Kara Joubert: Writer, Journalist & Filmmaker

Tag: Australia

  • Kara X Australia: Reflecting on Studies

    Kara X Australia: Reflecting on Studies

    After 12-ish weeks of academics, assessments and Australia, the university term is now over. These are my wise-ish takes on my studies here:

    Me and a kangaroo… I had to take a selfie. It is Australia, after all.

    Accidentally making friends

    Friendships take time to develop, but there are a few things that help.

    Surprisingly, the social events organised by the residential services team here were fairly anti-social (at least, the students were). Turns out, when students are given free food and a chance to mingle, they opt for the food over the mingling.

    For that reason, I would say that my friendships developed more in accidental, organic places. My advice to people studying abroad (or anywhere for that matter) is to find activities you enjoy, and speak to others who also do these activities. You’re bound to find someone you’ll click with. But don’t put too much pressure on yourself – these things will happen in their own time.

    Me celebrating my birthday with some amazing friends.

    Exploring the local area

    Having friends certainly helped with this one (car privileges) but it’s not a requirement. For the first 2-ish months of my studies, I went out by myself. Celebrating academic achievements with a trip to the mall, museum or IMAX cinema was so much fun.

    Exploring the Grampians in Victoria (Mackenzie Falls).

    It’s impossible to see every sight in one semester, but creating a list is a good first step. Familarising oneself with the transportation lines is also important. In Australia, people have to use a “Myki card” to use public transport, but in comparison to the UK, the prices are very affordable.

    Feeling very trendy with my Starbucks.

    Studies

    My semester consisted of four subjects: using social media, screenwriting, multimedia journalism and making media. Among other things, my tasks included creating a social media strategy, writing a short film script, creating a 1,500 word feature article, and producing a student TV news bulletin.

    The making media class together after a successful news bulletin.

    From what I’ve seen, it is easier to achieve a grade of 80 here than the UK. But these easier grades are considered when they’re translated back to my UK university. Ten percent is generally deducted from the final score. This deduction can be frustrating when quizzes are part of the academic workload. A 20/20 on a fact-based quiz is hardly subjective!

    Presenting a news story (all about frogs).

    As for the lessons themselves, lectures were online and tutorials were in person. These were not compulsory but considering I was paying for them, I went to as many as possible*.

    *I did skip one to watch the next superman actor – David Corenswet – act in an upcoming movie which was filmed on the campus. That’s another story altogether.

    Take every opportunity

    Getting out of the comfort zone is a core part of any study abroad experience. It’s an amazing opportunity, which broadens one’s horizons and opportunities.

    On The Mongoose film set (if you can’t tell from the grin, I like film sets).

    It’s a good idea to keep one ear on the ground – listening for competitions, events, and experiences. In my case, I sought out film sets around Melbourne. This got me invited to two film sets – The Mongoose (Liam Neeson) and Mr. Irrelevant (David Corenswet). Both were being filmed on my campus and I lingered around long enough to eventually be invited (a great technique).

    Self care…

    Understandably, studying abroad can be quite straining at times. The change in scenery, the distance from family, and the different culture can all be tiring.

    It tastes better than it looks. My go-to order: a subway salad (with a bit of everything), meatballs on the side and two cookies (if I feel particularly wild).

    So, I opted for some treats including watching some films, ordering a takeaway, and going for a swim (not in that order).

    Like most people, I have found that finding comforts in the unknown helps me to adapt to it.

    Taking time to reflect

    Time flies by when you’re having fun. It also flies by when you’re studying abroad. I can’t believe I’ve already been here for over 4 months!

    A fun time in The Lume art exhibition.

    Now, I have another 3 weeks before I leave the land down under. After a trip to Sydney in 6 days, hopefully I will have more to reflect on and share…

    #studyingabroad #australia #latrobeuniversity

  • Touring the Great Ocean Road

    Touring the Great Ocean Road

    As the name suggests, the Great Ocean Road is a big deal. Not just because of its 234-kilometre length, but also because it serves as a World War 1 memorial for fallen soldiers.

    As the name also suggests, the road is situated near the coast, with beautiful views to explore along the way.

