Meet Carlos from Catalunya

This week Carlos from Catalunya tells us about his experiences in Australia and APC so far. Thank you Carlos for sharing your story with us.

I always had a dream to travel to a foreign country and a friend suggested Australia.  The decision was made and the next week I booked my flight. I was ready to start my new adventure!

I packed two suitcases with whatever I could fit in. I headed to the airport, knowing this day was going to be my last day in Catalunya for some time. The excitement was fantastic. It was a long journey but I was optimistic and enthusiastic about it and so the rest of my life had begun.

Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House Photo Courtesy of Carlos

When I finally reached Sydney I felt confused, sleepy and jet lagged. I had to find a taxi and I remember the struggle of  trying to explain to the taxi driver where I was going but, as we all do, I figured it out and made it to my host family. Everything was exciting and new! The dream was just starting.


It takes time to adapt to a different country; so many little things to learn but eventually you get used to them all and it’s a great learning experience starting to understand different cultures.  I started studying English and I met people from all around the world.

Latin Spirit Australia Photo Courtesy of Carlos

As you start walking, observing and exploring a new place you can find the beauty everywhere, it is your choice to keep seeing beauty everywhere you go: new buildings, new animals, nature, a great city, new mates, sunsets, and some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

The language was a barrier; I thought I knew how to speak English, but I didn’t really. This is part of the deal. It would be too easy if you could understand straight away. I wanted a challenge and to learn and that is what I am experiencing. I came to Australia on my own but after a short time here I met many beautiful people who have become my friends.

Sydney Landscape Photo Courtesy of Carlos

I wanted to choose a good school to keep me motivated to study and I decided on APC. When I first came to the York st Campus for my orientation I will never forget that was the day I met Mario. He explained all about the school and gave an information session. I also met Lisa on this day and she was the one taking our photos and getting  our student ID cards ready.  Mario and Lisa have been a great help to me in moments when I have felt down and alone. In a foreign country, if you think no one cares about you, once you to school and talk to the staff you realise: "Wow! they care about you." They will listen and help you with whatever is on your mind.  I will be ever grateful to them.

Now it has been more then one year since I landed in Sydney and will be a while before I go back to Spain.  I met my girlfriend here and have a good job and when I get the chance I do some DJ gigs around Sydney and I have decided to start a counselling course. I feel that is my calling in life.  I feel like this is the beginning of the rest of my life.  I am still studying at APC and gaining the skills to develop what is going to be my future way of life living the Aussie dream.

Carlos

Student and Guest blogger

Stay healthy during the cold and flu season

Judging by the number of people who have sniffles and sore throats at the moment, it would be safe to say we have officially entered the "Cold and Flu season". So, to avoid feeling miserable with the sneezes and a blocked nose and infecting others around you, we've put together a few tips on staying healthy throughout winter:

Food as Medicine: Make sure you eat well. To boost your immunity you need protein in your diet: fish, meat, pulses and dairy are good sources. You also need iron, zinc and vitamin C for your immune system to function well. Some good cold-busting foods include: beef, garlic, onion, ginger, spices, seaweed, shiitake mushrooms, miso, yogurt, berries and citrus fruits (Lisa Guy, www.bodyandsoul.com.au). So make up some veggie soup which will not only keep you healthy but warm you up as well.

Exercise: Just because it's colder and darker in the mornings and evenings, there's no excuse to stop exercising. As tempting as it is to curl up with a hot chocolate on the couch, remember to get outside for a walk or a run. This will have the added bonus of warming you up for the morning. 

Get some Vitamin D: Remembering to get outside for some exercise will mean that you will get your dose of vitamin D for the day. Good levels of vitamin D help to prevent illness. According to Craig Sinclair, Director of Cancer Council Victoria's Cancer Prevention Centre, we need 2-3 hours per week of sun and those with very dark skin need 3 times more.

