10 things I like about Murdoch...

...in no particular order, several being based around food.

1. Quendas.
How can your university experience not be enriched by the addition of small furry animals? On many an occasion whilst strolling the campus, iPod blocking out the warning signs that little beasties may be nearby, I have been startled by one of these fuzzy critters as they dart from underneath the scrub, my garbled girlish scream heard clearly over Billy Joel's voice singing directly into my ears. Having said that, the Quendas are just as inclined to bring screams of delight from passersby, as their cuteness, like that of a puppy, can cause even the most macho man to point and go "awwwwww!"

2. The tutors are young and cool.
These cool sneaker-wearing hipsters, often only a year or two older than I am, remind me that once I turn 30 I don't suddenly morph into a 1950's housewife with a pipe-smoking husband and 2.5 kids in tow. Most of my tutors haven't been cocooned in the academic world for most of their lives, the reality of actually working in the industry in which they teach blurred in a haze of essay marking and plaid jackets. Instead their practical experience and relate-ability bridges the gap between student and tutor, making for a far more enjoyable experience and the occasional high five.

3. Bubble O Bills
Many of my childhood summers were spent nomming on Bubble O Bill ice-creams, carefully eating each flavour of his cowboy face separately until I reached his bubble gum nose, emblazoned with a corny cowboy saying. And as I get older, the sentimentality I have towards things of my past grows and I find my house filled with Star Wars Pez dispensers, Lego and many a corny 80's movie. So when I discovered that the Ref stocked Bubble O Bills, an ice-cream I believed to exist only in my past, I rejoiced. And although his nose no longer contains witty quips, the enjoyment I get from sitting in Bush Court gobbling down half a dozen Bubble O Bills takes me back to my barefoot childhood and I smile.

4. Everything is online.
I am lazy. I know it. In fact, sometimes i almost have demented pride in the fact. My dream job would either be something where I get to read fantasy books all day or write about my achingly boring life in a blog. Well, anything I got to lie down whilst doing really. My motto is "why do something that a machine can do for you?". I mean, that's why non-lazy people studied mechanical engineering, to make my life easier. Since the invention of the internet I can now do almost everything online thus satisfying my hunger for nanna naps . I shop online, watch TV online, do research online, manage my finances online, even socialise online! Who needs to go and meet their friends down at the coffee shop when you can simply poke them on Facebook from the comfort of your own couch. No pants required! So the fact that almost all of my uni work is online delights me. Lectures are recorded and put on the web, along with unit outlines and assignments. I can sign up for everything online and get all my marks online. Wonderful!

5. It's not a fashion show.
Although I don't condone leaving the house and turning up to your lectures in your pyjamas, I can't stand when people dress up for uni how I dress for a wedding. Stilettos on campus are only good for one things and that's aerating the lawn. I've worked at and attended other universities where the girls compete for shortest dress, highest hair and most makeup, so I love it when I rock up to my classes wearing jeans, vans, and a Star Trek tshirt and I don't feel out of place.

6. Flexibility.
I change my mind. Alot. In the 10 years since leaving high school I have worked in at least half a dozen different professions and studied everything from Accounting to Buddhist meditation. Whether it's just my restless nature, or am I yet to find that niche where I not only love what I do but am also good at it, I need to be able to change my mind. Since beginning at Murdoch I have changed my major twice and my entire degree once. No one yelled at me. It wasn't hard. In fact I was able to change my degree in a matter of a few clicks. Life is about enjoying what you do, so I will keep tweaking my degree until it suits me perfectly.

7. Not only does my academic knowledge increase.....so does my geekines!
Many people have the idea that university is a little dry. Long essays, even longer books and monotone lectures, cramming our heads with academia, transforming us into critical thinkers able to debate philosophy and the meaning of life with anyone willing to listen. Initially I was worried that all my geekish pursuits would have to remain on the outskirts of life, scared away by university life. That was until one morning in my first semester. I sat in the front row, on my own, laptop open and ready to capture the wisdom of the ages. Yes, it was a media unit, but I still had visions of learning about the origins of media and the cultural effects it has had on our society. The lights dimmed, the words Red Vs Blue flickered to life on the screen in front of me and the next 3 and a half minutes were filled with outrageous laughter and even a snort or two. Instead of a powerpoint presentation we were treated to an episode of the internet sensation, an animated comedy show based around the video game Halo, Red Vs Blue. This lecture led me to buy the entire 5 seasons of the show and subsequently my geek points have increased exponentially.

8. The mini kebabs are cheap and well.....mini!
As a student anything cheap is a cause for celebration. I have a terrible habit of exclaiming to anyone I pass in the street the latest bargain I managed to grab. Mention that you like my shoes? I'll heartily reply that I got them on sale. 70% off! Ask me where I got my bag from and I'll tell you that I made it myself out of old pillowcases and second hand thread. In one of my cheap moments the other day, when standing at a greasy hamburger joint, fingers grabbing hopelessly at the few coins floating in the bottom of my handbag, I discovered something else. Mini stuff is great! Not only could my measly coins afford a modest cheeseburger over a full sized, jam-packed, Humungo burger, but I didn't waste anything! Each processed morsel ended up in my belly, somewhat nourishing me enough to make it to my next meal, unlike when I eat the full sized version and half of it ends up in the bin. So the mini kebabs from the Ref are awesome! No waste and cheap enough to buy with your change.

9. Thursday's - Stall Day.
What more could I want than the opportunity to combine my studies with shopping? Wandering onto Bush Court on a Thursday you will be met with a variety of stalls hawking their wares, everything from books and DVD's to jewelry and batteries. My favourite Thursday purchase would have to be a fake old-school fob watch with a deer on the front. I spent the remainder of the day pretending I was a rich gentleman from the late 19th century.

10. They let me blog!
Every narcissist loves the glow of others caring about what they say. In the age of the interwebs everyone has the opportunity to publish their thoughts, sending their often non-sensical ideas out there into cyber space in the hope that someone else stumbles across their words and actually reads them. But with the over population of the blog sphere, many people's ruminations go unread, slowly rotting away in the blackness of space. So being given the opportunity to not only write about my day to day happenings, but being promised a following as well, knowing my words will be read by at least 4 people leaves me shining with the narcissists' glow. Thanks Murdoch!

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