University of Western Australia
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Final Days in Perth
By Joseph Barker (The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia) Sadly, the end of my time in Perth is rapidly approaching: yesterday, I had a horrible moment of realization that I only have three days left in this beautiful corner of the world! This penultimate study abroad blog will reflect upon everything I haven’t covered thus far, to both keep you informed about my final couple of months at UWA and hopefully raise my spirits during a period of somber farewells. One significant aspect of my time studying abroad, which occurred in the second half of the semester, was my work with the Oaktree Foundation. My college frequently advertised a…
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Travelling the West Coast
By Joseph Barker (The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia) The midterm break during my semester abroad provided the ideal opportunity to explore Australia’s west coast, which has proved to be the highlight of my study abroad exchange so far. Having excitedly planned the trip in the preceding weeks, I took to the road with nine of my fellow exchange students, cramming a week’s worth of food, sun cream and ‘Goon’ (The Aussie equivalent of Tesco’s own brand red wine), into two hire cars. With a rather unfortunate amount of American pop music being blasted from our stereo, we set off on our first real adventure down under! The one…
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Academic Life at UWA
By Joseph Barker (The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia) Studying abroad offers the opportunity to become truly immersed in an alternative way of learning in a new university within a different country, and I shall therefore use this blog to describe my own academic experience in Australia. Studying History at UWA followed the same basic structure of weekly lectures, readings and tutorials as my studies in Manchester. The nature of module selection, by contrast, varied hugely. At the University of Manchester, the History course provides an exceptionally diverse range of modules, covering a variety of geographic locations, time periods and ways to study history. By contrast, despite UWA advertising…
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Arrival Reflections
By Joseph Barker (The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia) My first few days in Perth proved equally as hectic as my final weeks in England. Having checked into the Ocean Beach Backpackers Hostel in Cottesloe, I was awestruck by the incredible views the beaches of East Perth offered. Following three days of recovering from jet lag (or relaxing with my fellow backpackers in paradise, to give a more honest appraisal), I had yet more issues to attend to. Setting up a bank account and buying an Australian phone proved simple tasks. Following several unsuccessful house viewings in a variety of Perth’s less desirable suburbs, however, I realized that finding…
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Pre-Departure Reflections
By Joseph Barker (The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia) Hello, and welcome to the first of my blogs describing my study abroad experience in Australia! Following the somewhat arduous process of applying to study abroad, I was thrilled to learn that I had been accepted to study for a semester at the University of Western Australia (UWA), based in the coastal city of Perth. Before I could get truly excited about the beaches, wildlife and relaxed lifestyle however, I had a variety of things to organize in order for my transition down under to be a smooth one… Firstly, I was required to send letters of acceptance, apply for…
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Returning to Manchester
By Megan Hitchock (University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia) I came back to the UK in the middle of August, and after 13 months away from the UK, it was so surreal being home. My last six weeks in Sydney seem like a blur. I spent the time nannying for a 9 month old baby and exploring more of one of the Australian cities I have come to love. By the time my time in Sydney came to an end, I was ready to come home knowing that it hopefully won’t be too long until I’m back on that side of the world. On my return I had a crazy…
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The end of my time in Perth
By Megan Hitchock (University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia). I’m on a flight out of Perth, and it’s not for a holiday, and I don’t have a return flight. This feels very weird. My exams finished last Thursday, and since then it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions. I was so happy that exams were over and I could finally enjoy being in Perth without the constant exam stress, but exams being over meant that my time in Perth was coming to an end. It’s so sad knowing that so many of the wonderful people I’ve met I’ll never see again, and so many I will see but not for a…
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Manchester on the road, for real
By Megan Hitchcock (University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia). This past week I have left Perth (yet again!) and taken myself to Melbourne and Canberra, managing to catch up with lots of the Manchester crew! First stop was Melbourne, which was the last city I really wanted to tick off my bucket list for this year, and it definitely didn’t disappoint! I stayed with fellow psychologist at Manchester, Anna, and she was a great tour guide! I spent my few days seeing lots of the sights Melbourne has to offer and exploring all the little quirky shops and graffiti covered alleyways. I’ve even bumped into an old London friend. A…
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Update from my second semester in Perth
By Megan Hitchcock (University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia). Well if I thought this semester was going to be any less crazy or busy than the last, then I was completely wrong! The semester started with pool parties, inter-college sporting events, and of course the essential beginning of the new semester’s college formal, and has just kept getting better! College-wise I feel so much more settled this semester, although a lot of my friends have left, for those of us that have stayed it really feels like home. I really feel part of a community and cannot even begin to explain how thankful I am that I was able to…
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Roadtrippinnnng the East Coast
By Megan Hitchcock (University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia). I quickly learnt that as long as you are by a beach, with a cool crowd of people and have drinks then you are set for Australia Day wherever you chose to spend it, and Byron Bay definitely ticked those boxes. An important part of Australia Day is Triple J’s top 100 – a popular radio station that counts down that years most popular 100 songs, so you need to make sure that’s on too. I had high expectations of my time in Byron and it definitely lived up to them – a cool, backpacker town with lots going on and…
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Australian Summer Part Three
By Megan Hitchcock (University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia). Well, Sydney for new year was definitely something I’ll remember forever. Dad and I joined some of my friends and found a spot on the beach appropriate for a good view of the fireworks. The new year was seen in sitting with a drink in knee high water watching the spectacular fireworks from the Harbour Bridge – wow. I’d definitely recommend adding that to the bucket list if you haven’t already been there for yew year. Also Field Day on New Year’s Day – festival next to the harbour, another fun addition to my new Year. The rest of our few…
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Australian Summer Part Two
By Megan Hitchcock (University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia). As I take off on yet another plane I thought I’d continue my tradition of using this time to update my blog. I went to see my friend PJ in Brisbane and had such a great time! I was welcomed by his lovely family who thanked me over and over for looking after him in Manchester – if only they knew it was often the other way round! Haha. I was there for ten days and managed to see Brisbane, some of the Sunshine Coast annnnnd the Gold Coast in that time! We spent a few days at the Gold Coast…
