a year in adelaide

there's life after school

2011-06-24T22:13:00.001-07:00

Yep, here's the news: Not all learning comes from the four walls of a classroom.

Hope to see you at Un Altro Caffe!

see you later!

2010-04-10T02:21:00.000-07:00

The plan was simple. I fly into Adelaide in January 2009; get a Master of Science degree from an American ivy league university; write an extension of my coffee blog (http://klatchiancoffee.multiply.com) while I was Down Under with bits of culture, art, and food strewn in for good measure; fly back home; and resume my happy, frenetic, bachelorette life.

It turned out as planned in the beginning. Study Adelaide picked up this blog in the first quarter of 2009 and posted it in its website. I got a series of hits, far more than I’ve ever gotten in any of the blogs I have put up. The coffee scene was great, people were warm and friendly, and I was starting to enjoy the laid back life. I have also gotten used to cars driving on the opposite side of the road, listening to buskers, and walking along Torrens River.

Then came the quantitative courses. The university was serious when they said that the program is highly quantitative. I was solving problems from 5am to 1am the following day, writing 20-page papers in between, and struggling with my espresso-maker. Something had to give. First I descended to drinking instant Nescafe three-in-ones (the skinny cappuccinos weren’t bad actually). Then I noticed that autumn passed me by and I haven’t even had time to read Graham Greene under orange-coloured trees. Finally I gave up blogging.

They say that when a door closes, a window opens.

Last year, a flurry of windows opened up to me. I met so many wonderful people who took time to help me out, sit down and have coffee, run to Central Market and get gelatos when the going got tough, helped me move apartments, take unplanned trips in-between terms, hop from one restaurant to another to discover the best Italian/ Chinese/Thai/Japanese restaurant in Adelaide, forcibly take me out from my apartment to get a breath of fresh air, walk along the beach, gaze at sunsets, catch late night films, work with great group-mates in school projects, play point-to-the-country with the resident Singaporean whiz kid in the university, and see my favourite Filipino boxer in one of his best matches. I got a job assisting a professor and working in the school yearbook was one of the most interesting things I have done for a long time.

Family members, friends, and colleagues back home kept up with me on skype and yahoo messenger, cheering me in the middle of Adelaide's winter and when numbers were becoming indistinct from hieroglyphics.

Towards the end of the year, I met one of the sweetest blokes in this side of town who can easily whip up a fabulous breakfast at 6am and who flew all the way to Manila to join me in welcoming 2010.

I did get that MS degree as planned. But I reckon, even minus the award-winning blog, I got infinitely much more than what was in that piece of parchment.

If there’s one thing in Adelaide that I particularly love, it is that people do not say goodbye. They say, “cheers mate, see you later!”

And see you later I shall.

(Victor Harbour/Granite Island, April 2010)

brrrrr...

2009-07-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

Temperature has dropped to 14 degrees this week. Sudden torrential downpours and strong winds are common now.

As sudden as the heavy rains come, the sun soon comes out shining a few moments later. Oh, sometimes it takes some time. But it always does - notwithstanding winter.

autumn's come and gone

2009-05-30T01:17:00.000-07:00

how is it possible
that the changing of the season has been
so subtle
in the midst of the galloping of the days?

and now
autumun is gone.

Location: River Cafe, Torrens River

un momento por favor

2009-05-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

"Where time is measured more by change of seasons than the tick of a clock, and where a faster way of doing things is not always a better way."
- Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. describing the mountains of Vermont

explanations, some worries, and great anticipation

2009-05-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the weeks and weeks of absence. I have not fallen into the Torrens River or jumped from the Adelaide Bridge.

It has simply been that all the math classes I have been taking have managed to invade all my waking hours. There were days I was uncertain if it was morning or evening or where I was actually (I could be in Adelaide or Nairobi and I would probably not notice since I keep the blinds down at home and I usually sit at the uni far from the windows).

A month ago, it was Empirical Analysis (I will spare you the gory the troubles I had in last term’s multiple regression project which caused me conclude that the logical sequence of our existence from the highest to the lowest point is nirvana => happiness => acceptance => depression => regression). Now it is Decision-Making Under Uncertainty which has taken over Empirical Analysis and every weekend I find myself asking whether the people who are able to mathematically set up in a formula the vicissitudes of life are actually happier than lesser mortals like me who merrily skip along the way knowing that there are risks but unwilling to quantify these to the next two decimal points.

I am also taking less coffee these days. Caffeine and math don’t mix. If I have more than one cup, it is as certain as any number multiplied by zero that the product will be zero, that I will not sleep a wink in the evening. It will be equations jumping over the fence and not sheep.

What is causing me worry these days? I think I have burned the rubber ring of my stovetop espresso maker. This happened while I was lost reading(multi-tasking as usual) and I suddenly smelled a suspicious tang in the air. I must have left the coffee on the stove longer than necessary and it tasted a bit different. I knew something was amiss when I tried to clean my espresso maker and the lid would not come off. It seems like the rubber has melted and has welded the two parts of the equipment together. This is not amusing at all and I have been drinking instant coffee this week (and it looks like this will be the state of things in the succeeding several weeks). I have also started to wonder whether this espresso maker has any lead content and if it has, whether I am ingesting interesting lead material together with the caffeine the past three months. Now you can be sure that apart from figuring out how to set up voluminous spreadsheets, am also trying to calculate whether I have been unconsciously deducting days of my mortal life due to my caffeine habits.

