F'EM

Definitely living in Melbourne!

Public transport can cost up to 5 times the amount in the UK for a daily ticket. Petrol is currently about £1.40 (About $2 Australian) whereas in Melbourne it's only about $1.20 The only thing that's about the same is the cost of groceries, clothing, toiletries, stationary etc. 

How was your course in Australia different to your course here? The advertising course I was doing at the Australian Academy of Design had a stronger focus on the creative aspect of advertising. It was also compulsory to attend all classes and there was much more practical work involved at my home institute. There are countless differences, but I appreciate the learning approaches for both courses. 

What are some of the things you like about studying at UCA? The library is extremely resourceful and I have spotted many rare books in the collection. In addition to this, The online e-book system is very helpful for research. I’ve also observed that the university is well connected to the creative industry and there are many opportunities for students to take part in live briefs and communicate with professionals. I think that UCA students and staff communicate very well - from the Facebook groups for each of the specific courses, to the online student system which allows access to important notices, lectures and e-mails. Another great benefit from studying at the creative-focused school, is that students have free access to the latest technological equipment. This allows individuals to maximise the quality of their folios and ideas without having to spend thousands of dollars on cameras, software and other artistic necessities.  

Farnham is a pretty boring place...What do you do in your spare time? When I’m not in classes or working on project briefs, I read books, produce creative writing, watch intense drama films and explore new places. I also blog frequently, go to the gym atleast 5 times a week and I’m currently trying to learn how to speak Italian. Very rarely do I have spare time, but when I do, I use it wisely. As a creative student, I think it is advantageous being an explorer, because essentially, our imaginations can only be stretched as far as our experiences go. I guess that’s the main reason why I’m undertaking a student exchange trip.

What is your favourite thing about the UK so far? That’s easy! Shopping for top-notch clothing is affordable, and the fashion is much better in England than it is in Melbourne. As a lover of electronic music, I also think the nightlife is much better in London than Melbourne. A lot more artists in general seem to tour around here.

...And what do you miss most from Melbourne? Aside from my family and friends, things that I miss include the food, sun and cost of living. When it comes to grocery shopping, the quality of food and the choices available are unbeatable back home. Due to Australia’s multicultural atmosphere, there are a lot more restaurants from different cultures too. In terms of living expenses I’ll use public transport as an example - The cost of trains and busses here can reach up to 7 times the amount of what I use to pay in Melbourne.

As I lived at home in Melbourne I didn't have to worry about my living expenses such as groceries, bills, rent etc etc etc...This is the first time I've lived out of home, and I've picked up some money saving tips that can help save a few dollars in anyone's pocket. Read on...

1. Buy shampoo and conditioner in one. It lasts just as long as if you bought both shampoo AND conditioner. You save half of what you'd normally pay.

2. Start early, finish late. If you want to go see places or friends, make it a day trip and cover as much as you can. Particularly in cities like London (where public transport is expensive) you will save a fortune! This is much cheaper than setting different dates to see certain people/things, and buying travel tickets to each separate occasion.

3. Pack your food everyday. Don't forget your cutlery! You heard me - EVERYDAY. Not only will this save you from buying fast food, or expensive packaged meals, but it's also much healthier. When I'm at uni, out shopping or even just with the girls, I always have a salad, water and piece of fruit in my bag at all times.

4. When catching up with friends during the day, choose to have coffee dates over lunch/breakfast/dinner dates. This is more of a personal thing, but it saves good $$$. At the end of the day, the main purpose of catching up with friends is to obviously have a chat and see them. A normal lunch/dinner/breakfast is the equivalent of ATLEAST three coffee dates. For those who are health conscious it will be better for your waist as well, as restaurant food contain a lot more calories than home made meals.

5. Be not afraid of value packs. I save a lot of money on tuna, just by going by this rule. Instead of buying heaps of small cans of tuna, I purchase the biggest tins of and consume them progressively. I always buy the biggest packs of oatmeal, honey and spreads too.

6. Experiment. Make every outing a new experience. Ever since I began my exchange, I've tried a new drink at the bar every time. Every time I travel somewhere, I discover new cafe's/faces/places and not only does it add to my knowledge, but it adds excitement too!

7. Know your due dates. This one is particularly for vegetables, as they usually expire within a few days of being purchased. I know so many families who waste money on buying vegetables, only to end up throwing them out.

8. When possible, choose social networking over texting/calling. Yes, Facebook DOES have its advantages. Because everyone can access their profiles on their phones, it's good to take advantage of the free service. This rule is specific for travellers, such as myself who are on Pay-as-you-go sim cards.  

Considering it was my first official live experience at a match...I was damn happy with my view at Stamford Bridge. As a Chelsea supporter, I was not so happy with the end result though...Nevertheless, it was an amazing day with a crap load of expenses!

