Obligatory Introduction Post

I'm not much of a journal person - supposedly speaking to inanimate objects is a sign of impeding craziness so what's the difference in writing to one? According to Alice is a way of recording my adventures whilst overseas on exchange at the National Institute of Education, situated within Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (without reminding me of potential mental instability). To start with the basics, I'm a twenty year old Sydney girl studying a Bachelor of Political, Economic and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney (definitely the best uni in Sydney!). I love my uni as well as the subjects I'm studying although everyone seems to think I'm destined to become a politician. I guess when I rattle off the name of my degree, they must stop listening after the first few seconds - can't really blame them when I run out of air just saying it! I believe in pushing myself out of my comfort zone and travel has always been on my agenda and so student exchange seemed to be the perfect way of melding both aspects. My semester begins in January and will end in May (so I'll be leaving before the massive sales in June/July - devastating I know!). Before I show you the new life I'll be building in Singapore, I wanted to show you the parts I'm leaving behind. 

These photos are from my favourite building on campus - the quad! It's got a lot of character and reminds me of Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films (my inner nerd especially loves the Great Hall and our USyd Quidditch team). Also included are photos from Victoria Park which is beautiful all year round, especially in the spring. The Jacaranda tree in the Quad has become part of the student legend. It's said that if students haven't started studying before the tree begins to bloom, then they've left it too late to ace their exams. Luckily I had begun studying when I took this photo!

With my departure imminent, stress levels are rising (although I could be kidding myself - I tend to be a stresshead and thus stressed most of the time). The list of things to do has had all items ticked off before new items are added again each morning, causing the days to fly as if I was in the TARDIS and skipping them altogether (bonus points if you get the sci-fi reference). Time to catch up with friends is running thin while my biggest challenge (packing!) is still before me. Moving overseas without any family or friends to rely on? No problems. Packing my life in a suitcase to get there? Well that's a different story entirely...