This is not to say that I am considering abandoning the coffee scene. Far from it. I am quite excited about my upcoming project in financial analysis. Honest, I was really intending to do a topic on my organization and a parallel entity but I could not find the required data. I have thus tried searching for companies in other industries and I have finally assembled all the necessary information. I will be doing the coffee industry – comparative analysis of Starbucks Corporation and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.

So if you do not hear from me again the next couple of weeks, rest assured that you can find me in my favourite little silo in Adelaide working at my numbers and (sigh) sipping instant coffee.

of fire alarms

2009-03-25T15:15:00.001-07:00

This is the second time the fire alarm has rung in my building the three months I have been here and I have observed that students tend to get complacent considering that experience has shown that it takes as little as a burning toast to set off the alarm system. Nonetheless, let us take the necessary precautions everytime the fire alarm goes off.

1. Do not use the lift. Take the fire exit. The fact that you live on the 20th floor is not an excuse.
2. Three essentials to bring: passport, wallet with your credit cards and ATM, and mobile phone.

Keep safe!

adelaide city council

2009-03-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

I pass by the Adelaide City Council Building almost daily and am quite puzzled with the queer folks all lined up against its glass wall. I believe after the mid-terms I have these guys all figured out.. they are metaphors of the conversations going on in students' heads.

it's all a piece of cake..

taking the quantum leap..

stunned by my stupidity...

am cool.

midterms

2009-02-28T04:16:00.000-08:00

The preparation is taking its toll. This is dinner tonight and it looks like it will be the staple until next week.

last drop

2009-02-26T20:39:00.000-08:00

Can anyone please tell me where I can find a Bath and Body Works outlet in Adelaide? The cologne supply was the first to go and now this :(

ash wednesday

2009-02-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

"Remember you are dust, and unto dust
you shall return".

Schedule of masses for today, 25 February, Ash Wednesday, at the Cathedral of St. Francis: 8am, 12:10pm, and 5:45pm.

perils of multi-tasking

2009-02-19T19:24:00.000-08:00

There have been several articles written on why multi-tasking eventually turns out inefficient and sometimes costly.

Case in point. This is what happens when one is belaboring statistics homework (and not making progress) and making lunch:

favorite walk

2009-02-19T18:41:00.001-08:00

Elder Park - This is turning out to be my favorite walk when stymied by homeworks - an hour walk around the Torrens Lake, north of Adelaide. I'd start from the Hyatt Hotel, go down the park through the Riverside Esplanade, turn left, go straight, then cross the lake via the bridge going to a golfcourse, turn right, straight ahead then I make a turnaround on the bridge by King William Road. There's a massive fountain in the middle of the lake put up in honor of Queen Elizabeth's visit to Adelaide in March 1954.

Interestingly, an inscription relates that, "During the romantic 1920s, the massive floating Garden Palais for "pleasure nights" was moored on the lake. Two levels included a promenade deck and a ballroom capable of accommodating 70 patrons. After only 4 years of operation, a mysterious explosion sank the Palais. The cause was never determined."

happy valentine's day!

2009-02-14T04:02:00.001-08:00

After much internal cost-benefit analysis (2 papers, 1 long homework, 1 presentation due this coming week; and I just had 4 hours sleep the previous night doing another homework due this morning), decided on joining friends for a couple of hours today at Henley Beach, 30 minutes by bus from Grenfell Street, Adelaide.

Here's the equation:
1 hour travel time + 30 minutes waiting for everyone to arrive at the designated meet-up place + 30 minutes total waiting time for the bus to arrive +3 hours away from reading/studying + high probability of wearing 1-week old jeans this week after postponing doing laundry(cost) < 5 hours of fine white sand + marvellous weather after sizzling mid-40s temperatures for several days + gorgeous sunset view + relaxing time with friends (benefit)

Possibly best place to watch the setting sun is at the Bacchus Bar with a sparkling white wine in hand. And do please try their rocket salad.

Details:
BACCHUS BAR
253 Esplende, Henley Beach
Tel: 83552644

loving this city more by the day...

2009-02-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

the heart of adelaide

2009-02-12T15:23:00.000-08:00

Let's get to know the story behind the throbbing pulse of Adelaide. Here's a time line of the Central Market as narrated in its homepage:

1869
On Saturday, 23rd January at 3.15am a group of market gardeners made their way to a site between Gouger and Grote Street and started to sell their produce.Over 500 people attended the first market day and some 500 purchasers made with all stock sold out by 6.00am.

1870
The official opening of the Adelaide Central Market was on the 22nd January 1870. The Central Market was open on Tuesdays and Saturdays with 50 to 100 produce carts. The market was recorded in history as having sold vegetables, fruit, hay, fish and game meats.

1900
On the 8th February 1900 the first stone was laid to build the current Central Market façade, which still stands today. In the same year a 40 meter veranda was added.

