Students at Embassy

Christmas Eve at Embassy

“We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

I hope for you that Christmas celebrations were wonderful with your family, friends or Homestay family; and that the poor turkey was delicious! Here, for the 25th, no turkey, but a fantastic Christmas BBQ with my Homestay family.

In Brisbane, for the last week of the year 2010 and the last day just before the Christmas holidays, the school organized us full of surprises!

Friday December 24th, to celebrate Christmas, we began at the school by a few reviewing of Christmas carols. In my class, we tried to find (or guess) missing words to the lyrics of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". It's a very funny song, listen:

It made us all laugh!

After, unusually, courses stopped earlier, at 10.30am and ...

Let's go! It's ready for finding Christmas candy hidden in the  school's hallway: the one who catches the most wins the game, and it was a Brazilian girl friend who succeeded to find over a dozen, yummy!

After, go to the 6J room to enjoy Christmas treats and arbitrate a cooking competition of international food, we could taste: grandmother's cookies prepared by an Australian teacher, Taiwanese ravioli, a Korean recipe, and an apple pie ... a French version cooked by Loic and I, re-yummy! Look!

Then, we could choose between lots of different activities:

• Cards and origami: many beautiful christmas cards, and thank you Tom for teaching us the traditional Japanese art of origami. We could create a star, a crane, a ball...
• Board games
• Learn to sing Christmas carols
• Christmas trivia and games with prizes

Cards and origami

The Christmas tree with origami, so cute!

 

I choose the Christmas trivia and we laughted a lot.

There were several teams of 4, I was in the team "Pearl Harbour" with Swiss and Brazilian friends. And the game was to recognize the characters of Christmas, answer quizzes ... while being fast. And we won the first prize: Tim-Tam (it's a delicious chocolate cake) Re-re-yummy!

Christmas is not Christmas without Santa Claus and Christmas presents.

So going Santa Claus home: before each student had to buy a small gift and we exchanged that day. For my part, I offered a small plush and Santa Claus brought me a fish purse.

Friends and I with Christmas presents, I love my lovely fish purse.

Finally, Christmas cards created by students were delivered to their owners.
And for those who wanted, in the afternoon, there was a Christmas movie and free popcorn.

It was a very good start to Christmas.

4) Graduation T_T)

I've studied in Embassy for 5 months and the time came for me to graduate .

I never thought I would leave this school!

I just enjoyed life but when I opened my eyes in the morning that was the last day at Embassy.

 

 

When I look back at my life in Embasy I've won the Best Student prize twice! :D

 

If I give you some advice to spend your time in Embassy properly I'll say "don't be late for school"

If you're late for class you'll miss the class and you'll interrupt everyone. It'll make it difficult to follow your class.

I've actually seen some students who can't follow the class as they was absent too much and always late for class.

The second, do your homework and review every week.

A lot of Korean students are everywhere in Sydney's language schools, and some students may say it's disappointing that so many Koreans are in class.

However I think Korean people are  everywhere not only in Sydney but also in Tokyo (if you want to study Japanese) , Beijing and US.

So, please don't be disappointed of too many Korean people are in your class :D

Just go your own way and don't hesitate to use English even though your English is not good and not proper.

 

 

Good luck everyone!!!!!

 

 

Huh, another one :P

Well, here is another blog post since the last time my computer somehow would not want to put in pictures -.-

My friend took me to his suburb, where they got a hill from which I had a nice view of Melbourne. Too bad they are going to build houses all over that place...

 

Today, I went to Chinatown (which is not unusual since there are many Asians in Melbourne). But there is also a Greek precinct nearby.

 

Something else you should try when you come to Australia are cupcakes and macarons. So nice, but only for people who have a sweet tooth! 

Left: cupcake, right: macaron (both strawberry flavour xD)

To sum up, I can just say that I learned a lot in Melbourne. Not only did my English improve, but my personality developed also. It has been the longest time that I have been away from home. The longest time before was three weeks xD

And because I met so many different cultures here I can understand better why people behave in this or that way.

News from Melbourne (still rainy xD)

You haven’t heard anything from me for quite a long time, have you? I just have too many things to do and am having too much fun! xD

School is still going well. Once we played this funny game… We formed two groups and had to spell words with letters written on cards. Those who finished first and had the correct spelling got a point:

 

To celebrate some students' farewell we went to a famous chocolate café here in Melbourne which is called Max Brenner. I shared a 'chocolate pizza' with two other students:

 

Yummi!

