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n o t C e nts 03 05 10 12 14 15 17 18 19 20 22 24 28 29 32
SEMESTER 1 - 2020 Presidents Note Faces Behind ISD 2020 Get to know the friendly faces of our committee members and the part they play for ISD!
IPP Review 2019 Finding A Second Home in Perth I’m here… so what now?
A Little Piece of Home, but A Big Piece of My Heart
An article of a little something I hold dear to my heart.
This is My Bit of Home Homesickness, begone!
It gets scary and a little overwhelming… but, we are here to help.
International Student Bingo Game time!
Recreating your familiar environment Starting with your very own room.
Tip Time: Managing S T R E S S!!! Finding Comfort in Perth…
A compilation of places and activities for you to do right here in Perth… it has given us comfort, maybe it’ll do the same for you too.
Living on College Row
Let’s see what the college presidents of Unihall, St. Cats & St. Georges have to say about life in college row!
Meals? Done in an instant!
To all you culinary geniuses out there, this one’s for you
Food for Your Soul That’s Missing Home. A Cookbook specially for you.
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Presidents Note Greetings everyone! To first introduce myself, I am Viknash and I am the International Students’ Department (ISD) President of the UWA student Guild for 2020! I am an international student just like many of you guys and having to leave home about 2 years ago to embark on my University studies was a daunting and new experience for me. Having been in Perth since then, I have truly made it my home, away from home and my friends have become the family I can depend on. When I talk about things that give me a sense of home, the first thing that comes to mind is actually a little yellow smiley faced stress ball, (ask me and I will show it to you haha). I have had it since I was in high school and it was always something which I had in my bag and carried round with me, and is something that I still keep with me anywhere I go. Do I use it because I am stressed? Nah, I have my friends around me and all the activities that happen on campus to destress with! UWA is an amazing place for international students and my hope is that ISD will make it easier for students to make that transition to your new home here in Perth. ISD boasts a team full of driven and passionate individuals who come from various walks of life and backgrounds, who are ready to help make this academic year one you will not forget (for all the good reasons of course!). My advice to all students would be to GET IN! - Get INvolved, Get INteractive, Get INtegrated The Guild has more clubs and societies than I can ever imagine and getting involved in them was the best decision I made when I came to UWA. There will be a club which peaks your interest and if there isn’t, set one up! Get Involved!
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When you go for your tutorials and lectures *coughs*, get to know those around you! Interact with as many people as you can! Friends you make at university could
be co-workers, family friends or even possible investors for your brilliant start up idea! Learn from those around you and build yourself up. UWA is not just about the classes but the people you study with who enrich your university experience. Lastly, if you follow step 1 &2, you will be integrated. As an international student many of us want to ‘fit in’ and when you get involved and interact with those around you, chances are that you will find that friend who loves the same bubble tea flavor as you or that friend who watches the same shows as you or even that person who would be your gym buddy. You will find your home away from home take your time to do it! If you ever need someone to help you out, we are here for you! Drop us a message on facebook, Instagram, email us or if you see us around just say hi! When you leave UWA at the end of your degree or exchange, leave with more than just a certificate. Bring home friends, memories and a whole lot of enriching experiences! That is all I have for you for now! TLDR; UWA is great, ISD is here to support you and get involved! Have an awesome semester ahead and I am very excited to meet each and everyone of you through your time here!
General secretary
vice president
Hey! I am Tharani and I’m your General Secretary of ISD for 2020.
Hello! You can call me Hafiz and I’m blessed to be the Vice President for ISD 2020!
I’m an international student from Singapore in my second year of the Bachelor of Biomedical Science programme. I love to dance, explore new food, and take walks along Matilda Bay!
I’m a 3rd year student, majoring in Sports Science and Exercise Health. I come from Singapore and have been in Perth for about 2 years. I’m an adrenaline junkie and love to do all kinds of sports! Running, cycling, soccer, ultimate frisbee, climbing, wakeboarding, you name it and I’m definitely down for it. Apart from that, I really enjoy getting to know people and building new friendships.
Moving to Perth was a huge change filled with uncertainties and mixed emotions for me, just like it would have been for most of us. However, after a year in UWA, I can safely say that I would not trade this journey for anything else. UWA has given me wonderful memories, experiences and friends in just one year. I would say that immersing myself in activities such as the Guild and various clubs played an integral role in easing my transition and helping me make the best of my first year. In the coming year, I hope to work with my amazing committee to execute initiatives for my international peers, to create a home away from home. Personally, I hope to explore more ways to get involved in campus life and give back to the UWA community that has given me more than I could ask for. My 1 word of advice would be to put yourself out there and make the best out of whatever this place has to offer, Trust me, at the end of the year you may amaze yourself with things you never thought you would have done. After all, it’s going to be these memories and lessons that will stick with us and shape our growth beyond our degrees. Wishing you a wonderful semester ahead! Love, Tharani Sivakumaran
The opportunity to study abroad has been such an eyeopening experience for me. Having to settle down in Perth on my own, I found comfort with like-minded people. What I love the most about this is that it has enabled me to make friends with people from all over the world. I’ve forged close-knit friendships with them and to this day, we still keep in touch with one another, even though they have graduated. How great is that? This year, I am proud to have such a great team with big hearts, who are dedicated to giving back to the international community here in Perth. As you get to know more about ISD, you’ll soon find out about all the great events we’ve got lined up for you this year. Each ISD sub-department targets different areas that will help you sail through this journey abroad smoothly. As you settle down and find your footing here in your new found home, I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone. Be brave and try new things. Meet new people. Do things you never thought you’d be into. I assure you, you’ll have a wholesome and enriching journey here in UWA that you’ll never forget. Keep in touch with ISD 2020 on Facebook and Instagram! We have a great line up of events for you to get involved in, allowing you to meet new people of different ethnicities. Get connected and see you around soon!
