Exams, BridgeClimb, Rugby

Thursday, April 24th

I took my first Australian exam. It was in my Intermediate Macroeconomics class. Lets just say the whole experience was quite different to what I am use to.

First, I have economics on Thursday from noon – 2 PM. In America, if you have a midterm, you can expect that it will be given during normal class time. In this case, Thursdays at noon. However, not in Australia. The exam was schedule for 6 PM on Thursday. Yes, I had to take extra time out of my day to take an exam. I get to the building a bit early, and there is a large group (about a 100) students waiting to go in. I overhear people talking about seat numbers. Seat numbers? No one ever told me what I need a seat number for? Or, where I get it. I panicked a bit. Luckily, turns out for this exam you didn’t need one (however, for finals you do…and they are administered through the university). We are let into the room and everyone puts their bags at the back of the room (very unlike GW. I have only had to put my bag against the wall once during an exam at GW), takes out their student IDs (again, never needed for testing at GW), and eventually makes their way to their seat. We are given 10 minutes of “reading time.” Another new concept. During this time you are allowed to write your name on the test and read the questions. No writing though (except to write your name). I didn’t really like the time, especially for an economics test. I like to dive right in when I read a question. Reading the questions and not being able to write anything down just got myself into a panic as I cannot shifts economics curves in my head very well. So, after reading a couple questions I stopped until we were actually allowed to begin the exam.

I got the exam back today (Thursday, May 1st). I am very pleased with how I did. Only about 15 students did better than me (in a class of 100)…which I am shocked about because I didn’t feel that confident leaving the testing room. And, I earned a Distinction (75%). This translates to a B+ at home. While, I probably wouldn’t be too happy with a B+ at home, distinctions are considered very good in Australia. The other week I received Credit (67%) on an assignment I turned in. My tutor told me that was pretty good. While I am happy I received something well above the passing mark, the more I look at this assignment the higher marks I think I deserve, but whatever. The credit translates to a B- at home. Again, not exactly grades I shoot for. Overall, I am happy with how I am doing. I am not going to lie, it was a bit hard to swallow a 67%! That is almost a failing grade at GW. And, here that is considered to be a solid assignment. Here is the grading scale and how it translates to the American scale:

HD 90 – 100% A+
HD 85 – 89% A
D 80 – 84% A-
D 75 – 79% B+
C 70 – 74% B
C 65 – 69% B-
P 60 – 64% C+
P 50 – 59% C
PC 45 – 49% D
Fail 0 – 44% F
Fail (X) F

HD is a high distinction, and is considered to be excellent work. They give very few HDs out. P is just a simple pass.

Friday, April 25th

Today was Anzac Day. So no classes…yet I don’t have classes so it really didn’t effect me. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The day was originally to commemorate the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Basically, their forces landed in the wrong location, a long fight ensued, and many lives were lost. Now, the day in Australia is to remember anyone who has been lost in battle. How do they do this? Of course, there was a dawn service. But, mostly the drink (in true Aussie fashion).

Sarah and I met my friend Lindsay from NSW (I met her in the Outback). She brought a couple friends along and we went and saw the Princess Di exhibit at the Powerhouse Museum. I went because everyone else wanted to go, but all in all I liked it. Sarah stayed at the Powerhouse Museum, while Lindsay, myself, and company went onto explore. We had lunch at McDonald’s in Darling Harbor. Not too exciting. But a side note about McDonald’s…or Mackers as the Aussies refer to it as. They really like it. In America, no one is ever excited to eat at McDonalds (unless you are a children), and even if you are you pretend that you aren’t as McDonald’s is gross, greasy, and unhealthy. However, mention Mackers to an Aussie (yes, even the ones over 8 years of age) and they are pumped for it. I have yet to hear one Aussie say anything negative about Mackers. However, the portions are much different. For the standard value meal, you get a small fry and small drink (I think it is the size that comes with a happy meal these days, though it could be smaller). To get the standard American size, you have to upgrade to a large.

After lunch, we walked around a few of the stores downtown. And, finally made our way to the harbor. Here, like always, a photo shoot ensued. After a while, we made our way over to the Rocks and to the BridgeClimb building. We got there pretty early, so we sat around for a while. Eventually, the time came for the climb. The preparation for the climb is pretty hardcore. Our blood alcohol levels were tested, we were given jumpsuits to wear, passed through metal detectors to ensure we didn’t have any jewel, hairclips, watches, etc. on (you were not allowed to take ANYTHING with you. Lindsay even had to take out her bobby pins?!?), harnessed up, and then received lots of accessories (I had so much stuff clipped to me, 2 jackets – a rain and soft shell, a hankie, a radio, and a flashlight, and I didn’t even take everything they offered). The climb itself was not hard at all. On the way up we had a view of an amazing sunset (it was very upsetting I didn’t have a camera). We walked all the way to the summit! The views from the top were breath taking and definitely worth the money I shelled out for this.

After the climb, we headed to Pancakes on the Rocks as Lindsay and Erin had not been there. Good as always.

Saturday, April 26th

Started with going to the Glebe Markets. A while ago, Sarah and I went and she brought this really pretty necklace. The women only had one, so I went back in search on it or one similar. She didn’t have this week, but said to come next (and I plan to!). I also got a few gifts to take home – so the trip was at least somewhat productive.

The next stop was the library ☹ Picked up some books for a paper I have to write. Currently, about half way done with the rough draft…so it is coming along I guess.

I managed to get little work done in the afternoon. And, come evening it was time for the Waratahs v. Sharks game. I went out to dinner with Sarah and her friend from NSW. Dinner was great and cheap! However, the whole process (starting with dinner) was a complete disaster. Some people forgot about dinner, so they were starting dinner when we were ready to leave for the game. So, we made a pit stop to drop off their tickets and picked up jackets (PS – it gets chilly in Aussie land. WHO KNEW? I was chilly in just a sweatshirt (and this is the warmest article of clothing I brought) at points during this past weekend. Normally, at home I think I would be fine but it went from hot to cold in pretty much a day. A jacket is on the to-get list). We get to the bus station, knowing what bus we need, I thought it would rather obvious where the bus was stopping, but it was not. And, there were no stations workers to ask. We ended up asking a guy in a Waratahs jersey, if was going to the game and if we were in the right location. He said “Yes,” so we stayed put…and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, at 7:15 (game started at 7:30), we decided to get a cab. We finally got one, and managed only to miss the first 15 minutes of the game ☺ However, it did not fare as well for the others who came later. They misinterpreted another friend’s directions, ended up on the other side of the city, and saw only the last 18 minutes of the game. It was still great fun though even if no one knew what was going on. Waratahs won, though I don’t remember the score.

Oh, some other information on rugby. First, there are two rugby leagures..the Union and League. They each have different rules and generally the Rugby Union is considered better to watch (that is the league the Waratahs are in). However, their structure of the the leagues are quite different to the NFL. I thought they would be like the NFL, there would be multiple teams around Australia, and they would play rotate playing each other throughout the season. That is wrong. The Union has 14 teams, some from different countries (the Sharks were from South Africa), and they play each rather irregularly throughout the season in my opinion (nothing like every Sunday in football season).