I am now two months into my time studying here in Adelaide, Australia. I have just started my mid-semester break and will be flying to Melbourne tomorrow to do some exploring and sight-seeing. I hope to do the Great Ocean Road, see the amazing street art on Hozier Lane and visit the National Gallery of Victoria to name but a few of the things on my bucket list.
Over the past month I have been to a couple ‘Aussie Rules’ Football games. One was an ‘Eagles vs Adelaide’ match on the Eagles home ground at the Woodville Oval; this one was a more small-based, community match. The second match I saw was on a much larger scale at the Adelaide Oval where I saw Port Adelaide play Freemantle. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on half the time as the game seems to incorporate a bit of football, rugby and basketball altogether! Either way, it was really good to experience the amazing atmosphere. The Adelaide Oval is also next to the river Torrens which is always nice to walk along.
The exchange network here, ESN Adelaide, is really good at organizing trips for international students around the local areas in and around Adelaide. One of them I went on was a wine tour to the famous Barossa Valley in South Australia: we visited three wineries which included Jacob’s Creek, Seppeltsfield and Kersbrook Hill. It was a fun day and we were also accompanied by some local Adelaide students who organized the tour.
Adelaide is a really comfortable city to live in and I’m happy to say that I feel really settled here. It’s small enough to have everything close at hand yet still open and spacious, and it’s only a short tram ride away to several beaches. As well as the university being located on North Terrace, there is also the Art Gallery of South Australia and the South Australian Museum. I’ve been able to visit both of them and enjoyed looking around the exhibitions. A few weeks ago a large group of us exchange students also hiked up Mount Lofty, the highest point in Adelaide which was definitely worth it when we got to the top!
In terms of my studies, so far I have received a couple of grades for some essays – 75 and 76, which in Southampton would be a solid first although here it is more like a firm 2:1, which I am pleased with. I have several assignments due over the mid-semester break and yet more reading for the next half of the semester, so I will also be busy with this after I return from Melbourne.