    Tours are available for people to visit the Great Ocean Road and all of its associated attractions.

    I went on a tour, which started in the Melbourne city centre and ended in an ice cream factory in Brellbrae.

    These are my thoughts on the experience…

    The tour started at 6.30 in the morning. An early start was unfortunately necessary. To get there in time, we had to leave the hotel at around 5am at the latest – resulting in my alarm being set for 4am…

    The collection spot was two tram rides away from the hotel, so that paved the way for a new experience exploring the city in the dark.

    This was interesting, and surprisingly a lot safer than I expected. That being said, homeless people and intoxicated party-goers were very active, so I would recommend anyone going into a city at night to take a friend.

    Getting picked up was reasonably smooth sailing, although the driver was a few minutes late. When he arrived, the talking started and it rarely ended until after the tour had concluded.

    Driving out of the city was an educational experience, as the driver explained some of the facts and figures about the local sites and bridges that we passed.

    Skip to an hour or so later and we arrived at our first stop for breakfast. There were plenty of stops along the way (although perhaps an hour and a half leg without a stop was unfortunately timed for my bladder).

    A deadline of 20 minutes was given at each stop, with a “generous” 40 minutes for lunch.

    This leads me to my main criticism.

    The tour was beautiful, but rushed. I felt that I could never settle in one location. From the 12 Apostles to koalas in the forest, there was never enough time to really soak in the moment.

    By the end of the 13-hour trip, I was quite ready to lie in bed and recover.

    The experience overall was a good done, with stunning scenery to remember for a lifetime.

    But it was also a rushed, stressful experience. I would recommend anyone using a short one-day tour to see it simply as a reconnaissance for future travels.

    Alternatively, take a weekend tour instead.

    See the sights, and then return to your favourite ones for a hotel stay. And then sleep in at that hotel. Ideally, past 4am.

  • Enjoying Scenic Views and Fine Wines at Moffatdale Ridge

    Enjoying Scenic Views and Fine Wines at Moffatdale Ridge

    Nothing says boutique like a personalised experience and at the Moffatdale Ridge winery in Queensland, Australia, that is what exactly I got.

    Despite the large property, the visitor facilities are reasonably small. Next to the parking area are two buildings. One is for the wine, the other is for the people drinking it. I can imagine the place gets busy on weekends, but that was not the case on a Monday morning.

    The tasting room is essentially an open-door small shop, with the classic cold tiled floors you will find in the majority of Australian facilities.

    Drinks line the bordering shelves of the shop. Some are in giftable shapes and sizes, and others are in standard wine bottles.

    The family-run place has a surprisingly large variety of wines and liquors. For the mature palette, there are several dry wine options and a few sweet ones.

    The wine tasting itself was free, as it allows people to understand what they would like to purchase. As someone who merely likes wine, I found that there were some that I loved. Their late harvest white has the unique flavour of the rare-find Hannepoot wine, despite using a different variety of grape altogether.

    Outside the shop on the veranda, people can also eat a meal between tasting the wines and liquors.

    The deck overlooks the rolling hills of the Barambah Valley. In the distance are specks of cows and rows of grape vines.

    It is a surreal scene deserving of an oil painting equivalent.

    The food was decent, and between four people, the $45 (or around £22.25) “wine makers platter” was enough for all of us. That included toast, crackers, cheese, dried meats, gherkins, chicken liver pate, sundried tomatoes and chutney.

    After some stunning views and good food, the liquors and fortified wines were next.

    These were unbelievably delicious. I wanted to make my tasters last as long as possible.

    Suzan Kinsella, the owner of the winery, served us throughout and was evidently proud of her produce. She had no trouble answering our questions about the process and wine overall.

    The one-to-one interaction made the experience feel particularly special. As did the views.

    Overall, the environment was friendly and intimate. With the romantic landscape and atmosphere, this winery is a must-have stop for anyone* going through the region on a quiet Monday.

    *Excluding the designated driver, of course .

