Victoria Abroad would like to thank the VU staff members who attended the Welcome Reception. It is a great opportunity for you to mingle and get to know the students on an informal basis - thank you again for your support.

A special thank you to Ms Sally Hodgetts (Director Victoria University International). Sally not only welcomed the students with genuine warmth, she also pitched in and assisted with providing the students with refreshments on the evening.

We thank you all for your positive feedback. Below is an excerpt from emails that have been forwarded to us:

"I would just like to say thank you to both yourself and your colleagues for organsing such a fantastic international function last week. It was great to meet some other people in the same position as myself and the whole evening was both fun and informative. And what a beautiful venue
and view for the drinks and nibbles afterwards! Thank you - it was fantastic! " Alison Giles - exchange student from Leeds Metropolitan University - UK

"I'd just like to send you a few words of gratitude concerning the fantastic orientation
you and the staff from the International Branch provided for the Internationals. It really made you feel welcome and it was a good way to
get in contact with others; especially the reception on the campus in Flinders Street was just exceptional." Matthias Kamuf - exchange student from Lund University - Sweden

Below are some photos taken at the Welcome Reception:

PLEASE NOTE: Camilla from Sweden won the contest "What is a Tim Tam Slammer?". If you still don't know what a Tim Tam Slammer is maybe you should contact Camilla and she will enlighten you!

3. Victoria Abroad Call for Volunteers
We were extremely pleased with the number of students who volunteered to participate in our upcoming Victoria University Exchange Fair Day on 6 April, 2006. This is an important event which will promote your home university to VU students. Hopefully, we will be assisting many VU students to go exchange to your university as a result of your input on this day.

Also, a good number of you want to be "International Superstars" (Wendy's phrase), by participating in the 2006 photoshoot - we should get some great photos this year.

Please keep reading the newsletter, and checking your VU email (we will be contacting you via these mediums).

4. VU Students on Exchange
All our outgoing VU students (semester 1, 2006) have reached their overseas destinations, and are adjusting to, and enjoying their new host university and exploring their new environment.

Here are a few student's comments so far:

"I have explored Blacksburg, Christian burg and a little of Roanoke with help of some local friends and self exploration. I have also had help from my host family to adjust living here, and they have been very kind and generous. I have gone to plays, dance acts, ice skating and I am considering going skiing, sky diving and backpacking with friends during the spring break. I am also part of the Alpha Kappa Psi which is professional business fraternity. This is the first time that I am seeing a town that was built around a campus. The population of the students (26000) exceeds the local population, its just amazing". Prashanti Marimuthu - Virginia Tech (USA)

"Everything is going well there in the States. Classes are fun and the girls are treating me real nice! Bloody cold though, and don't worry I am behaving myself! Shannon McAlpine - Indiana University (USA)

Shannon on route to Indiana via the Bahamas & Miami

I'm loving it over here. My Spanish still isn't very good but that isn't much of a problem. I've joined the rugby team which is heaps of fun we start playing this weekend. I am doing salsa classes haha. Philip Brooks - UDLA (Mexico)

Mexico is excellent, and I am enjoying my studies here at
UDEM in Monterrey. I really enjoyed my volunteer
work while I was in Guatemala and would love to extend this experience while I am a student here. Jacinta Boyle - UDEM (Mexico)

Note: Margaret Jackson from Victoria Abroad recently visited Mexico and caught up personally with Philip at UDLA and Jacinta, Lauren, and Emilie at UDEM.

Philip at UDLA in Mexico

Margaret, Lauren, Jacinta, & Emilie at UDEM in Mexico

5. Victoria Abroad Campus Visits
Over the next couple of weeks we will be visiting various VU campuses to promote our exchange program to students. We will be doing some lecture visits and will be located in the cafeteria areas of the following campus over lunch time: 11.00am to 2.00pm:

Melton - Monday 6/3/06
Werribee - Tuesday 7/3/06
Sunbury - Monday 13/3/06
St Albans - Tuesday 14/3/06

Please call in and see us If you are studying at any of these campus on these dates.

Also, remember that Wendy (Wednesday) and Sharon (Thursday) will be at the Footscray Park campus in the International Office during semester. Please come by and say hello!

6. Welcome to Victoria Abroad Team
We would like to welcome, and introduce to you a new staff member at Victoria Abroad. Shannon Rippon is working with us two days a week. Shannon is currently studying law at Victoria University's Law School (Queen Street Campus). She is very aware of what it is like to be studying in another country. During semester 2, 2005 she attended the University of Windsor in Canada as an exchange student. We are very happy to have Shannon with us as part of the Victoria Abroad team!

 

7. ISA Welcome Party
The ISA Welcome Party was held on Friday 3 March at the Toniq Bar (Footscray Park Campus). Sorry, I wasn't able to make it!
From the photos I've seen it looks like it was a great night! - thanks Goran! These events promote the opportunity to develop new friendships with other international students.

We hope you had a fantastic evening, and try to make it to all the future events, because they're great fun!!






8. Important Information
Subject Changes
Please make sure that all your subjects are correct by the 20 March, 2006. If you need to withdraw from, amend, or add a subject do so well before this date. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!

Victoria Abroad Requires...
* your Melbourne contact details - address & telephone number
* a copy of your passport and visa

Please make sure you pass this information on to us as soon as possible.