Treat colds straight away: Echinacea or garlic supplements can be taken to reduce the severity of a cold. Try lemon drinks and chicken soup to help with cold symptoms (Mim Beim, www.bodyandsoul.com.au)

Wash your hands: Make sure you wash your hands often with soap throughout the day. Also, carry tissues with you during winter and don't sneeze into your hands as you will then spread the infection to others via door handles, hand shaking, keyboards, lift buttons etc. A better approach is to sneeze or cough into the bend in your elbow if you don't have any tissues, as you rarely touch things with the inside of your elbow. Using a hand sanitiser between washing and before eating will also help to prevent infection.

Miguel, student and photographer extraordinaire!

This week we spent time with Miguel from Colombia who is studying in our school of English and who has a passion for photography.   Miguel is here in Australia to study and follow his dream of visiting as many places  as he can with his camera.  

Here are some of the photographs that Miguel shared with us:

To see more of Miguel's photographs please visit his flickr page.   

Miguel, we wish you all the best as you continue to follow your dream!

Photographs in this post have been published with Miguel's permission.

Vivid Sydney Festival

Images courtesy of http://www.vividsydney.com

'Vivid Sydney' is on again. This 18-day annual festival of light, music and ideas runs from 24 May to 10 June. It's on every night from 6pm till midnight on the shores of Sydney Harbour. It's a free event and will be held in different locations around Sydney, including the Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay, the Rocks, Walsh Bay, Darling Harbour and North Sydney.

Images courtesy of http://www.vividsydney.com

The famous sails of the Sydney Opera House will be transformed with a colourful medley of light projections.  You will also see skyscraper buildings and Customs House illuminated with colour and movement. Some of the installations have a message and some are just for fun and entertainment. Most are interactive, such as the one where you can choose to paint the Harbour Bridge in the colour of your choice using the latest interactive lighting technology. It's a unique experience to light up a famous Sydney icon in colour!

Images courtesy of http://www.vividsydney.com

Then head to Darling Harbour to see the Aquatique show where light, colour and water combine to create a magic 20-metre wall inspired by the fountains of Versailles.

If you are more of creative 'ideas' person then the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) will play host to the Vivid Ideas Exchange. You will be able to connect with some of the world's most creative minds. You can get some insider tips on fashion, , film, design, electronic gaming, technology, architecture and photography. And what would a festival be without music? Vivid Music has a great line-up of musicians and DJs playing hip-hop, jazz, techno and more over the June long weekend.

Photo competition: If you decide to go along to see the festival, take a photo of your favourite installation including something to do with APC (for example an APC bag, or spell out APC in some way - use your creativity!). The best photo will win a double movie pass! Email your photo to blogger@apc.edu.au. Entries must be in by 14th June, 2013.

Buddha's Birthday Celebration

Source: http://www.nantien.org.au:88/en/upcoming-events/
darling-harbour-buddhas-birthday-festival

The 19th Sydney Buddha's Birthday Festival is going to be held this weekend, 11th and 12th May. Buddhism was founded more than 2500 years ago and has successfully spread from its roots in Nepal all over the world. Due to its popularity in Australia, the Nan Tien temple in Wollongong holds the Buddha's Birthday Festival annually at Darling Harbour.

Used under Creative Commons: by Alan Chan
(originally posted to Flickr as Buddha's Birthday Lanterns)

The History of Buddhism
Sakyanumi Buddha, the founder of Buddhism was born on 8th April 623 B.C.E. in ancient Northern India (now Nepal) as Prince Siddartha. He had a carefree and indulgent upbringing and was sheltered from real-life by the palace walls. One day he decided to venture from the palace to discover the world outside. During his travels he encountered human suffering, poverty and unhappiness. Troubled by what he saw he renounced life at the palace and went searching for "the Truth." After several years, he became enlightened and decided he wanted to share his teachings with the people. He dedicated the rest of his life to his teachings of Buddhism.