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Social Department
Social Director Hi I am Destin, ISD’s Social Director for the upcoming semester. Born and raised in Singapore, I made the choice to come to Perth in 2018 to further my studies, where I am currently in my final year as an Asian Studies major. While I have since settled into life in Perth, there was definitely an initial struggle where I had to adjust to a new environment, one with a completely different culture from what I have been accustomed to. However, with the support from friends, clubs and societies like ISD, I have made friends from all walks of life and I do not feel as homesick as I first did! Hence, my advice to the incoming Freshers is to take a leap of faith and sign up for the many events that our amazing university, along with the various clubs, have installed for us in your first semester. ISD will also be planning many social events such as a trip to Perth’s Rottnest Island, home to the famously cute Quokkas, an International Football League, where you can show off your amazing football talents, or soak up the sun and show off your sick bods at the Adventure World theme park! These events will not only help you explore Perth’s various attractions, but it will also give you the opportunity to make friends with other international students studying in UWA! Fun fact about me: I am into working out, soccer, and chilling out with my mates!
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Social Officer Hi, I’m Shin Shien, the social officer of ISD. I am currently in my second year, majoring in Accounting and Finance. I was born and raised in Malaysia, and I came to Perth in 2018 to start my degree. Leaving your comfort zone and living in an unfamiliar place is challenging. As a student who is living away from home, sometimes it’s hard to deal with the changes as you’re not well prepared for them. Hence, my advice would be: “Give yourself some time, don’t overthink it and things will get better in the end”. Speaking from my personal experience, joining clubs and societies is a GREAT way to kick start your university life. It helps you to get rid of your insecurities and expand your connections too, because you get to meet amazing people in the events. A little bit about my department: we plan social events for international students every semester. Last year, we organised trips to Rottnest Island, Caversham Wildlife Park, Adventure World and Swan Valley and we got to organise International Football League. We hope that this year we will be organising some even better events, making your university life an amazing and memorable one. Something interesting about me: I’m lowkey lactose intolerant but THIS WON’T STOP ME FROM GETTING BUBBLE TEA AND CHEESECAKES. Stay tuned for our upcoming events, we hope to see you there! ;)
Education
Education Director Hey everybody! My name is Shaqil and it’s my pleasure to be able to serve you as ISD’s Education Director. As an international student myself, I can empathize with the struggles that come with the decision of moving overseas to further your studies. Many sacrifices have to be made and none of them easy. Also, a large percentage of international students originate from cultures vastly different from that found in Australia and may face issues adjusting to the life abroad. Amidst these difficulties, we face the daunting task of having to keep up with our studies. Here’s where we come in! The Education Department will strive to assist international students to our best ability in achieving your fullest academic potential. We aim to organise as many diverse education events as possible to cater to the myriad of needs international students face at UWA. These events can range from workshops, seminars or even study night sessions. Our goal is to provide a safe space for international students to seek academic assistance in a comfortable environment free from scrutiny. Academic assistance can range from key fundamental areas such as writing and language skills to even more specific concerns that differ from one faculty to another. I wish everyone a fruitful semester ahead and hope to see you at the many events ISD has in store for you this year. Thank you!
ISC
Liaison Officer “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected” — Steve Jobs Ola Friends, My name is Ridhima, the Liaison Officer of ISD in 2020. I was born in India and raised in the UAE! I am also a final year Master’s in Architecture student. Having been involved with ISD for a year now, I have learnt a lot about addressing issues of international students and interacting with them on a bigger platform, because we can sympathise and relate to the same issues you face. The Liaison in ISD is known as the International Student Council (ISC). We work as a unit to be the point of contact among the clubs and faculty societies to connect them with ISD. This helps to create a better experience for students at UWA. As of now, ISC has gotten a number of clubs and faculty societies on board, helped organize events like the Destress event: Spill the Tea, ISD social football, education study seminars, migration visa seminars and many more. ISC’s major event in 2019 was the quiz night (Marvel v/s DC) that was held at the UWA Tavern. ISC hopes to conduct and help organise more of such events for the benefit of all the international students on campus. Having noticed an increase in the international demographic in UWA, ISC’s goals for 2020 would be to collaborate with more international clubs and all the associated faculty societies so that students will find it easier to make new friends and have a fulfilling Uni life. If you have any ideas or thoughts that you would like to share and discuss, don’t hesitate to get in touch with any of the ISD members as we are always ready to be of help to make you feel better in a land far away from home. Stay tuned for more, from us to you. Till then, it’s your Officer signing off. Adios. 7
Public Relations
Public Relations Director Hello lovely people, my name is Joey - the PR Director of ISD in 2020. The theme of this issue is not only about moving out of your comfort zone, but rather, finding your comfort in an unfamiliar environment. To me, I find comfort in setting high goals and achieving them one by one. There are two questions I always ask myself, “What else can I do? “How far can I go?” - I hope you’ll ask yourself the same questions, and that they can give you a purpose to push yourself even further. After all, you only live once. Playing safe is nice, but playing safe is no fun. My goal this year is to increase the reach of ISD. I want every international student in UWA to know that there’s a department, a place, a home - established for them and working on their behalf to bring to them all kinds of benefits that they need. I’ve found a “home away from home” in ISD, it became my family, and one crazy thing about this family is that we always accept new members. To conclude, let me present to you a few lines of a poem I love so much. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference”. (The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost). I hope you’ll find your time enjoyable in UWA. Get a degree, but please also get involved! Best regards, Joey.
