Editor In Chief - Kenneth Woo Editors – Lynette Tan , Kao Jong-Ee Design and Layout – Jennifer Breeden Advertising – Alex Pond Writers – Iris Bautista, Andrew Leung, Ng Huifern (Schuyler), Sharmini Thiagarajan, SK Kwok, Brian Wong, Chloe Guy, Jolyn Loh, Guru Kugananthan, Chai Leen Ting. International Student Services 2013 Committee Director: Felix Lim Secretary: Rebekah Tan Treasurer: Yi Th’ng Seow Welfare Director: Zhi Xiang Leang Welfare Officer: Darren Lee Lighthouse Editor: Kenneth Woo Social Directors: Mianyuan Han, Aline Ng Social Secretary: Wei Lian Tan Sports Secretary: Daniel Chu Liaison Officer: Rishikesa Brahbu IT/Media Officer: Guan Yu Lau MCW Managing Director: Kelvin Lee MCW Operations Director: Rebecca See MCW Finance Director: Jia Jing Hong MCW Events Directors: David Lim, William Wong MCW Marketing Director: Cindy Yap MCW Logistics Director: Shi Wei Sia MCW Media Director: Wendy Fan Any inquires concerning the International Student Services can be directed to iss@guild.uwa.edu.au For more information on the ISS, please go to www.iss.guild.uwa.edu.au or search International Student Services on Facebook If you’re interested in advertising in Lighthouse or have any questions regarding this publication, please contact membership@guild.uwa.edu.au Disclaimer The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, International Student Services or the UWA Student Guild. Copyright 2013 UWA STUDENT GUILD
CELEBRATING
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CONTENTS
P. 4
Letter From The Editor
P. 5
Letter From The Director
P. 6
Letter From The President
P. 7 The Pros and Cons of being a Medical Student Sharmini
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P. 10 On Dealing With Homesickness - Iris P. 14 My Great Australian Escapade - SK P. 18 From Sheffield to Perth: The Aussie Experience - Chloe P. 20 Interview With The ViceChancellor - Kenneth
On Dealing With Homesickness My Great Australian Escapade Interview with the VC Behind the Scenes: Spring Feast... I’ll do it tomorrow
P. 25 Reflections of a Hong Kong International Student - Bryan P. 28 Festival Of Unity: The 2012 MCW Spring Feast - Guru P. 31 Behind the Scenes: Spring Feast & The Logistics Team Chai Leen
P. 35 Maccas & Me - Jolyn P. 37 Unimentor - A Retrospective - Andrew P. 39 “I’ll Do It Tomorrow” Schuyler
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Hello everyone!
A warm welcome back to all returning international students. I trust that your summer holidays have been fun, interesting, perhaps even remotely exciting. There may be a minority of you who are muttering, “Oh my God, why am I even back here?” but we all know you don’t mean it. As for the new international students joining us this semester, we bid you, “Welcome!” You have decided to come to UWA at a pivotal time in its history as the University celebrates its centenary year. We hope you will take advantage of upcoming events to make new friends and be engaged in the university culture.
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Okay, now that we have gotten that out of the way... I am pleased to present to you the first issue of the Lighthouse Magazine 2013! In this issue, there is a plethora of articles ranging from an epic road trip across the Australian Continent, to an interview with the Vice Chancellor of UWA and ending finally with an exploration of Procrastination by a master procrastinator. I hope you find these articles as informative and entertaining to read as it was for us to produce and edit it. I would like to thank the writers who contributed articles to this issue of Lighthouse and submitted them all on time. Also I would like to thank my sub-editors for the tireless work in editing articles and providing advice when I needed it. We will soon be planning the next issue out in Semester 2, 2013 so if you wish to contribute articles, feel free to drop me an email (20645476@student.uwa.edu.au). Finally I would like to wish you guys all the best for Semester 1, 2013. And as they commonly say in The Hunger Games: May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favour. Kenneth Woo Lighthouse Editor (2013)
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Hello everyone,
Welcome (back) to The University of Western Australia! For the seniors, I hope that your summer has been well spent. 2013 represents a very important milestone for UWA. It is the centenary year, the year we celebrate 100 years of excellence. ISS looks forward to an eventful year as we participate in the celebrations.
Some of you may be wondering what does International Students Service (ISS) do? ISS is the Guild Department that represents international students at UWA. We seek to look after your interests and well-being while living away from home. Look out for Welfare events such as IELTS Masterclass and Career International Week. Of course, ISS is not only about the serious stuff. We also organise many exciting social events such as Multicultural Week (MCW), trips to various tourist attractions in WA and sports events to get your adrenaline pumping! The committee has been working hard throughout the summer. I am elated to announce two initiatives we have taken thus far. First, ISS Lighthouse (the magazine that you are currently reading) has gone online! A decision was made at end 2012 that we should be more considerate to the environment. Instead of printing thousands of copies of the magazine, we will only be doing so for the new international students. Second, ISS has revamped its website and also has an official Facebook page now. Do search ‘International Students Service, UWA’ on Facebook and like our page to ensure that you have the latest updates. If you ever have any problems, please do not hesitate tolook for us. Our office is located at the 2nd level of the Guild Village and is open every Monday-Thursday 12pm to 2pm. Be excited about what is in store for us this year. It’s going to rock your socks off! :) Felix Lim ISS Director (2013)
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Hey, everyone and welcome to UWA in 2013!