Used under Creative Commons: By Kamal Sellehuddin
 (originally posted to Flickr as Wesak 1) 

Buddha's Birthday Festival
When: 11, 12 May 10am-4pm
Where: Tumbalong Park and Chinese Garden Forecourt

Go along this weekend to Darling Harbour where there will be lion dancing, lectures, mulitcultural performances, costume competitions, lots of multicultural vegetarian food and music from many parts of Asia.

Mother’s Day celebrations around the world

Flowers. photo courtesy of APC

In Australia, Mother’s Day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday in May to show appreciation for mothers. Many people choose to celebrate by having lunch as a family and by giving gifts – usually flowers, chocolates and cards. Traditionally, chrysanthemums are the flowers given to mothers, as these are in season in May and also because it has the word ‘mum’ in it.

In other parts of the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated in similar ways to Australia. It’s no surprise really, as everyone around the world considers their mother as an important part of their lives. We asked some APC employees if and how they celebrated Mother’s Day and this is what they told us:

Brazil: Celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Typically, Brazilians spend time with the family on this day, having lunch at the mother’s house or at a restaurant. Giving gifts is also common, with Mother’s Day being second to Christmas Day in terms of commercial value.

Korea: There is no Mother’s Day in Korea. Instead Parents’ Day is celebrated on 5th May and is an important day of the year. Carnations are a symbol of this day and they are given as gifts to parents. Sometimes, carnations are made out of paper by children and given to their parents instead of the real flower. Korean children show gratitude by spending time with their parents on this day.

France:  Mother’s Day in France is celebrated on the first Sunday in June. This day has an interesting  history and was created in response to the low birth rate in the late 19th century. It was decided that. in order to encourage larger families. a national celebration would be created to honour mothers with nine children or more. By 1941, this was changed to honour all mothers (www.en.wikipedia.org).  It is now highly commercialised and children are expected to buy (with the help of the father) a gift such as chocolate, perfume or jewellery.

Morocco: Moroccans do not generally celebrate Mother’s Day although there is a day allocated for it as it used to be a French colony.

Colombia: Also celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Colombians either go to a restaurant or cook for their mothers on Mother’s Day. Gifts of roses and chocolates are given and some family members may recite poetry or play music for the mother.

Japan: Celebrated on the same day as Australia, Mother’s Day in Japan has become highly commercialised like many other countries. It is common to give the mother either roses or carnations but it is not so common to celebrate with a meal or any particular event.

Meet Sophie from our Advanced Diploma of Management course!

Photo courtesy of Sophie

Today we meet Sophie, a French student studying our Management courses. 

Originally from Beaujolais, Sophie worked for an airline company in Lyon before coming to Australia. 

Sophie decided to make a big step to come to the other side of the world to experience travel and study; as she says “why not break the routine?”.

 

Photo courtesy of Sophie

She has had the opportunity to face different life experiences in Australia, an environment that she considers:  “as an open mind,young and multicultural country with a high chance to success”.  

Apart from studying and socialising in a different language, which has been already an interesting experience, Sophie highlights how living in another country contributes to growing up and facing different  fears. For example: “before coming to Australia, I was a bit reserved to the possibility to care for kids or even the idea to become a mother one day. I have had the opportunity to work as a baby sitter and look after kids...learning from them and figuring out the meaning it has on a human life… I have changed my mind about them but is still something that is better to think twice and find the right moment”.  

Photo courtesy of Sophie

Sophie has focused on her studies conscientiously, always getting really good marks and she is often the first person to arrive at the campus. Her experience at APC has been positive because it has helped her to increase her English. It has also made her professional profile more competent to apply for different job opportunities back in France.

Once she finishes her course, she is planning to have a break from studies - she is going to work and holiday in Bali and travel through all of Southeast Asia. Sophie's hobbies are drawing and painting portraits from other artists or just capturing colourful ideas on paper. Recently she also started painting nails, a skill she would like to improve and offer as a service one day.