Cabs are here!

One thing I'm getting good at here in Newcastle is taking public transport. Maybe not what you were expecting but when you don't have a car (and they drive on the opposite side of the road so that's tricky), you have to improvise. Luckily for me, I've made friends with people who have cars so if I ever need to make a grocery run to Woolys or go to the beach, I can just hitch a ride. 

But for travelling beyond Uni, mastering the train system is vital. It's only a quick 15 minute ride into downtown Newcastle for times when the Evatt gang is going out. Or a 2.5 hour ride down to Sydney. I've been using that one a lot, especially when the train takes you right to the airport.

Unfortunately, I don't have the student travel concession sticker which would make traveling half off. Only Australian students are eligible, but at $3 I can't really complain.

Another great Aussie travel treat is the maxi taxi. Find up to 11 of your closest Evatt friends and you can head to anywhere for $5. Perfect for coming back from a night out when the train only runs every hour.

No matter where you are in Australia, there is some kind of transportation option that will get you from adventure A to adventure B or just home.

Cheers for now,

Kim

Money, Money, Money

To the tune of "For the Love of Money" by the O'Jays.
As part of an effort to become a student bloger for Study in Australia, I am having an educational post once a week for prospective study abroad applicants. This week I am talking about the all important subject of the Benjamin's. At the moment the exchange rate for the American dollar and the Australian dollar is about 1:1. I've already picked up a couple of pointers that I would like to pass on: 

 1. Order money from your local bank before you head to the Land Down Under. Your bank will be kinder with exchange fees than the airport. It cost me $30 to exchange my money at the Sydney airport! 2. Most banks offer free bank accounts for students. I set one up the first week I was at Newcastle and the bank tellers were super helpful. I'm now a proud member of Commonwealth Bank. Plus having an Australian bank account means that you don't have to pay ATM charges. Bonus! 3. Alert your local bank that you will be abroad for an extended amount of time so they don't put a hold on your account. Currency: The NotesAustralia was the first country in the world to have a complete system of bank notes made from plastic. These notes provide much greater security against counterfeiting. They also last four times as long as conventional paper notes. 

The $5 note features Parliament House in Canberra, the national capital. The $10 note features poet Dame Mary Gilmore.The $50 note features Aboriginal writer and inventor David Unaipon.

Currency: The Coins 

Australia doesn't have one dollar bills but instead has a one dollar and two dollar coin. Also they have coins for 10, 20 and 50 cents. The 50 cent coin is the size of a gold dollar and carries Australia’s coat of arms: the six state badges on a central shield supported by a kangaroo and an emu, with a background of Mitchell grass.

 Cheers for now,Kim