What practical luggage should I bring with me to study in Australia?

Luggage Preparation - Practical

Regarding the luggage list, because basic supplies in Australia are not very expensive, depending on personal circumstances, it is best to prepare some things that are different between Australia and China, such as Bring 3-pin power conversion sockets, personal care and skin care products, network cables and telephone cables for computers, etc. Bring more casual wear and less formal wear. In terms of gifts, there is no need to bring Chinese knots or anything else. There are too many foreign countries. When communicating with foreigners, you don’t need to give expensive gifts. Postcards, stamps, etc. are the best.

Accommodation - each has advantages and disadvantages

International students mainly have the following options for accommodation in Australia:

Homestay (living in local residents’ homes): due to Western families and Chinese families have different living habits, so students who choose this kind of accommodation should respect the landlord's habits, ask everything before taking action, and try not to come home late. The biggest problem is diet, I am not used to meat food. Most Westerners don't know how to cook Chinese food. Prices vary from region to region.

Boarding

School (boarding school): The management of boarding schools is not very strict. They generally have independent bedrooms and share public facilities. They are basically close to schools or shopping malls. The price It is relatively the most expensive. Accommodation fees are paid by semester.

Sharing a house: When renting a house with classmates or friends, you should pay attention to comparisons and consider many factors, including the landlord, price, tenants’ living habits and other factors.

Rent a house from an agency: When renting a house from an agency, pay attention to the contract period and do not break the contract. When looking for a tenant to live with, you must know each other well and try to be familiar friends. If you need to buy furniture for an empty house, you can read weekend newspapers and school advertisements. Many places sell second-hand furniture on weekends every week.

No matter what kind of accommodation situation, the fee is basically calculated on a weekly basis, and a deposit of 2-4 weeks is required, and the fee is paid first every month. Be sure to remember to get receipts and contracts, and carefully understand the details. Australian schools have accommodation offices. If you encounter unfair treatment, you must protect your rights. The school will contact the community or government departments to help solve the problem. If you are moving, tell your landlord at least two weeks in advance.

English learning - listen more and practice more

The content of the language center is very limited. You need to find opportunities to listen more and practice more. You can participate in weekly activities organized by the church in the school. Membership is not required. The Western church can understand the local society, and the Chinese church can help every student solve their life difficulties. There are also exchange programs for local students and international students in the school, so you should actively understand and participate. You can also participate in more activities of the Chinese Students' Union. The Chinese Students' Union of each school is a loose association organized spontaneously and keeps in touch with the embassy on a regular basis.

Bank issues - choose banks carefully and pay attention to details

It is best to bring Australian dollars. Most banks cannot deposit US dollars. Some banks can exchange them, but the handling fees are high. St. George Bank and The exchange rate of Bank of China is relatively good. It is best to open an account, apply for a card and make a deposit at a bank within the school. The handling fees for withdrawals between different banks are high. Generally, there are student accounts, which are free of handling fees, interest taxes, etc. Interest rates in Australia are complicated. You must pay attention to the interest rates on deposits. There are many interest rates for different amounts and different periods. Generally, the interest rate is divided into about 50,000 yuan. The time deposit must be withdrawn or transferred within one week after it expires, otherwise a handling fee of tens of yuan will be charged. Overseas wire transfers are very cheap and there is no problem of banknote transfer.

Transportation issues - compare fares

All buses or trains run according to timetables. The timetables are at the stations. The schools can get them for free, and you can check them all through the Internet. Train and flight. There are very few trains on weekends. When buying tickets, you can buy 10-time tickets or weekly tickets or combined tickets for more discounts. There are no discounts for international students as non-immigrants, and fare evasion is subject to fines and will be recorded on your visa record. When taking the train, please note that off-peak hours in each region vary from AM 8:00 or AM 9:00. All fares during off-peak hours are discounted by nearly 50%.

Driving issues - be careful when buying a car and driving carefully

A Chinese driver’s license can be used. Once you get your driver's license, you can have it translated and notarized in China and then use it in Australia, or you can directly go to the designated department of the local RTA (Australian Transport Agency) to translate it and then you can drive directly. The cost is about 50 yuan. There are many factors to consider when buying a car, and it’s best to look at the car with someone who understands it. You must have basic insurance, and it is best to know a little knowledge about car repairs. Repair labor is very expensive there. It would be best if you take a local driver's license, which can be used as an ID card and you don't need to carry your passport around.

Working issues - apply for a work visa first, then go to work

International students who want to work in Australia must first apply for a work visa, and then go to the tax bureau to apply for a tax number. Remember that July is tax refund month every year, and you need to apply for tax refund if you buy things or work for less than 6,000 yuan. When looking for a job, you can find an agency to help you find a job in a big city, and the agency fee is small. Chinese workers rarely pay taxes, which is very different from Western workers. There are better jobs in schools, but they are few and far between. Temporary jobs such as research assistants and tutors have the highest salaries.