1902
Gas lighting, which had been sufficient for almost 35 years was replaced by electricity in March, 1902.

1925
Early in the morning of 27th December 1925 the market in the north eastern section suffered fire damage. The fire brigade managed to restrict damage to two shops.

1965
The Central Market was officially named in August 1965, prior to this the market was known as the City Market.

1965-1966
The Central Market underwent redevelopment which commenced on the 18th January 1965 and was completed along with a new roof top car park on 17th June 1966. The first day of trading saw a turnover of 3600 cars using the 230 bay car park.

1977
On the night of 27th June 1977, a major portion of the southern stall area of the market was badly damaged by fire causing half a million dollars worth of damage.

1977-1983
Refurbishment work began to repair damage caused by fire. Work was completed in 1983. The Central Market that you see today is a mix of new age technology and historical building.

Today The Central Market has over 80 stalls and is South Australia's most visited tourist attraction. The Adelaide Central Market remains the food Mecca for multicultural cuisine and fresh produce. The Central Market trades largely in fruit, vegetables, small goods, and café food and is divided into a colourful array of lanes and broadways. The Central Market today remains “the Heart of Adelaide”.

to market, to market

2009-02-12T15:06:00.001-08:00

Marketing has ceased to be an activity of drudgery once I have been to the Central Market. Everything looks absolutely fresh, succulent, wonderfully tempting, and banishes the (un)domestic spirit lurking within my persona (ha). Vegetables, fruits, poultry, dairy, pastries, bread, nuts, and seafood all abound.

And here’s a tip: Be there between Saturdays 12:00-3:00 pm when shops are on the brink of week’s closing. You cannot even begin to imagine how low prices can drop; but just to give you an idea, 1kg of grapes can be had for AUD$1!

Details:
Adelaide Central Market
In between Gouger and Grote Streets
Phone: 8203 7203
Trade Hours:
Tuesdays – 7am-5:30pm
Thursdays – 9am-5:30pm
Fridays – 7am – 9pm
Saturdays – 7am-3pm
Closed: Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays

city of churches

2009-02-08T00:40:00.000-08:00

Adelaide boasts of being a city of churches; and rightly so. Sandstone beautiful places of worship are scattered all over the city. I have been going to the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral since I have arrived and I have been finding myself looking forward to Sunday services. Sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows, solemn church music, the smell of incense, the palpable sense of community among the worshipers – it is a good way to end a week of toil.

Details:
19 Wakefield Street, Adelaide, SA
Schedule of masses:
Saturday 8am, 9am, 11am, 6pm
Sunday 7am, 9am, 11am, 6pm
Monday to Friday 8am, 12:10pm, 5:45pm
Public Holidays 8am
Contact No: 82313551

not coffee?

2009-02-06T18:15:00.000-08:00

Couldn’t help popping into this café which calls itself “Not Coffee”. Just had to ask the reason behind the name. The guy making coffee that day explained that this is because they’re promoting the good food and the art in the café in addition to the coffee.

I have to add that aside from the hip vibe of the place, the café goes an extra mile in terms of customer service. They replaced the vanilla ice cream in my iced coffee with skimmed milk and added an extra espresso shot with no extra charge when I found the drink too milky.

Iced Coffee: AUD$4.50

Details:
NOT COFFEE
187 Rundle Street (contact: 822 3359)
http://www.notcoffee.com
Open everyday 7am till late

change in the morning coffee

2009-02-06T15:28:00.000-08:00

One of the first things I started looking for when I got to Adelaide was a drip coffee maker. I only saw complicated cappuccino coffee-makers and 10-cup drip makers in shops so I finally settled on the traditional moka express. I got a 3-cup Bialetti from the Coffee Bean Shop at the Central Market for AUD$36.50 and decided to try their Brasilian Santos (0.25kg @ AUD$6) as well.

Here’s how I do coffee these days:

1. Make a three-cup espresso

2. Pour soya milk (about 1/3) in a cup (I initially was using a half and half combination but I think the 1/3 milk and 2/3 espresso combination is just about right.)

3. Microwave the milk for one minute

4. Pour the espresso into the milk

5. Stir.

Shop Details:
Coffee Bean Shop
Stall 58A Central Market
Gouger Street, Adelaide, SA

looking out

2009-02-05T12:58:00.000-08:00

Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.
- Alan Alda

Cost of having an open view in the flat: AUD$5/week on top of the rent
Cost of waking up, looking, marvelling at a new day and sleeping with the thought that tomorrow's ours for the taking: Priceless

going generic

2009-02-05T12:36:00.000-08:00

Before you pick up that familiar/favourite brand at the shop, look a little closer at the grocery shelves. Generic brands generally are a whole lot cheaper from the more popular brands. At the end of the day, can you really tell one brand of salt from another?

take a break

2009-02-05T12:27:00.000-08:00

Instead of munching on that kitkat, why not do this as a little break from your books?

1. Walk to Rundle Mall
2. Check out what food items are on special/sale at Woolworth’s (can go down as low as half the original price!)

