Sarah - Aug 09

Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 October 2009 03:30 Written by Andrew Lai Monday, 31 August 2009 01:24

It’s been a month since I left home for a semester in Tasmania, but I can already tell it is not going to be like any semester back home. I’m currently living in a residential college and I could not have made a better choice than Jane Franklin Hall.

 There are about two hundred students living here and we all even get out own rooms! But we may as well be roommates because of the amount of time we spend in each others dorms. I reckon the best decision I made when I first moved in was when I ventured into my college dining hall and randomly sat down with two other students. They quickly figured out I was new and when I said I was an American doing a semester abroad they started listing all the places I need to see and everything there is to do in Hobart. From there I was set. I was introduced to more and more students each day and by the end of the first week I was settled into my new groups of friends. Yup, that first decision was definitely a good one.

Surprisingly, everyone knew me before I knew them. I was the new American student this semester, they only American student this semester. One would think it would be nerve wracking being the only one of their nationality in a new place. No one to cling onto or talk to about things back home. But this was nice, everything I wanted. It forced me to be outgoing and step outside my comfort zone. I was in a new environment and becoming part of a new culture. Every now and again I hit a language barrier with some of my friends, but it always ended well. Usually I’m asked why I saw something the way I do and I don’t exactly have a reason, so I correct myself and use the Australian term instead. Aside from those happening every so often, we all get along very well, except when I have a peanut butter and jam (not jelly) sandwich. I get a lot of weird looks and then they remember, “oh right, she’s the American.”

But there’s never a dull moment at Jane. Aside from my twenty-one contact hours a week of classes, oh life as a science student, my friends and I can always find something that will distract us from out studies. Monday night is formal dinner night, meaning everyone at Jane has to look reasonably decent and wear their black academic gowns to dinner. Somewhat similar to Harry Potter, but without the magic obviously. Formal dinner is what you make of it however. It’s a long-lasting Jane tradition for everyone to sit and eat together, including the college administration. After dinner it’s off to SoHo’s, which is a local bar down the street. You can imagine what goes on there, my friends and I usually watch a movie instead.

The rest of the week everyone stays in and does their assignments until the weekend. But Thursday is when the boys take me rock climbing. I’m not the best climber, but it is still a lot of fun. Friday is reserved for indoor soccer. Although the games have  a lot of unfortunate endings for us, my “true American competitiveness” comes out and the Aussie’s always find it amusing and encouraging. Our boys always have the largest, and most obnoxious cheering section. Saturdays are typical lazy days, but in the afternoon we go ice skating at the local indoor rink. I was surprised with how many of my friends could not skate. But then I realized there’s never any snow on the ground, except on the top of Mount Wellington. After that we always make it back in time for dinner and everyone talks about who fell the most times. Even though I have more skating experience than most, I’m “pro” at falling if I do say so myself. But then Sundays are reserved for Zone 3: $12, 3 hours of endless arcade games and laser tag starting at 9.30a.m. The only reason anyone will ever get up before lunch on a Sunday.

And that’s a typical week at Jane. Don’t worry Mom, we get all our assignments and studying done on time, usually. No really we do, but you have to have some fun in between, right?

Until next month,

Cheers
Sarah

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