For all the people I've met throughout my journey in the USA and Canada, most of them ask the same question, "Why Buffalo?" it has the perceptions of freezing cold weather, an extra long Winter and... not a whole lot to do there. For anyone that asks me I can tell them so many amazing and wonderful things about Buffalo ( and the fact we didn't see snow until December 9th), that they will wish they never questioned me on my choices where to study...
Wow! How time has flown! Next week sees the end of the most amazing four month experience I've ever had! It seems surreal that in a weeks time I will be packing ( and packing and packing) all of my things ( a lot of excess luggage) and bidding farewell to Buffalo and Buffalo State College. The time I've had here is hard to explain in a matter of words, but I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have met so many wonderful people from all around the world and learnt many things about culture, lifestyles, the world and of course the fashion industry.
I have made friends for life, amongst the girls I've lived with and the classmates I've shared my Australian stories with. I feel like this year has been so much studying, so next week will feel strange doing my last presentation for the year! What I've liked most about the Fashion course at Buffalo State is a lot of the subjects we do papers on and then present our research to the class in PowerPoint form, this is great for helping with public speaking and confidence. (I do, however prefer the teachers at RMIT!).
College lifestyle exceeded all my expectations and hopes that it would be, the amount of people you bump into time and time again, the friendly chats in the elevators, the blaring music coming from downstairs, getting up 10 minutes before class ( definitely have loved that), picking clothes to wear from a limited wardrobe, budgeting, walking and catching transport everywhere, going weekly grocery shopping, movie nights in the suite, all you can eat dining hall ( and an overnight breakfast during finals week) plus so many more wonderful memories.
It's hard to identify the highlight of my trip as I've had so many amazing and unforgettable experiences. Niagara Falls and Toronto were both wonderful places to visit and New York City for Christmas and New Years, will be fantastic! Thanksgiving was one of my favourite weekends in Buffalo. We stayed at our friends families house and ate amazing food for about three days straight! We even managed to get to the mall at midnight for the 'Black Friday' sales! When the snow first fell properly ( which was actually today) it was beautiful. I jumped out of bed this morning and woke everyone up by screaming in sheer delight at the window!
It is going to be really hard to say goodbye to all my friends I've made on campus, many I know I will stay in contact with and one of our friends is coming to study on exchange in Melbourne, so it will be really exciting to show her around. Studying at Buffalo State has just been everything I'd ever hoped for and more, I would definitely recommend the college to people at home, as I can guarantee they, like myself will have the most unforgettable exchange semester!
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
All is fine in Melbourne
Christine
It is good to hear from you and about what has been happening.
From your post it looks like you have been very busy and active.
The Market Research Project sounds interesting and as you say it is like YEP and as noted it is a bit of a challenge,but you are already used to challenges after 2 years at RMIT
Yes, New York is a must place to visit and re-visit and re-visit and we have some of our past students working there.
I assume that the weather is changing and that snow is falling or on the way.
Thanksgiving is coming up soon and do you and the others have any plans?
Look forward to seeing you back and hearing about your experiences.
regards
Ian Fisher
It is good to hear from you and about what has been happening.
From your post it looks like you have been very busy and active.
The Market Research Project sounds interesting and as you say it is like YEP and as noted it is a bit of a challenge,but you are already used to challenges after 2 years at RMIT
Yes, New York is a must place to visit and re-visit and re-visit and we have some of our past students working there.
I assume that the weather is changing and that snow is falling or on the way.
Thanksgiving is coming up soon and do you and the others have any plans?
Look forward to seeing you back and hearing about your experiences.