3. Give the public art a closer look.

4. Watch the pigeons (do you see them trying to figure out how to solve the recession?)

5. Be entertained by a busker.

nesting

2009-02-03T14:01:00.000-08:00

"Home is where the heart is." - Pliny the Elder

Let us talk again five months from today whether this flat can really be had on a student's budget (oh dear, I hope so, as I just love watching the sun set from my window while I am doing the exercises in Empirical Methods and by June, Financial Analysis, Decision-Making Under Uncertainty, Cost-Benefit Analysis... I would need the calming effect..)

an extraordinary package for extraordinary times

2009-02-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

The Reserve Bank of Australia cut key cash rate by 100 basis points to 3.25%. RTE Business reports:

Australia's economy received a double dose of desperately needed stimulus today as the central bank cut interest rates to record lows and the government pledged billions in new spending in the hope of dodging a recession.

Citing the grimmest global outlook in many years, the Reserve Bank of Australia cut its key cash rate by a full percentage point to 3.25%. That brought its easing since September to a massive four points, and investors were counting on further easing to 2% or less by May.

The government waded in with a punchy package of $42 billion Australian dollars ($26.5 billion) in infrastructure spending and cash payments for low and middle-income earners, aimed at keeping Australia's A$1 trillion economy out of recession.

AdvertisementStimulus spending announced since September 2008 now totals A$78 billion or nearly 8% of gross domestic product, and adds to a raft of packages developed in major economies, including $819 billion in the US and $586 billion by China.

Australia's economy has not suffered anything like the fallout seen in many developed countries and escaped an outright contraction, thanks in part to a still sound financial sector.

Calling his latest stimulus plan an 'extraordinary package for extraordinary times', Prime Minster Rudd said it would add 0.5 percentage points to growth in 2008/09 and between 0.75 and 1 percentage point the year after.

The government more than halved its earlier growth forecasts and now predicts the economy will expand by 1% in 2008/09 and by 0.75% the following year.

However, analysts doubt Australia can truly insulate itself from the global downturn. Six of Australia's top 10 trading partners are already in recession.

dont throw those take-away boxes!

2009-02-03T03:39:00.000-08:00

What you can do with those take-away boxes and plastic trays from the grocery:

trinkets organizer

planter

sponge holder

loose change box

tale of domesticity

2009-01-29T15:42:00.000-08:00

Methinks my cleaner’s job is in peril when I return home. Doing the laundry with these massive gadgets which look and gurgle like equipment from the NASA, cleaning the flat, cooking . . . I don’t sweat (ok, Barack Obama first said that).

we're in a barbie!

2009-01-28T02:05:00.001-08:00

Down Under, “let’s have a barbie!” means “let’s do a barbecue!”. Temperature today reached a peak of 45.7 degrees, and oh boy, it does feel like Adelaide is one big barbie. No respite in sight the next couple of days where temperature’s expected to hover at mid 40s.

bagging it

2009-01-27T23:30:00.000-08:00

This Keen tote was my favourite - it has compartments for a laptop and its appurtenances, it can fit in long manila folders, case files, make-up kit, and even my lunch. But one week of carrying it from Hindley Street to Victoria Square and I knew I had to bid it adieu (at least for this year) as my right shoulder was starting to feel the strain.

And the search was on for a conservative, streamlined knapsack.

Looking for a specific item can be quite a challenge in Adelaide especially as there are few stores carrying specific brands. Much to my delight, I found this jewel of a shop tucked in subdued Leigh Street stocked with all sorts of lovely luggage and bags guaranteed to give a bagaholic’s heart a skip. Look for Toni Lubbe, a wonderful woman who is ready to give suggestions regarding the bag item you have in mind.
And oh, I went home with a tip as well as to where to find the best tomatoes at the Central Market.

Contact Details:
Leigh Street Luggage
22A Leigh Street, Adelaide, South Australia
Hours of Trade: Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30pm /Sat 10am - 3pm
Phone: (08) 8231 9616
Fax: (08) 8212 7717
leighstluggage@adam.com.au
www.leighstluggage.com.au

australia day

2009-01-26T11:31:00.000-08:00

While Australia Day celebrated multiculturalism, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has simply, respectfully, and straightforwardly drawn the line: 26 January shall remain Australia Day. The Australian reports:

AUSTRALIAN of the Year Mick Dodson has shrugged off Kevin Rudd's refusal to consider changing the date of Australia Day.

In response to Mr Rudd's emphatic "no", Professor Dodson said he was "glad" the Prime Minister had joined in the debate and called on the Labor Government to set up a compensation fund for the stolen generations.

Professor Dodson began his reign yesterday by calling for a debate on the date of the national day, saying celebrations on January 26 alienate indigenous people.

But today the Prime Minister firmly rebuffed the idea.

"Let me say a simple, respectful, but straightforward no," he said.

Mr Rudd said the topic was a natural subject for debate, but that "those of us charged with political leadership provide a straightforward response".

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull also believes January 26 must remain Australia Day.

"I think Australia Day, and I'm sure most Australians agree, is very appropriate today," he said.

Former federal Labor Party president Warren Mundine has said January 26 is "a festering sore inside indigenous communities".

But he admits that any move to change Australia Day would be a lengthy process.

