Sydney Life

After I finished my thesis, I had the thought that I didn’t have to read any academic materials until next March! How’s that for a holiday?!

Now with semester over and thesis handed in I can enjoy living the student life! And I started by going to the Newtown Festival…

Newtown is a reason why I still find a space in my heart to love a place like Sydney. With an eclectic mix of students, multicultural faces, families, queers, Goths and the odd socialist or two, I love the cultural, art-infused and political vibe of the place.

From the three-storey “I Have a Dream” mural, to the cheap student-priced lunchtime Thai specials. From the excellent public transport to the incredible 4-piece jazz quartet and/or piano accordion player on the corner of my street… you haven’t lived the student experience until you’ve lived in Newtown.

Yesterday, I went to the Newtown Festival; an annual event that supports the local Newtown Community Centre. With stalls, food, alcohol and independent musicians (the type that you won’t hear on commercial radio), it was a buzzing summery day!

Imagine this. An area the size of a football field, people from all walks dancing in the open air to a tribal fusion of didgeridoo, guitar, flute and electronica-reggae rhythm. That was Oka. This is the contemporary sound of Australia.

After the festival was over, the party just spilled onto the streets. All the pubs were packed. People were setting up their bands in the little street corners around the place and jamming away. From one end I could hear the sounds of the Village People ('YMCA' no less!) and at the other end, some alternative cello/vocal/electronic jazz. Ah, c'est la vie!

Lots of people will come to Sydney Uni from rural and regional areas, and overseas. Some of you will be thinking about finding accommodation, so its important to know a little bit of insiders information about the suburb that you choose to live in. And if you like an anything-goes, enclave of artistic diversity, then consider Newtown. It’s the ultimate in student experience.