Should I/How do I go to school in Australia?

[Pyroguekenesis]

If you want to go to school in Aust - get a car or catch the train xD very simple. Just don't trust Metro to be on time nowadays cause the system f***ed up the timetables xD

 

[pieguy259]

3. Don't lie down in the grass. Seriously, you can't do that there.

Are ... are you sure? I mean, I understand if you lie down on someone else's grass, but in a park, or on your own grass? I have frequently laid down on grass (unless you mean drop bears and their favourite snacks 'lazy park-goers' in which case all you need is a drop-bear immunisation, they're free at the local GP).

Drop bear immunisations? Expensive snake oil! I have it on good authority that they're just saline solution. Vegemite behind the ears, or, if you feel more bloodthirsty, a sharp object strapped to your head. That'll sort them out quick smart.

Snake oil, my arse! The immunisation is a vegemite producing bacteria, making your breath the drop-bear equivalent of an insect repellent. It was only later that Australians realised that vegemite was not restricted to use as a bear-repellent, but also made for a great toast condiment.

Look here, drongo, I lost one of my best mates to your precious "vegemite-producing bacteria". He was attacked by five bears the moment he left the clinic.

 

[notimeforlulz]

If you want to experience the 4 seasons, Autumn, Winter, Spring & Summer, go to a University in the South (NSW,Victoria,ACT - Which are the states that house Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra respectively)

However, if you like a nice warm day of between 70-104 degrees Fahrenheit, hate seeing trees without leaves on them, pretty much only 2 seasons, summer and autumn. Go to a university in Queensland (where Brisbane is)

Also, book stores in this country are shutting down left, right and center, either because they charge to much any everyone is buying kindles, or because of the general illiteracy of the Australia people that was seeing bookstores disappear even before amazon existed. So yeah.... If you find a decent book store in any Australian city, P.M. ME PLEASE (You can use this site), because the biggest book store here on the Gold Coast closed down this last month.

Our libraries are down right gigantic though...

For a foreigner - I think you should go to Melbourne... Sydney has some pretty nasty spiders and here in Queensland if you don't live right in the middle of a city, you'd better know damn well what to do in the event you come across a snake.... Also, steer far clear of the far North, crocodiles can be very dangerous....

 

[Funkysandwich]

If what I hear is correct, you may want to invest in a tennis racket to keep out spiders.

Spoiler

Oh, they get bigger than that.

They're completely non-threatening and harmless to humans, but they're terrifying for other reasons. Probably the strangest thing is, huntsmans are aware of your presence and will actively stalk you around the house. I had one downstairs on the opposite side of the house and it followed me all the way upstairs to the other side. I flopped back in my chair and stretched, looking up, and it was on the ceiling above me.

It was too high to catch, so I had to just kill it with spray, I figured. And fucking hell, they do not die. They are so insanely, stupidly fast, and it was spazzing out, literally dripping with bug spray as it proceeded to follow me around the room languidly thrashing at my feet, doing the whole "look at me I'm on my hind legs and bearing my fangs at you" thing that tarantulas do.

I remember seeing some guy filming himself trying to catch a huge ass spider from his ceiling in Australia on Oops TV with what looked like a hard plastic cake cover. He went to put it over it then the spider jumped, startling the guy in the process and the entire camera fell to the floor.

I will never forget that video. Ever. I think that's the only thing that really puts me off living in Australia or even visiting because I have a bit of a problem with them. I feel so silly about it! Jeepers... I'll try to find that video actually.

I have have so much respect for you... If I had one of those things on my ceiling I would probably abandon the house and burn it to the ground o_o

Ditto LOL


x

Huntsmens are pretty harmless. Most of the time they won't bite, and if they bite you they aren't poisonous anyway.

If you have an aversion to bugs and such, I recommend Melbourne, as we don't have a whole lot of wildlife down here, harmful or otherwise. I hate bugs with a passion, and I don't see them very often, and I've never been bitten/stung by anything worse then bees.

