Sydney Life

Here is a typical example of how a semester might run for me. All the things below are true, although none of them were really expected or planned.

First week back, done and dusted. Semester 2 is a little different from Semester 1 - for the most part, you know your way around and you know where to get a mean Italian hot chocolate on campus (see: Ralph's). Semester 2 doesn't, at first, seem have a lot of the perks Semester 1 has - summer, O-Week, the thrill of something new in a new year... However I have already found Semester 2 to be just as awesome, if not even MORE AWESOME than Semester 1. It is already JAM-PACKED with activities, however I think playing a game of chess against the Chess Society's Grandmaster Chess Player (while he was playing four other people at the same time) may have had something to do with my first week being so awesome.

THE GRANDMASTER (left) ponders his next move. OTHER PLAYERS (right) are concerned for their health. BEETLEJUICE (back) looks on in the distance, approvingly.

Apologies for the lack of entries! Things became rather busy. Let me explain.

I took four subjects last semester because I want to finish my undergraduate degree this year (so I can do any of a few things that I have planned, including - fix up some health problems, travel to London, move to Melbourne, get a full time job, etc.) As a consequence of this decision, I was busy. Very busy. I chose subjects that required a lot of reading and even more thought - third year English subjects especially, and pre-Honours subjects. If you are looking to do honours make sure you find out what is required from the faculty or department that you are studying under. You probably need to complete the requirements for a major and a bit more, and possibly take some specific subjects that teach you about research or other things necessary for an honours degree.

I recently asked a friend why they went to the gym, and he replied that he liked to "stay in shape". The most interesting thing about this is that no one really goes to the gym to stay in shape at all, they go to lose weight, or put on muscle and gain weight. Really, if you're staying in shape you should be working a bit harder. But I digress. The point really, is that if you want to go to the gym, Sydney Uni has you covered.

At the moment I live in a world of chalk dust and footpath art. It is a lovely yet hectic land which I like to think I stroll through with the air of a flâneur, enjoying the smell of fresh paint in the Graffiti Tunnel and watching piles of printed propaganda float by in the breeze.

Oh yes, it is Union election time again.

In the vast expansive ocean of the Sydney CBD, it’s easy to get lost amongst the sharks, mullets and gropers. The good ship Sydney Con is anchored smack bang in the middle, leaving its crew to explore the surrounding seas. The dangers* are great, but the rewards to be reaped** far outweigh any risks involved in our exploration. Listen closely, young ones, as Captain Liisa imparts integral information about Circular Quay’s hidden treasure and how to reach it safely…

* mainly involving dangerous flying fish and diseased carcasses
** namely, the general quaffing and merry-making that takes place in an enchanted oasis

“Hey beautiful…the back door’s open”, a mobile phone and a slip of the thumb was all it took to land Warnie back in the boiler with Simone. The next minute, the story’s been sold to tabloids and we once again hear of the exploits of one amorous thumb that possibly finds more pleasure in pushing the wrong buttons than doing anything else. But the problem of the messaging slip, like the Freudian slip or any other slip, strikes us mere mortals too. We, like the lusty gods of the media spectacle, need to flounder in our own pool of humiliation at times.

Walking to Circular Quay from Uni on Friday, I was distracted by a toddler waiting at the traffic lights. She was a pretty average toddler – blonde, small, and had just calmly pulled her skirt down around her ankles. When the lights changed to green, she casually pulled her skirt back up before taking her mum’s hand to cross the road.
“What are you doing?” mum had only just noticed her daughters' state of undress.
“Straightening my undies,” replied the girl. No further explanation required.

My diary is already full of dates but not for assignments. The start of uni for another year has meant a jam-packed social schedule once again. The year started with the Sydney University Law Society's "Salsa by Sunset" welcome back drinks...

I’ve never been to a Beachball. So I’m sure as hell gonna be there this Thursday!

Okay, bad title. And okay, it’s not from a song.

But I just saw the O-week timetable and I am SOOOO pumped.

