#16: First day of Uni in Oz
7.9.2018
After three weeks of travelling around, it was finally my first day of classes! First up was Genetics and Genomics from 1-2pm. It was mostly just an overview of the class layout and the uni's policies. I'm a little worried of being behind because I haven't had too much genetics in the past, but there is a lot of extra help offered and I have to takes it to get my degree anyway. On top of our 3 one-hour lectures every week, there is a discussion area online for our class to ask each other questions and a peer-lead extra practice session every Monday morning. There will be a 3 hour lab four times throughout the semester in addition to the lectures.
Next, Health Behaviour was from 3-5pm. Even though not it's not related to marine bio, it contributes to my psych minor and also seems like it will be pretty interesting. It's a huge class since it's only offered at one time one day a week, but we have a weekly "seminar" where we are broken up into smaller groups for a quick look back over the week's topics and time to work on assignments. Plus, similar to Genetics, we have online discussion boards where we can quickly get help from other students or the professors themselves.
I also started looking through my mostly-online Physics class today. It seems like it will be a pretty basic overview of general physics, which is good for me since I haven't taken any physics for a few years. Thanks to the discussion board, some of us have already organized study groups since we don't have any formal lectures in person. We will also have a seminar with the professor every fortnight to go over tricky topics and get help with upcoming projects. Plus, there's a peer-lead help session every Friday morning so I don't think the class should be too much of a problem!
Next, Health Behaviour was from 3-5pm. Even though not it's not related to marine bio, it contributes to my psych minor and also seems like it will be pretty interesting. It's a huge class since it's only offered at one time one day a week, but we have a weekly "seminar" where we are broken up into smaller groups for a quick look back over the week's topics and time to work on assignments. Plus, similar to Genetics, we have online discussion boards where we can quickly get help from other students or the professors themselves.
I also started looking through my mostly-online Physics class today. It seems like it will be a pretty basic overview of general physics, which is good for me since I haven't taken any physics for a few years. Thanks to the discussion board, some of us have already organized study groups since we don't have any formal lectures in person. We will also have a seminar with the professor every fortnight to go over tricky topics and get help with upcoming projects. Plus, there's a peer-lead help session every Friday morning so I don't think the class should be too much of a problem!
All the lost newbies like me!
#17: Week 1: Check
7.13.2018
Week one is done and all is well so far! I've been able to make at least one friend in each of my classes and lectures are always more bearable when you have a friend to sit with! The best thing I've learned about my classes is that every class is recorded and put up online along with the notes. So not only can I miss class if I'm sick and not get behind, but I can also go back and listen again when I'm confused or preparing for a test. I wish USF did this! It definitely makes me less worried about taking more intensive science classes while I'm over here!
My classes don't have a lot of assignments, but the ones I do have are heavily-weighted because of it so I know I have to try hard to break my habit of procrastinating and be sure to really stay on top of things! My roommates have been really nice making sure that I'm settling in well and the fact that laundry is FREE on campus is AMAZING! Public transport is easy, safe, and cheap to use since I now have a student card and can get 50% off fares. That makes it very reasonable to go all over town, even into the city. A friend and I have started brainstorming a trip for our week off in August, but for now our lips are sealed...In a bit I'm heading off to my home-away-from-home in Mornington to stay with Michele for the weekend and I can't wait!
My classes don't have a lot of assignments, but the ones I do have are heavily-weighted because of it so I know I have to try hard to break my habit of procrastinating and be sure to really stay on top of things! My roommates have been really nice making sure that I'm settling in well and the fact that laundry is FREE on campus is AMAZING! Public transport is easy, safe, and cheap to use since I now have a student card and can get 50% off fares. That makes it very reasonable to go all over town, even into the city. A friend and I have started brainstorming a trip for our week off in August, but for now our lips are sealed...In a bit I'm heading off to my home-away-from-home in Mornington to stay with Michele for the weekend and I can't wait!
Beautiful views under the bridge connecting the dorms
to the main campus!
#18: Family day at Melbourne Zoo
7.14.2018
My favourite days are days filled with animals (especially when there is a giraffe involved)!! This beautiful sunny day was spent with the French fam at the Melbourne Zoo! Elephants, tigers, snow leopards, lemurs, meerkats, penguins, seals, crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas, red pandas, monkeys, apes...I could go on and on! One of my favourite parts was the butterfly garden with hundreds of gorgeous butterflies fluttering all around. I also have not gotten so close to a lemur before! Almost close enough to touch!
I loved how much the zoo focused on educating visitors on their conservation efforts around all sorts of animals, from gorillas, to cassowaries, to sea birds. They had some really great interactive games for children to centered around conservation and recycling to entertain them and also help get them interested in the cause. One fun one was a fake grocery store where kids could scan items from different brands to see the bad, artificial products that some use in the foods, and the environmentally-friendly ones that other uses.
At the end of the day, we ended up at the children's hospital down the street because Amelie had a little accident on the playground. Fortunately it was nothing too serious, leaving her with a bit of a twisted ankle. We went to a super good Italian restaurant for dinner and then came home and crashed after such a long (but great) day!
I loved how much the zoo focused on educating visitors on their conservation efforts around all sorts of animals, from gorillas, to cassowaries, to sea birds. They had some really great interactive games for children to centered around conservation and recycling to entertain them and also help get them interested in the cause. One fun one was a fake grocery store where kids could scan items from different brands to see the bad, artificial products that some use in the foods, and the environmentally-friendly ones that other uses.
At the end of the day, we ended up at the children's hospital down the street because Amelie had a little accident on the playground. Fortunately it was nothing too serious, leaving her with a bit of a twisted ankle. We went to a super good Italian restaurant for dinner and then came home and crashed after such a long (but great) day!
The family’s all here!
|
Keeping watch for the others
|
