Believe it or not, I am actually here for school, not just to have a vacation. This week was the start of my education at Macquarie University. 

I have been busy with O Week, which is orientation. At first, I really debated going to some of the events because I didn’t really feel that the information would be necessary, but because I have a fear of missing out, I decided to drag my butt out of bed and go to see what O Week was all about. 

This was the best decision of my life. I was able to meet so many new people. I didn’t just meet international students, but I also met a lot of locals. Some of the events that I was able to attend were Aussie Sports, Speed Friendship, a welcome home presentation, a campus tour, a pool party and several barbecues.

This whole week, I never once had to cook for myself because they were always offering some sort of meal for us. But don’t let them fool you — their barbecues include having a piece of sandwich bread, kangaroo meat and/or sausage with onions and barbecue sauce on top. It is nothing like an American barbecue.

This week was the first time I tried kangaroo meat. It was delicious.

Another reason why going to O Week was so helpful was because I was able to sign up for different clubs and get involved on campus during my time here. Even if you don’t want to do something, give it a try — you never know what could happen. 

The video below is a small snapshot of life at Macquarie University. 

Video by Macquarie University. 

Another thing that I found extremely important when living in a new place (especially abroad) is that it is important to find a routine that works for you. Having a routine allows you to wake up with a purpose and helps you get acclimated with your new surroundings. Even if your routine is something as simple as reading a book before you go to bed, that is okay. The point is to have something familiar you can lean on because so much is changing around you. 

Cheerio.

Collegian Australia Abroad Blogger Michelle Buser can be reached online at blogs@collegian.com or on Twitter @Buser_michelle.