"We do have an issue with the 26th January we can't get away from, but I'm a realist," he said.

"If we are going to change the date we have to bring all Australians with us and it has to be a date that we can all be comfortable celebrating together.

"And if that is going to happen, that is going to be a long conversation."

But Professor Dodson said politicians often said things couldn't be done only to be proven wrong.

"We had a former politician (John Howard) tell us there'd never be an apology (but) we got that didn't we," Professor Dodson said.

"The Prime Minister has shown excellent leadership since he's become prime minister. I'm hopeful that things can turn around."

Professor Dodson said the Government should establish a compensation fund, as suggested in the Bringing Them Home report.

The Yawuru man also implored Mr Rudd not to completely shut the door on the question of moving Australia Day.

Professor Dodson wants a "national conversation" about changing the date because January 26 "isolates" indigenous people.

He says many Aborigines see the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 "as the day on which our world came crashing down".

However, at a citizenship ceremony in Canberra, Mr Rudd stared down Professor Dodson, who was sitting just metres away from the lectern, and said "no".

Professor Dodson, a campaigner for indigenous rights, said he wasn't worried by Mr Rudd's tough stance.

"I'm actually glad he's joined in the conversation," he said.

"He has his point of view (and) everybody in this country is entitled to express their point of view."

But Professor Dodson stressed "let's not close the door to having a conversation about this".

He suggested he was willing to clash with the federal government on other issues in his role as Australian of the Year.

"I'm going to talk to Australians about a lot of things this year," he said.

Professor Dodson said Australia Day could instead be celebrated on February 13, to coincide with the anniversary of the apology to the stolen generations.

He also suggested commemorating Australia's federation on January 1, 1901 may be another alternative.

"Let's remember that it was years and years before Australia became a nation state," Professor Dodson said.

"It (January 26, 1788) was the landing of the First Fleet in the colony of NSW, it wasn't even Australia then."

While Mr Rudd might not have welcomed Professor Dodson's call, National Australia Day Council chairman Adam Gilchrist did.

"What we look for in our leaders is inspiration and people to challenge us, and you're certainly doing that," he told Professor Dodson at the citizenship ceremony.

moonlight cinema

2009-01-24T22:15:00.000-08:00

What can be more apt than watching the film “Australia”, one of epic proportions, out in the open air?

Moonlight Cinema, Adelaide
Adelaide Botanic Gardens (on the North Terrace side)
Hackney Road

Wear warm clothing, blanket or mat, and a picnic basket would just be wonderful while waiting for the film to begin. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket booth right at the entrance. Check out the movie schedules every now and then as they have a quite a list of good films being screened.
Adult: AUD$17 Concession: AUD$14 (proof required)

the cappuccino club and lance armstrong

2009-01-24T21:55:00.000-08:00

Lance Armstrong is now in Adelaide set out to regain his former glory. I swear, am not stalking Mr. Armstrong but just having fabulous cappuccino in Hilton.

But if you do want to get the chance of possibly catching the demigod, Hilton, which is one of the sponsors for this year’s Tour Down Under, is located at 233 Victoria Square, Adelaide, South Australia. Ph: 08 8237 0697. Just bring a book or your laptop for multi-tasking, and may I suggest get a cappuccino club card from the counter so you can keep track of the inordinate amount of coffees you’ve been having. Oh, you also get a free cup after your fifth coffee.

Cappuccino: AUD$3

hot summers call for iced coffee

2009-01-20T05:16:00.000-08:00

These are hot months for Adelaide. Last week Tuesday, a high of 45 degrees was recorded in the city. Having coffee al fresco is not a good option these days. A respite from the hot sun can be had at Hudsons Coffee, corner King William and Hindley Streets. Cushy seats too!

Iced Coffee (small): AUD$4.70

take time to smell the flowers...or listen to music

2009-01-20T05:07:00.000-08:00

Was in a hurry late this afternoon, doing my errands, when suddenly this fantastic guitar man started playing jazz music.

and i now say "ye"

2009-01-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

The past week has been a transition phase from being tourist to resident/student of this city. We started with the orientation program in the university where we have been introduced to the course program and course work, layout of the building and its facilities, and ye, also our first assignment. The IT group of the school has also been most helpful and my laptop has now internet connection within the premises of the university. Needless to say, my having access again to the worldwideweb has greatly improved in having me settled in. I experienced two separate late night encounters in McDonalds while using its wifi, and which have shaken me up to some degree after experiencing nothing but tranquility since I have been here, that I have decided to look for other options.

The budgeting has not been quite successful as of yet. Have been doing shopping for items for my flat – food, cleaning materials, linen, and kitchen supplies – and have still to get to calculating how to fit in the weekly budget. Perhaps after the end of this week, I will have it down pat.

Last Friday, the university took us on a tour of the city, the Botanical Garden and had what they call a typical Oz picnic (pies, juice, and cakes), Semaphore Beach, and the Gorge Wildlife Park where the foreign students all got to hold a koala. The poor furry dear must have been so exhausted after all the photo sessions.