To those new to UWA, my name is Cameron Barnes and I’m your Guild President for the year. It’s my responsibility to make sure you get the most out of your University experience and feel happy and safe here. To that end, if you ever want to speak to me about something, please don’t hesitate to drop me an email, give me a call or even come by my office. I would love to meet you and talk about how you’re settling into life in Perth. We could even grab a half-price Guild coffee! My office is on the first floor of the Guild and my email is president@guild.uwa.edu.au
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To those returning in 2013, I hope you had a fantastic holiday and enjoyed some time with friends and family. I have the greatest respect for International students and know how challenging it is to be away from familiar faces and loved ones whilst studying abroad. You’re all champions in my eyes. As for the Guild, we are run by students for students to make sure you have access to financial support, representation on education issues and a host of clubs and societies. We offer Guild loans and grants if you find yourself really struggling with bills. Just approach a friendly member of the Finance Team and they can help you out. If you run into issues with the University, you can seek out a Student Assist Officer to represent you to the University. If you require assistance with Visa issues, we now have a Migration Agent who can help you out. Most excitingly, your International Student Service Team are ready to pack your semester full of fun and enjoyable social activities so you can get to know your fellow students better and take part in the local community. On a broader level, I will be working closely with ISS Director Felix Lim to represent international student issues on a campus, state and national level. You should never feel like you are receiving a second-class education. It’s incredibly important that we work with the Council of International Students Australia and the National Union of Students to fight for a better tertiary education system. If you ever have any issues about your education, please let us know so that we can better represent your interests. Well, that’s all from me for now. Enjoy your time here at UWA! We have a very unique environment here that I think makes for an excellent University experience. See you around the Guild Village! Cameron Barnes 100th Guild President
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The Pros and Cons of being a Medical Student
Have you ever wondered what’s going on in that little faculty of white coat and stethoscope-donned students? Is being a medical student really as treacherous as they make it sound or is it indeed a super cool course that gets you thinking you’re superman? Well these were pretty much some of the questions that filled my mind before I step foot into the course and had a taste of medicine UWA style. So what exactly does it feel like being a medical student then? The coolest aspect as depicted by some medical students are lab sessions whereby you’re given the opportunity to know the human body inside out and yes I mean literally inside out. It sometimes give you the vibes of being in a forensics lab like those seen in dramas, being surrounded with cadavers and human brains. Certainly not your average lab setting and this does come with a hefty price either. Apart from gaining much insights about the human body you also come out from labs pretty
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much smelling like a cadaver and it only gets worst if you accidentally happen to get on what I call ‘cadaver juice’ onto you. It’s a rather nasty smell but fret not you’ll eventually get used to it and be comfortable enough to go have a decent meal after labs. True story. (Editor’s Note: Ewww…really?) Then again medical school isn’t all about staring at dead bodies and spending hours in weird smelling labs. The fun part kicks in when you get to actually meet real life patients with a heartbeat and pulse. Although it might get pretty stressful at times when you’re put in the spot by general practitioners to make diagnosis or give injections, the sense of accomplishment you get when you’re actually right and your patient is still smiling after the injection (although I thought I was going to pass out) is simply remarkable. Being able to strut around in formal wear and a stethoscope around your neck is also an added plus as you often mistaken for a doctor by patients and hey the next thing you know they’re
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offering you a free cup of coffee. The perks of being a medical student indeed. The only downside is when you’re in fact only a second year without much clue of what’s happening and everyone around you starts to assume you’re an expert. That just spells one thing- trouble! Having said that, being a medical student can at times be really stressful as it is crucial to be able to consolidate everything you have learned, be able to apply it in clinical situations and of course remember it in the years to come. Nonetheless the comforting part about this is having moral support from fellow peers who are undergoing the same turmoil as you. Unlike many other faculties, the medical student population is rather small in figures and I
must say I have been blessed with a rather close-knit batch that keeps a look out for everyone and never fails to push each other on. Competitiveness aside, there are peers who are sincerely on the lookout for others and the thought of eventually being in a position to help and heal others is certainly a driving factor. Being a medical student definitely has its ups and downs with great days where you think you’ve got magical healing abilities to save the world and other days where you just wonder what are you doing to your life but with all that said it’s definitely a course with a unique experience and ofcourse medical perks too. Pros over cons? I’ll leave that for you to decide.
Sharmini is a 3rd year medical student in the University of Western Australia, her hobbies include photography and being cool. Selected photographs by Walt Stoneburner, Marcin Wichary
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On Dealing With Homesickness
Homesickness: that sad inkling of wistful feelings; the longing for what is familiar. It is the missing of our homes, our family, and our friends; the people and places in which our hearts yearn. It is the missing of where our mothers whipped up the most amazing food, that cheap mamak place around the corner, your favourite shop that had everything you wanted, that first snowfall outside your window, our pets loyally waiting for our return home, or even that sofa in your living room that was just oh-so-comfortable. But alas! You’ve moved away from your haven of a home and found yourself in a completely new environment. So what do you do when those feelings of missing home creep in? Before you manically purchase the next flight back home, here are some tips for dealing with homesickness.
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1 | Make new friends. Lots of them. Hey you, yes you! You’re young, intelligent, and good-looking. How could someone like you not make friends easily? Don’t be shy. Take the chance and talk to that friendly hottie in your tutorial. Or go across your dorm and get to know the people living beside you. Join a club at university and talk to people who share the same interests. You may not realize this, but every day has the potential of creating new friendships. By immersing yourself with friends and good company, you’ll quickly be too busy to be lonely and homesick. 2 | Maintain regular contact with your family and friends back home. Grab your phone and, dare I say it, make a call. It’s so easy to just send a text or WhatsApp message and avoid having to actually think and talk on the spot, but calling your parents and friends back home can be overwhelmingly rewarding. Hearing
their voices and seeing their faces will make the distance seem not so much of an obstacle. Use your phone, Xbox, or Skype to hear their voices or see pixelated videos of their faces. You can even say hi to your cat and dog (who will have no idea what’s going on). You can even go old-school by writing a letter or sending a postcard. No matter the medium, just don’t forget to keep in touch! 3 | Don’t lock yourself in your room. I know it’s easy and convenient to avoid the daunting place called The Outside. Curling up to a bowl of Indomee Mee Goreng and the latest episode of your favourite television series is pretty fantastic, I know. But although this may distract you for a while, it is a terribly easy situation for homesickness to sink in. So no matter what you feel, get up, get dressed, and go out – because you never know what is waiting for you outside your door.
