Five years ago I could never have guessed or hoped to be where I am today: here, in Australia, studying for a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy – Environmental Science) within a prestigious and flourishing research group. I began my journey to Deakin University by undertaking a master’s degree by research at the University of Central Lancashire, where I developed a passion for analytical chemistry. I loved that I could begin to understand and explore the world around me using techniques that were at my disposal. A few months into my master’s degree, I received an email from my supervisor asking me if I had any interest in moving abroad for a PhD. I almost dismissed the email, surely I wouldn’t be lucky enough to get on any PhD, let alone move abroad!

A short few weeks later, I had a meeting with Dr Xavier Conlan from Deakin, who had stopped by for a fleeting visit after a conference in Europe. Xavier recommended applying for a PhD at Deakin with Professor Stephen Haswell, who had a PhD opportunity developing Lab-on-a-Chip devices within the Centre for Regional and Rural Futures. A day after having a successful viva examination for my master’s degree, I had the interview for my PhD. Little did I know, less than three months later, I’d be making the move to Australia.

The day I found out I had been awarded the scholarship and accepted onto the PhD, I felt every single emotion you could imagine. Panic at the thought of taking on this huge new venture alone, excitement and anticipation to see what the future held, and finally sadness at leaving behind friends and family.

I arrived, totally out of my depth, studying an area of research I had no experience in. My PhD project involves the development of a Lab-on-a-Chip device – basically a miniaturised diagnostic device – for the detection of performance enhancing drugs in thoroughbred race horses, which requires different aspects of engineering, chemistry, biochemistry and physics. I relish the challenge of building these devices and see a bright future for Deakin University with the miniaturisation of complex diagnostic techniques into these portable devices.

On the 22 February 2015, I boarded the plane and made the move Down Under. The sayings took a little adapting to… apparently responding to everyone with, ‘Oh, very well thank you and yourself?’ is not exactly what is required when asked, ‘How ya going?’. Everything here was new and exciting: waterfalls, the Great Ocean Road, wineries, forests, trying to figure out what a snag was (not a thread on your jumper apparently!), etc.

When I arrived at Deakin, I truly felt at home. I was welcomed not just by a support network as a student, but as a friend into a tight knit community with open arms. I haven’t looked back since.

Hello，I’m BoRui Deng. I‘m 16 years old and I come from China. Now I’m studying in the North Geelong Secondary College.

My “Australian parents” are Ali and Sef. Both of them are Iranians. They give me a good care. I also help them as I can. We became a family, not just a landlord and a student. The place which I am living is close to the beach. We have two cats and one silly dog（always brakes my clothes. When I got to the house, I was surprised the house was so nice. I ‘m very lucky to live with them.

Some people asked me why I chose Australia, Geelong and NGSC. Australia has a beautiful and unique nature and it also has a safe social environment. People are kind and welcoming. It’s a good country to live and study. When the study abroad agencies asked me which city you want to study, I said Melbourne, because I have been to Australia on 2014 and went to many state capital. I thought Melbourne was the best city to study.When the study abroad agencies gave me the school introductions, located in Melbourne and near cities, I saw the introduction of NGSC. That was the first time that I learnt about Geelong and NGSC. As I researched the information about Geelong, I got to know that Geelong is quiet and peaceful city. Geelong also has many beautiful views likes the beach、forest and high mountains. The left picture is Southern Ocean and the right mountain is called The You Yangs. I have been to there. That is lovely，isn’t it?

The main attraction for the North Geelong Secondary School is its teaching resources: good facilities, intelligent teaching methods, excellent teachers and caring for students. When I first came to school ，I faced many difficulties，such as hard to understand what the other people said strange classmates, different teaching style etc. Luckily some students and teachers gave me a hand, especially Mr. Dawson and Mr. O. They are taking a lot of care to me and gave me much help，like my parents. I am very grateful for them，I will never forget.

Some people ask me if I have any advice to future international students. Yes，I just have two pieces of advice. First, don’t be shy to talk with other people. It’s the best way to practice your English and make new friends. If you have any problem that you can‘t solve, just ask other people. They will be glad to help you. If you don’t say anything，everyone will think you are fine.

The another one is study hard. Some international students become lazy after they come to Australia，because the school is easy and has more freedom than their country‘s schools. Never be undisciplined，it’s very important. Remember，you come to Australia for study.
I hope I can meet you in NGSC.

3 years in Kardinia International College give me lots of experiences. Before I came here, I was afraid that I would not fit with anyone. However, first day of the school, many students came and greeted cheerfully. I was very happy and felt more comfortable to talk with them. Kardinia has a wide range of activities for the students to join and make friends such as school clubs, school productions, house athletics, and so on. Also, by studying in Kardinia, I have not only learnt English, but I have learnt many different languages as this school opens for students from around the world. As in the school song, “Wisdom leads to respect and respect leads to friendship with the world”, Kardinia includes these three words in our everyday at school. In addition, as my family does not stay here, I have to stay with homestay family. They are like my second parents who help, support, and look after me as their child. They are the best homestay family ever. I have learnt so many things from them such as culture, custom, language, etc. Kardinia and my homestay family are located in Geelong where is very quiet and peaceful. It is totally different to my home country, Thailand. The traffic is much better, therefore it is quicker to travel from one place to another. Ultimately, I am so glad that I came to Australia and study in Kardinia International College. I will never ever forget this experiences in this school, this homestay and this country.