regards
Ian Fisher
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
In Love with this Concrete Jungle
Hello Everyone,
I know it has been a while since I have actually posted my adventures to the blog! Uni has most definitely been consuming most of my NYC life. Lisa and I decided to take on a Marketing Research Project which is exactly like YEP, however on an international scale. The aim of our report is to choose a country (we have chosen Thailand) to promote the use of cotton, whether it be direct to consumers or through B2B. This research assignment has definitely become a challenge, but nothing we can't handle after 2 years of market research experience :)
Other than the university life, I have been really enjoying my time here and have already made a conscious decision to definitely come back to NYC in the future to work... once I have completed the degree of course. Besides all the fun and games, it has been quite a roller-coaster ride trying to adapt to such a fast paced city... but I am there. If you ever come to NYC, I am one of those fast paced walkers you'll see on a mission to get to my destination (even if it's just around the corner) weaving in and out of the sea of people like a hoon driver in peak hour on the Monash, always in a hurry. The time in one day is never enough and the city just makes you feel like you're on the go-go-go, even when you're sleeping. On that note, I must scoot to make the most of this beautiful NYC sunny day! Have a nice day! <--- This seems to be EVERYWHERE in New York, on every packaging imaginable, so I thought I'd share it with you too :)
Peace Out,
Christine
Fall in NYC (Madison Square Park)
The Aussie Possie going to Yankee Stadium
I know it has been a while since I have actually posted my adventures to the blog! Uni has most definitely been consuming most of my NYC life. Lisa and I decided to take on a Marketing Research Project which is exactly like YEP, however on an international scale. The aim of our report is to choose a country (we have chosen Thailand) to promote the use of cotton, whether it be direct to consumers or through B2B. This research assignment has definitely become a challenge, but nothing we can't handle after 2 years of market research experience :)
Other than the university life, I have been really enjoying my time here and have already made a conscious decision to definitely come back to NYC in the future to work... once I have completed the degree of course. Besides all the fun and games, it has been quite a roller-coaster ride trying to adapt to such a fast paced city... but I am there. If you ever come to NYC, I am one of those fast paced walkers you'll see on a mission to get to my destination (even if it's just around the corner) weaving in and out of the sea of people like a hoon driver in peak hour on the Monash, always in a hurry. The time in one day is never enough and the city just makes you feel like you're on the go-go-go, even when you're sleeping. On that note, I must scoot to make the most of this beautiful NYC sunny day! Have a nice day! <--- This seems to be EVERYWHERE in New York, on every packaging imaginable, so I thought I'd share it with you too :)
Peace Out,
Christine
Fall in NYC (Madison Square Park)
_
The Distant Flatiron Building---------99cent Pizza-----------------------------Empire State------
The Aussie Possie going to Yankee Stadium
Monday, 3 October 2011
London's Calling!
Hello Everyone, starting official classes this week! Looking at my timetable and from talking to my course coordinators, it looks like there is fewer contact hours and more of a focus on self study at the London College of Fashion (LCF). Everyone has been really lovely to Simone and myself and I can't wait to get started!
In the mean time I have spent a couple weeks here exploring. Firstly when I arrived I check into my halls (student housing) and met students from different courses at the London University of Arts (UAL) and took some time to explore locally. The main places I visited were the towns of Bath and Oxford, both of which have incredible history and beauty.
Then I set off to Paris, definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world and home to the best macaroons!
When I arrived back in London it was the beginning on what is called a 'freshers' week, similar to our orientation week. Organised by the student unions there are several events planned in order to introduce new students to the opportunities at the university.
Overall I’m having a great time meeting new people and experiencing a different lifestyle. I will post again once classes have started!
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Hi, Kelly and Christine:
Great to hesr from both of you. The photos look great, would be even better if you were in. Love to hear that Americian institutions are so strict with attendance. May be we should do the same! We have warmer weather now and the Sept term break is coming soon. I believe all the teachers and students are looking forward to it, but of course that means assessments are coming soon.
Please keep us posted of your studies and interesting experiences.
Warm regards
Chris Clark
Program Manager
Great to hesr from both of you. The photos look great, would be even better if you were in. Love to hear that Americian institutions are so strict with attendance. May be we should do the same! We have warmer weather now and the Sept term break is coming soon. I believe all the teachers and students are looking forward to it, but of course that means assessments are coming soon.
Please keep us posted of your studies and interesting experiences.
Warm regards
Chris Clark
Program Manager
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
College Life!
I've been at Buffalo State College for three weeks now and have enjoyed every minute! So many of my days spent around campus resemble American movies- from the ovesized meals in the dinner to the college sports and fraternity parties, it has all been a surreal experience!
The classes I have taken have been really interesting and enjoyable so far and it's really great to view things with an understanding of another country and economy. Also, my fellow room mates are shocked by the amount of money I earn at home working as a casual employee in retail ( It's almost triple what they earn an hour!)
The weekends have been spent so far taking day trips to the mall ( H&M, Forever 21, amazingly cheap and super fast fashion) checking out the latest American sports; Baseball and Football, heading to Niagara Falls and Candada and hanging out at cute cafes in the sunshine (whilst it lasts as it will begin to snow in October!)
Well, that is all from me now, but I will advice you all when I first see snow fall!
The campus is beautiful and quite large, plenty of students live on campus and plenty live close by or commute. The accomodation is pretty good, but at the start it was quite difficult to share a bathroom with five other girls and live on food from a small fridge and microwave! It now has definetley become second nature, as have the limited wardrobe of outfit choices!
