested in the exchange process.
I had many asking me what uni offered what course but of course, I couldn't help them much except to share my experience of the application process with them. Sadly, nobody asked me about Slovenia nor could I ask anyone if they'd traveled to Slovenia either. In a way it is also a good thing because I will have an even more unique experience with my exchange.
I can't believe it's so close but it still feels so far away. I have a little over 12 weeks left but it feels like yesterday I applied for it. I'm nervous about hearing back from Ljubljana and constantly have my mind set on spending Christmas in Europe. I've never obsessed about anything so much before in my life it's unbelievable.
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Yesterday I participated in the UWS Exchange Fair.
Unfortunately the weather was very wet and windy but that didn't stop it from being a great day as I got to meet others who were just as enthusiastic about traveling abroad as I was (and I got to speak to those who came back from last semester's exchange too). We stood just out the front of "the Hub" on our Parramatta campus and spoke to other students who were interested in the exchange process.
I had many asking me what uni offered what course but of course, I couldn't help them much except to share my experience of the application process with them. Sadly, nobody asked me about Slovenia nor could I ask anyone if they'd traveled to Slovenia either. In a way it is also a good thing because I will have an even more unique experience with my exchange.
I can't believe it's so close but it still feels so far away. I have a little over 12 weeks left but it feels like yesterday I applied for it. I'm nervous about hearing back from Ljubljana and constantly have my mind set on spending Christmas in Europe. I've never obsessed about anything so much before in my life it's unbelievable.
Monday, April 4, 2011
It's a Long Wait..
We are now in April and I think it's about time to check-in.
So the interview did go well and there was "no hesitation" in nominating me to Slovenia, so that is great news. I am to hear late this month or next if I have gotten in or not and the wait feels like it is taking forever.
To add to the good news, I've hit my target (and more) of saving enough for the trip. I'm now going further and saving up for any further trips I want to make around Europe (which I am hoping I will be able to do).
I've bought some language books that I may learn Slovene before I head over there. I think it wouldn't hurt at least to get some background in the language. I don't know how much I can learn before I fly but I'm hoping it will be enough to at least get me around town.
In the meantime I have been face down in my text books for uni since the semester started and this would explain why I haven't touched base in a while with my blog. :P
I'll be back with more updates!
So the interview did go well and there was "no hesitation" in nominating me to Slovenia, so that is great news. I am to hear late this month or next if I have gotten in or not and the wait feels like it is taking forever.
To add to the good news, I've hit my target (and more) of saving enough for the trip. I'm now going further and saving up for any further trips I want to make around Europe (which I am hoping I will be able to do).
I've bought some language books that I may learn Slovene before I head over there. I think it wouldn't hurt at least to get some background in the language. I don't know how much I can learn before I fly but I'm hoping it will be enough to at least get me around town.
In the meantime I have been face down in my text books for uni since the semester started and this would explain why I haven't touched base in a while with my blog. :P
I'll be back with more updates!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A Bit Nerve-Wracking
So I've finished my summer school and uni is almost back on. All I have been doing over the summer is working to save up and I've been really trying hard to make sure I get in. Here's the latest in what's happened.
Yesterday I went for an interview with a panel to assess whether I'm suitable to go. Now I think I went okay in the interview (it was a little quick and I was thinking of so many other things I could have said as soon as I left, that always happens to me!) but I am now having a little scare about my chances and here's why.
Slovenia and Australia don't send many students to one another. Naturally when you exchange students you aim for the same intake as the amount that you send out. So consequently, Slovenia is only accepting two Australian students for the semester that I am applying for.
That's not so concerning right? I'm the only one from my university that I know that wants to go to Slovenia - the availability should be there.
Well.. I'm not just competing with people from my own university. Turns out that the University of Ljubljana and my university are partners through a bigger extended network that includes numerous universities from Europe and Australia called the Australian European Network. It's a looser collaboration and not so one-on-one. This means though that I'm competing not just with other students in my university but from all across Australia to get into Slovenia. And there's a few!
