Written by Chee Yu Zhen Victoria, Mukhiddnmaulut Abdullakh, Yi Chen Dou and Yuchen Dong Are you a bubble tea fanatic searching for the perfect blend of flavour and texture? Fret not! We’ve scoured Melbourne’s vibrant streets to bring you a definitive list of the city’s bubble tea spots worth checking out; regardless of whether you are a seasoned bubble tea enthusiast or simply curious.  BOBA BEYOND BORDERS: UNITING INTERNATIONAL TASTEBUDS According to Berryman, bubble tea originated in Taiwan since the 1980s. The drink gained popularity in Australia during the late 1990s due to increasing waves of Asian migration as more … Continue reading Bubbling Away: Part I

Written by Jianhao Peng, Kei Yiu Heung, Phuong Nhi Tran and Violani Julia Do you experience déjà vu as an international student? Are you often late for class because you stayed up the night before gaming; only to fall asleep and be woken up by a teacher’s question you can’t answer? The COVID-19 outbreak has forced international students across the globe into a virtual world of learning from their homes. Spending long hours and even whole days in front of the computer quickly became an undesirable situation which made it difficult for many to maintain concentration with their studies. Fast … Continue reading I’m Offline, Now What?

Written by Remi Chen, Trina J. Tan and Shanna K. Pattiasina Has catcalling ever passed your years? A friend ever been bullied in front of you or have you witnessed a robbery on the walk home from school? These wrongdoings happen everyday, yet people just watch it happen everyday. Why is that? Becoming a passive spectator to an unfavorable event, for instance a car accident or instance of harassment; perhaps you feel as if it’s none of your business or you just simply don’t want to intervene. Such tense circumstances are not unfamiliar to international students. STANDING BY WHILE CRIME … Continue reading Would You Have Done Something?

Written by Lanting Wang, Jinming Hu and Martel Kho   International students fear the unknown because it often presents the possibility of danger and uncertainty. The human brain is wired to priorities survival and perceiving new or unfamiliar situations as potential threats, so it is a natural response that has evolved over time.  This fear of the unknown can also stem from the lack of control or predictability these situations can present.   When we don’t know what to expect from the unknown, it can be difficult to prepare or plan for it; heightening our anxiety. For international students, they may also … Continue reading Into the Unknown

Written by Soley Chhour, Mei Yang, Sharon Darakusuma and Calista Siahaan  Exploring a new city for an international student can be a door to many opportunities, especially when they are in need of getting outside their comfort zone. It can be scary to try something different and unfamiliar, but it can be just as bad to stay with what we know for too long.  As international students ourselves, we have attempted to give new, interesting things a go that other students can try too: LASER TAG Soley  A popular shooting game amongst all ages, laser tag is a mixture of tag and paintball. You might be too scared … Continue reading Give it a Go! 

Written by Jia Yao, Thomas Zeng and Jessie Zhang   As with many international students, going abroad to continue their studies may also involve working part-time. With the changes of time and technology, choosing to study abroad is still a choice that many students make, and many parents are willing to let their children do so.   So, why are some international students take part-time jobs while studying?   We chose to work part-time   Some international students need money to maintain their lifestyles, while others want to have the experience of having a part-time job.  For Jia, working part-time was a choice she … Continue reading The Part-Timers: Why some international students juggle work

Written by Noelle Song, Alis Fahruddin and Man Luo  When mental problems are placed alongside the physical, almost without exception – everyone chooses to overlook and perhaps, ignore mental health. Mental health issues in a lot of Asian communities seem to have more of a stigma attached to them compared to others, but why is this the case?  To understand the matter better, we conducted a survey among young international students who grew up in such cultures about their experiences with mental health and the results did not leave us feeling happy.  So, has mental health been taken seriously?  According … Continue reading The Mental Taboo

Written by Ashni Vathiyar, Hazel Chulu, Iliona Utama and Tiara Tay  Many international students in the LGBTQI+ community continue to struggle with celebrating their sexuality in an unapologetic manner, with their environment playing a large part in how they’re accepted and feel comfortable in being their true, authentic selves.    Who are you behind closed doors?   Religious-heavy countries such as like Singapore, Dubai and Malaysia continue to perpetuate an unwelcoming and conservative mindset which place many of these youths in a difficult situation. The lack of support from loved ones and community can often make international students feel alone, confused … Continue reading Behind Closed Doors

Written by Jena Huynh, Woonsen Prakitrittanon, and Zoe Diaz  Let’s face it – we’ve all been there. Whether it be when we least expect it or see it coming from thousands of miles away, change can hit us hard. And most of the time, a lot of us don’t really know how to cope with it.   Change is a common experience for everyone. Whether you’re facing it alone or with someone, change can come in many different forms and bring various challenges. Your lifestyle may change, you’re faced with a huge interruption in your life, or your relationships may transform … Continue reading Dealing with Change: All good things come to an end 

Written by Jessica Wei, Bryant Wang, Eason Li and Nate Nhoem  How do International Students go about their evening routine?  Heading home after a long school day, fighting for a seat on the tram and grocery shopping at a crowded supermarket is a familiar experience for many international students. These are the countless daily struggles that many international students face. The twilight hours of 5PM to 7PM are a time for navigating the challenges of a different life, adjusting to a new culture, and finding a sense of belonging in a foreign land.  To capture the range of these experiences, we have … Continue reading The Twilight Hours