The American classes and teaching styles are quite different to home, the teachers are strict on attendance and if you miss more than two classes, you fail the unit, which I guess is a great motivational factor to attend all classes! It has been very interesting learning about the American apparel industry and the American economy and how much domination the fashion industry here, has over other countries, It has also been great sharing Australian fashion knowledge and experience with my fellow American class mates.
I haven't experienced much culture shock yet, as I have been to the states for a few months before, but I have observed a few things: the text books are very expensive here, in comparison to home ( and every class here requires at least one text book) no store as of yet, stocks plastic display folders and none of my assignments have word counts (instead it states the number of pages to write).
The classes I have taken have been really interesting and enjoyable so far and it's really great to view things with an understanding of another country and economy. Also, my fellow room mates are shocked by the amount of money I earn at home working as a casual employee in retail ( It's almost triple what they earn an hour!)
The weekends have been spent so far taking day trips to the mall ( H&M, Forever 21, amazingly cheap and super fast fashion) checking out the latest American sports; Baseball and Football, heading to Niagara Falls and Candada and hanging out at cute cafes in the sunshine (whilst it lasts as it will begin to snow in October!)
Well, that is all from me now, but I will advice you all when I first see snow fall!
College
Baseball ( Buffalo Bissons won this match!)
Niagara Falls
Buffalo Fashion Week
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
The last 3 weeks in the Big City!
Hello everyone,
So I've been in NYC now for just over 2 weeks and it's been a hell of a roller coaster ride. After arriving on a Saturday, I barely got a break before it was straight to orientation day on the Monday :( FIT is most definitely interesting... the security is extremely strict and every building you have to enter you have to present your FIT ID, it's insane! Imagine having to present your ID everywhere at the RMIT Brunswick campus, from the cafeteria to the Barn lol! I remember on the first day of orientation (I obviously hadn't received my ID as yet) I tried to enter one of the buildings without a pass and this massive security guard refused to let me in, even though I tried to explain the circumstances. I was made to get a visitors pass.
Like I said before, it has been a hell of a roller coaster ride. Despite the fact that this is my third time in New York, I think my outlook is majorly different from the first couple of times I had visited. I guess because the first couple of times were a holiday basis where everyday was packed with touristy things. Don't get me wrong, I still love this city, but it's a tough place to live in.
I found myself a nice apartment located in the Lower East Side and currently live with 2 other roomies. It took me practically 2 whole weeks to really settle, buying all the bits and bobbs for my room, but I'm happy with the overall outcome.
The subway is another story. It's hot, sticky and quite smelly...exactly how the American movies portray it. It is quite easy to take... once you get the hang of it! All you really need to know is "Uptown" and "Downtown", but if you get that wrong, then you're really screwed!!!
I haven't really had a chance to do all the touristy things such as the Statue of Liberty, MOMA, Guggenheim or Central Park as I figured I have pretty much 5 months to do it. I will post photos once I do get myself to the many touristy destinations.
I'll leave you with a few pictures I've taken so far!
My Laundromat
View from my apartment window
Sending my regards from the Big Apple!
Christine Jaraba
So I've been in NYC now for just over 2 weeks and it's been a hell of a roller coaster ride. After arriving on a Saturday, I barely got a break before it was straight to orientation day on the Monday :( FIT is most definitely interesting... the security is extremely strict and every building you have to enter you have to present your FIT ID, it's insane! Imagine having to present your ID everywhere at the RMIT Brunswick campus, from the cafeteria to the Barn lol! I remember on the first day of orientation (I obviously hadn't received my ID as yet) I tried to enter one of the buildings without a pass and this massive security guard refused to let me in, even though I tried to explain the circumstances. I was made to get a visitors pass.
Like I said before, it has been a hell of a roller coaster ride. Despite the fact that this is my third time in New York, I think my outlook is majorly different from the first couple of times I had visited. I guess because the first couple of times were a holiday basis where everyday was packed with touristy things. Don't get me wrong, I still love this city, but it's a tough place to live in.
I found myself a nice apartment located in the Lower East Side and currently live with 2 other roomies. It took me practically 2 whole weeks to really settle, buying all the bits and bobbs for my room, but I'm happy with the overall outcome.
The subway is another story. It's hot, sticky and quite smelly...exactly how the American movies portray it. It is quite easy to take... once you get the hang of it! All you really need to know is "Uptown" and "Downtown", but if you get that wrong, then you're really screwed!!!
I haven't really had a chance to do all the touristy things such as the Statue of Liberty, MOMA, Guggenheim or Central Park as I figured I have pretty much 5 months to do it. I will post photos once I do get myself to the many touristy destinations.
I'll leave you with a few pictures I've taken so far!
My Laundromat
View from my apartment window
Sending my regards from the Big Apple!
Christine Jaraba
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