9. Commonwealth Games Representative
We would like to wish Stephania Magri (exchange student semester 2, 2005 & semester 1, 2006 from the University of Malta) all the very best in representing her country at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Stephania will compete in the following events:

Time Trial Race - 21st of March 06.
Road Race - 26th of March 06.

The time trial will be held on Beach Road and the road race will around the botanic gardens. Entrance is free.

At the end of the races we hope to see Stephania on the podium with a medal around her neck! GOOD LUCK, we are so very proud of you!

10. Your Contribution
We need your help in making this newsletter an informative and fun form of communication while you are studying with us in Melbourne. So, any information, photos, quizzes, or other contributions are very much appreciated.

It is great to hear that you are enjoying Melbourne and Victoria, and we would like you to share your experience with all other students.

You have already expressed some opinions on Melbourne, and our way of life:

Thomas (Reims - France) first arrived and announced that Melbourne is the most beautiful city he has seen.

Tobias (German Sport University - Germany) has had some difficulty in driving a car (he keeps on turning on the windscreen wipers instead of the blinker!!) - Hmm (we would like a photo of this).

Alexander and Sebastian (University of Applied Sciences, Landshut - Germany) and Christoph (University of Applied Sciences, Regensburg) were very happy to discover the beach at Williamstown - as you can see from the photos below:

If you want to contribute to the next newsletter send it on to me via email: sharon.boyd@vu.edu.au

11. What's Happening in Melbourne?

2006 Commonwealth Games
15 to 26 March

The Commonwealth Games ranks as the third largest sporting event in the world after the Olympics and Soccer World Cup., Melbourne is hosting the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the largest sporting event to be staged in this city since the 1956 Olympics.

Whilst Melbourne has deservedly gained recognition as the sporting capital of Australia, there will also be a huge amount of cultural activity happening around the Games. Melbourne will definitely be the place to be in March 2006!

Melbourne is expecting a wave of excitement and energy to hit the city. Over 90% of Games activity will be in the heart of the city and 90,000 tourists expected during this time. The city is going to be action packed!

You will be able to access tickets to high profile Games events including Basketball finals, Netball, Athletics, Gymnastics and lower priced category Ceremonies tickets from Sunday 5 March at midday. Please visit for more information: www.melbourne2006.com.au/

Biganga
3/3/06 to 3/3/07
A major Melbourne Museum exhibition at Bunjilaka for the Commonwealth Games. An exhibition of contemporary etched and burnt possum skin cloaks by respected Indigenous artists Lee Darroch, Treahna Hamm and Vicki Couzens. It will also include works from the old Melbourne Museum collection, old photos, and other contemporary pieces. The project aims to inform the general public about the continuing Indigenous cultural tradition of making possum skin cloaks. For more information visit: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

2006 FORMULA 1™ Foster’s Australian Grand Prix
30/03/2006 - 02/04/2006
The 2006 FORMULA 1™ Foster's Australian Grand Prix will mark the dawning of a new decade of FORMULA 1™ racing at Melbourne's beautiful Albert Park. It's a four-day carnival of speed, glamour and excitement featuring the world's best drivers in their incredible F1 machines. Live it up with F1 action, fans, fashion, food and festivities - at the purpose-built 5.3 km track, only minutes from the centre of Melbourne.
For more information visit: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Flemington Festival of Racing - Super Saturday
11/3/06
The Flemington Festival of Racing returns to Flemington, the home of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in March 2006. See the superstars in action at this feast of Group 1 racing on Super Saturday featuring the Seppelt Wines Newmarket Handicap, Darley Australian Cup and Cadbury Guineas. See the best horses, trainers and jockeys vie for millions of dollars of prize money at this very special day of thoroughbred racing.
For more information visit: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Plus......there will be many free events happening in the city (as discussed and presented to you during your orientation session) that you will be able to participate in. Please visit the Melbourne Tourist Information Centre at Federation Square or go to the website: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au for more information.

Enjoy the next few weeks, and above all have fun, take photos and tell us about your experiences!

9. Newsletter Competition
Be the first person to reply with the correct answer and you will win a prize!

The question was: How many times does the letter 'f" occur in the following sentence?

Friends will not follow your advice if they feel that your words are full of flattery!

English Language
To students from Non English Speaking Backgrounds - no wonder English is confusing!!! To students first language is English - have you ever stopped to consider the following?

English is a stupid language.
There is no egg in the eggplant
No ham in the hamburger
And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England
French fries were not invented in France.

We sometimes take English for granted
But if we examine its paradoxes we find that
Quicksand takes you down slowly
Boxing rings are square
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

If writers write, how come fingers don't fing.
If the plural of tooth is teeth
Shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth
If the teacher taught,
Why didn't the preacher praught.

If a vegetarian eats vegetables
What the heck does a humanitarian eat!?
Why do people recite at a play
Yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways and
Drive on parkways

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy
Of a language where a house can burn up as
It burns down
And in which you fill in a form
By filling it out
And a bell is only heard once it goes!

English was invented by people, not computers
And it reflects the creativity of the human race
(Which of course isn't a race at all)

That is why
When the stars are out they are visible
But when the lights are out they are invisible
And why it is that when I wind up my watch
It starts
But when I wind up this observation,
It ends.

Postscript: And it only gets more confusing when our teenagers continue to invent, and add new words & meanings to words - Aussie slang can be confusing too! - Good luck everyone!
- Sharon