Arcadia Australia

Living at Marketview: University of Wollongong

Student Interview with Nadia  Romero Nardelli

Where did you study?

University of Wollongong

Where did you live?

Marketview at the University of Wollongong

What was the culture of your accommodation like?

The culture of Marketview is special because one can have as much privacy and "alone time" as one wants. However, it's easy to find something to do since people are constantly posting on the Facebook group invitations to join for a coffee, a beach stroll, or even hikes!

What surprised you the most about your accommodation?

What surprised me the most was the people sending open invitations to activities even if they didn't know you. They are really eager to meet new people, and to help you out to navigate around Wollongong.

Also the fact that all you needed was to post a message on the Facebook page about an idea, and 5 minutes later you would have a lot of people joining in, or helping you plan the activity.

How easy was it too meet Australians?

Very easy. Marketview has a great balance between international students and Aussie students. In fact, most of the friends I made are Australian students. I met most of them thanks to the carpooling to Uni.

What sorts of social events / activities / pastoral care did they organise (if any)?

Marketview has a monthly calendar in which every Friday there was an activity for "wind down Friday" such as DIY face masks, DYI smoothies, beach time, or movie nights. On Saturdays there was yoga, and on Sundays there was "Stay active Sunday" so there would be hikes, or dodgeball matches in the lawn. Furthermore, every last Friday of the month there was a free Aussie BBQ for everyone.

Sunday-Thursday at 6pm there’s RESPASS in the conference room. This is like a study session in which one can go and do work, ask questions, and get some snacks!

As mentioned before, anyone could organize events since people are very eager to join. For example, on Monday nights we would screen the episodes of Game of Thrones at the conference room. After two episodes it was already a part of the "culture" and everyone would go to the conference room with some snacks and blankets.

What was your favourite memory from your semester living there?

The monthly BBQs were a lot of fun, it wasn't about the food (which was free, so that's a plus), it was more about coming all together and using the facilities we had downstairs, such as the Mario Kart Wii, the pool table, the ping pong table, and the dozens of table games.

For new students living at your accommodation what advice would give them?

Don't be scared or shy to join in the activities people post on Facebook. It might sound weird to grab brunch or a coffee with someone you never met before, but they are amazing folks! Same with the carpool to Uni. Everyday people post in the group if anyone needs a ride to Uni. And although the free bus stops only a few blocks away, I strongly recommend to join the carpooling to meet more people (it's also free, by taking people they get free parking, so it's a win-win situation).