Socheata Pors

November 2008 Update

I can’t believe how fast it is. Now it’s the end of the semester already. It seems like I just arrived in Australia yesterday.

I’m both glad and sad that the semester is over. I’m glad because I’ve done all my final projects, which had given me quite a lot of headache. Of course, no more school work means that I’m very free and can enjoy as much travelling as I can. However, summer break also means that I gonna be away from school and from my friends especially Rizki, who is going back soon.

Elizabeth, Rizki, and I have a lot of fun here. We have been very supportive and gotten along very well with each other. We are not just friends; we are a family, who is always being there when any of us needs help. It’s really sad that Rizki has to go. I’m going to miss her a lot.

I have volunteered to be a student mentor (SOS – Supporting other Students). It is a group that helps new students who are coming to the University of Newcastle next year. I think it is a great opportunity for me to contribute something to the university as well as to the fellow students. I still remember how helpful they were when I first arrived here. They helped me to get to know the university, the city, and to find accommodation. I hope that I can contribute the same for the new coming students.

October 2008 Update

The first thing that I want to say is the spring break. I’ve had a lot of fun visiting Melbourne. It’s quite a nice city with many places to visit. It’s crowded comparing to Newcastle, which is quite peaceful and quiet. Rizki, I, and other friends went to Phillip Island to see the penguin, Luna Park, Melbourne Central Station, Victoria Market, the Art Gallery, the Crown, and other places. The food there is far more delicious and cheaper than Newcastle. It’s a really good place for holiday. Many people think that it’s better than Sydney. For me, they are not really different.

After the holiday, it’s time to go back to school and lots of assignments are waiting. I am working on my 4 final projects. Immediately after the trip, I joined a group video shooting project. To tell the truth, the weather here is quite a problem for shooting. It was hot and shiny in the morning, yet it started to rain just after we finished the shooting! Luckily, we packed the equipments in already. If they get wet, I have no idea how to return it back to the university.

I’ve just realize how an Australian student think about international students. I’ve been wondering all along why Australian students seem to stick only to their group. Elizabeth told me once that she thought that maybe Aussie get freak out to see so many international students and it’s difficult for them to be friend with people who are only here just for 1 or 2 semesters. This is true. I was walking with my classmates and her friend. She told her friend that she went into a class and there were so many international students that made her feel like “What are they doing here? Why there are so many foreigners?” However, I have some nice Australian friends and group members.

We just did our fundraising. It was on Hariraya celebration at our university. I contacted the event organizers to get sometimes for us, Rizki did the presentation, and Elizabeth made the donation boxes. It went quite well and we get more money combining with the Spanish classes that Elizabeth had taught.

This semester is going to finish soon and everyone seems to be very busy with it. Soon, the summer break will come. I hope to go on a road trip with my friends and travel to other states.

September 2008 Update

The first thing that I want to say is “Time is flying so fast!” I feel like I’ve just been here, but now it’s been 3 months already. I am doing fine with the university works. Some results are bad and some are good. I have to admit that the learning system here is quite different from Cambodia. The lecturer won’t teach you much; most of the time you have to learn on your own.

It’s been a great time to learn many different kinds of culture. I’ve been to many events including the Malaysian Day, Mid-autumn Festival and the Cultural Awakening Days. It was very pleasant to see different performances and try various foods.

One of the most surprising things for me is the paper companies in Australia. I am doing my final project on a paper promotion booklet. I’ve found many companies on the internet and sent a request asking for the paper sample. Only 3 days after that, I received 2 packages of the sample, which one of those is 3kg! There were many useful samples for my assignment in the packages. I was so impressed since this is unlikely to happen in Cambodia.

However, there is one bad thing that I find about here Newcastle. I don’t know whether it happens to other cities or not. It is discrimination. I was walking to the university in the morning. There was a car pass by and a guy, in his teenage years, stuck his head out of the window and shouted something at me, which I couldn’t catch. My friends told me that it’s very common here since some Australian hate Asians. Sometimes, they just beat international students for pleasure.

It has been a great three-month of living with Elizabeth. We have been supporting and sharing things with each other. She has been both my best friend and my sister. Sadly, I have to move. I am going to miss my time with her.

I’m going on my trip to Melbourne and Hobart during spring break with Rizki. I am looking forward to it and hope that I’ll explore more about Australia.

August 2008 Update

For the past 1 month, I have to say that I have learned a lot. I’ve very good friends, and we have lots of fun together. On my birthday, they celebrated it for me and Rizki was staying with me and Elizabeth. It was Elizabeth’s plan that they wanted to surprise me while I was sleeping. When I get up, my friends are all around my bed with a birthday cake! I was so embarrass because I was deeply asleep.

I have a lot of assignment for my classes. All of them due the same week! I was so tired to complete them all. Well, I have to say that the study systems here and in Cambodia are quite different. We have more self-study but less face-to-face communication. Honestly, I find Australian students are not as friendly as other international students. However, I have a very nice Australian friend, and she has been very helpful.

I have a chance to meet a few nice Cambodian families here. They have been very kind and helpful.

It has been a great month and I’m looking forward to learn more.

July 2008 Update