Sydney FAQs (Updated June 22 2006)

Due to the number of questions I have received with regard to my I have decided to post an FAQ section for your reference. I will update this when I remember more questions! If you have any other questions that are not featured here, email me.

Where are you now?
Sydney, Australia

What are you doing there?
Taking my masters

What course are you studying & where?
Masters in International Business at the University of Sydney. Also hoping to add a 2nd masters for a combined degree in Master of Commerce, Business Information Systems.

What exactly does this course entail?
I am not doing a repeat of the "Interdisciplinary Studies" question. Please read the course description at the university website. (http://econ.usyd.edu.au)

When does your degree finish?
November 2006.

Are you coming home anytime to visit?
This is still to be confirmed, possibly for Christmas, otherwise mid next year.

Where are you staying now?
I used to stay with my relatives in Epping (see cast of characters below)

I moved to Leichhardt a suburb in the Inner West, known as the Italian District in Sydney

I now live in Glebe, right outside the city across uni with friends.

When did you get there?
Feb 20 2005. Flight left on Feb 19.

What have you been doing so far?
Please just read the blog. That's what its for.

Have you been to the beach?
Yup.

Are you working? Where do you work?
Yes, I currently do casual (part time) work. I work for a call centre whose client specializes in ticketing for events (www.ticketek.com.au). I also do promotional work and newspaper distribution (www.mx.com) for a temp agency.

Can we come and visit you?
Yes.

Can we come and stay with you?
Yes, providing you don't come in droves.

When can we come and visit?
Best time would be during term breaks, mid July (winter) and November to February (spring-summer).

What are your roommates like?
I live in a very international household.

Sacha is a Dutch PhD student who is taking physics. Her studies focus on brain dynamics.
Pat is an electrical engineer doing his internship with Optus, originally from the central coast.
Carolina is a masters student in Architecture from Mexico and she will be moving in at the end of the month.

We have also had:
Kartini who is Indian/Indonesian, she is doing her honours in biology and goes to work every day in North Ryde for a research company that is currently developing a cure for cancer. She dissects tumors out of mice a lot.
Lisa is an olympic mountain biker who took a year off to rest. She has moved back to Brisbane soon to continue training but will be an intermittent presence at our house.
Andrea, who is from Melbourne who I also lived with in Leichhardt for a bit, she also comes back to visit from time to time.
Sally, from Papua New Guinea, who is Kartini's friend and lived with us for about a month. She's moved to London to work since then.
Scott is Kartini's boyfriend, he's an architect/PhD student, he comes to the house a lot.

Do you have family there?
Yes.
I used to stay with my Aunt who married an Australian and has 2 kids. Both working, the 2nd also studying.
I also have another aunt who works for the stock exchange and runs an import furniture business.
Have one cousin who lives with her boyfriend in Mosman and works in Star City (casino). She was raised here.
Have one cousin who lives in Strathfield, came from Manila about 2 years ago. She is currently looking for work.
Have an aunt who lives in Dee Why and a cousin, came from the Philippines about 2 years ago. He works in a bank.
Two of these cousins are both named Andrew. One is named Lara, which is technically the nickname variation of my name.

Are you on a scholarship?
No. I am what my mother calls an "investment".

Did your company sponsor you?
No.

Are you going back to work for your company after you are done?
The invitation is always open (as per my exit interview) but we'll see what the future holds.

How much did your tuition cost?!?
Well, it was cheaper than Britain and America. Other than that I am not at liberty to say.

Do you have a boyfriend?/Are you dating?
It might be a good idea for you to read this first. and this as well

That said, I have also tried speed dating for kicks, and I do socialize and have fun. All the men my age appear to be in the workforce and therefore are difficult to meet. In short, if I meet one than I meet one but otherwise Im very focused on the rest of my life so again, its not really a priority.