Enrolled, ready and waiting for Monday

Yesterday, I hopped on a train to Footscray and wandered over to Victoria University's Footscray Nicholson Campus to enroll for my Cert III in Children's Services (i.e. Childcare), which starts this Monday.

While I had to enroll at the Footscray Nicholson Campus, I'll actually be studying at the St. Albans Campus, which is much closer to home. The course runs full-time over six months, which means 9:00am - 4:00pm Monday to Friday from February to the end of July. By the end of my studies I will be a qualified childcare assistant, able to work in a variety of long and occasional daycare centers caring for children, from infants to pre-school age.

I think it'll take me a few weeks to settle in, as I've been off study for a while. Every time I feel like giving up, I'll just have to remind myself that I did 8:30am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday from the time I was 5-years-old until just before my 18th birthday. That's thirteen years, and I never had problems with wanting to give up then. After the first few weeks, I think I'll be fine, and I'll settle into the new rhythm fairly easily once I get to know the ropes. I'll still get up at my normal time of seven o'clock (yes, I really do get up at seven), because it'll give me time to get up, get dressed, have some breakfast, pack my bag and get an early train to uni.

I haven't been given a timetable yet, but I've been told that I'll be given one on Monday, when I start my course. On Monday, I have to head to Portable 1R, where I suppose I'll have my first class. I'm hoping I've found my iPad keyboard by then, as I prefer to type than take notes, but I'll still hidden in a box somewhere. Oh well, I've got tomorrow and the weekend to find it. I think the subjects will be similar  if not exactly the same, as the ones I studied briefly in Mildura. 

To tell you the truth, I'm nervous and excited all at the same time. When it gets tough, I just have to keep my eye on the prize and remind myself that this is what I want.

I'll post more about childcare, my course, and my timetable and things start to reveal themselves on Monday and beyond. Watch this space for more info on Monday, after my first day.

~ Australian Kiwi

Trying to figure out the time zone's makin' me CRAZY

My best friend left for Sweden on Friday night to do a five month study exchange. She hasn't even been gone for 24 hours and I already miss her like there's no tomorrow. I want her to have an awesome, amazing time abroad, but I won't lie, I wish she was here.

This is us, I'm on the right

I'm also a tinsey, tinesy bit jealous, but in a good way. She's in Sweden, on another continent in a whole different hemisphere, while I'm still in Australia. Don't get me wrong, I love Australia, but I'd still love to be doing a study exchange overseas. Although, if I get into the course I want, which is only six months, and get a job afterwards (the industry I want to get into is just begging for workers) I'll be able to start saving up to go on a TEFL internship to either China or Vietnam in 2014 or 2015, which I'm just dying to do. Maybe then I'll get my overseas adventure.

Until then, I've decided that, at least until I start my course, I'm going to make everyday in Melbourne an adventure, starting tomorrow. I don't know what kind of adventures I'm going to have yet, but I'll keep you all posted. I'll take my iPod with me and take some photos of where I go (maybe even some video, but no promises) and let you know how it all went.

I'm sure my friend will read this at some point, and, if you do, I want you to know that I miss you, and I hope you're not too jet lagged. Enjoy your day, whatever comes, I send me a postcard when you're all settled in. <3 p="p">

~ Australian Kiwi