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Sponsorship Officer My name is Julie Hoang. I come from Vietnam. Currently, I am doing a Master’s in Business Information and Logistics Management which I started in July 2019. I am very proud to be a part of ISD in 2020 as Sponsorship Officer. In the beginning, I didn’t think about joining ISD as I was busy trying to adapt to my new life in Perth. However, after attending some momentous events held by ISD, I started thinking “Should I be a part of this team?” And… my dream came true!! I believe joining ISD will be the turning point of my journey in Australia. I am finally breaking out of my comfort zone!! I am a shy and introverted person, but I don’t think it is my drawback at all. As time goes by, I realise introverts can have their own power and play to their strengths if they can make use of their advantages. Since then, I have decided to be myself, stay happy and try to look for every opportunity to learn new things, broaden my knowledge and make small changes to my daily routines. I believe 2020 would be an unforgettable memory of mine with ISD and the PR Team. It would be fun to have a dream team working together to organise events which could help international students adapt better to life in Australia. My responsibility for sponsor seeking will not be easy, but I think challenges are inevitable in life, and being challenged is the only way to for us to make progress.
Welfare Department
Welfare Director Hey beautiful people! I’m Kelvin Ramdhun, the Welfare Director of ISD 2020. I was born and raised in Mauritius - a tiny island in the Indian Ocean. Currently majoring in Finance and Marketing, and having already completed 3 semesters at UWA, I firmly believe that I made the right decision about joining this university. I got the opportunity to meet wonderful individuals and grow so much. My advice to any students would be to try your best to make the most out of university life - get involved, go to events and meet new people. Assignments and the workload might get daunting at some point, but we should always find time for our hobbies, friends and of course, for ourselves. Don’t be scared to make the first step to strike a conversation with others, say “hi” with a smile! If you guys vibe with each other, grab their contact details – there are amazing humans out there! The welfare department aims at providing support to you and help you go through the semester smoothly. Student’s well-being and health are our priority and we hope to help to the best of our ability. Don’t hesitate to come down and have a chat anytime you see our booth on Oak Lawn. We always welcome new faces and would love to meet you guys!
Welfare Officer Hi humans! I’m Estee, the welfare officer of ISD. I’m from Malaysia and currently majoring in Accounting and Finance. As a 2nd year student, I realised that getting good grades in university isn’t the most important thing in your life. You should enrich your university life by getting involved outside the classroom. It’s actually one of the only times that you will have to indulge freely in your hobbies and connect with people from a spectrum of diverse cultural backgrounds. To make the most of your university life, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and push your limit, try new things and meet new people. Join various clubs and go for volunteering. One of my goals for this role is to improve international students’ university life by raising awareness about both mental health and physical health. Let’s fly high together! uwu
Have a great year ahead, Kelvin
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Immediate Past President Hi everyone! I’m Nisa Shahrin, the Immediate Past President for ISD. In 2019, our committee consisted of 36 students from diverse backgrounds, representing the countries of Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, Mauritius, China, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, UAE, Vietnam and Ecuador. Our aim for ISD in 2019 was to run engaging social events to encourage students to get involved on campus; informative education events targeting soft skills,
Semester 1 ISD Education Workshops: Toastmasters Public Speaking Masterclass & Migration Seminar
We held a migration seminar and a public speaking masterclass to address the concerns of international students about migration and the lack of soft skills. During the migration seminar we covered temporary graduate visas, permanent residencies and student visas. There was an overwhelming response with over 60 students attending and the venue hitting capacity. We also held another migration seminar in Semester 2. Our public speaking masterclass was held in conjunction with Toastmasters, where we taught international students the ways in which they can improve on their public speaking skills.
migration and employability; and also, welfare events to raise awareness about mental health, wellbeing and sexual education. We also aimed to increase our presence on social media and to increase engagement of international students through our public relations department. In total, we organised 19 events in total this year.
Here are some of our key highlights in 2019:
ISD Rottnest Trip
ISD’s annual trip to Rottnest was once again a sell-out event. This year, we collaborated with the Chair of the Western Australian Students Aboriginal Corporation (WASAC), Brianne Yarran, to produce a brochure to educate international students about the dark history of Rottnest Island.
ISD International Football League We held ISD’s first ever international football league where we hosted 7 teams in total from different cultural clubs, in hopes to forge friendships between students from different backgrounds through sports.
ISD Destress Event: Spill the Tea
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The Spill the Tea event was held in Welfare Week and was organised by the ISD Welfare team to encourage students to take a break and to unwind. We collaborated with 6 cultural clubs and societies and 4 Guild departments who mannd stalls showcasing the different ways of which we can destress.
Semester 2 ISD Alumni Career Café
We collaborated with the UWA Alumni Office to hold ISD’s first alumni networking event. On top of the 5 distinguished panellists, we also had 30 alumni mentors to impart their past experiences as a student and graduate to the student attendees.
ISD Adventure World Trip
To diversify our social events, we organised a trip to Adventure World in Semester 2. The trip was a success and tickets were sold out in 24 hours.