We got back to the city at half past five after which a group of us decided to trek to the Kathleen Lumley College which is now getting to be popular in our circle for its fabulous dinner for the price of AUD$7.50 per person. We opened a bottle of white wine (Queen Adelaide, Reisling 2006) in the lounge and had to peel ourselves from the warm cocoon of the dormitory since a couple of us had to catch the 10pm bus.

of cappuccinos and a long black

2009-01-10T15:22:00.000-08:00

I think am taking a tad too many cappuccinos here which may be attributable to certain factors: one, the cappuccinos are amazingly good; two, there is something languid about the weather and the city pace which makes a café americano feel almost like an assault; and three, I am constrained to take the coffee where I can find internet these days.

I have found an interim solution this evening to my internet connection woes until the building where I am staying finally gets its connection up. There is a McDonalds on Hindley Street open 24 hours with free wifi. I was there for about two hours and a half today, responding to emails and updating friends, colleagues, and family regarding my whereabouts. The entire thing only cost me 1 cup of cappuccino (AUD$3.45). If not for my laptop battery running out, I would have stayed on longer. Making video calls, however, is next to impossible with teenagers swarming all over the place and hollering to each other from one end of the café to the other.

On my way home at 11pm, found out that Hindley Street has amazingly transformed itself into a lively stretch of nightspots. This may explain why two nights ago, between 12 midnight and 1 pm, I was startled into wakefulness by what sounded like an alcohol-laden altercation. When I mentioned this to the receptionist in the building the following day, I was advised to close my windows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights so I shut out the noise from the streets. Pubs close late on said days.

Had an equally satisfying cappuccino today at The Coffee Club, Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre (Tapleys Hill Road, West Beach, Adelaide / http://www.harbourtown.com.au). A cappuccino here costs AUD$3.70 but it felt priceless upon being able to get seated after doing the rounds of retails shops in the area. There were store sales going on when we got there.

My fun discovery today is that the J1 Bus Route, which goes directly from Currie Street to Tapleys Hill Road, not only passes through the airport but also goes through the Ikea outlet. Will check this out probably by mid-year.

Yesterday, I walked the entire length of Gouger Street starting from the King William Street to the West Terrace. There are several restaurants and shops up to Morphett Street but thereafter up to the West Terrace, it is a lonely, silent walk punctuated only by the chirping of birds.

Had a wonderful 2pm lunch at the Gouger Café (100 Gouger Street / +61 8231 2320 / Mondays – Fridays, 11:30pm-3pm, 5pm-10pm; Saturdays 5pm-10pm). According to the waitress, the restaurant has been there for several years but with its clean white walls, it appears like a new establishment.

Decided on the grilled baby flounder dressed with virgin oil, lemon juice, garlic, and mixed herb dressing with potato mash. This lunch time exclusive (AUD$15) includes a choice from a selection of Lindermans Premium wines, a schooner of pure blond, a schooner of Cascade light, or a soda drink.

Ordered a long black coffee to end this fabulous meal.

hindley and rundle streets

2009-01-08T16:51:00.001-08:00

Walked today the entire length of Hindley and Rundle Streets in search of a stationery shop. No such luck in Hindley Street which is peppered with pubs, cafés, tratorrias, motels, hotels, adult shops, and convenience stores. I found some of the things I was looking for in different stores in Rundle Mall but there were not too many selections. I am continuing my search for a shop which offers office and school supplies under one roof so I don’t go around hopping from one store to another when school starts.

I was shown yesterday this internet café (Internet Coffee)at the corner of Hindley and Leigh Streets. I went there twice today since the internet connection is still not up in my place. My anxiety level at the delay in getting the connection going where I live has somewhat been mitigated since the internet café whips up a quite mean cappuccino. They earned from me this day AUD$10.50 (AUD$7.50 for half an hour of internet usage this morning and an hour in the afternoon, and AUD$3 for the cappuccino).

Although the fantastic city planning of Adelaide is a well-established fact, I am struck at the amazing implication of this. For someone like me whose internal body compass is challenged (as the politically correct segment of society are wont to say), a city built like this is a minor miracle. When I went all the way to the end of Rundle Street, for example, I saw that East Terrace traverses the said street.

[East Terrace]

On the opposite side, traversing the end of Hindley Street, is the West Terrace.

[West Terrace]

Since I know that Adelaide is bounded by the North, South, East, and West Terraces, if I am facing the East Terrace, I would need to turn left from Rundle Street to go to the North Terrace and turn right to go to the South Terrace.

And now I also know why I have a good view of the setting sun which sets these days at 9pm.

am here!

2009-01-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

Finally arrived in Adelaide on 6 January at 4pm (South Australia time), after an approximately 24-hour flight. It took 3 hours and 45 minutes from Manila to the Seoul Incheon International (ICN); almost 2 hours waiting time at the ICN; 11 hours from Seoul to Melbourne; 5.5 hours waiting time at the Melbourne airport; and then an hour flight to Adelaide. Aside from the minor incidents regarding the transfer from Melbourne to Adelaide and the Korean food served which didn’t quite sit well in my stomach, all went very well with the flight. And yes, am proud to declare that I managed to get well within the required baggage restriction, not a minor feat for someone who generally travels in a 30kg luggage for a one week trip.