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4 | Pursue your hobbies. Do you like sports, photography, politics, music, dancing, or simply trying out new things? Well, here’s your chance! Being away from home gives you freedom and independence, so why not make the most of it? Enrol in a few classes to excel in your interests, do something silly, do something that you would never have been able to do back home. (My version of this is to bake up a storm in my own kitchen. I can also now eat raw cookie dough without the watchful eyes of my mother, thank you very much.) And if you’re quite tight on cash, Perth always offers free trials or good deals on classes. Ask around, or do a bit of research and you are guaranteed to find something that’s right for you - without hurting your wallet!
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5 | Discover new places. Take the time to explore and discover the beauty of your new home. After seeing the city’s twinkling lights from King’s Park and Mill Point Road, after enjoying its beaches (that several travel magazines boast are the best in the world), watching live bands perform, dancing the night away, and chowing down to some pretty amazing food, I discovered so many places unique to this city that incomparable to anything back home. So go to that little café that you’ve always wanted to try (and bring your newly-made
friends). Or how about that awesome night spot, art gallery, museum, sports centre, shop, or theatre you always passed by but never actually stepped into? How about taking a trip down south or up north? There are so many local and touristic things you can do in Perth. It all begins by being open to new experiences. When all is said and done, it is true that nothing should ever replace your memories of home. But hopefully these tips can ease your homesickness and help you build your exciting new life here. Never forget that in the end, home is where the heart is - and your heart is where you make it out to be.
Iris is a third year Communications Studies student majoring in English literature. She loves eating vanilla-flavoured desserts, reading fiction, and photographing people and places. She hopes to one day work for National Geographic. Photographs supplied by Iris. 15
My Great Australian Escapade
Many gasped in disbelief when I spoke of this 19 days road trip from the beautiful beaches of Perth to, yes; you’ve guessed it, even more beautiful beaches of the eastern shores of Australia. Against all cautionary advice, 3 of my friends and I, bursting with excitement (and some element of fear), jumped into my Rav 4 and headed eastwards, aiming for South Australia, Victoria, ACT, New South Wales and ultimately Queensland – and WE DID IT! PREPARATION Being well prepared before the trip is a must in order to ensure the long drives ahead will be a smooth and hassle-free one. Get your maps, check and service your car (tyres, brakes, lights, fluids, your spare tyre, tools and actually knowing how to replace a flat tyre!), your list of places of interests and accommodation, distances, food and drinks, snacks, your baseball bat.. The checklist is long, ranging from your car to your personal safety. I believe
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it really helps to have a girl in your team to oversee these logistic and welfare issues because they have their instincts to care for the wellbeing of others in most cases (point emphasized). (Editor’s note: Seriously?). The Nature Crossing the WA to SA border, we drove across the longest straight road in Australia which was 145.6km, bleak and unending. When driving across the Nullabor Plains, many road signs warn of crossing camels, koalas, emus, kangaroos and dingoes (all dead along the side of the roads!) but what they failed to mention were the birds. We did not run into much trouble, except for a huge crow that crashed head on into my ventilator grille, ruining our plan to BBQ our game meat. At the Flinders Ranges and Kangaroo Island in Adelaide, we were treated to some amazing creations of nature. The picturesque scenery was incredibly breathtaking. Different shades of greens weaved among rows of vineyards as far
as our eyes could see, with the sound of luscious leaves rustling in the early morning air was simply beautiful. Humongous rock formations standing tall against the clear blue skies in the Flinders Ranges was already a beauty to behold from afar – imagine its magnificence when we were on the plateau itself! Watching golden beams of sun rays leak out from between the clouds onto the shimmering waves as they rose and fell, we felt like we were looking at one of the most beautiful places in the world. The Food “I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food”. Being gastronomist-wannabes, we did not hold back when it came stuffing our faces. Oysters, steak, ribs, fish, macarons, cakes, coffee and even typical Asian foods were nothing short of very palatable. The Pacific ocean oysters were so fresh and succulent that when they burst on our tongues, it left a fresh, salty taste of the sea. The delectable Lavendar macarons of La Bielle Miette, have a gentle sweetness and
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lovely scent, and was a not-to-be-missed on my personal list. However good the macarons were, the coconut rice from Ying Thai 2 in Melbourne has to be my personal favourite! The explosive flavours of lemon grass and coconut with each bite was sheer heaven for me! I could have that for days! In the eastern States, especially Melbourne, you can find many a quaint cafe serving coffee and breakfast. Some are quiet and hidden in a back alley, while others are bustling with people in suits sipping their coffee and reading papers before their day of work. These cafes are unique in their own right, and many carry a hint of indie character in the design of their cafes and even their wait staff. Manchester Press has got some fanciful coffee art too! The Fun and Sun When one is in Gold Coast, a visit to Surfers’ Paradise and all the theme parks are a must! It was not named a Surfer’s
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Paradise for no reason – the long stretch of beach is indeed perfect for surfing! The beach looked endless with the beautiful white waves of the Pacific crashing ashore one after another. When evening came, we went for a therapeutic stroll along the shoreline, the waves tickling our ankles. Did I also mention, it is quite a sight to watch the sun rise above the ocean? Except that sunrise was at about 4am (summer, what a bummer). Theme-parks - need I say more? Definitely for the thrill seekers, but not for the fainthearted! Home to the greatest inverted roller coaster in the southern hemisphere, the Buzz Saw sends you vertically upwards only to flip you upside down for an out-ofthe-world adrenalin rush! Wet and Wild was quite perfect for a summer day too, with a 75 degrees slide standing at a few stories high, and another that drops you vertically and sends you upwards in a loop shortly
after. Movieworld’s Superman Escape was one of my highlights. Experiencing the positive and negative G forces was extremely exhilarating, although I did say my final prayers beforehand. The Shopping Duty-free outlets. Enough said. The Company Looking back, what we got to experience was nothing short of amazing. However, the strength of the friendships forged out of this road trip far outweigh anything else that had happened on the trip. Spending 19 days together seemed like eternity to some, but those days went by quickly, and if I may say, too quickly. The fun, laughter, grace, love, protection and camaraderie fostered were golden, and it definitely made our great escapade an extremely enjoyable and unforgettable one!