JOE - Saving all my love for you (LIVE @ 02 ARENA)

I used to listen to a lot of RnB when I was younger, so I relived the memories on Valentine's Day and saw Joe perform in concert. Tickets to the event were just £30 and that got me fairly close to the stage. I also had a glass of Amaretto and lemonade on arrival which costed £7.50 (Rip off ofcourse, but pretty standard for such events)! 

Joe gave an amazing performance, and there's no doubt he is an artist that sounds better live than he does in a recorded track. He sang most of his hit songs and connected with the audience really well. Despite his age, he seems to have maintained the quality of his voice as he got older.

Ape @ The Apollo, Manchester.

Most people are under the assumption that college students eat a lot of crap and feast on processed foods and pre-made meals. This is true! ...but not for me. What I eat on a typical day is outlined below.

Breakfast - 8am Green tea with half a cup of oatmeal, made with water and honey OR wholemeal toast with light peanut butter.

Snack - 10am 1 apple and a can tuna with 2 carrots.

Lunch - 12pm Meat of some sort (usually lightly crumbed fish or salmon) and steamed mixed vegetables (I usually get the frozen bags of cauliflower, broccoli and corn). Snack - 3pm 2 eggs (sometimes hard boiled, sometimes scrambled).

Dinner - 6pm Boiled chicken breast and brussel sprouts soup. When I have cravings or feel a bit naughty, I'll have a protein bar or skinny mocha. Back home, I'll usually include whey protein shakes, chillies and eat a lots of salad into my daily meals, although those items are costly. I therefore have them only on rare occasions, as I like eating the alternatives above anyway.

Mac's iCal is great for time management because it's easy to use, and allows users to be flexible with their organising. 2 hours of my week is spent planning - I call it time investment. On regular days, I wake up at 8 and sleep by 12.

About my schedule:

Blue areas indicate any time spent at home. I'll be honest - any left over time in these slots usually go towards Facebook.

Green sections show how much I put towards uni, projects, research and homework. I have 13.5 hours of classes a week (which is nothing!). Attendance is not compulsory and less than 50% of students attend lectures, but I enjoy my course, so it doesn't feel like work for me. 

Orange = Parties, clubbing, events, dates, etc, etc.

Pink goes to anything else that I need to put time towards. Blogging, personal reflection, uploading photos, planning and anything else that is completed on a lap top will be shaded in pink. 

Red represents going to and from places. Since I began my student exchange, I have never actually ridden inside a car! All essentials are within walking distance as well, so I'm on foot to get to everything.

Purple - For the gym ofcourse. Despite being active in general, I love a good workout. I usually exercise 5-6 times a week (The only reason why the above image shows 4 slots is because I'm walking around London through most of Saturday), and I like mixing it up from zumba, pilates, weight training, cardio, high intensity interval training, body combat, body pump, aerobics, yoga, circuit training, YOU NAME IT.

Any spaces left blank mean that I'm either sleeping or hungover.

It's my last weekend of being a teen! One of the reasons I selected the UK as my location for exchange was due to the nightlife. After spending hours of research on the various events that hit London, I noticed an abundance of the quality of artists that perform here. Anyway, before I ramble on, here's how I'm celebrating my 20th birthday bash.

Part 1: Friday 10th of February I'm heading all the way to Manchester for this one. I think the trip will be worth it, as I love a good DnB/Dubstep night. 

Part 2 will be on Thursday the 16th of February at the local pub/club This will be a good, cheap night in Farnham. Three minutes walk away from my place, with a large group of familiar faces. 

Part 3: Saturday 18th of February A hotel has been booked for myself and two of my other friends. I cannot wait for this event, as I grew up listening to Morgan Page.  

£30 entry will have you touring the large exhibition of celebrity figures. Visitors have the opportunity to take photos with the life-like sculptures and learn how they were created. As a student in the creative field, I was intrigued by the accuracy of the statues and the amount of detail on their features.

The large complex is divided into categories such as sporting legends, a-listers, musicians, super heroes, scientists, explorers and many more. There is also a short 4D movie that plays at the end of the museum which leads to the Madame Tussaud's shop. Other areas of the building include a ghost maze and a theme ride that takes guests through a historic journey of England.

Definitely a highly enjoyable and recommended spot.

Being a student, I was able to get half price on gym membership at my local leisure centre. £21 gets me unlimited use of:

The gym

Pool

FREE classes including zumba, body pump, pilates, body blast, circuit training, step aerobics and the list goes oooonnnn.

Sauna

The sports hall which can hold activities such as football, badminton, basketball, netball and hockey

The squash courts

The gym equipment isn't as modern as it was back home, but i'm still a happy customer. If you've got a better gym package then I do, I'd like to know!