The start of it all...

Hello readers,



Although I'm new to blogging in general I've decided to set up this page after spending my first 12 days in an exciting and for me relatively new place called Sydney, Australia. It is quickly becoming my 'home away from home' simply because I will be spending my next 17.5 months here. Normally, home for me is the greater area of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where I have lived for a good part of my adult life.



My main reason for moving to Sydney is to acquire a postgraduate degree in International Business. Taking the step to do a study abroad, whether it is to gain an undergraduate or postgraduate degree is something that many people dream about but may never get a chance to realize because of various reasons. I consider myself to be fortunate enough to have that opportunity and I have therefore taken the necessary steps to get myself accepted at a university which is considered to be one of the better schools in Sydney: Macquarie University. For those of you who are interested to learn more about the school and its programs, please visit: http://www.international.mq.edu.au/



The first week or so was very hectic to say the least and was mainly spent on finding myself a semi permanent place to live and to arrange things like electricity, gas, internet etc. Obviously it's most convenient to pay for those types of services through a domestic bank so I also set up an account with Westpac. During these 8 days I stayed at the Sovereign Inn hotel in an area called Crows Nest, which is in North Sydney. I'd heard from various people who know Sydney well that this would be a good area to use as a starting point because it's very centrally located (between Central Business District and school) and has a lot to offer in terms of great restaurants, bars, shopping and public transport. I must admit that their advice was spot on because having the luxury of leaving your apartment and having restaurants and shopping close at hand became one of my main selection criteria in finding myself the proper place. Hey, if you plan to live somewhere for the next 1.5 years you better get it right the first time around!

Searching for an apartment here is easily done through websites like http://www.realestate.com.au/ or http://www.domain.com.au/. Going about it this way will save you lots of time but be critical, and make sure that you don't just take the first place that seems 'satisfactory'. I ended up settling for a great little place in Neutral Bay that is completely furnished and has everything from a dishwasher to pots and pans, a washer/dryer, a living room with home entertainment appliances and all the necessary furniture and a comfortable bed plus even a floor to ceiling mirror closet much like the one I have at home in the Netherlands.



Since taking care of those arrangements I have had a bit of time to relax, going to places like Darling Harbour for drinks and to Manly Beach to enjoy the sunshine and the surf. I have also gone to Macquarie Uni a few times in the past week for orientation, pre-enrolment and finally enrolment today. I will be taking 4 subjects each semester (semester is 13 weeks) and this semester consists of accounting, principles of finance, macro economics and marketing. I will start classes on Tuesday with one course, 2 subjects on Wednesday and one on Friday, meaning I have no classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Every school day I start early morning, which allows me to have plenty of time after each class to hit the library and do what needs to be done.



I am certain that the new study will eat up a good chunk of my time on a daily basis and that's OK, but there is such a thing as life after work and so my other objective, which I consider to be just as important, is to master (hence the name of this blog site) the challenges and experiences that everyday Sydney life will throw my way. Basically I plan on working and playing hard so that when I look back 1,5 years from now I can honestly say that I have left no stone unturned and have 'mastered' Sydney in every sense of the word, leaving me with tons of extra knowledge, new friends and acquaintances and unforgettable experiences and memories to enjoy for a lifetime.



Next blog I will post some pictures of my experiences so far and the apartment and surrounding area of Neutral Bay. I will try to update this blog on a weekly or biweekly basis, so stay tuned and get ready for more! Also, free to drop me a line whenever... Cheers!



Ilja