Kickoff

Was at the Kickoff today, which actually was really good.. Lots and lots of practical information! Bring a notebook and a pen.. Most of the stuff I knew already - but it felt good to have it reinforced. It also felt good to look through the lists they gave us. I like lists. And I like checking things off of them even more :)

More information about the kickoff can be found on their website, as well as their powerpoint presentation with lots of info. A summarised version of their checklist can also be found online here.

Accomodation

Couchsurfing is an awesome site! The first week in Brisbane we'll be staying with a guy called Beren, who seems really nice.. will be lovely to come to a home once we arrive instead of a hostel. I've never couchsurfed before, so this will be interesting :)

But if you don't want to crash someone's home, here's a tip from Frida: Bunk is apparently a really good backpackers and a great way to meet new people..

It's still too early to find a permanent residence for when we arrive in July, but I'm checking every week anyway just because I can't help it :) Some good websites for those who are curious:

• QUT's own Accomodation Services
• The Pad
• Rooms 4 Rent
• Campus Living Villages, for those wanting to live on campus. A bit expensive, but the flats do look nice!

Sara's also coming! :D

When Sara heard I was going to Brisbane, she applied for some biology courses at the University of Queensland - and got in! Kickass! We are going to terrorize that city..










At Café Mojito in Cape Town :)

Scholarships

Some of the other students had gotten information about how to apply for scholarships. The package costs 325 SEK but is apparently really worth it.. Shame I didn't find it in time! But here it is in case someone wants to have a look.

Papua New Guinea

Everyone I've spoken to who has traveled to that area of the world has always spent their last weeks of the trip lying on beaches in Thailand. I'm sure Thailand is great (the pictures do look amazing) but.. I will already have spent half a year lying on the beach by the time I'm done in Aus, so I think want to do something completely different before coming back home.. Have been looking around for info on Papua New Guinea.. It's apparently really dangerous, but imagine how awesome it would be to explore one of the last few proper wild jungles left in the world.. :)

• PNG Tourism
• Jungle Fever: Papua New Guinea
• Papua New Guinea: A World Away, Pt 1
• Papua New Guinea: A World Away, Pt 2
  

I'm sold.

Being Swedish is kinda convenient..

Something that's really convenient about being Swedish is that Australian universities love Swedish students. Swedes don't need to get an OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) which all the other exchange students need to get, since they know we automatically have health insurance from the Swedish government. We don't need to send proof of funding either, since they know we automatically get money from CSN for all our studies. Also, when we send in our applications, we get special forms for Swedish students that don't require a bunch of documents and information. All exchange students need to send a translation of their school documents and certificates or a conversion of what their grades would be equivalent to, but not the Swedes - since they're already so familiar with the Swedish academic system. Hahaha.. no wonder so many Swedes want to study in Australia! :D

Mail from QUT!

Yay! Got an e-mail from QUT's exchange programme saying they've received my application and everything looks good :) The official Confirmations of Enrolment will however only come after May 10th.. which is kind of frustrating since I can't apply for my visa until I get the code on my COE. Grrr.. I want it now!!








Brisbane

Useful websites

Some good websites to keep an eye on..

• Kammarkollegiet: Free government insurance for exchange students.
• Student visa: The student visa costs 540 AUD, which is equivalent to about 3,600 SEK. Which brings us to the next link..
• Exchange rates: 1 AUD = 6.7 SEK at the time of writing.
• Vaccinations: Am a little concerned since I will be travelling via South Africa, Swaziland & Mozambique for a few weeks before going to Aus.. might be a good idea to check WHO's website later on to see if I need to get any shots before I go. It would kind of suck to get stuck at Brisbane Airport all alone in the middle of the night..!
• The Swedish Embassy: Always good to let them know you're in the country. Also, the Swedish elections will be held while I'm down under, so I'll have to go there to vote..
• STARS: A good site to see what other students have experienced during their trips to different parts of the world. If you click on "Narratives" you can browse for tips and other info about your chosen city..

Preparations for the great move..

Spoke to 3, my mobile operator, and cancelled the sms-contract (or whatever it's called) on my phone for the day that I leave Sweden. A lot of operators insist that you let them know 3 months in advance, others just a few weeks in advance, so it's a good idea to check that in good time. I won't be cancelling my entire mobile though since 3 also has a really good network in Brisbane, so I'll be able to call home at normal rates (which is awesome). As long as you're calling within 3 of course.. So if you also have 3 and want to stay in touch, text me or leave a comment! :)

I've also cancelled my membership at the gym, which means I now have about 2 months left to try get my beach-bod sorted! :) But I have a feeling I'll be using that membership about as much these next few months as I have during the last few.. (ie. never.)

We went to Shurgard yesterday too, signed a bunch of papers and got a teeny tiny key. Going to pack my entire life into a 4m x 3m box! Bizarre to think that we trade in every single item of our material worth, all the stuff we've accumulated thus far in our lives, for this tiny little metal thing. A little scary too.. What if something happens? Sure, we've got insurance, but it won't replace all the personal attachments we have to our stuff..

B vs P ??

Just got a call from Anna Skarpeke - seems half of the courses I've chosen are for masters-students and therefore not available for me :( I only get to pick from courses that end with the letter B, and not P. Would have been nice to have this information somewhere on their website so that I wouldn't have to send in my application twice..