The wind was cold and winter was coming. It was one morning in the early July in 2001 and I was walking from The Sea Mist motel towards an old brick building that looked no different than the other wool stores surrounding it. The night before, I had taken The Ghan from Adelaide that arrived at the North Shore Train Station few hours later than scheduled. It was a long delay and I was uncertain if the taxi that was supposed to pick me up would still wait. The thoughts of being stranded at midnight in a strange place worried me all the way. The worries were soon gone when I was welcomed upon arrival by a smiling taxi driver who had earlier waited and went off but came back on the arrival time. Far from complaining, he even gave me a prelude to the city of Geelong as we passed through the northern side and the esplanade towards the motel. We reached there at half past midnight just to find the motel owner still waiting for me.
As I slowly marched along the Western beach, my warm thoughts about the nice people suddenly halted when I found myself standing in front of the Dalgety wool store. I thought, “Could this really be the place I am looking for to interview a few staff for my research?” The sign read, “Deakin University”. I stepped inside the aged building with uncertainties running through my mind and could not believe what I saw inside. The interior was a classic refurbishment showcasing impressive conservation of material and structural detailing. The exterior and interior contrast was cleverly done and the roofing lets in natural lighting that gives a sense of warmth to its inhabitants. “This is a stunning impression of an Architectural School”, I thought again.
That day, I interviewed more people than I originally planned, including academic and non academic staff who were eager to participate. I departed to Melbourne the next day and as I was leaving I could still clearly remember what I thought to myself as I gazed at the calm Corio bay, that I love this place its people and I will come back. It actually took me seven years to pursue this dream.
I was previously working as an architecture lecturer at the University Technology MARA in Malaysia and currently a PhD candidate at the School of Architecture and Building at the Deakin Waterfront Campus. My research is in the area of urban design and planning using 3D modeling and visualization. In fact, my supervisor is one of the people whom I interviewed back in 2001. Since arriving here early this year, I find that many things have changed and the little shop on the Eastern beach street which I tasted the best fish and chips has now been taken over by luxurious apartments overlooking the bay. However, besides the calm Corio bay, many things still remain the same. I am so glad to say that the people in Geelong are still as friendly and willing to go extra miles to offer a helping hand.
I find that being an international student, the elements of settling down are equally as important as academic matters. It is even more imperative for the students who have their family with them, like me. I have realized that it would not be easy for me to settle down and more urgently, to find a house to rent without a rental history. With that in mind, I have started my preparations way back from home, for example, preparing the necessary documents and searching the internet for houses to rent. I was very fortunate to have my colleague in Malaysia, Rima who has started her studies at Deakin much earlier. However, the settling down and the amount of stress was still immeasurable although I have already had similar experience when my husband and I brought along our two little children when did our masters at Adelaide University in 2000. It actually took me one month to secure a house to rent, largely owing to a reference letter from Rima to support my application to the housing agency. That is besides enrolling the children to schools as I have three children; a thirteen year old son who goes to a secondary school, an eleven year old daughter who attends a primary school and four year old girl who goes to kindergarten. My own enrolment and settling down in the course were “the other things” I had to manage. Juggling through chores and studying, I receive immense support from my husband, Yazid who sacrifices his architect job in Malaysia to be with us in Australia.
Other than that, the whole experience of studying and living in Geelong has made the difficulties we faced in the earlier stage seems worthwhile. There are some shortcomings here and there but I am confident that Deakin University is continually working to improve its services for the international students. Perhaps, one area to look into is to ease the transition period faced by the international students and to cater the needs of their families if Deakin aspires to increase the number of its international postgraduate students.
As I slowly marched along the Western beach, my warm thoughts about the nice people suddenly halted when I found myself standing in front of the Dalgety wool store. I thought, “Could this really be the place I am looking for to interview a few staff for my research?” The sign read, “Deakin University”. I stepped inside the aged building with uncertainties running through my mind and could not believe what I saw inside. The interior was a classic refurbishment showcasing impressive conservation of material and structural detailing. The exterior and interior contrast was cleverly done and the roofing lets in natural lighting that gives a sense of warmth to its inhabitants. “This is a stunning impression of an Architectural School”, I thought again.
That day, I interviewed more people than I originally planned, including academic and non academic staff who were eager to participate. I departed to Melbourne the next day and as I was leaving I could still clearly remember what I thought to myself as I gazed at the calm Corio bay, that I love this place its people and I will come back. It actually took me seven years to pursue this dream.
I was previously working as an architecture lecturer at the University Technology MARA in Malaysia and currently a PhD candidate at the School of Architecture and Building at the Deakin Waterfront Campus. My research is in the area of urban design and planning using 3D modeling and visualization. In fact, my supervisor is one of the people whom I interviewed back in 2001. Since arriving here early this year, I find that many things have changed and the little shop on the Eastern beach street which I tasted the best fish and chips has now been taken over by luxurious apartments overlooking the bay. However, besides the calm Corio bay, many things still remain the same. I am so glad to say that the people in Geelong are still as friendly and willing to go extra miles to offer a helping hand.
I find that being an international student, the elements of settling down are equally as important as academic matters. It is even more imperative for the students who have their family with them, like me. I have realized that it would not be easy for me to settle down and more urgently, to find a house to rent without a rental history. With that in mind, I have started my preparations way back from home, for example, preparing the necessary documents and searching the internet for houses to rent. I was very fortunate to have my colleague in Malaysia, Rima who has started her studies at Deakin much earlier. However, the settling down and the amount of stress was still immeasurable although I have already had similar experience when my husband and I brought along our two little children when did our masters at Adelaide University in 2000. It actually took me one month to secure a house to rent, largely owing to a reference letter from Rima to support my application to the housing agency. That is besides enrolling the children to schools as I have three children; a thirteen year old son who goes to a secondary school, an eleven year old daughter who attends a primary school and four year old girl who goes to kindergarten. My own enrolment and settling down in the course were “the other things” I had to manage. Juggling through chores and studying, I receive immense support from my husband, Yazid who sacrifices his architect job in Malaysia to be with us in Australia.
Other than that, the whole experience of studying and living in Geelong has made the difficulties we faced in the earlier stage seems worthwhile. There are some shortcomings here and there but I am confident that Deakin University is continually working to improve its services for the international students. Perhaps, one area to look into is to ease the transition period faced by the international students and to cater the needs of their families if Deakin aspires to increase the number of its international postgraduate students.
1 comment:
Assalamalaikum Mimi Zaleha,
I am an Indain citizen and received full scholarship as HDR candidate in electrical engineering at deakin waurn ponds campus. I read your blog and want to contact you for some help in clarifying my doubts regarding my stay in deakin. I intend to come here along my 4 old son so i your blog gives me a hint that you can be the best to seek help.
Please reply me back at azi.asm@gmail.com if you are willing to help me.
Thank you
Best Regards
Asma Aziz
Delhi, India
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