I tried to stay fit, and this is the reaon why I went jogging in my neighbourhood. Unfortunately, the swooping season has just started... It lasts for about six weeks. What's so bad about it? Well, the birds (like magpies) are nesting and therefore behave super protective - hence, they attack you if you approach their nest and if you don't know how to protect yourself. I tried running away because I didn't know ^^ Useless, it makes it even worse -.- In fact, it's quite simple, you just have to look at them and keep the eye contact...

When you think of Germany, you may think of pretzels! I have seen a ‘Pretzel World’ here in Melbourne, but they sell very strange variations. Today, I tried ‘Jamaican Almond’. It tasted very different from the usual, salted one, because it had sugar on it. Nevertheless, it was very nice!

Next week I will have to leave Melbourne, so I'm going to profit as much as possible from the time left!!!

 

 

My First Party in Auckland.

I enjoyed my first party in Auckland last Friday at our handsome and kind librarian SJ's place.

He had told me that he was going to throw a party and asked if I wanted to join and I said yes, of course.

That would be a very good opportunity to meet many friends who have many various nationalities - and it really was.

 

I had imagined some big and formal party with people in very formal suits and dresses.
Becuase in Korea we're not very familiar with the party customs.

And also I haven't had many chances to know about parties because I can't drink. It's not a matter of like religion or belief things. I have a bad headache after drinking some liquor.
I hate a headache. Everybody asks that - I don't know why but maybe I look like I like to drink. ^^

I think it's good for my health but sometimes fell a little sorry when my friends are going to a bar and I want to join them. But I can still have some soda, ade and water so it doesn't matter any more to me.

Anyway, before having the party I had been wondering how it would be and then SJ kindly explained to me about that.

First, you don't have to prepare food. If you want, bring some food to share.

Second, you should bring some drinks such as wine, beer, soju (famous Korean liquor), etc.

Third, you don't have to wear a suit.

And last, don't be shy. Come and enjoy meeting people, making friends, having great foods.
Everyone except me might know those above.

I promised to SJ that I would help him to make food. He had already made his decision of food: Chicken Barbeque, Sushi, Korean Pizza. There was one more thing but we had forgotten to make it, so we ate it the day after. Sorry guys who were at the party, it also was great.

Well, I've been living by myself for alomost 10 years so I can cook a little. I was in charge of Korean Pizza.

Actually, Russian friends were really interested in how to make it, and they tried some and made the kitchen a little messy, I mean very little.

At 6:30, the people were coming one by one and talking to one another while the foods were prepared. I thougnt it would be great if I interviewed these guys and asked them for their story and some advice. It might be very helpful to other students.

So I did it. ^^

There were 12 people, but Russian friends had to leave early so I couldn't talk with them much. Tragic...

Ok. I asked some questions to them and they answered really well.
I really appreciate this to you guys through this blog.

 
First friend is Jirika Vorba from the Czech Republic.
He majored in computer-science in the Univ. before coming here.
Q: Why did you choose New Zealand?
A: The great nature, English, softball (he plays twice a week with local people), travel, adventure.
Q: Do you have any special place which you travelled to before?
A: Kauri tree, it's really big and over 300 years old, the fresh air, views. I had a great time there. You must go there.

* Kauri tree. It's at the end of the north island.

Q: Why do you study English?
A: English is the best way to communicate with people all over the world. It's also helpful for my job.
Q: What do you think about Embassy?
A: I am satisfied with well-educated teachers. I had good time.
Q: Would you give any advice to other students who study English?
A: Watch movies, listen to the people, radio, take as many chances as you can.
Q: Do you want to say something?
A: Hi, Nadia!
Thank you Jirika.

Next, SKY from Cambodia.
He came to NZ because his relatives already had lived here.
And he is in foundation course now and will enter AUT to study the international business.
He told me that the time he spent in Taopo, Whakapapa Ski Area.

It was a great experience to him because it was August but not that cold so he could enjoy skiing with just shirt on. Wow. And it is located on the north-western slopes of Mt Ruapehu.
He likes to study by himself, sometimes do a study group.
He emphasized that the students have to concentrate during their class.

 
The third friend is Dean from the Republic of Turkey. He majored in Finance, but wants to study how to cook. We can maybe see him as a chef later.