Here are my personal picks:

February is a very gay month in Sydney. It is Mardi Gras season again, which features a month-long festival of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer cultures in Sydney. And this year, Mardi Gras Festival sprinkles its rainbow glitter all over Sydney University...

When Cinderella lost her glass shoe at the ball, did anyone notice the size of her heels on the shoe? She danced so elegantly the whole night that she couldn't possibly have worn high heels. I should have learned from Cinderella. The charity ball that I attended on the weekend saw me wearing some new lovely high heels which may I say looked rather suave. But my feet would argue otherwise. There is no point in wearing high heels if you can't glide across the dance floor, and then later walk to hail a taxi.

I'm slightly hungover - mainly with glee and Christmas cheer - after hosting an awesome party at our sharehouse last night. I've been perfecting the art of the uni student party for four years, and last night went off like a dream.

Ingredients
1 crowd of diverse uni types
1 inclusive, raucous, topical theme – left open to interpretation
4 distinctly created party space areas
4 or 5 key talking points
2 culinary surprises
Choose-your-own-music stack of CDs near a CD player
200 fairy lights, give or take
4 hosts in creative costumes

(an acute hangover-related illness, often involving headaches and vomiting. In some cases memory loss will occur, though most common symptoms are lethargy and inability to concentrate or compose any form of recognisable speech.

It doesn’t bite, it doesn’t sting, and it won’t swell up the next day, but symptoms of BN are still quite easily detectable.)

I had a blast yesterday performing for a few hundred people at a family show at Marrickville. What did I do? I bellydanced.

“I didn’t know men bellydanced”, is the response I often get. The short answer is they usually don’t, which is why I do it.

It’s over. Or if it’s not, it’ll be over soon. For me, it’s over. That’s right comrades, we’ve climbed the hurdle. You’ve made it through the HSC, and I’ve made it through my first year of uni. It’s been one helluva ride. When I look back on what I wrote when I finished first semester, The Prodigal Returns, I don’t think there is much more advice I can give you. But maybe I can give you a few pointers or thoughts you can mull over or consider when you start uni.

Boredom and procrastination on a Saturday afternoon leads Cath and her posse of fun-loving adventure trippers into the wilderness of a Vet Party At Camden.

After three weeks of great events, the Verge Arts Festival comes to a close.

With faculty reviews, concerts, exhibitions, awards, radio broadcasting and a screening of Harry Potter in the main quad, Verge has become an unmissable event in the student calendar.

On Thursday the 7th of September, officially the best night I've had in Sydney yet, four unassuming kids from the Blue Mountains (including one of my best friends) took out the Band Comp final held at Manning, leaving with $2500 in prize money and a legion of new fans (or "Cloud Converts" as they're becoming known). Following in the footsteps of Band Comp big names such as The Vines, Youth Group, Frenzal Rhomb and Tim Freedman (think the Whitlams), Cloud Control is making quite a name for themselves in the local indie/powerpop scene, racking up considerable airtime on FBI radio and lining up gigs like they're going out of fashion...

Cloud Control L-R: Heidi Lenffer on piano, Ulrich Lenffer on drums, Al Wright on guitar and Jeremy Kelshaw on bass.

After a miserable week in Sydney (I'm still unsure of how Wednesday's downpour came about - stop teasing us with this erratic weather: can I wear my spring skirts or should I stick to jeans????), full of studying (for me, at least) and complete media saturation about one person (which in my opinion, disproportionately overshadowed everything else), it was refreshing to witness the 2006 Law Revue. Finally, someone was ready to stop being so serious and take the piss out of...everything.

Sydney Uni LIVE! A fun filled day of frollicking amongst the sandstone. It's actually the only day of the year where I don't feel a twinge of guilt walking on the grass in the Main Quad. Then again, I am mildly obsessive compulsive.

For those of you who are regular readers, you might remember a blog entitled 'Am I an idiot?’ I now have a definitive answer: YES!!!

