STUDENT LOG

Food Fast And Healthy

Tell Mum you made…

Spinach-Mushroom Fried Rice

Total time: 20 mins

Serving size: 2-3 people

Total cost: $18 (approx.), $25 with chicken

INGREDIENTS

Spinach $2 for 60g

Mushroom $2.2 for 200g

Long white rice $1.4 for 1 kg

Turmeric powder $1.9 for 35g

Salt $1 for 500g

Chili powder $1.6 for 35g

Garlic $3.5 for 80g of paste / $1.5 for 60g of individual pieces

Ginger $3.5 for 80g of paste / $4.6 for 120g of individual pieces

Onion $1.9 for 1kg

Vegetable oil $2.2 for a 750 ml bottle

OPTIONALINGREDIENTS

Chicken mince $6 for 500g

Tomatoes $1.1 for 150g

Garam masala $2.8 for 200g

DIRECTIONS

Put 1 ½ cups of rice in a rice cooker/

Meme Of The Week

pressure cooker with 3 cups of water and leave it to boil.

While the rice boils, chop mushrooms, spinach and onions finely, and throw them into a heated pan with oil.

(For the non-veg version, add your chicken mince in a pan before the vegetables since it’ll take longer for the water in the mince to evaporate. Take your time with cooking this - otherwise you’ll be left with soggy meat!)

Season with salt and pepper and stir it all up.

Once the rice is cooked, introduce the vegetables and stir. Add chili powder, turmeric powder, garlic and ginger. 3-5 minutes more of stirring, and dinner is ready to dish out.

TIPS AND TRICKS ON AUSSIE LIFE – FOR STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS

professors loves stops working something else she’s the F bomb. Does awkward when their

One of the first few times that I visited a pub in Sydney, I ended up sitting at my table for nearly ten minutes looking for a waiter to take my order. I had no idea that out here you order your drinks at the bar!

Don’t know about you but I still struggle to call my professors by their name. They always smile when I refer to them as “sir” or “ma’am” and say gently that don’t have to call them that, but it just feels weird calling them anything else.

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

Being a university student in Australia can be some of the most exciting years of your life. You get to meet new people, enjoy new experiences, and explore life in a new country. But these can also be some of the loneliest years. You can feel homesick, demotivated, anxious, or even depressed.

If you feel like this, you certainly aren’t alone! Studies have consistently shown that close to 70 per cent of university students report having poor mental health. So what should you do? Where should you go?

Feeling this way is totally normal!

Whether this is your first time in Australia or you’ve visited before, living in a different country with an entirely different way of life can be daunting. It is understandable to feel anxious or overwhelmed.

If you’re tempted to hide out in your room on particularly bad days, remind yourself of the reasons you came here. Listen to some music, go for a walk, and clear your head. Try to run some errands to keep yourself moving without having to focus too much, like doing your laundry or cooking a meal.

How is everyone else doing so well?

Occasionally, your negative feelings might be made worse by your other Indian friends who seem to be adjusting perfectly. Aren’t they nervous about taking buses alone? How are they learning a new currency?

Just keep in mind that they may have other struggles that you do not. Comparing yourself to other people isn’t fair, and it certainly isn’t productive –there’s no one else who is quite like you!

It’s good (and healthy) to talk it out If you’ve made even a few friends that you feel comfortable around, don’t hesitate to open up to them. They might be feeling the same way!

This paneer has gone bad…? When my mother visited me in Sydney for the first time, she went grocery shopping alone while I was in class. She ended up buying a huge bar of feta cheese thinking it was paneer and didn’t realise until after she started making ‘paneer’ parathas!

If you’re struggling to make friends, there’s no shame in that! Australians might be more boisterous or outspoken than you’re used to, but they’re also some of the most welcoming people if you give them a chance. Try to join clubs that match your interests; you’ll get to meet other students who love the same things as you, and as we know, that’s always a great base for any successful friendship.

Manage your stress

Time management and lesson planning can go a long way! Instead of letting your assignments pile up, leaving you stressed and sleep-deprived, be proactive about your studies.

Invest in wall calendars or Post-It notes to keep track of important dates and submissions. Allot a few hours every week to your readings, meetings, and general studies - you’d be surprised how easy it can be to lose track of the reason you came to Australia in the first place. Create study spaces where you can focus solely on your work. Experiment with a few different places like the university library, a café close to your house, or even study rooms in the university till you find the right fit.

Take advantage of university facilities

Every university has a counselling centre because they recognize how difficult student life can be, especially for international students. Make an appointment to meet a licensed professional who can listen to you and help you, if you need it. There is no shame in reaching out if you need some additional help.

You’ll also find that your university professors are very understanding if you are honest with them. They may provide you with extensions for assignments, direct you to appropriate avenues if you need academic assistance, or simply lend an ear.

Remember, you’re not alone in this!

Got a funny Culture Shock story to share? Send it in to us at media@indianlink.com.au