Tales From Melbourne – a semester abroad with Sofia Scoular
Art, Media, and Technology student Sofia Scoular (class of 2025) is currently completing a semester abroad at RMIT in Melbourne. We asked her how her journey is going and she has been keeping us in the loop with monthly blogs!
March:Â
“G’day from Down Under! While I miss Parsons Paris and the City of Light, things have been great so far in my semester abroad at RMIT (the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology).
First off, the inevitable question of stereotypes. So far, I have found some stereotypes about Australia and Aussies to be inaccurate – I have yet to see a kangaroo in town, for example – the one about the country being vibrant and the people being easygoing and friendly is definitely true. And RMIT, though an enormous university, with over 90,000 students, has made me and other international exchange students feel at home.
Orientation week was amazing, with tours and talks, mixers and free food, and roof-top parties and a night out at a local club. One big difference with such a larger university is, not only the infrastructure and number of students, but also the great variety of organizations and clubs. I joined the Student Union to get involved and meet other people, and attended their meeting (with free food!) and the welcome bash (with free drinks!) with a few of my new friends from Australia, Denmark, Canada, The Netherlands and Finland. I have also joined the Surf Club and signed up for a camping trip. More on that later…
Also, while I miss the sight of the Eiffel Tower, it is a fun change to live in a tower. Just five minutes from campus, I have a studio apartment on the 34th floor in a new student residence. My room is comfortable and the views are amazing–besides the skyline, I can see the sea. The facilities are also great, with two terraces, common kitchens, a movie room, and a gym, though fitness and hobby-wise the best part for me is the building right across the street: a first-rate climbing gym (which I have loved ever since I took it up at ten years-old in Peru). Things are looking up!
So, I’m pretty much settled in, starting my classes (more on them later, too), and even looking the right way (to the right!) some of the time when I cross the street. I hope things are all well back in France. For now, a g’day from Australia!”