ISD Dunk Tank for Charity
In Welfare Week in Semester 2, we held ISD’s first dunk tank for charity to raise money for Youth Futures WA. We organised for executives of clubs and Guild departments to be dunked and successfully raised a total of $300.
ISD Quiz Night: Into the Multiverse
We organised a quiz night at the end of the semester where all Marvel and DC fans unite. We collaborated with 8 clubs and Guild departments in total. 2019 was a blast, and I’m sure Viknash and his amazing team this year will take ISD to greater heights. You’ve heard this all before, but put yourself out there, get as involved as you can and head home after 3 years with more than just a degree.
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Finding a
Second Home
in Perth...
Dhashayani D/O Suhenderan The privilege of studying overseas, is an opportunity that not many students around the world receive. However, it is my greatest blessing to be given the opportunity to take up this venture. Like many students, I too came to Perth with many dreams and aspirations. However, that was just the beginning. Leaving Singapore meant that I would have to leave my family and friends behind. Starting a whole new journey filled with challenges on my own and starting from scratch. The biggest challenge that I faced would be making friends, of different personalities and backgrounds. I was given an opportunity to be part of UWA’s Uni Mentor programme. Through this programme, I met other international students who were just like me. New to this country and trying figure where they stand this community. I met many beautiful souls through this programme. We built strong friendships and found many common interests that we shared. Like I said, the hardest part of studying overseas was the part where we had to leave our friends and family behind -- which also meant that annual family events and festivals were going to be different. Little did I know, it wasn’t going to be that big change. I made a wonderful group of friends here who became family. For Diwali last year, I called my friends over and had scrumptious Indian food. We shared laughter and spread happiness and joy with each other. I felt like I had established a strong support system and that I had a second family here with me.
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Not only did I make friends, I also met their families who accepted me and welcomed me into theirs. Making me feel closer to home and showering me with love. Always checking in on me to see how I was adapting to the lifestyle. Their care and concern for me, made my parents feel at ease that their daughter was well taken care of, even though I was miles away from them. Aside from University friends, I made a group of friends through extra-curricular activities on the outside. I joined a dance class and met many who shared the same passion as me. Friends who constantly motivate me to do better and push me pass my limits. This gave me an opportunity to meet other Australians and get to know their culture better. It might be tough at first to make the first step in an unfamiliar environment. You’ll feel vulnerable but remember it is just a phase of emotions and you will get over it. It just takes a simple “hello” to break the ice with a stranger and build a lifetime of friendship. These friendships and memories you build over your time here in UWA will be the ones that you carry close to your heart. You were brave enough to make the decision to study overseas so making new friendships and finding yourself a second home in Perth is just secondary to that. If I can do it, I believe you can do it too.
You’re Not Alone... We All Needed Time To Find Our Home Away from Home challenges, it was a For me, while adapting to Perth had its lly. nsica intri e highly rewarding experienc confidence by the I slowly learned how to cook (gaining d to the mix of adde I week with each new ingredient iron and fold my to how ed learn experimental dishes) and granted living with clothes. These are things that I took for to have had domestic my family because I was lucky enough effort that goes into help. I came to truly understand the eciate and gain a new doing all these chores. It made me appr home. back perspective on how sheltered I was ficantly as it allowed Moving into college row helped me signi rtunities -- joining oppo me to go headfirst into a plethora of like being a roles p ershi college clubs and exploring lead Residential Advisor. has helped me alot Moving into St Cat’s since my first year munity-style living com the n in my adjustment to Perth. Give s of life, from walk all from le environment, I met peop rs, forming ange exch to estic dom to international students deep level. valuable friendships at a tremendously thing that kept me Making friends in college was the main e back to, regardless grounded as I always had a place to com taining these strong of my ever-changing surroundings. Main r especially during friendships definitely made everything easie Taylor’s to Uni from the time period when I was transitioning
In the first few weeks following my arrival in Perth, me. everything was still very confusing and different for time same the at I also felt kind of scared and nervous was about who I was going to hang out with, where I I who ency, emerg an sick/in supposed to go or if I’m that. like things of lots about d should contact! I worrie s, But luckily, I met some really good and helpful friend RAs The . Trinity in e colleg ntial reside my from ally especi ed and the RCs were very friendly and they also prepar made I ation. orient lots of activities in the first week of friends and had lots of fun during orientation week! Along k with Trinity’s orientation, I also attended UWA’s O-wee meet to got I where session up meet r and the Uni Mento people from my major. Trust me, the Unimentor group really helped me with adapting to University life. They told me what I had to do and everything I needed to know about University. It’s like an easy ‘steps on how to settle in Uni’ for dummies. So, from my own experience, I would life say that if you wanna make the best out of your Uni be and ies activit ation orient for go start, and have a fresh s curiou be and s friend new make to afraid be Don’t active! orthy trustw about others’ cultures. Once you find good and friends, you can really feel that Perth is your second home anywhere you go.
By Lidwina Audrey
By Arjun Bhugra
I’ve always viewed myself as outgoing and adventurous, but I remembered crying on the first day of orientation in my first year. I realised that I was so far away from home and that there was no turning back, that Perth was going to be my home for the next 3 years. Thankfully, I met a girl in the shared bathroom in my residential college. We hit it off, became best friends and spend the next year having the time of our lives. My point is - friends will be your second family when you are overseas as Human connection is so important when you are so far away from home. I don’t think my experience in Perth would have been as fulfilling if I did not put myself out there and challenge myself.