Medical issues - you can bring your own medicines

Overseas students’ medical expenses can guarantee that international students will receive free medical treatment and prescriptions during their studies, and free medicines for colds and other minor illnesses. Other medicines are not free. It’s free, but dental care is very expensive and is not covered by medical insurance. It’s best to go abroad for dental care.

You must have some daily medicine, especially medicine for mosquito bites in summer. You also have to pay every year when renewing your medical insurance.

Transfer issues - the procedures are not complicated

As long as you transfer before the school starts, it is very convenient to transfer within the college, and it is not difficult to transfer to different colleges. However, in addition to having to study for 12 months when transferring to different schools, there is also the problem of not many credits being waived.

Communication issues - low long-distance charges

You can choose to sign contracts with different companies according to the cost of mobile phones. There are always companies with free time and discounted networks. Generally, many Chinese students choose OPTUS. Card, there are many free services. There are many international long-distance calling cards in each city, and the rates often change, but in general the cost is relatively cheap, with the lowest call back to China being around 0.1 yuan/minute

What to bring with you when studying abroad

It was my first time to live abroad for an extended period of time, and it felt like I had to move my entire home with me. Therefore, it is a wise choice to do things like packing yourself. First of all, after arriving in Australia, you are the one to unpack and pack your luggage. If you don’t know where the things you need to take are, how can you start the long journey of studying abroad? Secondly, at the customs office, if If you are asked what this thing is in this place and you can't tell it, you will be in big trouble! Also, please note that there is a limit to free baggage on the plane. You should pay attention to the baggage restrictions. Generally, domestic airlines have Checked baggage is 30KG for economy class and 40KG for student tickets. However, for overseas companies such as Qantas, JAL, and Singapore Airlines, economy class is generally 20KG and there are no student privileges.

The slogan of Australian Customs is "Hurt Australia, or hurt your wallet".

Try not to bring food in your luggage when bringing it to Australia. It is no exaggeration to say that Australian customs is the most stringent and restrictive customs in the world. They believe that the food you eat may contain collaterals that can multiply unrestrictedly in Australia, such as bacteria, viruses, and plant seeds. Before a friend got on the plane, her mother put a big bag of cherries in her schoolbag for fear that she would be reluctant to buy cherries when she came to Australia. It turned out that she didn’t know and didn’t declare it. The tragic outcome was that he was fined more than 670 Australian dollars (equivalent to more than 4,000 yuan).

Although Australia is a highly liberal country, if you break the law, the punishment is quite strict. Some customs staff know two Chinese words, "milk" and "meat". When they see it, they will ask you for a fine. The slogan of Australian Customs is "hurt Australia, or hurt your wallet." Of course, if you have already brought it, you must declare it. Because the inspection methods include not only X-ray fluoroscopy, manual touch, but also opening the bag to look at with eyes, questioning, etc., and of course, drug detection dogs. When the customs asks you, you must remember to keep a calm expression. Don't be confused and sweaty because it is your first time in Australia or you don't understand what the other person is saying. This way, even if you have no problem, others will come to check. Remember to fill in the immigration card and some very basic information forms before entering the customs. Depending on your university level, you will have no problem handling such forms. Just check carefully and make sure you don’t make mistakes. Of course, if you fill them in incorrectly, there will be There are plenty of spares available.

What should you bring when flying?

Slippers: Some international flights do not provide thick socks in the economy class, so bring a pair of hotel-type thin disposable slippers to keep yourself comfortable. It is necessary to relax your feet within ten hours.

Belt: Sitting for a long time, especially when the seat is relatively narrow, is not an exaggeration to say it is a punishment. A hard belt used during physical therapy to wrap around the waist can play a very good role in protecting and preventing injuries.

Air pillow: Buy a better-quality one, which only costs 20 to 30 yuan. The material is thick and soft, and can be used for a long time without air leakage. Don't inflate it too much when using it, it can give your neck good support.

Eye mask: It may not be issued on board. If you bring your own, you can decide the tightness, size, and thickness yourself, which is much more comfortable. Portable DVD: Bringing two or three favorite discs will make it easier to pass the time.

mp3: The reason is the same as above. In addition, listening to mp3 with a blindfold on has a very good hypnotic effect.

Small bottle of toilet water: fresh and refreshing. What's more important is that when seats are tight, you have to be prepared because you are very likely to encounter neighbors with various "flavors". It can help you isolate effectively.

Face mask: The simplest hydrating type will do. It's so dry on an airplane that your skin dries out easily. Apply one piece while sleeping, it is convenient and practical.

Small packaged skin care products and cosmetics. Go to the bathroom to tidy up before getting off the plane and put on simple makeup to make you look radiant.