Back on-line!

Finally, I'm enrolled and now have access to the Net. I could have used one of those Internet cafes near the campus, but it's too expensive. And why should I spend money on Internet access when I can get it for free in my own hall?

I arrived last Friday here in Canberra and while there were a few hitches here and there, everything else was alright. No worries, as the locals would say. There was a bit of culture shock, in fact there still is right now (and I expect it will continue in manageable doses as the weeks progress) but I think I'm coping very well. This probably has something to do with the fact that I get to share the experience with a number of other Filipinos who arrived with me last week.

I suppose my first encounter with Australian culture happened even before I left for Australia. I was pushing my trolley to the nearest check-in counter at the international airport in Manila when I accidentally hit an Australian. Naturally, I was immediately apologetic. He replied with a "You're o'right, mate". At first, I didn't understand what he meant by it, much less what he said, so I just walked on without taking a second look at him, afraid that I might get what Ozzies call a "knuckle sandwich". It took me a few more seconds to realize he meant everything was OK. I thought the way they say it is, for lack of a better word, nice. I'm not sure if "Thank you" is the expected response to "You're o'right, mate" but I certainly wanted to thank that Australian in the airport for saying it. It sounded very reassuring and made me less worried about going to the unfamiliar land down under.

I am very pleased with my choice of university. The facilities are great and the library is extensive. I love the fact that I can download PDF versions of journal articles for free. That's certainly an improvement by leaps and bounds from the universities in the Philippines. ANU truly has worked hard to make sure the students have access to every resource needed for their learning. While I agree that Canberra can get a bit boring (stores in the malls close at 5pm???), I find the city's atmosphere conducive to studying.

It's getting late now, and I think this post is getting a bit long. I'll post more updates in the next few days. For now, here's a photo of Sullivan's creek which is right behind the hall I'm staying in. The photo's quality sucks because I used my phone. Hopefully, I'll be able to afford a decent digital camera soon.

From Australia