Pimchanok Kanoknitanan (Mink)

การที่ได้เรียนที่ Kardinia International Collegeมา3ปีทำให้ฉันได้เรียนรู้สิ่งต่างๆมากมายก่อนที่ฉันจะย้ายมาเรียนที่นี่ฉันกลัวมากว่าฉันจะไม่มีเพื่อนและไม่สามารถปรับตัวให้เข้ากับคนที่นี่ได้แต่วันแรกของการมาโรงเรียนนั้นเพื่อนๆหลายๆคนเข้ามาทักทายอย่างเป็นมิตรสุดๆฉันดีใจมากและรู้สึกสบายใจขึ้นที่จะเข้าไปคุยกับพวกเขาKardiniaมีกิจกรรมต่างๆให้นักเรียนเข้าร่วมเพื่อที่จะได้ทำความรู้จักกับเพื่อนมากขึ้นเช่นชมรม,การแสดงของโรงเรียน,กีฬาสีและอื่นๆยิ่งไปกว่านั้นการที่ได้เรียนที่Kardiniaไม่ได้ทำให้ฉันได้เรียนรู้แค่ภาษาอังกฤษเท่านั้นฉันได้เรียนรู้หลากหลายภาษาเพราะโรงเรียนเปิดรับนักเรียนจากรอบโลกตามเพลงของโรงเรียนที่กล่าวไว้ว่า“ภูมิปัญญานำไปสู่ความเคารพและความเคารพนำไปสู่มิตรภาพทั่วโลก”Kardiniaได้ผสมผสาน3คำนี้ไว้ในทุกๆวันของการมาโรงเรียนการที่ฉันมาเรียนที่ออสเตรเลียฉันจึงต้องอาศัยกับโฮมสเตย์ซึ่งโรงเรียนเป็นผู้จัดหาให้พวกเขาเป็นเหมือนครอบครัวที่2ของฉันเป็นคนที่คอยช่วยเหลือสนับสนุนและดูแลฉันเหลือลูกของพวกเขาตลอดการอยู่ที่นี่พวกเขาเป็นโฮมสเตย์ที่ดีที่สุดจริงๆฉันได้เรียนรู้อะไรหลายๆอย่างจากพวกเขาเช่นขนบธรรมเนียมประเพณีวัฒนธรรมภาษาและอื่นๆอีกมากมายKadiniaและโฮมสเตย์ของฉันอยู่ใน Geelongที่ที่เต็มไปด้วยความเงียบสงบซึ่งต่างจากประเทศไทยมากการจราจรก็ดีกว่าเยอะจึงทำให้เดินทางได้รวดเร็วท้ายที่สุดนี้ฉันดีใจมากที่ได้มาเรียนที่ออสเตรเลียและที่Kardinia International Collegeฉันจะไม่ลืมประสบการณ์ต่างๆที่ฉันได้รับจากโรงเรียนนี้โฮมสเตย์นี้และประเทศนี้เลย

เขียนโดยพิมพ์ชนก(มิ้งค์)กนกนิตย์อนันต์

Life in Kardinia International College                                                                                       

For me, it is my first time being so far away from home by myself. Living in an unfamiliar country and study makes my life full of challenge. I couldn’t tell how I exactly feel. Excited? Passionate? Confused? Or scared? However, every time when I met some problems I was able to overcome them, with the help from others and myself. Everyone in Kardinia are trying their best to make me feel like home. And I enjoy the campus, especially in spring. It is pretty to study at some place where flowers bloom. As the only child in my family, I never know how life will be with children sharing everything with me. But my homestay family gives me the opportunity to experience it. Our house is always full with children’s laughing, gigging and even crying. I love it. During the weekend, I usually hang out with my friends. We go shopping, watch movie, go rock climbing or go to some Chinese restaurant. Geelong is not as big as Melbourne, but it is such a fantastic city near by a beautiful bay. When the breeze kisses my face and brings me a salty taste, I really feel the enjoyment and peace that comes from the deep shiny ocean. I miss my family, my home and my country. But I know they would be more than happy for me if I could take a good care of myself and live happily. It is a path to independence, and I am on my way. I can see all the new challenges are waving to me. I believe the effect of hard working. And I hope everything will come through in the following year.

HUANG Luying (Ciel)

 于我而言，这是人生中第一次离家远行。待在一个陌生的国度学习让我生活充满了挑战性，而我其实并不知道该怎么去描述自己的心情。有激动，有热血，有困惑也有畏惧。然而每当我遇到困难的时候总有人支持着我，让我能够顺利渡过。而我的同学们也在用热情温暖着我，让我有家的感觉。我很喜欢春天的学校。四处花开就好像整个校园都沁进了花海。作为一个骄纵的独身子女，我从没和谁分享过自己的生活。但幸运的是，澳洲寄宿家庭为我弥补了手足之情的空缺。我们的家里随时都弥漫着孩子的欢声笑语，热闹并且温馨。在周末我经常和朋友出门购物、看电影、攀岩或者去一些中餐馆吃饭。和墨尔本不同的是，吉郎是一个秀丽的海滨小城。当我在海边散步，咸涩的海风亲吻着我的脸颊的时候，我会感受到深沉的海洋带来的安详。我很想念家里的亲人，想回家，想回国。可是我知道他们会在故乡为我的自立和成长而骄傲，他们会因为我快乐而快乐。出国是通向独立的历练，而我正在这条路上努力闯荡着。我似乎看见未来所有的挑战都在像我挥手，而我也相信着努力的力量。希望新的一年也一帆风顺。