SK Kwok is a 4th year Podiatry Student, he enjoys eating a lot of food, day dreaming and of course….fighting dragons. Photographs by SK Kwok.
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From Sheffield to Perth: The Aussie experience
Travelling to Australia has been something that I have always wanted to do. So, when I found out about the Study Abroad Programme at the University of Sheffield’s Open Day in 2010, I knew instantly that I wanted to go to Australia and experience the lifestyle that many in the UK seems to envy. Getting on a plane in your home country after having said goodbye to everyone is so hard, and all the ‘What if…?’ questions start running around in your head. However, I can honestly say that in the four months that I have spent at UWA so far, I haven’t felt homesick once because there is always something to do, somewhere to go and one is always surrounded and supported by some of the kindest people you will ever meet. The laid back attitude of all the Aussies I have met is surprisingly contagious and slipping into a fairly carefree lifestyle is easy. At University, I have discovered new ways of learning and revising. My course back at Sheffield allows me to take optional
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modules, so I took an Indigenous Studies module and was fascinated by the culture and people of Australia. As this module gave me a chance to make a field trip to Albany, I discovered new aspects of indigenous life from listening to stories by the campfire and meeting new people. It was a wonderful experience and just generally having a laugh (mosquito bites notwithstanding). I stayed at Currie Hall this past semester, where I found myself immersed into a friendly community straight away. Everyone seems to know each other’s name and will say hi and ask ‘How’re you going?’ when they meet, which is such a change from what I had become used to in Sheffield. Orientation week at Currie was great – bowling one night, laser tag the next, topped off by a night at the Uni Tavern, I got to meet others who had travelled to Aussie and made some good friends.
Also, I had to get a job whilst I was out here in order to cover costs – and to anyone who is considering looking for work, I’d definitely recommend it! Not only does it mean some spare cash, but also you get to interact with people beyond the University community. I actually worked as a Samsung Representative in a JB Hi-Fi store, and met so many customers who were curious about where I was from. There were a few people who had actually been to my hometown in the UK. So, to anyone who is considering an overseas exchange to UWA or elsewhere, go for it! University is the best time to experience a different culture and lifestyle, meet new people and make new friends. Editor’s Note: For those who are interested in embarking on an exchange program or just want more information, consider visiting the Study Abroad Office at the International Centre in Hackett Hall or email them studyabroad@admin.uwa.edu.au
Chloë Guy comes from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, she is studying a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Geography while doing units in Social Geography and Planning in UWA
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Interview With The Vice-Chancellor
What was your education background like? I went to the University of Oxford and studied History and Economics for three years. I stayed on for six more years to complete a PhD and a research fellowship. Thereafter, I joined the London School of Economics’ Economic History Department as a Junior Lecturer for 20 years before becoming a fully-fledged Professor. In my last three and a half years, I was the Deputy Director of the Department. Did you study for passion or was it for a job? Which do you think is more important? My parents left school as teenagers and had no knowledge of university so they didn’t put pressure on me to study any particular subject. It was very much up to me to decide what I liked and I was influenced by my teachers in high school. I didn’t go to university thinking this degree will get me a particular job. Many CEOs of leading Australian businesses have unexpected degrees. For instance, the head of Telstra has a degree in
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anthropology that led him to management jobs as his career progressed.
“At least you exam papers.”
I never expected to be running a business (a university is a business after all), which is expected to yield an annual turnover of more than a billion dollars in two years’ time. If this were a listed company, it would be one of the biggest in WA. So I moved into what is effectively a chief executive role without planning for it because I had planned to be an academic. So careers go through all sorts of turning points, regardless of one’s qualifications.
Ah, I don’t have to mark. I do however have to read a very large number of committee papers. So I still think I haven’t quite escaped that yet.
I would imagine the position of Vice Chancellor is more of an administrative role? Do you miss the opportunity to lecture and interact with students? Yes, I have always enjoyed teaching and research. But as chief executive of a large and complex organization, there isn’t time and opportunity to continue my interest in instruction and research... Nonetheless I do make many speeches, so in so far as teaching is a performance, I get many opportunities to do that.