    Prices:

    Wines: $21 – $48

    Liquors: $20

    Wine tasting: free

    Food: $13 – $45

  • Exploring the Gold Coast: Q1, Surfer’s Paradise and a beautiful city

    Exploring the Gold Coast: Q1, Surfer’s Paradise and a beautiful city

    One thing I have heard a lot from my family is that the Brisbane area is the next big thing. Many people are said to be moving there, and I can see why.

    True, my family might be trying to convince me to immigrate here. But there is some validity to their words. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Brisbane is ranked the third city in population growth, and is set to grow.

    Migration is increasing, as more people leave Sydney and Melbourne.

    Brisbane is a popular city, but so is the Gold Coast, another city which is just south of Brisbane. It has a smaller population (a mere 625,087, according to a 2021 census), which is half of the 2021 Brisbane City population.

    This is the area that I have been spending the last two weeks exploring. This is what I have found:

    The Beach

    It goes without saying that the Gold Coast is a costal city. That means sand, waves, and naturally, surfers.

    Surfer’s Paradise is the name of the beach next to the city, and as the name suggests, is a go-to spot for surfers. People scatter like ants along the shoreline, chasing the perfect wave. The atmosphere is lively and the city’s facilities are all close. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy a McDonald’s ice cream while walking on the hot sand?

    As well as the beach tourism, you also have a variety of interesting buildings to explore, such as Q1.

    Q1

    Q1 is the tallest tower in Australia, and overlooks the beach as well as the city. Standing at a whopping 270m above sea level, its 78 floors stretch high into the sky. It is one of those places that is a real treat to go to. Breakfast, sightseeing and air conditioning are all available here.

    Hollywood

    The film industry is also prevalent along the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. Warner Bros’ Movie World is local to the Gold Coast and film studios such as Village Roadshow Studios have earnt the area the name: “the Hollywood of Australia”.

    Films made in the area including Elvis, Thor: Ragnarok, Aquaman and Kong: Skull Island.

    Greenery

    The wildlife is also incredible, with dolphins, bull sharks, pelicans, and kangaroos sharing the land (and water) with the locals. The further you venture out, the more likely you will find nature. The green scenery of Springbrook National Park is over an hour’s drive away, but worth it for the wild views.

    I have been told that the nightlife is also wild, but I have not tested this theory out for myself.

    Overall

    The Gold Coast is an incredible fusion between tropical and modern, with a culture that exudes sunshine and opportunity. It is a beautiful location, and its potential is certainly being recognised by many people.

  • Kara X Australia: Flying

    Kara X Australia: Flying

    Prepare for the worst, pray for the best.

    These are words to live by when it comes to travelling by flight.

    It’s a good thing, too. Because preparation paid off. I went to Heathrow a day before my flight, just in case there were issues with the train lines. And there were. BIG ONES.

    The entire Elizabeth line was knocked out, which would have meant severe delays for anyone travelling to the airport.

    Not for me (cue evil laughter).

    It is important to avoid stress as much as possible when it comes to these sorts of things. Especially if a 47 hour travelling period is involved.

    That means comfortable clothes, investing in a foot rest for the plane, and ensuring you download your Spotify playlists.

    Trainers and joggers: a comfortable flying outfit (featuring the Premier Inn room)

    Australia is ridiculously far away. You don’t realise just how big the planet is until 24 hours of sleepless travel has left you with left for right, right for left, legs that are jetlagged and a brain that is cramping.

    Some mild confusion is a certain side effect of long haul flights. I react to extreme tiredness like someone who is essentially tipsy.

    In all honesty, I did sign up for this.

    Plus, it wasn’t all bad. There were some great moments.

    I met some amazing people, including an Uber driver who was proud of his kids, essentially acting like the dad from Bluey. There was also a Heathrow staff member who upgraded me to economy plus for free.

    Of course, the nice moments, like sugar, is only sweet when compared to sour things like these:

    The airport facilities in LAX were… less than welcoming.

    I will only be persuaded to go back into LA if a film set is involved.

  • Kara X Australia: Preparing

    Kara X Australia: Preparing

    Hello there! Join me, a British journalism student, as I venture into Australia to study at Melbourne’s La Trobe University as an exchange student.

    In this post, I will discuss everything I did to prepare for studying abroad. That includes the application process, the cover letter stage, interview and visa.

