NAME: ‘ILISAPETI FE’AO
HOST UNIVERSITY: MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY
SEMESTER/YEAR: SEMESTER 2, 2013
1.
Acknowledgment
2.
Introduction
Application process for you & how you found out about the Exchange programme
Your preparations
Pre-departure Orientation
3.
Arrival: Airport > University
Identify any problems
Experience
4.
Accommodation
Securing your accommodation
Facilities
Security
5.
Orientation & Registration
Host university staff
6.
Academics
7.
Social :International Students’ Activities:
Travels, Sports, etc, Identify any risks
8.
Your overall experience & how you have developed
Your view of the world now
9.
Conclude with Your advice/tip for USP students
Acknowledgment
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the people who helped me through the
whole process;
 To God who made things possible.
 The University of the South Pacific and the USP International for giving me the
opportunity to represent USP abroad by studying overseas for a semester which is a
blessing for me. The unlimited assistance from the USP International right from the
beginning made me feel at ease every time.
 To Ms Ella Bennion from the USP International Office and her team who worked
diligently and wholeheartedly in providing the BEST for us during our preparation and
our study abroad I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done.
 To the USP staffs who have assisted me with my choice of courses thank you so much to
Eberhard Weber and Stephen Gale from the FSTE’s Department of Geography and also
Morgan Tuimalealiifano and Max Quanchi from FALE’s Department of History.
 Again to Eberhard Weber for writing my academic reference
 To Isikeli Oko for writing my testimonial
 To all my fellow colleagues, thank you for the emails updating us of what you were up
to at your respectable universities.
 I would like to thank Macquarie University for accepting me to come and study there.
 The University’s friendly staff at the Study Abroad office really made my first day at
orientation an enjoyable one. Thank you so much Abigail Thomas and Matthew Louie
for the time that we had at Macquarie!
 To my lecturers at the University they are the best. Thank you so much Dr Teo, Dr Tim
Ralph, Dr Grant Edwards and Professor Morris Molley.
 To my Aussie friends at Macquarie for all the support and help I really enjoyed studying
with you Mona, Alia, Mia, Albina, Michelle, and Sara. Thank you so much!!
 To my sponsor, the Ausaid office for your support and for allowing me to grab this
opportunity offered by USP International. Vinaka!!!
 To my family and relatives who hosted me for the semester you have made things
possible and enjoyable. You have supported me academically, socially, and spiritually.
Peata and family, Mele and Mote’s family, Pohahau family, Kilifi and Peta’s family and
all of you who made things easier for me.
 Vinaka Vakalevu for everything and May the Good Lord bless you abundantly!!!! ‘Ofa
atu to all of you and all your contributions which made my studying accomplished!!!
Introduction
To be selected as an exchange student abroad is a perfect blessing during your study. It was a hot
afternoon in March when I came back from school checking my student mail. Clicking the USP
homepage when the news of the application kept on highlighting and then I clicked. It came to
the invitation from the USP International for students to apply and the original due date was
extended to the 31st of March. Browsing through the application I thought of applying so I partly
did it and then left it there thinking it’s just nothing and that is ok I do not want to apply. Later
that evening I could not take my mind off the application. I sat down and filled it out then saved
for later posting. I emailed my lecturer to be my academic referee and he mailed me back with a
positive attitude. After 20 minutes I thought of leaving it and I emailed my lecturer to drop it.
The next morning after class, I came to check my mail when I found a letter from the lecturer
encouraging me to go for it as he is keen to support me academically. I got courage from his
advice and continued with the application and my other supporting letter which was done by my
former boss. I felt good and surprised by a letter from the International office that I was
shortlisted for an interview and I felt good about it. The outcome of the interview surprised me
more as I was chosen to go to my chosen University. Happiness and excitement together with
thankful emotions blended and it was overwhelming. My family had to go to our home island
leaving me here in Fiji to complete my studies and what were ought to be done before leaving for
Aussie. It was hard to see them leave but the opportunity never comes twice as it is a sacrifice for
us all. Left me behind to complete my first semester, sit an English test, do medical checkup and
other things as well. Visualizing me sitting in a lecture room in Australia was very exciting and
encouraging. Receiving our air ticket with my destination, Sydney Australia, was very exciting
too as this will be my first time to go there. Our pre-departure orientation was very helpful which
reminds us that we are USP ambassadors and all those endless advices on every aspects of life.
The opportunity given was very well spent.
Arrival: Airport
Upon arrival my nieces came and received me with happiness and took me to their house. I
planned to stay in one of the University’s accommodation after I settled in and got used to
Australia but at the end my nieces encouraged me to stay with them as it is less expensive so I
stayed with them the whole time with free accommodation, free food, free internet etc. I was
blessed to live with them. It took me 1 hr to travel to school but it was a very good experience for
me to see the environment and passing through the Harbor Bridge overlooking the opera house
was excellent scenery. There were no problems living with them. Riding by train everyday was
very exciting as you meet various people and I get to know the stations and their names and how
trains are operated etc.