I would also advise that you live as close as possible to wherever you study, as options for transport are fairly limited (at least if you want to be on time).

 

[smithy_2045]

Melbourne is the best, come to Melbourne.

I would also advise that you live as close as possible to wherever you study, as options for transport are fairly limited (at least if you want to be on time).

Depends which train line you're on. I rarely have any issues on my line (Lilydale).

 

[Bobbity]

Are you considering High School, or uni? Either way, there are some pretty damned good options.

Okay, a little bit of detail now, particularly about Melbourne, because I know it well.
If you're worried about the wildlife, then you're fine down here. Very rarely do you see anything worse than a huntsman, which is a pleasant change from NSW - we had to fish a snake out of my grandmother's pool, once, and she used to get some fucking huge spiders.

Anyway, back to Melbourne. The weather can swing pretty wildly - to the point that it's a bit of a joke here that you can get all four seasons in one day. We can get some pretty bloody hot weather in the Summer - 40 degrees celsius, or more - but a particularly cold day might not top ten, fifteen degrees.

Public transport here is a bit of a joke. There's lots of it, but it's more than a little unreliable, and the tram system is almost unique in the world. It's also total crap. Useful, certainly, but crap.

Schools in Melbourne are pretty sweet. There are a couple of really good universities, although to get enough variety, you'd probably have to universities, depending on what you're looking for.

A word of warning about coming to live in Australia though - particularly Victoria. We're obsessed with sport, AFL in particular, and it can be a little difficult to get past the obsession with the footy.

All that said, it's a very nice place to live, and I'd fully recommend it. Or you could cheap out and go study on the Gold Coast. Up to you...

[HEADING=2]Important note:[/HEADING]
If you're thinking of coming to Melbourne because of a low price of living, think again. Living here costs an almost stupid amount of money, relative to other places in Australia.

 

[Hipsy_Gypsy]

If what I hear is correct, you may want to invest in a tennis racket to keep out spiders.

Spoiler

Oh, they get bigger than that.

They're completely non-threatening and harmless to humans, but they're terrifying for other reasons. Probably the strangest thing is, huntsmans are aware of your presence and will actively stalk you around the house. I had one downstairs on the opposite side of the house and it followed me all the way upstairs to the other side. I flopped back in my chair and stretched, looking up, and it was on the ceiling above me.

It was too high to catch, so I had to just kill it with spray, I figured. And fucking hell, they do not die. They are so insanely, stupidly fast, and it was spazzing out, literally dripping with bug spray as it proceeded to follow me around the room languidly thrashing at my feet, doing the whole "look at me I'm on my hind legs and bearing my fangs at you" thing that tarantulas do.

I remember seeing some guy filming himself trying to catch a huge ass spider from his ceiling in Australia on Oops TV with what looked like a hard plastic cake cover. He went to put it over it then the spider jumped, startling the guy in the process and the entire camera fell to the floor.

I will never forget that video. Ever. I think that's the only thing that really puts me off living in Australia or even visiting because I have a bit of a problem with them. I feel so silly about it! Jeepers... I'll try to find that video actually.

I have have so much respect for you... If I had one of those things on my ceiling I would probably abandon the house and burn it to the ground o_o

Ditto LOL


x

Huntsmens are pretty harmless. Most of the time they won't bite, and if they bite you they aren't poisonous anyway.

If you have an aversion to bugs and such, I recommend Melbourne, as we don't have a whole lot of wildlife down here, harmful or otherwise. I hate bugs with a passion, and I don't see them very often, and I've never been bitten/stung by anything worse then bees.

I would also advise that you live as close as possible to wherever you study, as options for transport are fairly limited (at least if you want to be on time).