It's a bit of a disappointment because now I cannot be so sure. I am starting to consider other options available but this means going all the way back to square one and hunt for another university. It would be a very big nuisance.
Here's hoping I'm in!
Yesterday I went for an interview with a panel to assess whether I'm suitable to go. Now I think I went okay in the interview (it was a little quick and I was thinking of so many other things I could have said as soon as I left, that always happens to me!) but I am now having a little scare about my chances and here's why.
Slovenia and Australia don't send many students to one another. Naturally when you exchange students you aim for the same intake as the amount that you send out. So consequently, Slovenia is only accepting two Australian students for the semester that I am applying for.
That's not so concerning right? I'm the only one from my university that I know that wants to go to Slovenia - the availability should be there.
Well.. I'm not just competing with people from my own university. Turns out that the University of Ljubljana and my university are partners through a bigger extended network that includes numerous universities from Europe and Australia called the Australian European Network. It's a looser collaboration and not so one-on-one. This means though that I'm competing not just with other students in my university but from all across Australia to get into Slovenia. And there's a few!
It's a bit of a disappointment because now I cannot be so sure. I am starting to consider other options available but this means going all the way back to square one and hunt for another university. It would be a very big nuisance.
Here's hoping I'm in!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Results are out!
Good news. Today came out the results of the passing semester's exams. I am proud to say that I have passed all my subjects and can be confident that I will be nominated to Ljubljana to study there next year. Just as my intention was.
No doubt there were a few hiccups during the semester but they were not big enough to have held me back. This semester was really tough but I pulled through. It was not my greatest performance but I am happy that I do not have to repeat anything.
The latest that has been going on is I have been working more and more to save up for my trip. Now that I can stop worrying about my results I can concentrate on saving up my money and prepare myself for the interview. I'm quite relieved because my results will not work against me in the interview and I can prove to the panel that I am suitable and mature enough to go on exchange.
Just a quick update. As soon as I get details about the interview I will be posting it up here. Until then!
No doubt there were a few hiccups during the semester but they were not big enough to have held me back. This semester was really tough but I pulled through. It was not my greatest performance but I am happy that I do not have to repeat anything.
The latest that has been going on is I have been working more and more to save up for my trip. Now that I can stop worrying about my results I can concentrate on saving up my money and prepare myself for the interview. I'm quite relieved because my results will not work against me in the interview and I can prove to the panel that I am suitable and mature enough to go on exchange.
Just a quick update. As soon as I get details about the interview I will be posting it up here. Until then!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The Butcher's Bridge
It's been a good month since my last post but without doubt I have been thinking every day about going. Right now I am in the middle of exams but I am not letting the thought of traveling interfere with my studies.
I've been doing more research in my spare time and have found out something I find interesting.
Recently, Ljubljana has added a new bridge to it's cityscape. It is a footbridge that crosses the river at the central market between the Triple Bridge and the Dragon Bridge.
It's called the Butcher's Bridge which in Slovenian is "Mesarski Most". It was proposed to be built back in the 1930s but had the plug pulled on it because of the invading Nazis. The bridge finally underwent construction quite recently after they discussed whether to modernize the plans or to stick to the original by architect Joze Plecnik. It was opened in July 2010 with a few sculptures from Greek and Biblical mythology.
What's more interesting about the bridge, I found, was the occurrence of love padlocks appearing on the steel wiring of the bridge after it opened.
The bottom padlock reads "Lili, ti si moje sonce! Metod" which translated goes along the lines of:
"Lili, you are my sunshine! Metod"
The padlocks are to symbolise eternal love between the two and have started to decorate the bridge. I think it's the perfect touch to the bridge and I want to make sure I have pictures taken of these whilst I'm there.
I've been doing more research in my spare time and have found out something I find interesting.
Recently, Ljubljana has added a new bridge to it's cityscape. It is a footbridge that crosses the river at the central market between the Triple Bridge and the Dragon Bridge.