By Kimberly Soh
Settling down was easier than expected when a large proportion of those staying in UniHall were international students who wanted to make new friends too. I think being open to new experiences and joining clubs that interest you makes a big difference. And well, some food that reminds you of home every now and then. Having a good support system and friends to confide in when you are in Uni will really help you a great bunch.
By Siti Hanani Mohd Hussain
Initially, it was a bit daunting. However, settling in was easier than I thought. During O-Week, I went on a trip to Fremantle organised by UWA and I didn’t have any friends back then. I felt awkward at first as I was the only one standing all by myself whereas people around me were in groups chatting with their friends. Then I found another girl who was standing alone, like me. We struck up a conversation and stuck together for the rest of the trip and subsequently the rest of the sem! She is now my closest friend in Uni! Just be open to making new friends and experiences.
By Kasturi Rarhi 13
Olivia-Mae Tan As we delve into the theme of this semester’s issue – finding comfort and security in an unfamiliar environment, it got me thinking about all the ways I could find those aspects in my life here in Perth. Truth be told, I have only been studying in Perth for the past six months. To say that I have already found the definite answer and solution will be a total lie. In actual fact… I’m probably only halfway there. But I’m getting there! Slowly, but surely. A lot of focus always lies on the question: How do we find comfort and security? And often times, we forget about the other underlying questions. Instead of asking the hows, my question would be: who or what can we find comfort and security in? We can find comfort in a lot of things – it could be a person, a song, an object. For me, over the years, I have learnt to find a great deal of comfort in… a pillow from my childhood (also known as my ‘chou chou’). In my home country in Singapore, ‘chou chou’ is a term that literally means smelly pillow, a pillow gifted to us when we were younger, that small yet soft square of comfort and company. Many call it chou chou, bantal busuk or sometimes, they give it their own pet names. These ‘chou chou’s’ come in different shapes and sizes, it may be a bolster, a small pillow, a hand-sewn blanket or even soft toys! A great example on TV of the ever-lovely chou chou would be Octi from the Powerpuff Girls – that cute little purple stuffed octopus that Bubbles absolutely cannot live or sleep without.
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For me, it has stayed as my trusty bedside companion for the past 13 years of my life. My pillow has seen me through my playful childhood years, rebellious teenage years and now, it has followed me into my University years. My pillow has always found a home in every bed I have slept on, every place that I have gone. The only times I don’t have it with me would be when I travel overseas for holidays, because
if I were to lose my pillow in a random hotel in the middle of the Alps... that would literally be the death of me. I have dealt with the loss of my first ever chou chou before when I was five. I remember innocently bringing it out in my dad’s car for a spin only to never see it again when I reached home. It was horrifying and so depressing, I cried for days. To a little, five-year-old kid… that was honestly the worst trauma I have experienced in my childhood. Seeing me so wrecked over the loss of my chou chou, my grandma decided to take matters into her own hands and made a new chou chou for me. The chou chou that’s filled with all her love and determination to save her crest-fallen grandchild, the current one that’s lying on my bed right now. If anyone ever asks me who my childhood hero was, I would say my grandma. Without a sliver of doubt. Having my pillow with me in this new environment here in Perth has truly made me feel so much better. Just knowing that my chou chou’s just behind me on my bed when I’m studying, makes me feel all safe and secure. My chou chou reminds me of my home, it reminds me of my grandma, and it reminds me that no matter where I am or what I do, I should always have the same child-like innocence I had when I first received it. It makes being miles away from home so much more bearable. Because even though its something so small that I brought from home, it takes up a big portion of my heart. As a Peanuts cartoon once said, ‘Happiness is a security blanket’. My chou chou is my comfort in this unfamiliar environment, my security blanket and my reminder of home.
THIS IS MY BIT OF HOME. With the idea of a ‘chou chou’ in mind, this almost sacred object is indeed the object of our affection and attention. Our pillar of comfort in this new and daunting environment and also the small memoir of home that comes with it. Do remember that not everyone has to have a ‘chou chou’. It doesn’t mean that you had an unfulfilling childhood neither does it mean you are incomplete. And it certainly isn’t too late to get one. For those of you who never had one growing up or who have just learnt of this term, let us show you our bit of home and the stories of how it came to be.
Something that I hold very close to my heart would be this small, rectangular sized pillow. It may seem like nothing, but it smells of my home and my two precious dogs back home. This has been my comfort pillow for as long as I can remember. It has seen me through my happy, sad and angry moments. It provides me with this sense of security and also comforts me because whenever I hug it, the smell reminds me of my pets. My dogs are the source of my comfort back home.
I have this teddy bear called ‘Tetod’, which I bring with me wherever I go. Always finding a place in the cozy corner of my bed. My parents bought me this bear when I was six years old back in Indonesia while we were doing some furniture shopping. I can’t specifically remember why I named the bear Tetod but it was probably because of this game I played with my older sister when we were younger. It goes with me shouting “Tetot!” at her whenever she got the wrong answer. The word Tetot kind of stuck since then and that’s how Tetod likely got his name! Tetod reminds me of my family whenever I look at it. 14 years later, Tetod is still very much present in my dorm room and my life.
My ‘chou chou’ is this teddy bear from Stanford Uni!! (UDubs yay!) My mom got Stanford for me on one of her work trips to San Francisco when I was much younger. She gave it to me as memorabilia of her trip to the States but actually, its been my source of comfort ever since. It reminds me that my mom’s love knows no distance and that even when I’m physically far away from her, she’s still with me every step of the way. Stanford has provided me with a huge deal of comfort ever since I moved to Perth and he makes missing home a little easier to bear.