    Buckle up. Things are about to get a little “admin heavy”.

    Applying

    The year I applied to study abroad in the University of Lincoln, around 16,000 students were given this opportunity.

    Some partner universities would only be available for students studying media. Others were open to all 16,000 students who might want to apply.

    That included Melbourne’s La Trobe.

    My lecturers said that everybody wanted to study here. So, who was I to apply? I was only few months into my degree, still a newbie.

    It might sound underwhelming. But the answer to the above was simple:

    “Why not?”

    Studying abroad was a scary concept, but I was always up for a challenge. Especially if it meant I would be opening up my employability prospects.

    So, I registered my interest and applied. But first, I needed to write a cover letter. Ideally, using more than “why not?” as an argument.

    My Cover Letter

    A cover letter is not always the most exciting thing to write. Even if you are excited to apply for the job or opportunity that requires it.

    But genuine enthusiasm is definitely a necessity.

    Thankfully, I had grown more eager to go as the prospect became more real.

    In my cover letter, I included:

    • A general understanding of the culture and course to show I had done research.
    • An eagerness to go.
    • A promise to represent both universities well.
    • A specific understanding of why the international course is beneficial to my academic and personal interests.
    • Examples of me being a good student.
    • Some light reassurance that I could afford this.

    It must have worked, because sometime after, I was then called for an interview with my lecturers.

    But that did not go how I expected. At all.

    Stand Your Ground

    It felt quite intimidating at the time, but looking back I can understand why they needed to make sure I was sure of my decision.

    Before walking into that interview, I was mostly certain. But during a near-debate with my lecturers, I HAD to be certain. They gave me every reason to doubt I would ever be accepted, and tried to persuade me to consider joining other universities.

    But I stood my ground. By the time I left my interview I was very certain that La Trobe is where I wanted to go.

    Acceptance

    The acceptance stage is a funny one. Just because you are accepted does not mean you are enrolled. And just because you are enrolled does not mean you are going.

    Acceptance is the first step of enrolment, and enrolment is the first step of getting a visa.

    But I still punched the air when I saw that I was accepted. Now going to another country to study was a bit more possible.

    The To-Do List Stage

    If anyone wants to study abroad, I would offer them this tip above all else: BUY A NOTEBOOK. One dedicated just to studying abroad, because after I was invited to the pre-departure conference, my to-do-list was never the same…

    The conference was an informative session teaching us about the visa application process, when to purchase your ticket, how to fill in the risk assessment and so forth.

    It was also an opportunity to ask questions like, how to get a new sim card for your phone once you arrive and the importance of telling your bank you’re going abroad.

    This is where things started to get very informative.

    And a little overwhelming. Studying abroad had moved from being an abstract into a visible destination in the distance.

    GRANTS, GRANTS, GRANTS

    This headline can also be “DEADLINES, DEADLINES, DEADLINES.” These are so important, especially if you don’t have a massive amount in your bank account. I set alarms on my phone and filled in my notebook to remind me of the deadlines to apply for things.

    There was a deadline for grants, a deadline to arrange a visa, and a deadline to select my subjects.

    Enrolling Is A Pain

    Remember when I said “just because you are accepted does not mean you are enrolled. And just because you are enrolled does not mean you are going?”

    That’s where this statement comes in.

    I was accepted by La Trobe. But I was not enrolled. That took much longer.

    In Australia, if you want a student subclass 500 visa, you need a certificate of enrollment (CoE).

    So, for a few months there was essentially nothing I could do but fill in paperwork and wait for a CoE.

    As soon as that came through, I could start the visa process.

    Am I A War Criminal?

    Filling the visa itself was not too grueling. I finished it after 2-3 hours.

    However, all global visas have different processes and ask different questions. One of the ones I was given was “Am I a war criminal?”

    To avoid any confusion, I should make it clear. The answer to that is no.

    It took two months exactly before the visa was approved.

    Packing

    This is where you find me now. I am writing this in part due to procrastination. I will be flying in a week, and have barely started cramming my suitcase. Wish me luck on the next phase.

    If you have any questions about the study abroad process, please feel free to ask!