School started last week (February 28th), but as you know, I was sick and came late so I started this week. Let me just say, after having 3 days of classes, Australian college is so much different than American college. In Australia, their senior year in high school is learning about how to transition to Uni (college), learning how professors will lecture, and exploring what they want their profession to be. In America, senior year is about ditching class more than going to class, partying, and messing around before college starts. They have no general education classes to take, because when they enter college, the students know exactly what they want to do with their life. Therefore, if you are studying psychology, it means you will grow up to be a psychologist. In Australia, they only go to Uni for 3 years, instead of 4 like America, because they do not have the general education classes to take.
With that said, lets just say when I entered my first class on Monday I was in for a big treat. I was planning on taking general education classes and one psychology class abroad. One of the requirements I need to fulfill back in Boulder is something called literature and the arts. In Sydney Uni, it was very hard to find a class that would fulfill this credit back in Colorado, but I found one class out of about 20 I tried to get approved form Boulder. This class is called, Music in the Classical and Romantic Eras, and is located in the Music Conservatory which is right next to the Sydney Opera House. I was extremely excited Monday morning knowing that I have a class right next to the famous Opera House. The class description online stated that it would cover the history of music in the classical and romantic eras, which seemed like a class I was capable of taking. I walked into the class on Monday, and the professor handed out a thick packet that had music notes written all over it. I am not even kidding, I thought it was a foreign language and I was in another class. I even turned to the person next to me to make sure I was in the right class. This music class was a 2 hour lecture, with a 5 minute break in between the hours. From the second I sat down until the start of the break, I honestly have never been so confused and in a state of mind that thought I was in outer space. The professor would read some of the music, then play the piano for about 10 minutes, then the class would discuss what he just played. People had their instruments out and some of them even played along. At the break, I went up to the professor and asked him if you needed some music background and if I was in the right class. He asked me a few questions about music, what instrument I played, and what I was studying. I told him back in Colorado I am doing psychology and integrative physiology, wanting to be a physical therapist, never have picked up a musical instrument in my life, and I could not even tell the difference between a trombone and a saxophone. This guy gave me a look that was comparable to the lady at the turkey counter, with the expression of WHAT?! This is when I looked at him and said I have no music background and I am going to drop the class because I feel like I am sitting in a foreign language class in which everyone knows the language, except me.
Since that music class was a complete failure, I went to the international office to ask them what I should do since I was a week late in the process of adding and dropping classes. My flatmate Adam told me he is in a class called Sports and Learning in Australian Culture. In this class, you learn about Australian sports and then travel to these sporting events to watch them being played. It is an awesome class that seems like something I will really enjoy, unlike that music class. This weekend we are going to one of the beaches to watch swimmers compete, since swimming is the biggest sport in Australia. Since I am in love with sports, this class will be one of those classes in which I look forward to going to. I am also taking a history class and a psychology class about social work. In my history class, we had to introduce ourselves to the class and say a few things about yourself. When it was my turn I said, "Hi my name is Heidi," and literally everyone in the class interrupted me and said, "OH MY GOSH I LOVE YOUR ACCENT!" I laughed and told them I do not have an accent, they do. I am starting to think being the only American at Sydney Uni will make me a lot of friends quickly.
One thing I do not like about Australian University's is that the professors sit in front of the class and just read off of a piece of paper. There are rarely any words on the power point slides, so you have to write down the important things that the professors say. This is going to get taking used to, but I am not too worried about it since I only need to pass the class.
That is it for now, I will be posting another blog soon about my first bar experience and the IMAX theatre!
Heaps of Love,
Heidi
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