Written by Jochelle Daniella Wiyana, Cindy Bui, Stephanie Liang and Cathy Pan International students often have to choose between giving in to social pressure and family expectations, or pursuing their passions while studying overseas. This delicate balancing act not only puts their perseverance to the test, but also influences their academic and professional paths, emphasising the challenges international students encounter while making decisions that could eventually set their fate in stone. Recent interviews with international students at the University of Melbourne, show stories of determination, passion and overcoming obstacles; shedding light on the diverse experiences of young people pursuing higher … Continue reading This or That?

Written by Malita Hengbun, Niko Liu and Denzel Villanueva New to Melbourne and don’t know where to go or what to do? Don’t worry, we’ve got you! Let us guide you around Melbourne through three locations and help you be fully prepared for your trip. From the rustic and diverse market of Queen Victoria Market, to taking a walk through the artsy atmosphere of Met Art World, and finally, dive into the greater depths at glistening shores of St. Kilda Beach. GROCERY SHOPPINGQueen Victoria Market To start, bringing a large tote bag for groceries might not be enough and leave … Continue reading Pack Your Bags, We’re Heading To _____

Written by Harley Ji, Rose Zheng and Xinyi Cheng The significance that certain snacks hold in our lives paints a vivid picture in a delectable exploration of memories and experiences of favorites from our youth. Through five captivating stories from a diverse selection of international students, we present to our readers the flavorful narratives that transcend borders and help connect us to our roots. NABATI CHEESE WAFFLEA Taste of Connection In our first story, Diya’s eyes lit up with nostalgia as she began recounting the story behind Nabati Cheese Waffles. This is a snack with the warm aroma and crispy … Continue reading A Snack’s Journey

Written by Emily Zheng, Isabella Xu and Zhisheng ­­­­Zhao Melbourne is a city with many living options available for international students looking to move here for study. With more being built to accommodate for the growing demand for student housing, there is enough of a variety on offer for students to choose from. However, despite the market demand; student housing is not without its share of good and bad reviews. The growing demand for accessible student housing continues to reflect in the number of international students arriving to Melbourne throughout the year, with it being a common topic of discussion … Continue reading The International Neighborhood 

Written by Nicole Hou and Stella Shen Learning self-love is crucial for international students for many and profound reasons. Not only is self-love key to personal growth and happiness, but it is even more important for international students who are facing challenges in a foreign country. The multiple language barriers, cultural differences, and lack of friends; they all highlight how self-love is important for international students to develop into more confident, self-assured youth. CULTURAL DIFFERENCESIn a recent survey conducted with Chinese international students, they all expressed having felt lonely and stressed when first arriving in Melbourne. The biggest challenge to … Continue reading Love Thy Self: The Epidemic of Low Self-love Pt. 2

Written by Kevin Kang, Lili Lun, Jason Yang and Jacinta WuModest fashion can be a way for international students to show their identity in a way that can be extracted from the distinctiveness of their respective cultures. From layering to relaxed ‘fits, modest fashion isn’t always about long sleeves and reaching over the knees. Some students tend to dress differently from their cultures due to the many infliuences that can change their perspective towards the modest approach to fashion. Let’s look into understanding the views of international students in Melbourne, Australia. MODESTY IS NOT OUTDATEDA lot of International students in … Continue reading Is Modesty the Best Policy?

Written by Anton Salvador, Iris Liao and Pallastia Pramesti Being an international student is not always easy. Studying abroad can truly be a rewarding and memorable experience for many international students, but balancing academics, a social life, even household chores, can at times be a very overwhelming part of that life. Foundation Studies programs plays an important role in that equation as international students are often presented with their first instances for support within the classroom with group work, class debates, and group presentations. Tutorials enable students to collaborate with fellow classmates and keeping classes smaller can allow for a … Continue reading The One with the Most

Written by Edison Xu, Sharon Niu and Jinghan Liu Are you currently studying abroad? Have you managed to make friends? What countries are they from? Friends play an indispensable role in our lives. Everybody need friends, but making good friends and keeping them is a recurring problem that is faced by many international students. It’s especially harder to do so with friends from countries other than your own. If you’re also facing this problem, come along with us as we attempt to answer all your questions and overcome the potential barriers that affect international students in their endeavour to step outside their … Continue reading Making the Cut

Written by Han Tu, Yilin Qian and Fatta LiyantoAre you familiar with those tab-like symbols sitting on a post when you surf through social media? Sometimes, they may even appear as little hearts! If yes, congratulations for using one of the most useful features social media can provide. With our daily exposure to the surplus of content present on social media, it’s always a good idea to save the ones we find relatable or useful to look back on later, but knowing about their existence is one thing – maximizing these digital storage places is no ordinary task that any … Continue reading Pin It Together: the Why and How of Improving Your Life 

Written by Sean Edward Gunawan, Evie Ma and Cecilia Li Food and nutrition are a daily necessity for everyone. International students are more than often exhausted after a full day of studying, so they can be rather lazy to head to the supermarket to buy groceries and are not so strict about the quality of the food they eat. Food in this instance doesn’t have to be fancy or delicious, just filling. With this being said, international student generally have three options for ways to get their meals in. Whether it is to dine out or buy food, the additional … Continue reading To Cook or Not to Cook