He chose NZ because the NZ dollar is cheaper than others, and to travel. Bungee jumping and scuba diving were great experiences, he said. He is studying English to get a good score in the IELTS test and I'm sure he'll do very well. Studying hard as much as you can before coming here was his advice.

And my Korean friends Min, Yujin, Mijin.
They are also studying hard here and said to me this: many students could be depressed after three months staying here. But don't worry, it's natural and you would get it over soon. I wish them luck.

Last, James from Vietnam.
He goes Auckland Univ. now and majors both commerce and science.
He is interested in music, movie, philosophy, psychology.
And also he gave me some advice.
Be confident and don't be afraid of making mistakes when you speak English.

 

This is a little longer than I thought it would be - but it's not all that I wanted to tell.
It was a great time for me. I met many friends and could learn a lot from them.
Some of you already enjoy and some of you don't, but I think with good people and food it would be great. So if you have a good chance, just try and enjoy it.
 

That's all I want to tell you.
Next time I want to write about our library where I spend so much time.
And thank you again for your time. Cheers!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Food: The World On Your Plate

One of the advantages of living in a cosmopolitan city like Auckland is the opportunity to try a variety of ethnic food. If you are aware that food is an important part of any culture, then having a meal is more than just eating something because you are hungry. It is also an opportunity to learn more about cultures of the world.

If you are really interested about that, invite one of your fellow foreign classmates to go to a ethnic restaurant that she or he enjoys. It is important to go with a native (of the food you are eating). Firstly, because you may not know what to order, and you will need some guidance.

Secondly, you will need somebody to explain what exactly the dishes contain (remember, this is not the food you are used to, and even though you are trying, there is always the chance that you won't like it).

Finally, while you are eating (or after) you can ask questions and learn more about your classmate's country and culture. Of course, you are practicing your English and making friends at the same time, so a routine activity like having lunch gets another meaning when you are taking an exchange course.

Auckland is one of the best places to do this. As I said in previous posts, the Embassy Auckland school is located near many different restaurants (as a matter of fact, there is even an international food court on the school's street, just five minutes walking).

You can choose Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Brazilian and even Australian for your lunch (these are the ones that I remenber right now). If none of this pleases you, there is always the option of regular fast-food.

I personally got quite addicted to the Malaysian cuisine. My favourite is the chicken with cashew nuts with a bowl of rice. Superb! I had no idea that Korean barbecue could be so good (and I thought I was hopeless with chopsticks, but with the help of all my Asian classmates, I managed to learn).  

Many people ask me if I miss Brazilian food. And I always I say, "Not yet!"

As with everything related to an exchange course, this is a time to try new things and be more open minded and a little less proud of your own nationality. And that includes food.

You can find out more about the attractions local to the Embassy Auckland school at the main Embassy website.

Making International Friends

One of the most amazing things about being an exchange student is the opportunity to meet people from all around the world, and actually become friends with them. I am talking about creating special types of bond with really nice people, the same way you have in your home country, but who otherwise you would never meet. It is the same friendship, but amongst different nationalities and using another language.

 

Most likely, this is your only chance to exchange opinions and share information about cultures and backgrounds that are completely different to your own. A conversation with a foreigner seems to never end. There is so much to talk about, to learn, to share. These are, at least for me, the most important moments. Only by actually knowing another culture and its country can you appreciate your own. 

Also, if you are not fully satisfied with life in your home town, and you feel uncomfortable with aspects of your culture, perhaps you will find a more suitable country to live, in the future. You finally realize that the world is a big place indeed, and there is a place for everyone.  In order to understand that, you have to give yourself the chance to know people from other places, talk to them, listen to them. If you have only had conversations with people from your own nationality, perhaps you will have to try to be a little more open-minded so that you will learn something.

The tool that makes this happen: the English language. There is something almost poetic about it. You are in a car, travelling somewhere with four people from four different nationalities; you are completely able to understand them and to be understood; you share information and feelings with them; and suddenly a friendship is born.

At the same time, you are aware that your mother language can be totally different. You realize, once again, why you study English. Yes, it is important for jobs, CV's and so on. But, the most important aspect is communication. With English, you are able to speak to the world.

Finally (and maybe mostly important), with friends from all over the world, you can (hopefully) have free accommodation when you visit their country. I hope I might when I go to Spain, Japan and Korea.

by Andre Campos

You too could make friends from all over the world whilst learning English in New Zealand, find out how by visiting the Embassy Auckland website

Photos from Marianne

You may have already enjoyed Marianne's posts describing life in Fort Lauderdale. Now she shares some photos which show you a little bit more: after all, a picture speaks a thousand words, as we know.