It's called the Butcher's Bridge which in Slovenian is "Mesarski Most". It was proposed to be built back in the 1930s but had the plug pulled on it because of the invading Nazis. The bridge finally underwent construction quite recently after they discussed whether to modernize the plans or to stick to the original by architect Joze Plecnik. It was opened in July 2010 with a few sculptures from Greek and Biblical mythology.
What's more interesting about the bridge, I found, was the occurrence of love padlocks appearing on the steel wiring of the bridge after it opened.
The bottom padlock reads "Lili, ti si moje sonce! Metod" which translated goes along the lines of:"Lili, you are my sunshine! Metod"
The padlocks are to symbolise eternal love between the two and have started to decorate the bridge. I think it's the perfect touch to the bridge and I want to make sure I have pictures taken of these whilst I'm there.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Paying for it
Today I start to think about my situation. I try to project realistically how far I can get in 9 months and I think about my financial position for my exchange.
I decided that I'm going to put aside money every month for my trip. Working two jobs I can comfortably save half a grand each month until departure. Also thinking about summer work, I can spend more time once I have finished semester studies to dedicate as much of myself as I can to earning money so I don't have to think about it when I'm over there.
It's not easy. I've set my target to be 12,000 for Slovenia in my own pocket. Dad's decided he would help and offered to provide a few hundred a month so I don't hit the deficit when I'm there. I think I may need more but I have to do more research. It's so hard to work out how much money I need to put aside when I have never lived there before. I think this is a good challenge though and I know there are good answers I just haven't yet found. Patience is needed.
This week I spoke to a lecturer of mine in a management unit. As I went to visit her in her office, I noticed a project model done by the student of a colleague of hers that she shares her office with. When he came into the room I asked him about the model and found out he does a construction unit that is similar to the elective that I am hoping to take up at Ljubljana. I asked him if he could have a look at the unit guide for the same subject I want to do at Ljubljana and he said he would. Now I may be able to get more academic credit than I thought.
I've not heard anymore from Mandy or the university. I'm still going around and asking some of my friends about exchange programs. One particular thing I ask them is home sickness and how they deal with it. Some of them have interesting responses but I don't want to elaborate right now. I may put them in a separate blog as I learn a little more.
I've lastly thought about brushing up on my Slovenian. I'm hoping to get text books soon and study a little during the summer period again. It's a lot harder trying to find a Slovenian text book than I thought. In the end I think it will all be worth it.
I decided that I'm going to put aside money every month for my trip. Working two jobs I can comfortably save half a grand each month until departure. Also thinking about summer work, I can spend more time once I have finished semester studies to dedicate as much of myself as I can to earning money so I don't have to think about it when I'm over there.
It's not easy. I've set my target to be 12,000 for Slovenia in my own pocket. Dad's decided he would help and offered to provide a few hundred a month so I don't hit the deficit when I'm there. I think I may need more but I have to do more research. It's so hard to work out how much money I need to put aside when I have never lived there before. I think this is a good challenge though and I know there are good answers I just haven't yet found. Patience is needed.
This week I spoke to a lecturer of mine in a management unit. As I went to visit her in her office, I noticed a project model done by the student of a colleague of hers that she shares her office with. When he came into the room I asked him about the model and found out he does a construction unit that is similar to the elective that I am hoping to take up at Ljubljana. I asked him if he could have a look at the unit guide for the same subject I want to do at Ljubljana and he said he would. Now I may be able to get more academic credit than I thought.
I've not heard anymore from Mandy or the university. I'm still going around and asking some of my friends about exchange programs. One particular thing I ask them is home sickness and how they deal with it. Some of them have interesting responses but I don't want to elaborate right now. I may put them in a separate blog as I learn a little more.
I've lastly thought about brushing up on my Slovenian. I'm hoping to get text books soon and study a little during the summer period again. It's a lot harder trying to find a Slovenian text book than I thought. In the end I think it will all be worth it.
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