Awk, it's just that silly phobia of bugs in general, lol. Though I'd take a spider any size faster than an earwig or centipede. You know, I've never actually come into close contact with a cockroach in my life at all, bar from behind glass but that doesn't count. Anyroad, how do they even get in at that size, the spiders?
Haha, nono; it'd be more for a visit as I'm more set on heading to Finland for some reason. Mind you, I love the idea of traveling, probably because the furthest I've been so far was to Germany and that was when I was nine. Education-wise, I think I'll just stay in Northern Ireland for convenience, save up then go where ever.

x

 

[PlowmanMk]

Yeah, I recommend Melbourne. I don't know about Sydney, but Brisbane is usually the place where you find bugs sleeping in your bed sheets.

Also, don't put too much thought into 'which university (or uni) is better'. Have a look at the course selection guides for what you want to do, then have a look at what uni options you have. Best way to do it.

Huntsmen's are harmless, just damn creepy. Only real problem you will have are whitetails [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_spider], which are relatively poisonous (causes necrosis) - although we have anti-venom for pretty much anything you will find in Australia. Chances you will get bitten by anything are pretty slim anyway. Plus, you will be at a university, so chances are you will be living in the close to the city rather than in a rural area.

Australia is really no dangerous in comparison to any other country. Except the Australian public transport system sucks :/

 

[captaincabbage]

Also, try and pronounce it "Mel-burn"

Pffft. If you want to sound like a local it's Melbun.. or even better, Melb'n... or "derp derp, gimme ya wallet, fuck ya"... oh wait, that last one is Pakenham locals.

No, no my good man, I believe the last one you are mistaken. That is in fact the mating call of the wild Tasmanian.

You had a bad experience in "Melb'n" I presume?

 

[ACM_Shadow]

snip

Spoiler

If what I hear is correct, you may want to invest in a tennis racket to keep out spiders.

Spoiler

Oh, they get bigger than that.

They're completely non-threatening and harmless to humans, but they're terrifying for other reasons. Probably the strangest thing is, huntsmans are aware of your presence and will actively stalk you around the house. I had one downstairs on the opposite side of the house and it followed me all the way upstairs to the other side. I flopped back in my chair and stretched, looking up, and it was on the ceiling above me.

It was too high to catch, so I had to just kill it with spray, I figured. And fucking hell, they do not die. They are so insanely, stupidly fast, and it was spazzing out, literally dripping with bug spray as it proceeded to follow me around the room languidly thrashing at my feet, doing the whole "look at me I'm on my hind legs and bearing my fangs at you" thing that tarantulas do.

I remember seeing some guy filming himself trying to catch a huge ass spider from his ceiling in Australia on Oops TV with what looked like a hard plastic cake cover. He went to put it over it then the spider jumped, startling the guy in the process and the entire camera fell to the floor.

I will never forget that video. Ever. I think that's the only thing that really puts me off living in Australia or even visiting because I have a bit of a problem with them. I feel so silly about it! Jeepers... I'll try to find that video actually.

I have have so much respect for you... If I had one of those things on my ceiling I would probably abandon the house and burn it to the ground o_o

Ditto LOL


x

Huntsmens are pretty harmless. Most of the time they won't bite, and if they bite you they aren't poisonous anyway.

If you have an aversion to bugs and such, I recommend Melbourne, as we don't have a whole lot of wildlife down here, harmful or otherwise. I hate bugs with a passion, and I don't see them very often, and I've never been bitten/stung by anything worse then bees.

I would also advise that you live as close as possible to wherever you study, as options for transport are fairly limited (at least if you want to be on time).