 

Top to bottom:

1. Marianne walks to school barefoot along the beach. What a life!

2. Our student with the school's 'wonderful and lovely' Director, Leslie.

3. Marianne with her class, and teacher Stephen Shasha. "I've learnd a lot of English", says Marianne.

San Francisco

During my vacation, I travelled to San Francisco with a friend. It was tons of fun even though we could spend only a little money. I'm going to introduce the attractions in San Francisco that I visited, with my comments.

• Pier 39

This place is called Pier 39 and has tons of entertainment such as restaurants, a small stage show, souvenir stores, and other fun things. The thing I most recommend you to see is the sea lions. Hundreds of sea lions are lying down on the wooden floats on the ocean by Pier 39. They have caught lots of people's attention, and there is the restaurant named "Sea Lion Cafe".

• AT&T Park

This is the home baseball stadium for the San Francisco Giants. It has a very long history and is famous for the unique shape of the stadium. The right stand is beside the ocean and very thin. If a batter hits a home run (HR) to the right stand, the ball goes into the ocean. It is called "splash hit" because the HR ball falls into the water with a splash. There are lots of people who wait for HR balls on the ocean. I and my friend visited the stadium but we did not watch the game. We just felt its atomosphere and looked at the classic building from the outside.

• Seafood restaurant

There are tons of seafood restaurants by the ocean. It seemed like crabs and shrimps are famous and sort of expensive. I tried a meal made out of tiger shrimp and my friend had crab cakes. Both our foods were amazing tasting and made us satisfied.

• Youth Hostel

The youth hostel we chose cost just 19 dollars each person per day including breakfast. The unique thing is there are 14 beds in each room, so you can see strangers and have to share the space with them. Many backpackers or tourists tend to use this kind of youth hostel, and the price and the system (you can use the Internet for free) helps for their cheap trips like ours.

• Alkatraz

Visiting Alkatraz was the main purpose of our trip to San Francisco. This is an old prison on an island 15 minutes' journey by ship away from mainland. As we were approaching the island, the sight of the old building was making me uneasy but excited because it definitely seemed and smelled like an old prison. Inside the building it was much more like "prison" than the prison I had imagined. It was unbelievable that there used to be hundreds of inmates on such a remote island, and I was lost for words to see a real prison. I started wanting to know more about Alkatraz and bought a book  about it written by an old man who used be an inmate. When I was heading to the mainland, I was feeling like I am going back to the real world. Alkatraz was such an unreal world.

• Golden Gate Bridge

We visited Golden Gate Bridge almost at the end of our sightseeing. I just can describe it with the words "huge" and "great". The sight of the bridge from outside and the sight from the bridge, both are incredible. From the bridge, we could see all of the town of San Francisco and horizons on both sides of the bridge. I had heard that the place is famous for suicide. I looked from the bridge down to the ocean, and the rumor made sense. Golden Gate Bridge is one of the biggest faces of the town San Francisco, and I strongly recommend you visit, not to commit suicide there when you go to San Francisco.

Very Berry

Berries are very healthy. Especially, blueberries are well-known as food which are good for our skin and eyes. Today I asked my friends to go blueberry picking. This was the second time we went blueberry picking, and this pleasure is becoming our mutual hobby.

In the park, there are thousands of blueberry  bushes. Also, there are blackberry bushes. Many people in the park, enjoy blueberry picking, not blackberry because blackberry is the rose family and the bush has thorns, and the thorns stick in people's body when they try to pick blackberries. Since I picked only blueberries the first time I went there, I wanted to get blackberries at this time. "Ah!!" we shouted as often as our hands almost reached the berries. Nevertheless, none of us stopped fighting against the bushes, and we were filling our bottles with blackberries little by little. When we had finished picking blackberries, we had many cuts on our legs and arms. We got more than enough blackberries, yet we went to the blueberry area to get them, too.

After I came back to my house, I washed the berries and put blueberries in containers, and some of the containers went into the refridgerater and some went into the freezer for preservation. As for blackberries, I put them into a plastic bag and pressed them. Then, I put the juice into the bottle and mixed with milk and suger. Recently, I enjoy a piece of bread and the blackberry milk at breakfast. The blackberry milk tastes a little sour, but makes me healthier and gives me energy for studying every morning. A third time I will go berry picking will probably be this weekend.