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My ‘chou chou’ is an old pillow. I have had it with me ever since I was a young girl. It has visited five different countries and I brought it here to Perth with me. I must say, my ‘chou chou’ is definitely a globetrotter. I seek comfort in my ‘chou chou’ whenever I feel down or on those days where I miss home a little more than the others. It reminds me a lot of home whenever I’m around it and it certainly helps with the bit about homesickness.
The object that means a lot to me would be my blankie. My blankie – this small and soft blanket with a patchwork design, spotting a few holes and tears here and there. I’ve had it since I was a child and I can’t sleep without it. I guess it has grown on me after all these years and habitually, I formed great reliance on it to give me the comfort of home. For real though, my blankie would be the one thing I’ll save if my house ever burned down. That’s how much it means to me.
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In my case, instead of one ‘chou chou’ I have two. This is only because they came together as a set and I couldn’t bear to separate them. My pillows were given to me by my grandma when I was seven. To others, they may seem like two very ordinary pillows but to me, I see my grandma’s love and hardwork. She made these two pillows by herself from scratch and it was really made with love. They have seen me through so many stages of my life – my childhood, tween/teen years and right now, in uni as well. They will always remind me of home no matter where I am. The feeling of comfort and security that I get from just hugging these pillows is indescribable. To not have them with me, especially when I’m here in Perth, would make me feel incomplete. Its funny how much two small pillows can have such a great impact on my life. But I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
HOMESICKNESS, BEGONE! Olivia-Mae Tan
For most of us reading this now, University is the time of our lives where we move to a completely different country. Thrown into an unfamiliar environment, thousands of kilometres from home. Your parents aren’t here with you and neither are your friends from home. You are bound to be lonely and at times, to the point where you become sad. That’s homesickness. You are never too old to miss home. Feeling a little homesick sometimes is completely alright and normal. Homesickness hits people in many different ways, making us feel wistful, making us feel sad. But there comes a certain point where we have to come to terms with the fact that we are far away from home and that we have to move on in order to feel happier and fully appreciate the opportunity to be able to study abroad. I know that it isn’t easy to stop thinking of the comfort and love that you received back home. Along with dealing with that, we are also expected to embrace our newfound independence. Everything’s happening so quickly, and I get it, it can really be extremely overwhelming. Your emotions are all over the place and all you’re trying to do is cope with it and keep up. There is a great expectation for University to be the ‘best time of your life’ so it can be difficult if you don’t feel that way especially when the ‘best time of your life’ was the time that you spent back home. So here you are, in a whole different country with new people and a whole new set of things to do. With home still being the main object of your woes and attention, how do we deal and get over this feeling? Here are some tips that we hope can help you out, it has worked for some of us and I hope it works for you too:
1) Get out there and keep yourself busy. It definitely sounds very tempting to stay in your room, especially when you are missing home. The outside world may seem scary and daunting but honestly, sometimes having a little sun and breathing in some fresh air wouldn’t hurt. Moreover, we’re in Perth! Matilda Bay’s a nice place to go for a stroll and there’s so many cafés around to grab a quick coffee with your friends. There’s so much beauty in the place we are in, so go out and explore them all. Scheduling social activities will give you things to look forward to and will also help you to build a social support system when you are in Perth.
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Bring some home comforts.
Pack your favourite bedding, photos of friends and family and anything that can remind you of home and make your room feel as homely as possible. Recreating that familiar environment will help you to settle in a little quicker because at least one thing isn’t that different from home. (p.s. do check out the segment of interior tips later in the magazine!)
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Talk to people.
If your homesickness is getting to the point where you are finding it difficult to cope with your everyday activities, try speaking to someone about it. You could confide in your closest friends or an adult figure who you are comfortable with sharing things with, or even your UniMentor can help you with that! Turn to them for advice and support on how to deal with your feelings. It doesn’t hurt to let someone in when you need it most.
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Look after yourself.
Your mental and physical health are linked so if you start neglecting your physical health, your mental health could start to go downhill too. These activities may seem rather simple but by getting enough sleep, eating healthy or even hitting the gym can really help to boost your well-being & you will begin to feel better too.
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Give yourself time.
If you don’t find yourself liking University that much the moment you step foot into it, that is completely OK. Some people will adapt to Uni life like a duck to water. But even if you take a little longer than others, don’t ever feel ashamed! Moving to a whole different country is a huge life adjustment for all of us, so don’t pressure yourself to settle in immediately. It takes time for yourself to get used to your ‘new normal’ and adapt so don’t be too hard on yourself. It could take days or weeks, but I believe that time will heal everything. The more you get involved with schoolwork and activities, the more you will start prioritising that over anything.
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international student bingo HOW MANY HAVE YOU DONE?