We were met at the Adelaide airport by a representative from the university and were brought to our respective lodgings. This place which I found in the net more than met my expectations. The place is excellent – it’s a self-contained unit with an en suite bathroom, a kitchenette, a fabulous sunset view, walking distance to the university, business establishments, and landmarks, and there’s good security (there’s a card key to get into the building after office hours and one needs the card key as well to go up the elevators). The building is also brand new minus the smell of paint which usually characterizes new constructions. The forthnightly rent is almost 50% more than the usual prices of student accommodations in the vicinity but if one is finicky with sharing toilets or living spaces, the money may well be worth it. The receptionist was so nice to go with me to the grocery and get basic stuff after her shift ended at 5pm. If the place could just do my laundry and clean up my unit, I would be in nirvana land. Unpacked a little after I got back to my unit, took a shower, and at 9pm, I just went pfft.

7 January, went to report to the university at 9.30. It was a pleasant 20 minute walk, with the air having a sweetness and crispness to it.

I was astounded to be told by a personnel from the university that my entry into Australia wasn’t recorded in my passport. Fancy that. I have been in the territory for almost 18 hours and unaccounted for. Our group was assisted in opening bank accounts and thereafter, I was accompanied to Immigration to straighten up the business with my passport.

Famished, we went to have lunch afterwards in Rundle Mall and I got myself a salad in this stall which sells a quite interesting selection. A member of our group, also a greens eater, asked if we’d ever get tired of the salads there and I said I didn’t believe I would because in the first place, I cannot afford having daily AUD$8salad lunches.

Hunger appeased, we went on with the next mission of the day which was to find Australian phone cards. We opted for Optus (AUD$30), which has been consistently recommended by friends. We then picked up coffee (I had cappuccino which they lace here with choco powder) at Cibo, still at Rundle Street, where we exchanged with each other our Australian numbers.

It is right what the websites say - Adelaide is a quiet and peaceful place. Even how the sun sets here is so calm and serene.

100,000 strong and well-behaved.

2008-12-31T23:10:00.000-08:00

And this is how they celebrated in Adelaide. A report from www.thedaily.com.au:

More than 100,000 South Australians rang in the New Year at celebrations in Adelaide with police declaring the crowds well behaved.

Police said only 132 people were arrested and a further 83 reported, mostly for behaviour-related offences or minor assaults.

A 22-year-old man was arrested after reports he was carrying a gun outside an inner-city nightspot.

"Police subsequently located an imitation handgun and the man is expected to be charged with carrying an offensive weapon," a police spokesman said.

New Year's Eve celebrations in Elder Park, in the city, and at seaside Glenelg drew the biggest crowds, although cool conditions kept numbers down on last year.

Dry zones were also declared at some events and organisers said making the celebrations alcohol-free helped attract more families.

Police said they conducted 6,500 random breath tests over nine hours, with 35 people reported for drink driving and 11 for using drugs.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

2008-12-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

lovely caffeinated presents from even more lovely friends:

i think that i shall never see...

2008-12-15T07:26:00.000-08:00

a thing as lovely as a red coffee freebie.

carnegie mellon's 49 graduates

2008-12-14T02:45:00.000-08:00

On 11 December 2008, the Carnegie Mellon University's hub in the Asia Pacific region graduated 49 local and international students. The Heinz School started operation in May 2006. Details from studyadelaide.com

More than 350 people attended Carnegie Mellon Australia’s largest graduation ceremony in the Adelaide Town Hall.

On 11 December, 49 local and international graduates received their degrees in the Masters of Science in Information Technology and the Masters of Science in Public Policy and Management from the Provost of Carnegie Mellon University, Dr Mark Kamlet.

“For the second year in a row, we’ve more than doubled the number of students in our graduating class. It’s evidence that if you offer distinctive degrees that incorporate the latest theories with demonstrated real world applicability, then students will come,” Carnegie Mellon Australia Executive Director Tim Zak said.

“This is a good news story for our students and even better news for South Australia. Post-secondary education is a key money earner for the state and it creates intellectual capital for the future. These students are the kind of people who will drive policy and lead emerging enterprises both domestically and internationally,” Mr Zak said.

Graduation Keynote speaker and Engineering Director of Google Australia, Alan Noble says you can never have too many universities and especially those with the global reputation of Carnegie Mellon. "Carnegie Mellon University is one of our top sources of Google recruits in the USA," Mr Noble said. "They have very strong ties with us.

“We’ve done a lot of recruiting in the last few years throughout Australia. We’ve grown the organisation here pretty dramatically. I think there’s a great chance of hiring some local graduates and interns as well."

Carnegie Mellon University is ranked 21st globally (Times). It was invited by the Rann Government to establish itself in South Australia as part of an education hub of renowned international providers and to boost the number of local and international students attending tertiary education in the State.

In May 2006, the Heinz College began operation in Adelaide as the College’s Asia Pacific base. Heinz College offers two unique masters level degrees – the Master of Science in Public Policy and Management and the Master of Science in Information Technology.

big brother looming

2008-12-14T01:40:00.000-08:00

The netizens of Down Under raise a strong protest over the grim prospect of the Big Brother landing on their shores. News.com.au reports:

HUNDREDS of people attended rallies in Australian capital cities yesterday to voice their opposition to the Rudd Government's planned internet filtering scheme.