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What were the reasons you decided to accept the role of Vice Chancellor in UWA? I had a standard academic career, moved up from junior lecturer to a full professor at LSE, was head of my department and became a member of the governing council of the institution. I did a lot of work outside the institution with research grant boards and the likes. Some people accumulate activities while I did it because I’m impatient and I always wanted to change the world. If I see something that isn’t working terribly well, either I’m moving to try to change it or if I can’t then I move on. I was one of the more active senior academics at the LSE and was asked whether I would like the opportunity to become the Deputy Director. I didn’t know
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whether I would enjoy it, but would give it a try. After all, I wouldn’t be so far away from teaching and research that I couldn’t go back. Ultimately, I’m an economist and I thought l could look at how I performed in this management role as compared to my academic role. I reckon my comparative advantage was in management rather than academia. Later on, I was approached by various recruiting agencies about becoming ViceChancellor. I worked in Australia in the early 1990s at the ANU and visited the University of Melbourne for a number of months with my wife. I finally came to Australia permanently five and a half years ago, first to La Trobe University then to the University Of Western Australia. One of the most common perceptions amongst International students is that Perth is an incredibly boring place. Perhaps you would like to comment. The perspective of an international student would be different from my own. To me,
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Perth provides many opportunities, as it is a rapidly growing city in the most dynamic regional economy in the developed world at present. Perth seems like a rather sleepy city but with increased Sunday trading, it should appeal more to international students. It has only been in the last few months that a whole string of restaurants have come up in the city centre along St George’s Terrace. The city centre is definitely becoming a more vibrant place. There is a significant population of international students in UWA, perhaps you would like to address whether there is much interaction between international and domestic students. At UWA, we make sure first of all that the number of international students is kept on the low end in relation to Australian universities. It’s about 20% here whereas some universities in WA have well over 30% of international students. We also try to ensure that international students are broadly spread across the campus.
Some universities have them very heavily concentrated in the commerce faculty. We encourage and facilitate a lot of mixing and engagement particularly in residential halls. I think the challenge is for those students who don’t live on or near the campus, as they tend to find a house to live with their mates and only come to university when they need to. So there are limits to what the university can do. I would like to see the university develop more student accommodation on or around the campus because I think that would create a better social environment and contribute to the cultural exchange which is a valuable part of university life. Moreover, I think there is more we can do within the university to try and make sure that international engagement is structured into the teaching programme and extracurricular activities. Why do you think so many International Students seem to want to come to study in Australia and in UWA?
Australia has driven the international student market in the past 15 years. It has been the most active country in the market with a combination of relatively low fees and good quality English language degree programmes. We have five universities in the World Top 100 in terms of research. As a system it is very very strong. Students can come to Australia and be reasonably confident that they will get a good English language education and they will get appropriate professional accreditation with appropriate transfer of credits. Australia is a very informal and largely safe society. There are many attractions and also pretty much in the same time zone as South East Asia. Prospective students from Asia are also likely to choose Perth due to continuity from friends and family members who have studied here before. I have to say I very much enjoy Perth. It is a beautiful city and the quality of life is excellent. The city itself is developing and has become more lively and attractive to international students.
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How would the New Courses make UWA more marketable to International Students? Well what I would say if at the age of 16, you absolutely know you want to study biochemistry, accounting or engineering and nothing else, choose a university degree program that will offer you one. But most students at the age of 16 and 17 really know very little about what is on offer in universities. There are whole ranges of subjects that students have chosen in the past based on ignorance. What we have intended with our new courses is to give students the opportunity to try things without committing to them and not make mistakes. So you can take an engineering/science path and you may decide that is what you want to do but you have the opportunity to take biological science units as well and you may find that that triggers more interest than engineering. So without having to stop doing one thing and do another, you can divert your
way into a bioscience pathway. We give students greater opportunity to study what interest them. One of the biggest barriers for many international students is the prohibitive costs of studying in Australia - rising cost of living, high school fees, textbook costs and other expenses. Would you care to comment on this? If WA were a separate country it would be the third or fourth richest in the world, as it is a very high cost economy with high living standards. The cost is made even more acute due to the high exchange rate. We have become very expensive in international terms and that makes it difficult for international students but of course makes it difficult for all sorts of businesses and organizations as well. There is nothing the University can do about that because the exchange rate is set by the economy and strong economies driven by resource boom makes the exchange rate very high.
Kenneth is trapped in his Honours course in Arts and enjoys the fun times associated with studying a combined degree in Arts/Education. He likes reading, sleeping and sitting in a corner panicking about being stalked by very annoyed duck. Coincidentally he is also the Editor of this magazine. Photographs provided by Ivan Tan. 26
Reflections of a Hong Kong International Student
“Perth sucks” This was my first impression when I was locked in the little black swan (Editor’s Note: He’s talking about Taxis) on my way to my new home. I couldn’t imagine how I was going to spend four years here. Hong Kong is a playground compared to Perth which is in the middle of nowhere. After I got off the taxi, I saw nothing. No people, no buildings but a botanic garden. Surprisingly, this beautiful garden has corrected the way I saw my life back to how a human should live. Living in Perth is not all about money, but enjoying a relaxing school life. In Hong Kong, everything there is constantly in a rush. Express foods and express transport. However, Perth has a totally different system, it is laid back. Take walking speed as an example, Hong Kong people walk like they are in some kind of race (The elderly is the only exception). When you walk slowly on the street, you can feel like everyone is trying to push you away and stare at you disparately. While in Perth, everyone wears a smile on his or her face and
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their eyes glittered while talking and it makes me feel: ‘huh? I can take a room for breathe right now and it’s FABULOUS!’ Boutiques are everywhere in Hong Kong, selling fashionable clothes at amazingly cheap prices. You can even pick up stylish jackets, gowns and blouses at shops hidden around Hong Kong. However, in Perth, all I can see are surfing brands, sports wear and casual wear. If you thought I was implying that Australians are not fashionable? The answer is no, of course not! The truth is there are not many choices in Perth. When it is not in sale seasons, the garments are horribly expensive. I could only stand in front of the display window and think: ‘OKAY, I WILL WAIT ,I WILL WAIT TILL SALE YOUR BLOODY SHOP!’ (Editor’s Note: I know that feeling…for bookshops) This may seem to be the most horrible thing ever but really, the worst is yet to come.
