Queen of the Kookaburra.

"Queen's for sure... the GREATEST college..."

So the last week of February (Feb. 23rd to be exact) I moved into my permanent housing - Queen's College. For those who are unfamiliar with the college system it is based off of the Oxford-Cambridge model. Think Hogwarts with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, etc. We have our own space with a library, dining hall, headmaster, tutors (soooo many of them), 'turn' room (for college parties), billiard room, tennis courts, laundry area, chapel, computer area, conference room, and tv lounge. This is all available for only the 210 students who live here. My college is pretty cool, but very intense. They are all very much into being the best in sports (rowing day, May 4th, is the biggest date of the year for all) and very spirited.

I arrived earlier than the time was so I sat waiting outside the locked gate with my suitcase and sudoku. Luckily the Vice-Master saw me and let me in. He then proceeded to lead me to Eakin's Dining Hall where he insisted I have breakfast (even though I had already eaten). There I had tea and met some of the older students who work in the dining hall (and are also apart of the college). When it was 11 AM I went to the move-in room to buy my gown (think, graduation robe I wear to formal dinners three nights per week), have my photo taken (to be posted on the college's website's directory... where you can look up people to figure out what the name is), and ensure that all paperwork was filled out. Then one of the O-Week leaders helped me move my stuff into my room.

My room is nice. I have a single (this is ordinary in all of Australia; no one has a roommate), with a bed, desk, sitting chair, giant closet, etc. I live across from the bathroom on the end of the hall --> this makes it easy to get to my room, but I rarely see anyone on my hall. Also, most of the people on my hall are older so they have their group of friends and study more. But I am excited to get to know them better at our 'corridor party' --> every corridor has one at some point in the semester.

That night O-week (orientation week) began. Now I wasn't a fan of O-week. In fact, I think it is the reason why I am still sick. We had various events and activities we were forced to do to get to know the other 'freshers.' Some were fun --- beach trip, BBQ, Transvestite Turn (Aussie guys went full out with the costumes) --- but others sucked --- toga run at 7AM through the city while holding your partner's hand, "IS IT RAINING FRESHERS???" (getting water poured all over you when you least expect it), the 'Fresher' exam (fake exam on the Queen's handbook in which they made the 100+ freshers do idiotic tasks and put various jams, vegemite, and food all over us), waking up to the same o-week song ("I'm so happy, I'm so happy...") every morning, but all in all I met people and that was the purpose of it, right?? This week kept me busy from 7AM-midnight everyday.

I thought I would feel more out-of-place because I am older (some freshers are only 17) and not Australian. Everyone is very nice (except for one or two), but I have noticed that once an Australian finds out you are only here for a semester, they become more reserved (they don't want to invest time and energy when you will just leave soon). Another American exchange student noticed this as well. It bothered me at first, but now I am over it and just enjoying myself :)

Queen's has many rules and procedures, which are put into place to promote a community atmosphere. First there are no mobiles allowed in Eakins. Also, at formal dinner you cannot leave the table until everyone at your table is finished. There are also some crazy, informal traditions that are passed down...

After O-Week we had a weekend retreat with the tutors and mentors of the college at Wilson's Prom. It was so nice to have free time and to just relax. Two of the mentors are engaged; one is an American who stayed at Queen's while on exchange and the girl is an Australian who was in Queen's. Basically they met at Queen's and are getting married in October... awww; too cute.

I have some friends in the college who are really nice. Most are freshers, but I like hanging out with them. Besides, I feel as if 18 year-old Australians are more mature than American 18 year-olds. Maybe it is just me...

posted by AMB @ 9:56 PM