This week started with a trip to Victor Harbor (apparently they forgot to add in the ‘u’ when the named the town!) We took the coach from campus and travelled through the Adelaide hills, passing McLaren Vale wine region, and lots of other wineries! Our first stop was Victor Harbor, where we explored in small groups. It was very windy and very wintry, definitely not the weather I was expecting when I signed up to study in Australia! We walked along a jetty (pier) that the horse drawn tram drove along! After some pictures and a delicious lunch in the cutest café, we boarded onto the coach and drove to Urimbirra Wildlife Park. We took selfies with Kangaroos, Koalas and Emu’s (and established I REALLY don’t like Emu’s).
22nd July
A very cold day in Adelaide. Who knew it actually got cold in Australia. Stupidly, I assumed the Aussies thought their winter was cold because their summer is so hot..but it’s very much winter and very cold! We took a midnight trip to the Pancake House a few minute’s walk from our accommodation, who knew a 24/7 pancake house could make a girl so happy?!
23rd July
Today I experienced Central Market for the first time, one of the largest under cover markets in the Southern Hemisphere! You really have to be prepared for this place, it is full of people shouting, pushing and forcing ‘only $1’ food into your hands; it’s very intense and a little bit terrifying on first experience! I learnt that If you don’t go in with a calm mindset and a list of things you need, you will end up leaving with 15 kiwis, 7 avocados and a ridiculous amount of mushrooms! The best time to go is on a Saturday afternoon as the majority of the produce is reduced considerably as they close for 2 days after! It’s great to shop here too as Australia is turning out to be very expensive for food!
So it turns out that the first week of semester is the best week to be on campus! There is free food everywhere, what student doesn’t love free cake and fruit?! We planned to go out for $6 pizza in the evening; it turns out that basically every international student had the same idea, and we couldn’t even get in the door! We ended up walking around for what seemed like forever in the cold and rain just to find some food. Eventually we found ‘The Edinburgh castle hotel’ (in Australia, if it’s called a hotel, its most likely a pub!). Definitely somewhere I’ll return to when it’s not such miserable weather and I’m not upset about missing out on cheap pizza!
The next few days consisted of lectures, free pizza and more free BBQ’s, yet again, a sausage and a slice of bread. We also attended a garden party organised by ESN Adelaide. There was a live band singing covers of songs, the singer had the biggest dreadlocks I’ve ever seen! It was a great night and amazing to see so many exchange and study abroad students in one place, definitely a good way to make new friends and meet people from all over the world!
At the weekend a group of us girls took the train to Woodville, around 10 minutes away, to look around a vintage clothes market. The idea of a vintage clothes market is great…until you arrive and all you can smell is dust and old things! Nevertheless, it was hilarious looking at all the old, weird and wonderful clothes people were trying to sell! On Sunday we met our ESN buddies and the other members in our group at the buddy meet and greet. A group of us then walked to the winter village (basically a Christmas market in July, with camels!) We stopped by the lake and took pictures of the Adelaide Oval which looked amazing at night all lit up and reflecting on the water! Aussies really love their football, I’ve never seen so many fans getting on so many busses in my life! When we got home, my French flat mate, Pauline, cooked us all crepes with sugar and Nutella. Note to self: Nutella consumption will be limited during the semester, as $8 for Nutella is just too much!
