30th September 2009 | The Urbanest Team | Comments [0]
The International Students Guide to living in Australia
If you’re a student planning on living in student accommodation in Australia then this guide is for you! Over the coming weeks we will cover all sorts of useful topics that will help you prepare for your student living experience in a new country.
Part 1. Packing Your Bags.
Ok, you’ve found the perfect place to live during youIf you’re flying in to Australia in order to take up student life, the better you pack the easier your first few days will be.
What to take with you – As a rule of thumb don’t take anything that you can easily and cheaply buy when you arrive. Nearly all airlines have a weight restriction on your luggage so unless you want to pay heavy penalties, restrict you packing to the things that you will not be able to easily replace. You will want to make your home away from home as comfortable as possible so take the things that are special to you and your favourite clothes. Bulky items such as shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer are heavy and could easily spill on your belongings so buy them when you arrive. If you simply cannot live without your special brand of shampoo then buy the smallest bottle available or pour some into a smaller, more reliable container. Some stores sell ‘mini’ toiletries, these can save a lot of space and make more room for your personal items.
Australia (and especially Brisbane in Queensland) is a warm country with winter only a few weeks long so you will not need to bring many large jumpers or warm clothing and if you’re lucky your accommodation will have air conditioning so you will be comfortable whatever you bring.
How to pack – When packing your case or bag you can fit a lot more in if you roll your clothes instead of folding them. Pace the biggest items first and then fill all gaps with rolled clothes. The most efficient way of packing is to do this layer by layer. The best luggage comes complete with wheels and can be pulled to your student accommodation with ease, or alternatively a good quality rucksack can make travelling more comfortable. Remember, the best student accommodation comes fully furnished with lots of storage so there will be plenty of room to put your bags out of sight until you need them again.
What not to take with you – Because Australia is an island continent, the country’s customs are very strict. There are many items you aren’t allowed to bring to Australia when moving to your new student accommodation at Urbanest South Bank. If you have some items you simply cannot live without, it is a good idea to declare any food, plant or animal products you want to bring with you, just to be sure. All you need to do is fill out a customs declaration form on the plane before you land. Australians are very friendly people so if you have any questions, Customs will help you out.
One other thing to remember is that Australia has a unique electrical power point, so you might need to purchase an adaptor for electrical goods, or perhaps consider buying new electrical items when you arrive. Urbanest staff will always be on hand to assist you with your move to your new student accommodation though, so if you’ve forgotten anything, they will point you in the right direction to make your student living experience comfortable, safe and enjoyable.
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