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What makes me dislike Perth isn’t just clothing or attitude, it’s the food in Perth that doesn’t appeals to me because it’s all about sandwiches, soups and salad (BLOODY SUBWAY!! I ATE SANDWICHES FOR THREE YEARS). Perhaps you ask: “Hey that’s really not a problem here because that’s very common in Perth. Why would u call that hell?” My answer is simple. “My tongue and belly miss the variety of Hong Kong food and it complains when I swallow Asian food in Perth.” (WARNING: CHOOSING ASIAN CUISINE IN PERTH IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO KILL YOURSELF) In Hong Kong, I miss Shaomai (yum!), BBQ pork bun and congee. I may not be nostalgic but my stomach sure it! It sounds like I don’t really enjoy myself in Perth but that’s not really true. There isn’t really anything delicious or trendy in Perth but Perth gives me a sense of peacefulness and helps to
calm my nerves down. Life shouldn’t be really a complicated issue as it usually is in Hong Kong. When I was in Hong Kong, I always asked myself ‘why must I have such a busy and clumsy life?’ Until the arrival at Perth my life could be much slower and I didn’t have to pay attention to traffic, people or scary financial stuff. In Hong Kong everything is just like a TV show and you can NEVER relax or you are going to be labeled as LAZY, or FREAK or something like that. The last thought of mine may sounds silly and old schooled, but Perth is a paradise for people who want to lead a meaningful and enjoyable life.(Okay, I admit that’s room for improvement on in the food department).
Brian is studying a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, he considers himself a normal kid and enjoys playing the piano and travelling around. Photographs sourced from Flickr.
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FESTIVAL OF UNITY: THE 2012 MCW SPRING FEAST
It was a clear and balmy evening on the 11th of October 2012. It had threatened to rain earlier but the clouds had cleared and the remaining concern on the minds of the UWA Multicultural Week (MCW) Committee members, responsible for the festivities, was the many flies still lingering. However they too would also disappear. A growing mass of people began to show at the gates. The biggest worry on everyone’s mind then was: “What food do we try first”? The anticipation was building as UWA’s largest on-campus event for the second semester - the 2012 MCW Spring Feast – began! The Spring Feast is a large festival of food which encompasses all that is great about diversity and displays to full effect the aim of the MCW Committee: to promote unity into the grounds of UWA.
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The hours preceding the Spring Feast were exciting. Among the MCW Committee, a sense of responsibility and pride for the event had built up over seven months of planning and preparation. The unprecedented turnout of 3,000 participants provided affirmation and assurance that Spring Feast would reinforce harmony in the University community. It proved to be a night of enjoyment and celebration, enhanced by the fact that mid-semester exams had been completed and final examinations were still at a distance. We were there to celebrate multiculturalism wholeheartedly. The 2012 MCW Spring Feast aimed to be “bigger and better� than before – a phrase that is sometimes used loosely but on this particular occasion was appropriate. The number of food stalls had increased from 50
to 63. The greater variety of food reflected the various cultures that have become a part of the university fabric. The delicious aromas from the stalls wafted towards the Spring Feast stage which was the site for fantastic cultural performances. The transformation of the MCW Spring Feast from being solely a food-festival to becoming a celebration of food and performance was none more so evident in the 2012 Spring Feast. The MCW Committee Events Department sought out a range of different acts and performances and struck a very good balance between UWA student performers and community performers. We were all treated to amazing Bollywood dances, the sounds of the Scottish Bag pipe, the rhythms of Brazilian Capoeira and the soothing vocals of soul
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singers. The performance which epitomised the positive atmosphere of the night was the traditional Chinese Lion Dance. The two lions were not of the ferocious kind but rather playfully jumped in amongst the crowd and brought enjoyment to not only the students but also to children who had come with their parents and grandparents – an indication of Spring Feast’s growing reputation as a community event. As the festivities continued into the night, it became evident that Spring Feast 2012 was a huge success. In addition to the smiles and generous comments o those in attendance,
the MCW Committee received positive feedback from the food stall holders who appreciated the assistance they had received throughout the event. The feeling of pride which I felt at the beginning of the festivities as an MCW Committee member had grown. The MCW Committee’s dedication and hard work culminated into an event which was thoroughly enjoyable but above all, delivered the Committee’s aim to promote diversity. We hope that successive MCW Committees will continue to build upon that message.
Guru Kugananthan, the 2012 MCW Committee Secretary, is currently in his fifth year studying Law and Economics. 32
Photographs supplied by Gabriel Feng.
Behind The Scenes: Spring Feast & The Logistics Team
Spring Feast! When you first heard “Spring Feast”, what’s the first thing that popped into your head? Well, for me, it was flowers, a visual feast for the eyes. Boy I was wrong. It’s actually a food bazaar style event that is held every spring! This year, the event was held on the 11th October, a Thursday in Multicultural Week and ran from 6pm till 11pm. Every year, the Spring Feast gathers thousands of people in the UWA Guild Village, all for the love of food. Last year, the event managed to attract close to 3000 people. I say we declare food as the new universal language! Of course much preparation had to be done for any event of such scale. It all started off in April. Each logistics member was to get quotes for their assigned list of equipment, from the stage, fencing, electricity and etc. With the quotes in hand, an application for LotteryWest’s grant could then be lodged by our dear treasurer, JJ.
