On money

I get asked sometimes what studying in Oz is like.

Well frankly, it has its ups and downs.

You get good quality education, a change in scenery. A chance to practice English?

But then you're still a student, and money is always a top concern, so it's not all jetsetting and globetrotting all the time.

It's like this.

Everything seems fine and cosy when your bank balance has a comfortable number of digits in them. That camera looks affordable, and new. That jacket looks reasonable, and new. That barbeque pit looks practical, and new.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and the lean days of baked beans and cheap store brand flavourless plain milk soon arrive, and very certainly sooner.

You protest, I see, and shout, 'but mlh, such is the plight of students everywhere!
Thus is a fallacy for you to claim that what you have described as being a purely Australian experience'

Ah, I might be inclined to agree but for the fact that should your bodily self remain within the borders of the land that you share with your parents, it becomes less of an issue.

For what parent would let a child starve?

You see, a different country involves
a different currency that may be double or triple the value of your home currency.

Imagine the costs your benefactors incur. That is a sobering thought. Even you would understand their position despite your situation, and why they seem unwilling to send even more money to you, despite your willingness to receive.

Within reason of course. one can only live for so long on canned beans.

As you can see in this regard, studying domestically trumps studying overseas .

Unless you're poor.

Then you're pretty much screwed no matter where you are.

Should anyone ask, students exist in a totally distinct category from migrant workers.

Australia only allows us in because we are students.

We should honour that classification.