‘When O Week came to an end on Friday night, I knew it was the end of a fantastic week but the beginning of an exciting student life at ICMS.’

Sunday, 31 January 2010

After having a relaxing morning my new friends and I decided to sign up for the afternoon kayaking activity put on by ICMS. We walked down to the Manly Wharf, where we all teamed up with a partner and kayaked around to the beach at the Quarantine Station. It was so much fun and a great experience, although the waves from the ferries were a bit scary!

Monday, 1 February 2010

This morning I woke up with really sore leg muscles from all the stairs in the college and from the massive Darley Rd hill (which seems like a mountain) as well as sore shoulder muscles from the kayaking, so all day I walked around stiff and sore. Everyone was divided up into groups, that we would stay in for the week, I was in group 1. Today consisted of a series of sessions to make the new students familiar with the College and the unique community here at ICMS. Tonight over dinner we had a local band come and play for us, and gave us another great opportunity to meet more friends.

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

Today’s schedule consisted of an academic overview and specialisation briefings by the heads of program. Heading into the Great Hall at 8am I have to admit I wasn’t very enthused. I’m doing Event management, and after a briefing by our Head of Program Anne-Marie Flynn, I was extremely excited and motivated to get started on my course. The opportunities available are just amazing! Today also involves getting fitted for our business suit. It was a terribly hot day, and was not the sort of weather that you felt like trying on a suit and jumper, but it had to be done. I feel very professional in my new suit. 
Tuesday night was the official welcome ceremony in the chapel (which is absolutely amazing on the inside) and the cocktail party. The cocktail party is held for new students and their friends and family. After rain all afternoon, the clouds disappeared just in time to have a stunning cocktail party on the front lawn of the school (or castle as I call it).  My parents came and we had a lovely time meeting current students and staff members and it was great for my parents to see what is going to be the next three years of my life.

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Wednesday was an easy day for me. All I had left to do was officially enrol which I got done early in the morning so I had the rest of the day free to relax and explore. At lunch in the CYC, there was entertainment again-  Native Hawaiian dancers! This was great to watch, until they decided to pull people up from the audience to hula with them. So there I was, trying my best to avoid eye contact with any of the dancers so they wouldn’t pick me, when one decided to grab my arm and pull me up in front of everyone. After much protest on my behalf, there I was doing the hula, in front of all my new classmates. It was terribly embarrassing, but my new friends got a good laugh out of my poor dancing abilities.

It was such a nice day that my friends and I then decided to spend the afternoon at the beach. It was great, until I got home later that afternoon and was bright red with sunburn. This was even more embarrassing because earlier on at the beach I had been explaining to my German friends the necessity of sunscreen, in order to avoid sunburn!

Thursday, 4 February 2010

Everyone had been looking forward to Thursday, as it was the teambuilding day and the surf safety course. I had team building in the morning. Everyone was divided into small groups; I was put into the ‘Doggies’ team. Our team managed to win every activity! The highlight was definitely when the girls beat the guys in a round of tug-o-war. It was the best team building activities/games day that I have ever participated in. The activities ranged from giant inflatable obstacle courses to playing volleyball with a giant ball that will squish you unless 5 or more people work together to hold it up.

I didn’t end up getting to do the surf safety course as my friend rolled her ankle in team building, and so we spent the afternoon in emergency at the hospital across the road, which was an adventure in itself. That night was the Australian themed welcome party and wildlife show in the Sandbar. There was a display of spiders, lizards, a crocodile and my favourite, snakes (I even got to hold one).

Friday, 5 February 2010

Today was the last day of O-week, and I now felt very familiar and comfortable with my new home. I had a fantastic week and I really would like to thank all of those who made it happen and allowed us ‘new kids’ to feel so welcome. Thankyou guys for making my O-week special.