MADE AN AUSSIE FRIEND
WENT ON A TRIP TO FREO
TOOK A PICTURE AT TOOK PUBLIC THE ICONIC TRANSPORT BOAT HOUSE
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VISITED CAVERSHAM WILDLIFE PARK
MET ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL
STAYED IN COLLEGE ROW
MISSED HOME
STUDENT
BOUGHT A TAD TOO MANY THINGS FROM THE SUPERMARKET
TRAVELLED TO THE SUBURBS FIVE TIMES
GONE ON A ROAD TRIP WITH FRIENDS
CODESWITCHED WITH FRIENDS
TAUGHT A FRIEND HERE YOUR LANGUAGE
COOKED A DISH FROM HOME TO SHARE
SHARED ABOUT YOUR HOME COUNTRY TO OTHERS
EXPLAINED YOUR CULTURE TO OTHERS
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Dhashayani D/O Suhenderan
Dhashayani D/O Suhenderan & Olivia-Mae Tan
For many, University is a whole new experience and ball game. Some will easily get accustomed to the requirements of the course in a relatively short period. Others may take a longer time to settle in. Regardless, it is very easy to get overwhelmed, and all these pent up feelings of meeting deadlines and getting that huge chunk of information into your brain can leave you feeling very stressed out! Stress is the worst enemy for your studies and your well-being, so it is important to manage it well. We have developed a ‘mini-guide’ to help you manage the stress that you feel effectively.
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Tips on Managing Stress and Blending Into Society Go wild and unleash your artistic talent by drawing or painting. Take up a hobby or learn a skill that you have always dreamt of doing. You are never too old to learn! Learn to remove yourself from stressful situations! Go for a walk to clear your head, and then attempt it again. Spend quality time with family and friends Just be yourself! Your identity is unique, and people will like you for who you are. Join the Group fitness classes in UWA and let go of the stress built up in you. To prevent the accumulation of backlogged school work, do everything in moderation and be consistent! Make video calls to your family or close friends from home every once in awhile. Tell them what’s stressing you out or how your semester has been. Surround yourself with positivity -- you don’t want to give yourself unnecessary stress if you always hang out around people who stress about everything too much! Learn how to prioritise your time Work out a weekly schedule and give yourself a checklist!
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Places we can find comfort in Perth 1) Matilda Bay
Matilda Bay offers you magnificent view of the Swan River, Perth City and King’s Park. Cycling along Matilda Bay or even taking a stroll literally makes your soul feel so serene. Give it a try!!! & remember to snap some pics too, especially when the sun’s setting!
2) Subiaco
Visit the numerous cafés in Subi and go café hopping with your pals! While you are there, visit the cat cafê if you love those furry animals!! There’s also a market where you can get affordable groceries at too. Stock up!
Olivia-Mae Tan
4) caversham wildlife park
Have a fun day out learning about the animals and seeing them in real life! Caversham has many species of animals that we don’t really see out of Australia! So do visit at least once when you are studying here. Also, you get to feed the kangaroos there and since they are quite calm, take! pictures! You get to interact with the koalas too hehe
5) swan valley
8) Fremantle
Explore the quaint suburb of Freo!!! Especially on the weekends when the Fremantle Markets are open for business. Take a walk to see the rainbow sea containers too and take some pics. If you’re with your friends, go at night! The containers have a different vibe then.
9) Rockingham
3) Perth’s CBD Rent a car/ grab a car share and head on down to a day filled with Wine Tasting at Swan Valley. Visit the Margaret River Chocolate Factory and Nougat Factory in between your wine tasting sessions. Also! Drop by Bells Rapids if you are up for a hike in the morning. Take a stroll through the CBD to see the hustle and bustle in the heart of Perth. Take a visit to London Court or walk a few minutes to Elizabeth Quay! The CBD and its surrounding area – Northbridge, has so much good food to offer.
6) Cottesloe
One of the most underrated places to do water activities!!! Rent a kayak and kayak around Penguin Island (you get a pretty nice tan) and! if you kayak a little more, you’ll find yourselves in front of this island of wild seals. Seals! That truly made my 2019.
10) Mandurah
If you’re feeling a little stressed or want to take your mind off certain things, head down to Cottesloe Beach to relax and take a breather. The views in the day and at sunset are absolutely beautiful, enough for you to feel that warm sense of comfort and happiness.
7) Carousel Shopping Centre Do some retail therapy at one of the largest malls here in Perth! Have a night out with your friends playing mini golf at Holey Moley as well. While you are there, whip out the microphone and sing your heart out at the karaoke too.
Visit Mandurah for an amazing sunset picnic with your friends on a lazy Saturday afternoon. If you’re a fishing enthusiast, go ahead and swing some baits into the jetty for a good catch. Its about a 1 hour + journey to Mandurah!
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Uni Hall
For a domestic Australian student from country Western Australia, living at Unihall is somewhat of a cultural awakening. In the past two years I have made life long friends from every continent on Earth; learning snippets of languages and the places other people call home. As the largest college in the Southern Hemisphere (some 700 students) our college is a social & cultural hub. Having student representation from 52 countries in the form of international students, and with a 65% to 35% split of international to domestic students respectively, we offer something for everyone. On my first day at Unihall in 2018, our Principal famously quoted words that he continues to often quote, but that have never managed to leave me: “if you are leaving university with just a degree you are doing it wrong.� If you apply yourself and engage in the often overwhelming opportunities available at Unihall and UWA I think you will very quickly find yourself creating a new, safe and familiar home for yourself. I know I have done so and I have witnessed many other international, domestic and exchange students do the same. At Unihall, Our Residents Club is our main student representative body. They run social events, as well as a variety of arts, sport, international, and postgrad, welfare & intercollege events. We do so in conjunction with the various committees at UniHall, namely the environment, arts, and international committees. We also have an academic team who run innovative workshops and seminars as well as our Residential Advisors that run fun floor events for everyone on their floor a few times a semester. So wherever you are coming from and whatever you hope to achieve and gain in your university life, know that at Unihall you will find a home and will meet people from around the world! Cheers,
Justine Jolliffe President | University Hall Residents’ Club 25
St. Catherine’s
If you ask any college resident about living on campus, the first phrase you’ll hear them throw around is “it’s a home away from home”. But we think St Catherine’s is more than just a home. It’s a community. You’ll find yourself making a network of life-long friends, friends that form a particularly valuable support system if you’re moving out of home for the first time or moving abroad. The culture at St Catherine’s is incredible. We’re all about getting involved; nothing can quell our competitive spirit at the intercollege sports, community, and cultural events. It’s this passion and college pride that makes the atmosphere at St Cat’s so special. Cat’s has a long history of fostering inclusivity; originally as the first college available for women at UWA, and now offering a wide range of scholarships and support programs to disadvantaged students, ones who might not be able to attend university without them. Our events are tailor-made to make sure you get the most out of your university experience. We have a full program of events for you to make friends during O-Week, Multicultural Night to celebrate the diversity at our college, Faculty and Scholar’s Dinner for you to get your network on, and many, many more – there’s never a dull moment! We have all the fun events to get you hyped up, but also a thorough support system in place if you’re feeling down. Our friendly team of RAs are always available if you need support and we have a comprehensive academic tutorial program if you’re struggling with your studies. Even a free gym membership included in your fees! Feel free to pop by anytime for a tour – we’d love you to join us in 2020!