Fig 1: Waiting for my train to arrive at the University train station. Fig 2: Looking out
from the train to the Harbor Bridge
Accommodation
I applied beforehand for a room on campus but ended up staying at my niece’s house, which took
me one hour to travel to school but I loved it for I want to look around Sydney and its suburbs as
I am a geographer. I lived in a 2 storey house with my widowed niece and her two daughters. It
was free accommodation, food and everything.
Fig 3: My niece who accommodated me
Fig 4: At the upper deck
Orientation & Registration
I arrived on a Monday and orientation was on Wednesday. We were welcomed in one of the
school theatres with a formal Aboriginal greeting! Four staff from the university’s office for
Student Abroad were there with friendly smiles to greet us. They introduced themselves to us
and assigned us into 3 groups under their names for consultations. I looked around and found out
that I was the only Pacific Islander and the only brown skin student. Most of the new students
coming last semester were from America, Canada, Asia with some from the Scandinavian
countries.
Lunch was served with burger, banana and soft drink. Overlooking the Lake Macquarie was a
peaceful scene and I felt that it is Australia!!! The afternoon session was the registration and the
issuing of a Campus Card. They taught us how to log into the school page which I found a little
bit different from what we have here at USP. Like here at USP we can register online and I did
that. Lining up for the IT people to issue our campus card was very exciting as I could see it with
my own eyes how they operated. It was like an assembly line where we wait and our photo is
taken. The last IT person will give you your ID which has your name and id number like the one
here at USP but this card featured VISA Card and travelling Concession stickers for your
travelling to show that you are a current student. The same card is used for printing top up. The
card is very handy!!!!
Fig 5: Campus Card
Academics
Academically, this trip really equipped me to be more active and do what is assigned to me,
especially my readings. I really learned my lesson in doing my readings which is one of my
weaknesses here at USP, neglecting the given readings. Two of my courses offered lots of
readings and I have to keep up with my weekly readings and reflect on it for marking which
counts to our course work marks. To keep up my reading I have to read during my 2 hrs
travelling time to and from school in the train. This experience really made me a student in
Australia!
The discussions made during tutorials inspired me through the semester as I have learnt from the
way the Aussie students responded. I found it very challenging because English is their first
language so discussions of readings is a piece of cake for them and I am so lucky to listen and
mingle with them which improves my way of discussing topics and readings. They really think
and argue critically especially when it comes to my history course.
I had to come to know equipments/instruments when taking this environment course. Fieldtrips
to places that are different from your own environment was very exciting and the many
landscapes that I saw helped me in the future in my field of geography.
The learning environment is very much supported by the University as we can use the internet
for free and no limitations for using other websites. They have provided a resourceful library
where almost 50 new flat screen computers are there for our studies. Flashes are not crashed
from viruses and all the computers are working very well.
Lecturers were very well equipped with the knowledge needed. They talked nonstop for the 1 or
2 hours lecture. What I have learned from here is that I have to come prepared too by studying
the notes given on the i-learn site same as Moodle here.
I have also learned to stop using Facebook during the day because the students are busy with
their studies and their assignments. Not to mention that assignments must be submitted on time,
which is one of my worst enemies.
Social: International Students’ Activities:
The International Office always updated us with the activities available for us to join but I rarely
joined due to personal reasons at that time. It seems exciting and it was as I asked those who
joined. There was this South American lunch offered for us for free and it was very nice to taste
different dishes from South America. Overall the activities offered were very good and
enjoyable. Living off campus made me joined off campus activities more than what were offered
by the school. We had the Student Exchange Fair and I managed to advertise USP through the
video clip from the USP International homepage which is more lively and students got to see
USP and its facilities.
Fig 6&7: Exchange Student Fair
Your overall experience & how you have developed
I am speechless with what I have gained and experienced. Now I have developed my experiences
in different aspects of life academically, socially, spiritually and physically. I have developed the
ability to think globally rather than just confined to my little island and what we have there. I
discovered so many things that changed my attitude, assumption and experiences.
 The world has offered knowledge and skills out there for you to explore, grasp and use.
 That attitude contributed much to success no matter how smart you are!
 Studying is fun rather than a hectic schedule to be fulfilled
 Developed my ideas of what I can do to help out my local environment which I used to
think that it is not my job.
 Always go prepared to class so I can talk the whole period rather than pausing on
unnecessary things
 Time is important!!!
 Mind my own business!!
 Consider others (be patient)
 Conclude with Your advice/tip for USP students
Future students my advices are;
-
Apply and come prepared for the interview
-
If chosen be prepared mind, body and soul
-
Make use of every opportunities given by the host university unless you feel like it is
risky to do it
-
Do not sleep when riding the train otherwise you might miss your station 