In regards to huntsmen, learn to "golf", open windows or doors work fine, 90% of the time they just look at you when your within "range", other 10% of the time they go skitz and its time to try to catch it in a box... (baseball bats are good if on wall, but usually you get a stain as you dont often get a clean shot.. ditto with a tennis raquet, unless its already airborn your gonna
A: squish it against a wall, and spider guts are not nice to clean, or
B: gonna fling it somewhere where it will survive, be pissed, and wanting to chase you (if you lead it outside then "A" works fine))

PS: air compressors are also fun when you find a large spider...
PPS: ever set a huntsmen on a wall full of little spiders? ie: outside sheltered wall of my house... it goes skitz.. but in a good way, and afterwards i found out air compressors can send a spider across my backyard and into the neighbors.

unsure 'bout history with my uni and prices, but (if Melbourne) you definitely want to live near uni unless its next to a train line, and even then you probably want to only be a couple of stops away due to metro's dodgyness

Spoiler

thank god for bel/dale line, if you wonder why, i think the Aussie head of metro lives somewhere along that line

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

but there is virtually nothing to do in Canberra, unless there's some secret scene I haven't heard about.

There is a secret scene. It's where talentless hipsters hold fundraisers in their backyards for each other's shitty bands and tell anyone who'll listen that the Canberra local music scene is the most alive thing ever, and their album that they recorded in a lake on a guitar with only two strings and a tin can for a drumset is a testament to that.

 

[Apprentice88]

If you're thinking of coming over here you're gonna need this;

Spoiler: Large Image

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Also, try and pronounce it "Mel-burn"

Pffft. If you want to sound like a local it's Melbun.. or even better, Melb'n... or "derp derp, gimme ya wallet, fuck ya"... oh wait, that last one is Pakenham locals.

No, no my good man, I believe the last one you are mistaken. That is in fact the mating call of the wild Tasmanian.

You had a bad experience in "Melb'n" I presume?

Lived in Pakenham for 3 months. I defy anyone to have anything other than a bad experience there.

 

[CodeOrange]

I am currently in the US and getting bored with my life. It occurred to me the other day that it would be cool to study abroad and I've always wanted to see Australia.

So, has anyone here done something like that? Does anyone live in Australia? What is a good school?

I'm curious about people who live there or have lived there and what their opinion is about it.

Australia is the cesspool in terms of culture in the first world. Don't live here. And everything is friggen expensive.

But for a year, sure, why not?

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Too bad about UniSA, bro.

UniSA has been dead to me since they renamed The Levels to Mawson Lakes Campus.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

And probably go back to school and do something where I'll actually get a job!

Get your Heavy Vehicle licence and go drive trucks up at the mines. Good money there.

 

[SirDeadly]

If you want the South I recommend Adelaide, it's not too cold, not too crowded and generally a nice place to live. Adelaide Uni and UniSA are both great universities.

 

[Biosophilogical]

3. Don't lie down in the grass. Seriously, you can't do that there.

Are ... are you sure? I mean, I understand if you lie down on someone else's grass, but in a park, or on your own grass? I have frequently laid down on grass (unless you mean drop bears and their favourite snacks 'lazy park-goers' in which case all you need is a drop-bear immunisation, they're free at the local GP).

Drop bear immunisations? Expensive snake oil! I have it on good authority that they're just saline solution. Vegemite behind the ears, or, if you feel more bloodthirsty, a sharp object strapped to your head. That'll sort them out quick smart.

Snake oil, my arse! The immunisation is a vegemite producing bacteria, making your breath the drop-bear equivalent of an insect repellent. It was only later that Australians realised that vegemite was not restricted to use as a bear-repellent, but also made for a great toast condiment.

Look here, drongo, I lost one of my best mates to your precious "vegemite-producing bacteria". He was attacked by five bears the moment he left the clinic.

Yeah, sorry about that mate. Ya' see, I breed 'em, drop bears that is. And one day the lock on me cage breaks, and all hell breaks loose, see? And if I'm hearin' ya c'rectly, that'd make that mate o' yours, Geoff. Poor bugger, never stood a chance, 'specially not during matin' season (the vegemite only works because the males are 'fraid of the lady-bears, but durin' matin' season, they hunt down anything that smells o' vegemite, trying to get their willy wet.

 

[kingcom]

Go Melbourne, its nice, not super experience (compared to sydney) and there are a LOT of universities about and in close proximity all providing student accomodation (which is far faaaar cheaper than normal accomodation)