James and Bethan, Co-Presidents of St Catherine’s. 26
St George’s
Moving away from home can be a very daunting experience, whether it’s just a couple streets, a state, or an entirely new country. Which is why at St George’s our priority is creating a home away from home within our walls. As the oldest and smallest college on College Row, community is a strength of ours. Not only will you find close friends here, but being a Georgian means being part of a family for life. The bond between our residents is largely shaped by the Orientation Week experience, where Freshers take part in a series of fun events such as a city scavenger hunt around Perth, paddleboarding on the river, and a carnival within the college grounds - just to name a few! However, this year we have also added an international O-week, which is organised by our international representative, Cicely, to help address any concerns you might have coming into an unfamiliar space. This includes helping you with your visa, enrolling at university, and giving you some extra time to get settled and combat jet lag. We work hard to ensure that our calendar is packed with fun events throughout the entire year, so there is always something to get involved in. Residents can show off their musical skills at Acoustic Concert, act in our college play, and learn about great achievers at formal dinners. With the help of our international students we host a range of new events that center around sharing cultures. Some highlights include international beverages night, Oktoberfest, and Songkran! At George’s we love to learn from each other, and provide the means to ensure that everyone feels welcome in this space of ours. We hope to see you soon,
Ché Monsiegneur St George’s College Club President 2020
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Olivia-Mae Tan
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Let’s admit something here. Every once in awhile, we get a little lazy. So, we end up turning to these instant foods for our meals instead. In Uni, we honestly don’t always have the time and the money to cook a meal from scratch on our own or even head out to eat. And that is completely OK and normal! Now, you’re in the Asian mart or supermarket and you’re faced with a bunch of instant noodle brands. After a few minutes of trying to make a decision, everything begins to look exactly the same. That’s where I come in!
I have compiled my top three favourite instant noodle picks as well as some of the best ways to enjoy them. Go ahead and try them out! These meals are great for late night suppers as well as solo meals when you are in a rush. These recipes work really well with my friends & I and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
If instant noodles aren’t your cup of tea, a few replacements for that would be:
We are in University, it’s the prime time for us to be experimenting with all sorts of instant food. So, what are you waiting for?! Get going and unleash that culinary genius in you!
a) Canned/Packet Soups b) Instant Pancake Mixes c) Bread and some sliced cooked ham (really can’t go wrong with this combo!)
Olivia-Mae Tan I’m sure this is something that every international student can relate to. It’s almost dinner time here in Perth and you’re thinking of what to eat with your friends… your mind wanders from dish to dish. Fish and chips? Nah, ate that a few days ago. Maybe something from the kitchen? You walk to the fridge and rummage through it and you find… nothing! Nothing new that you haven’t been eating for the past few days. It’s all the same old boring things – those chicken thighs in the freezer or those ready-made meat pies in the fridge. You look at the shelf, and you face the literal devil. Maggi Mee, a definite pass for tonight. As you retreat to your bed in a sad and hungry state, you begin to think. Ah, how nice it would be if you could be at home right now. Not the home in Perth, but your home back in your
home country instead. Your father or mother’s cooking, the food from the street hawkers or even that special dish that’s only available in that particular restaurant snugged in the corner of the street you live on. On days like this, you really do miss the food from your home country. But you’re in Perth, miles away from your home. How are you going to satisfy your cravings? Then you start to think and by think you actually mean Google. An array of reviews and locations pop up when you key your search into the database – lo and behold, there are places! It’s not really the same dish from that particular stall you were craving for but hey, at least it’s the real thing and somewhat similar. You and your friends begin to discuss and to your surprise, your friends are quite the food enthusiasts and connoisseurs… they have already done their research, and this is them sharing it with you.
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After filling your bellies with all that good food that reminded you of home, your heart feels warm and your stomach, full and happy (lowkey a little sleepy too). And as you lay on your bed that night, you think to yourself, food really is the best way to comfort your soul. This feeling, you’ll be sure to remember for a lifetime. 31
ISD COOKBOOK In 2019, the ISD Welfare Department came up with a new initiative where they introduced a different recipe every week! These easy-to-cook recipes were created by the 2019’s committee members to replicate their hometown food. Here’s a cookbook with all the recipes in case you missed out. Happy cooking!
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