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Next, it’s arranging a hygiene briefing with the Subiaco Council. In order to ensure that all the stallholders, who have no prior food business experience, exercise the proper food handling practices, a face-to-face hygiene briefing was planned at first but after further discussion with the Subiaco Council, we managed to agree upon conducting the hygiene briefing course over the net instead, which saved a lot of trouble for everyone. Booth duty started from middle of August. The purpose of having booth duties is to promote the events over the Multicultural Week. For Spring Feast, it is to notify any interested personnel that the registration for stalls has begun. Usually, people will have to come down to the booth to get a copy of the stall application form. This year, thanks to our media director, Kelvin, we managed to set up an online form, where the interested parties can register and we
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will then process their application. They would only have to come in to the booth once to pay and hand in the form. Finally, the day we have all been waiting for arrived. At that point, I believed all of the executives were already worn out from handling the events of the past three days. Despite of the late starting time (6pm), preparations started at 9am when the staging and fencing company began their set-up. By 2pm, the setting up of stage was pretty much done and the stage lighting guy took over. The fences were up, the tables were placed at their rightful locations and lighting for each stall was done. Stall holders were then allowed into the Guild Kitchen at 3pm to start their food preparations so things started to get busy then. At that point of time, the venue was already filled with people, committee members, stall holders and of course, curious passer-bys. The media team was
all into creating their Gingerbread houseinspired entrance and decorating the whole venue to reflect this year’s theme: Folktales. Events people, led by Michael, were busy coordinating all the performers and making sure the PA system was working fine. Marketing team, with Novia’s lead, was strategizing a way to sell the raffle tickets and meet up afterwards. The various teams were busy running around, lending a helping hand to anyone who needed it. Before long, it was already 5:45pm. Spring Feast had a simple opening ceremony with our Managing Director, Raymond and the Guild President, Matthew Mckenzie cutting the ribbon at the fancy entrance. By then, here was already a line of people waiting eagerly to be let into the venue. THEN IT BEGAN. As people streamed in, the stall holders were all tried their
hardest to draw the attention of potential customers. While all that was going in, there were performances on stage and two of our logistics member, Shi Wei and Sophia, dressed up as Hansel and Gretel, walked around offering candies and taking photographs with various guests. The crowd grew even larger as the event went further into the night. There were some stalls that had almost 50 people queuing up to buy their food. The whole venue was just packed with people. In a way, it did feel much like Malaysia’s Pasar Malam (night market). The clock ticked closer to 11pm. Most of the stall holders had packed up and the crowd dispersed. All of the committee had started packing up at 10pm by putting away the trestle tables and the manor fences placed between stalls and cleaning of the venue. We had help from the ISS committees who
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were willing to stay back and help with the cleaning up. By 11:15pm, we managed to finish everything, which was another record set! This event will not be as successful if it was for all the committee members’ effort of ensuring their part were going smoothly, not forgetting all the photographers who worked really hard to capture the pictureworthy moments. Carrying a huge DSLR camera around for the whole night is no easy task. We had so much help from the Events Officer, Ben Johnston and his assistant, Andrew. This event would not have been possible without them.
For the MCW team, the event officially concluded around 11:30pm and everyone was dead exhausted from a long day. Yet, there was the Amazing Race the next day…..
Editor’s Note: Chai Leen has neglected to mention that if any of you readers are interested in joining and helping out for Mulitcultural Week 2013, feel free to email the current Director Kelvin Lee at directoratmcw@gmail.com.
Chai Leen Ting is currently in her 4th year studying Chemical Engineering. Her hobbies include listening to music and playing badminton. Photographs provided by John Sing, Gabriel Feng & To Dream A Story.
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Maccas & Me
It was my first time leaving Singapore and moving to Perth with a new school, new home, new friends, challenges, so on and so forth. It was fun at first, embracing the whole new culture and having the sudden desire to try new things I’d never have done back in Singapore, but well, being typically human, we all like to have a little something familiar to hold on to, and unfortunately for me, my security blanket was not so much family (sorry mom & dad), friends (still love you guys), and most definitely not my actual baby blanket, but the universally loved and adored iconic Ronald McDonald. Maccas, Maccas, when I was homesick, you were there for me. When I was physically sick, you made me feel worse and better at the same time. But you came through for me the most during the week of deadlines and exams. Every day, when the clock struck 12, I had my not-so-secret rendezvous with 10pc nuggets, cheeseburgers, frozen coke and soft serve ice cream cones. But as Lady Gaga so aptly puts it, Maccas and I became a bad romance. We all know
how a love-hate relationship develops; you know it is bad for you, but you want it too much to say no. Everyone around you sees what it has done to you, but you vehemently disagree and turn a blind eye to the progressively blossoming reflection in the mirror. So there goes, instead of six degrees of separation, you have the six degrees of food addiction. Firstly, denial. Secondly, half-hearted attempts to prove you’re keeping fit by opting to climb the stairs instead of taking the lift. Thirdly, panic attacks when you finally weigh yourself/ cannot fit into your shorts, followed by desperate efforts to revert back to the person you used to be via forced starvation and public declarations of workout plans. Fifth, forced resignation to the fact you’re a slave to overeating and doomed to be flabby. Last, and the stage very few make it to, is divine intervention from above that gives you renewed determination to stop moaning about your weight gain and actually do something about it.
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That’s right, people. I may be fighting a losing battle with Maccas but I believe one in ten have the willpower to make it out victorious. Weight gain and overeating are two things you most definitely have to deal with, especially in your first year here. With places like Little Caesar’s, Kaili’s, Broadway Pizza and San Churros etc, you will find your appetite growing, eating every waking moment when you have nothing else to do and are trying to push back studying, and when you return home for the holidays, you
WILL be called “fatty”. But that is what the second year of university is for! To eat right, exercise more and prove them wrong! Make use of the gym and all its classes. Take advantage of Matilda Bay with it’s amazing view and the cool Aussie breeze. To go running, not to sit there with your takeaway. Prevention is better than cure, so whenever you’re ready, I’ll see you at the running tracks at Matilda Bay. Hopefully.
Jolyn Loh is in her second year studying a Bachelor Of Arts, majoring in Anthropology and Social Psychology. Love eating, and taking long walks by the beach mainly to burn off the fats associated with that love. 38
Photographs by Leonid Mamchenkov, snowpea&bokchoi.