Last Friday morning I was amongst 1784 people who undertook the challenge of walking 100km for charity. Sadly, 20% of them did not complete the challenge for various reasons. It was without a doubt the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It is so difficult to describe the physical and mental pain that I was experiencing. Give me 6 exams in 5 days any time!!

To kick off the new semester, we all donned our quiffs and legwarmers, our tacky jewelry and meshy gloves, to attend the 80s party. This is my friend and I having a good old chat to closed doors of the new coffee shop outside manning:

You meet a lot of new people at uni. A lot. There are so many opportunities to make friends and you may hear this from many of us bloggers. Simon’s post on it is interesting, though I have to say he may be denying himself some opportunities when he rejects outing invitations claiming he’s already scheduled to do work. Homework. On a Monday night. In Week 3. Scheduled.

Nevertheless, to help you begin to understand the vast number of people you meet, get to know, and see, on a regular basis or not, I’ve developed a hierarchy. Here goes...

Magical place –
Where gothic towers
Superimpose city skylines;
Minds are formed,
Lives shaped.

Across the room sat a boy…

Whooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pretty much sums it up.

Remember when you were a little child and easter came around, when you were all excited and all you thought about was the easter bunny ( or mum and dad) bringing lots of yummy chocolate easter eggs that you could never possibly consume all of them ( and which co-insidently still sat there for months on end..) Well when I think about easter I don't think about chocolates, I think about the Easter Show!

And I'll tell you why...

For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning students on campus, the past week has been a memorable one. The University of Sydney Union's Queer Convenors hosted the annual Pride Festival, celebrating sexual and gender diversity on campus.

I am always amazed by the incredible sense of community that can be found on campus. However, there are fewer close-knit communities than the queer student community. Pride Festival represents a showcase of that community spirit and gives hope for a more accepting and tolerant world.

Above: "My Life, My Pride". The mural I painted in the Graffiti Tunnel during this year's Pride Festival

Dr Condoleeza Rice, the first African-American female US Secretary of State, is a facinating public person and an enigma to most. I've heard her referred to as "The Most Powerful Woman in the World", "The Neo-Wicked Witch of the West" and "The Right-Wing Oprah". See what happened when she came to speak to 300 students at Sydney University's Conservatorium of Music...

Travel is grand, so why not travel and study while overseas? Here is the low down on exchange

Someone once told me that you know you are truly great friends with someone if you can enjoy each other’s silence. While this may be true, I find that I am truly great friends with someone if we share a passion for food! My friend Camilla and I love icecream; my friend Bec and I will traverse Sydney for the best banana bread and my friend Kash and I are the unofficial (and self-appointed) Presidents of the Ogalo’s Fan Club.

Being at uni has only exposed me to new friends, and thus, new food. One of my favourite things to do at uni, to take a break from studying, is to explore the eat streets of Sydney and have some fab food! And since Brendon has regaled you with tales of his UAI chart busters (and also because my dream job is to write for Gourmet Traveller) here is my guide to the best food in and around campus.

I am unashamedly in love with this place. I can often be seen wearing my fashionable pink Sydney Uni hoodie on a cold day, or even a bloody hot one. I attempt to convince people to enrol - even my Mum, who has a full-time job and no desire to go back to uni. A lot of you are probably wondering which uni to go to - it's a tough choice, I know. So I'm going to make it a little easier, by letting you in on the best things about Sydney Uni.

Live bands on campus keep you rockin' during your holidays!

Manning Bar on the University's main campus has some great acts. Last
tuesday saw punk ska band Less than Jake take the main stage and they rocked
the packed out venue. One of the best reasons to head along to the Union owned
bar is the subsidised prices for Union members! Thank you USU!

Next year is going to be a huge year for live acts at Syney Uni so get excited!
Some of the most exciting local bands got their first gigs in Sydney uni so the
band competitions are a must see.

Lots of people have said to me school days are the best days of your life, I tend to think of these people as the ones who didn’t go to Uni. Getting the most out of it is up to you, but follow this little recipe, and you’ll be cooking with fire!