UPON ARRIVAL IN MELBOURNE

Before departure at  KLIA Golden Lounge

I would like to share my experience in Australia. These are my daily reports, which we were asked to write, during the stay in Australia. The reports were sent daily to IAB, as part of the course, besides lecture and school visits. We were chosen among the twenty 'High Performing Principals' all over Malaysia to attend a short course, which is two months away from home and loved ones. 

Some of my course mates -  PGCE Course

The group of twenty which we called G- Monash, were given two weeks to prepare ourselves. We were informed by phone-call, given a letter to attend a short briefing at Institute Aminuddin Baki Genting Hinghlands, and off we go immediately after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration. Accoding to Dato Norizan Bappo Vice KPPM at that time, we were chosen due to some factors; passed International English Language Testing System band 6, and nominated by States Education Department. It seems that we were the second group to be sent to Melbourne Australia, after the first group flied to London. The course is about  Cluster School Program, which will be implemented in the country, and we were given Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), after the course, which started from   21Oct  until 14 Dec 2007.

On board.......

Safely arrived at Melbourne Airport with room mate after custom clearing

 Date: 22 0kt 2007

After being on board for 6 hours 55 minutes all of us landed safely in Australia. We were boarded at 9.30 pm. Thanks God ten of us were given first class tickets, so we had a nice time along the journey. We were very happy to arrive at Melbourne International airport early in the morning at 6.45 Australian times, which is three hours difference from Malaysian time (4.45 MT). We were welcomed by a tour guide, who patiently waited for us, because the immigration officers took such a long time to clear the tourists entering Australia. After that we were being transferred to university    apartment Rusden House by bus about one hour journey from Melbourne.

Mr Kitaro Ito giving a welcome speech

This is the House for the two months stay

At the Apartment, Mr. Kotaro Ito a university representative has already waited for our group and distributed the room keys to every one of us.  After cleaning ourselves, at 11.30 am we gathered at the lobby.  Mr. Carl Everard, property manger of Rusden House, showed us the facilities available at the apartment. Then we took a walk to the university heading to Education Department for our introduction and welcoming ceremony. It took about 30 minutes walk to reach the faculty. 

 

All the ladies with Mr Lenn Cairns

When we arrive at the Education Faculty, Prof Lenn Cairns with other staffs gave a warm welcome to the group. We were very happy being introduced to the lecturers that we are going to get in touched after this. After a brief explanation about the faculty, the nicest moment is the lunch hour at 1.30 pm (4.30 Malaysian time), because we were very hungry since morning without breakfast. All of us really enjoy eating because we haven’t had taken any food since morning; after our breakfast in flight. After lunch, due to our tiredness and heavy stomach the orientation session was no longer interesting and even some of our friends can no longer open their eyes. 

Front View Education Department, Monash University

At 2.30 pm we were brought on to the important spots such as library, religious centre, university shop and student centre. We took the opportunity to buy some food; bread because there’s nothing to eat at night. Taking our way home in the evening we had a first experience of rain that really make us feel very cold due to strong wind. Luckily we met one Malaysian student who showed us the short cut to our apartment. Anyway sadly to say that we only had buns for our dinner, but we had a very good sleep because we are damp tired. 

My room mate on the way back to the apartment