Thursday, 18 October 2012

Festivals & Fairs

I love the festivals & fairs here in Australia!
There's always so much going on: music and performances, all the stalls and so many people :)
It's fun to go with some friends, bring a blanket, just relax and watch everything that's happening! and best of all they are usually free to attend.

Check out these upcoming festivals:

Surry Hills Festival Sydney

This one has it all:

an entertainment stage with artists & bands every 45 minutes

market stalls with handmade art, vintage clothing, local designers and more

a dog show

Workshops

When: Saturday, 27th October

Where: Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills

Go to this page to get more information!

Parramasala Festival of South Asian Culture Sydney

Experience the colourful atmosphere of South Asian arts and customs. For 4 days, the city of Parramatta will transform into a stage for traditional artists and an Asian-style bazaar!

When: 8th - 11th November

Where: Church Street, Parramatta (30 minutes by train from CBD)

Find out more here.

Melbourne Music Week

For an entire week, Melbourne will be surrounded by sound:
bands & DJ's from all over the world, films and a music market are waiting to be explored!

When: 16th - 24th November

Where: all across the city of Melbourne

For programs and more information see this page.

Valley Fiesta Brisbane

Another festival with a focus on music:
3 stages and bands from every genre. Dance, Electronic, Indie, Hip Hop, Jazz, Disco...Brisbane's biggest street party!

When: Friday 26th October - Sunday 28th October
Where: Fortitude Valley Brisbane

Get more information here .

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Watersports in Sydney

There's so much to do in Sydney during Summer!
Why not try something new, like exploring some great water sports!

Kayak

Grab a friend, hire a Kayak and explore Sydney's waters. There's no experience required!

Rent a Kayak here .

Jet Boat

Hold on tight! You can watch some of Sydney's most popular sights during this action-packed boat ride.

Booking here or here.

Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

Explore Sydney's underwater life! You can discover a variety of animals, interesting rock formations and even ship wrecks!

Get more information here and here .
Stand Up Paddle

First established in Hawaii, Stand Up Paddling is becoming more popular all over the world. Grab a board and a paddle and try not to fall :)
More information can be found here .

Small Boat Hire

Take your time and explore Sydney's harbour on your own by hiring a small boat.

More details here .

Surfing Lessons / Camp

Australia is the perfect place to get into Surfing! You can either book some lessons or have a try on your own- OR even better : sign up for our Ultimate Surf Camp, where you can try this sport a whole weekend!
Ultimate Surfcamp : Website

Surfboard Hiring : Website

Surf lessons : Website

Monday, 8 October 2012

A visitor with a big voice

We had a visit from a singing traveler this week.
Check out the following clip to see this special treat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9msI6r4a-Es&feature=youtu.be

Please note: if you visit our office you don't have to sing your lungs out but you are welcome to if you wish. If you choose to sing then you will be showered with praise and respect.

Thursday, 27 September 2012

Internship Process

Just a few days ago I arrived in Sydney, finally!
I'm really happy with my internship position, I'm sure it's going to be a great time here.
If you're planning to do an internship as well, you might think it's really difficult to organise everything. It actually isn't that hard! These are the steps I took to get my internship position:

I googled around a bit and found a German agency that I contacted , which is linked to Sydney Internships
I chose the field I wanted to complete my internship in and the start and finish date
both the German agency and Sydney Internships stayed in contact with me and helped me through all the steps that needed to be taken
I had a phone/Skype interview with the host company, where we spoke about my future tasks, my hours and expectations - and I got the internship position :)
Now I needed to book a flight and my accomodation in Sydney. Once again, my German agency and Sydney Internships assisted me
All booked, all arranged - and I was ready to go!

When I arrived in Sydney, I was brought to my accomodation by a driver who Sydney Internships had arranged for me
I moved into my new home and already met some nice people who helped me not to get lost in Sydney!
On the first day of my internship, I visited the Sydney Internships office to pick up my Welcome Package and an Australian phone card; they also took time to answer any of my questions.

So you see, it really isn't such a big deal, everybody is friendly and will help you.For sure you'll get a lifetime experience out of it!

Thursday, 6 September 2012

Internship Interview Tips

Almost all of us will be interviewed for a position at some stage and this can seem very scary and nerve racking.
An interview for an internship is quite different to an interview for a regular job as it is all about your expectations. The company would like to know what you want to achieve from the internship and what your requirements are.

Here are some tips for you to have a successful interview for an internship;

1. Read through the company's website and any articles or material you can find.
2. Explain what you are looking to gain from the internship.
3. Ask what type of experience and training they are able to offer.
4. Explain why you think your learning objectives can be achieved at the company.

5.Speak clearly and be confident.
6. The company will have viewed your CV & Cover letter before the interview so would be aware that English may not be your first language.
7. Call or skype at the arranged time. Not earlier and not later.
8. Call from a quiet room with no distractions.
9. Prepare some questions for the company about their history, operations or processes.
10. Write them an email afterwards to thank them for the opportunity.

Thursday, 30 August 2012

Big Events in Australia

Australia is a huge country that likes to celebrate. Sydney isn't the only city that offers events which are worth seeing. The following list shows the top events happening outside of Sydney. If you are planning to travel maybe you should check out when it is really worth visiting a city.

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major horse race. It also is known as "the race that stops a nation". It is an annual public holiday in the state of Victoria.
When: every first Tuesday in November at 3pm
Where: Melbourne Flemington Racecourse

Comedy Festival

It is one of the biggest comedy festivals in Australia .Offering a selection of Australian, International and special guest comedians, the 'Road Show' is literally all the best bits of the Comedy Festival condensed into the one ‘all killer, no filler’ travelling event.
When: March/April
Where: Melbourne

Australian Open Tennis

Australian Open is a major tennis event held in Melbourne. It attracts many visitors and sport lovers.
When: January
Where: Melbourne

Australian Grand Prix

The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia. It is a worldwide event and attracts many people from overseas.
When: March
Where: Melbourne

The Indy 300

The Indy 300 is an open-wheel motor race event. This race is held once a year for 4 days and nights.
When: October
Where: Gold Coast

Tropfest Film Festival

Tropfest is the world's largest short film festival. It started in a small coffe shop in Sydney and expanded to viewings all over Australia.
Where: Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth
When: February

Sculpture by the Sea

Over 70 local, interstate and international artists will transform Perth's most popular beach into a stunning sculpture park.
Where: Cottesloe
When: March

Margaret River Wine Region Festival

Enjoy the beautiful wine region of WA and taste over 300 wines on offer.
When: April
Where: Margaret River WA

Adelaide Fringe Festival

The Adelaide Fringe is the largest annual arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
For 24 days and nights during February and March, the festival features more than 4,000 artists from around Australia and the world, featuring world premieres, hit shows and new artists.
When: February/March
Where: Adelaide

Byron Bay Bluesfest

Byron Bay Bluesfest is an annual music festival held for five days over the Easter long weekend. It features a large selection of blues and roots performers, both international and Australian.
When: Eastern weekend
Where: Byron Bay

Ekka

The Ekka is the annual agricultural show of Queensland. It is a fair for young and old.
When: August
Where: Brisbane

Thursday, 23 August 2012

Cuisine from home

Do you already have a list of things you would like to eat when you get home?

I know how hard it is to abandon the food from home but there are actually many restaurants which offer cuisine based on traditional food from countries all over the world. I made sure to look for affordable places, so hopefully you are able to try some out.

I'm sure that at least one of these restaurants will serve food that is similar to your mum's cooking.

The Netherlands

Stuyvesants House Restaurant
45 Alexander Street, Crows Nest

The Dutch Shop

85 Market St, Smithfield