Unimentor – A Retrospective
I decided to join the UniMentor program as a mentor at the end of my 1st year at UWA. I remember when I first arrived in UWA no one really showed me around campus, and it took me awhile to familiarise myself with the campus and with Perth as a whole. Nobody told me about Kmart and Target (where you can get inexpensive home appliances); I discovered many services, previously unknown to me, which were available in UWA such as UniPrint and StudySmarter during my first semester etc. In short, it was confusing, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to go experience such confusion as I did, on top of the transition between high school and university. Therefore, I decided to sign up, as I wanted to help and make a difference in the initial stages of new students coming to UWA and/or Perth. For my first UniMentor group I was assigned 12 mentees when it was supposed to be 6. I was so nervous during O-Quest, bringing the group around, showing them the various buildings, emphasizing those they would probably frequent. During the semester I
arranged weekly meetings, but attendance dwindled after the third week. At the end of semester I received another email inviting mentors to sign up for the program again. At that time I felt that I did not do well enough as a mentor and so I sent off an email to the UniMentor team informing them that I wouldn’t be continuing as a mentor. Unexpectedly, one of my mentees nominated me for the Highly Commended Mentor award. This was indeed a big surprise to me, and also an encouragement as I was assured that what I did during the semester was useful for my mentees. This helped me change my mind and continue to be a UniMentor, and it is a decision that I have never regretted. Over my mentoring experiences, I have come to learn that a UniMentor is not just a tour guide, not just someone who leads a group of 6-25 students (yes, I did have a group of 25) around UWA for a couple of hours completing tasks and visiting key buildings related to their field of study. The role of a UniMentor is much more than that - it
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requires a good sense of commitment to the program, and enthusiasm in participating in the UniMentor program’s activities. In my opinion, one of the most important things a UniMentor needs to do is create a bond. It is this bond of familiarization that will break down the barrier between the mentor and the new student. Last semester, my mentees were all from my ConnectMe@UWA group, so I had ample time to communicate with them before they arrived in Perth. A UniMentor has to maintain contact with his/ her group at least 6 weeks into the semester, and I always give out my mobile number and email to my mentees so they can easily contact me whenever they need to. During the semester, I occasionally receive phone calls or text messages from my mentees asking me how to get to their lectures or tutorials, whether they should buy the textbooks listed in the unit outline, how to borrow books from the library, where to get the best coffee in uni etc. The best part about being a UniMentor has to be the weekly meetings with my
group. Oak Lawn tends to be relatively crowded during semester so I chose to have our meetings at Whitfeld Court in front of Winthrop Hall. I was really happy last semester when we had a meeting even at Week 12 of the semester, and one just after exams so we could take a group photo. Those half-hour meetings were really good times. It is my privilege to be part of the UniMentor program. The lessons I learned, the friends I made; being a UniMentor is so fulfilling. Sometimes in uni I bump into some of my mentees and feel so happy that they have settled well into uni. When I was a new student in UWA I also had a UniMentor, and as she helped me settle into UWA, now I do my part to help others. Some who used to be my mentees are now mentors too! In conclusion, I would like to encourage those of you who aren’t yet mentors, to sign up to become a UniMentor. It is a truly fulfilling experience, and it allows you to link with others, share your knowledge, and help others make the transition.
Andrew Leung has completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Linguistics and Indonesian. He spends his free time studying Japanese and working at Kongs Oriental Supermarket. 40
Photographs by Andrew Leung and courtesy of Unimentor.
I’ll Do It Tomorrow
Editor’s Note: I asked my friend to provide me with an article on her thought process when dealing with articles and essays. Who knew she would actually give me something like this. It is an amusing read and offers a terrifying glimpse into the mindset of a master procrastinator. PLEASE DO NOT USE HER AS AN EXAMPLE FOR PROCRASTINATING ON SCHOOL WORK. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU FAIL A UNIT! 2 December 2012 Procrastination Procrstintion Procrstnton Prcrstntn That’s just what it is, a meaningless waste of your time. Everything else just seems so much more fun than the task at hand. I’m actually starting on this article early, but inspiration is just not flowing. I’m going to stop right here, and get coffee. I’ll probably be back to complete this five minutes before
my deadline. That’s right, I’m procrastinating on an article about procrastination. We’re off to a great start. 8 December 2012 The deadline is looming closer and I am making no progress here. 9 December 2012 Tomorrow is the deadline, and I’m here to check on what I have written so far. Not quite feeling the inclination to complete this yet because it’s early enough at the moment. I’m trying to stretch this out as long as I possibly can; and do something else such as mindlessly scroll through Facebook or Twitter. You get the drift. 10 December 2012 Well, I suppose it’s time to lay out a few simple steps on how to procrastinate. How to procrastinate when you have an assignment to do Step 1: Turn on your laptop. Step 2: Be distracted by the internet and all its wonders.
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Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 for about a month and forget about the existence of your assignment until approximately two days before it’s due. Step 4: Panic; tweet or update your Facebook status on your current state of hysteria. Step 5: Repeat steps 2 and 4 until you only have a few hours left till the deadline. Step 6: Realise you’re screwed and type furiously until your fingers bleed.
Step 7: Approximately ten cups of coffee later, stare at the masterpiece that you never had the time to proofread. Step 8: Click submit, then breathe a sigh of relief. *Repeat steps 1 through 8 for all further assignments. Now that you know the basics, go forth and procrastinate into the night my friends.
Editor’s Second Note: She actually handed this in on time.
Schuyler is a 3rd Arts student majoring in Linguistics and Japanese. She really enjoys reading manga and having her entire existence be consumed by the Internet. Image by Rennett Stowe, drawings by Allie Brosh @ hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com.
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CELEBRATING