Sydney, from the Manly ferry
Since my academic semester in Australia is now over, I think it’s about time to make a post about what I did on a daily basis.
Monday- After making breakfast, which usually consisted of toast with nutella (nutella with toast, really), and packing my lunch for the day (sandwich, fruit, granola bar), I would catch the bus around the corner at 9:30. My Australian Film and Television class began at 10 and consisted of 90 minutes of lecture followed by a film. If you're interested in reading some of my formal analyses, you can check out my portfolio online at: http://arts2062mollyhrudka.blogspot.com/
After class I usually walked to Randwick to rent a movie for a film assignment before walking back home to Coogee. I would usually go running along the Coogee to Bondi path before settling in to do some homework and make dinner. Speaking of dinner... Mom, I tried my best not to disgrace you in the 2 Kurrawa Ave kitchen. I’m not sure I’m ready for a run at Top Chef, but I definitely did more than eat Easy Mac.
Tuesday- Same morning routine except the class was Sport, Law, and International Diplomacy. At the beginning of the semester the professor assigned us a research paper, so I chose to do mine on the role of sport in development in sub-Saharan Africa. I also made a presentation on the role of sport diplomacy and international law in international efforts to end Apartheid in South Africa. Notice the trend? The class ended at 12 so I had two hours to be productive until tutorial started at 2. After that, Tuesdays ended similarly to Mondays.
Wednesday- my least favorite morning because my Terror and Religion class started at 9 and went straight until 12. To stay awake, I supplemented my breakfast with a chai tea latte from the uni café. It was for this class that I wrote my study abroad crowning achievement: July 2010 Kampala World Cup Bombings- an Example of Religious Nationalism Confronting the Secular State. After a 30-minute lunch I headed to the science building on campus that houses the National Centre in HIV Social Research. Every Wednesday afternoon I worked with two research advisors on a viral kinship project. I read, analyzed, and coded interviews, then co-authored a paper that was presented in Durban South Africa in June. I really enjoyed my time working at the NCHSR because I was able to further my knowledge of the endlessly fascinating topic of HIV that I was first exposed to last summer in Uganda.
Thursday- already in weekend mode. A History of Medicine started at 11 and went to 1, and tutorial began at 2 and finished at 3. I didn’t really produce any noteworthy work in this class because I was normally doing it in class, right before it was due. After the walk home I usually kicked the weekend off with a long run along the Coogee to Bondi walk.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday- When it was nice and warm out, I tried to go to the beach as often as possible but when it wasn’t, Sydney still offered many possibilities. One day a few of us took the ferry to Manly and did the beautiful Manly to Spit Bridge walk. No sign of the Manly penguins, though! On the weekend that Dad visited, we went up to the top of the Sydney tower, walked through the Botanical Gardens, and saw Much Ado About Nothing at the Opera House. One rainy afternoon the girls in my house took a trip to Paddington and Paddy’s markets. Of course, most of the weekend’s action took place at night. While Sydney’s nightlife was frustrating at times (dress codes, entry refusals, early hours, etc) I really liked how the bars in each part of the city had a different character.
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