The rallies, held in seven cities including Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, were the first in a series of demonstrations organised by anti-censorship group Digital Liberty Coalition (DLC).

In Sydney a crowd of up to 300 mostly young and tech-savvy protestors gathered at Town Hall to hear guest speakers including bloggers and musicians criticise the web filtering scheme.

IT worker Jon Seymour, who runs the blogs Broadbanned Revolution and Filtering Fallacies, said he was concerned the filter had the potential to be misused.

"Even if there's no realistic scenario where it's going to be abused now, it's certainly possible that future governments might choose to use (it) to start frustrating political opinion," he said.

"We have to resist this now, because once it's in place it will be very hard to dismantle."

Jonas Sally UNSW computer science Dane Edwards said he attended the rally to voice concern over the effect the filter would have on people who were less technologically savvy.

"For people who are technically skilled, people who know how to use computers properly, this censorship is going to be pathetically easy to defeat," he said.

"(The fear is that) a lot of material that shouldn't be blocked will be."

Under the Government's current plan, all Australians will be served a "clean" internet feed with websites on a secret blacklist maintained by the communications watchdog blocked.

A secondary filter to block material inappropriate for children will also be introduced, however users will be able to opt-out of this system by lodging a request with their internet service provider.

Opponents to the plan are concerned the filter will slow internet connection speeds and accidentally prevent access to a large number of legitimate websites.

Studies cited by the Australian Communications and Media Authority this year found web filtering software blocked the wrong content in up to 25 per cent of test cases.

Anti-censorship advocates are also concerned that the secret blacklist of websites to be blocked for all users could be misused or expanded for political reasons.

DLC Sydney rally coordinator Jerry Hutchinson said the low take-up of existing free web filtering software, introduced by the previous government, showed that parents were not interested in the concept.

"The Howard government spent a lot of money on that and people aren't downloading it," Mr Hutchinson said.

"Why? Because people can monitor their own children – they don't need censorship in their home."

A live trial of filtering software is scheduled to begin this month, with internet service providers Optus and iiNet taking part in the test.

Australia's biggest ISP Telstra has refused to take part, with chief operating officer Greg Winn calling the Government's plan a "pipe dream".

DLC plans to hold anti-filter demonstrations in capital cities once a month until March, when it will promote a national protest in Canberra called March in March.

calculus in economics

2008-12-12T17:56:00.000-08:00

Daniel S. Christiansen presents a set of powerful arguments on the relevance of calculus:

First, the use of mathematics helps develop problem-solving skills. It imposes a rigor that mandates keeping track of costs and benefits, and it provides a framework for determining which variables and parameters are important. We apply calculus and other mathematics to a wide variety of problems. Our view is that you can’t learn economics without solving problems.

Second, the calculus approach helps in learning to think clearly. You will be forced to translate weak verbal arguments into precise, consistent statements. Making a statement formal clarifies what is being said. When you are called upon to verify what you think is obvious, you may discover that it is not obvious or perhaps not even true.

Third, the use of calculus unifies the material by focusing on the common economic structure of problems. When we strip the specific details away, many problems look surprisingly alike and have common solutions. More generally, this is an argument for the power of abstraction. Calculus makes it easier, not harder, to learn economics.
There are, in fact, only a small number of basic ideas in intermediate microeconomics; much of what we do is working out the details for particular situations.

Fourth, calculus helps in becoming literate in the language of modern economics. For better or worse, mathematics is the language of economics. If you want to read the economic literature or get an advanced degree in economics, you will have to deal with the mathematics. The best business schools demand mathematical maturity of
their students; and if you want to undertake a serious study of finance, for example, you will find that calculus is only the beginning.

Fifth, this approach provides the opportunity to apply mathematics to social science problems. Whereas many of the examples in a first course in calculus come from physics, there are also examples from economics that illustrate most of the same points. This shows the power of calculus and aids in its understanding.

Sixth, this approach allows us to take the subject to a more advanced point and thus gives a better appreciation of the power of economic theory. Economics is ultimately a policy science, and theory plays an essential role. Hal Varian has some enlightening answers to the question, “What use is economic theory?” Among other things, he suggests that theory is useful as a substitute for data that we need but do not have; and he explains how theory can generate useful insights in explaining economic phenomena, even when the theory is only approximately true.

18 days before end-year

2008-12-12T09:01:00.001-08:00

Now, where did all that time go?

exodus of starbucks

2008-12-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

Starbucks is what I call my "default cafe". I am not particularly enamoured with the franchise, but if I am in a strange place and I haven't had a decent caffeine dose the last 24 hours, I start googling for the nearest Starbucks outlet.

Adelaidenow.com.au posted posted on 29 July 2008 that all three Starbucks branches will be closing in Adelaide by 3 August 2008, i.e., more than four months ago. Question. If the default button no longer works, what happens now in case of a dire emergency?

ALL three Starbucks coffee stores in Adelaide, employing about 30 people, are expected to close on Sunday as the U.S.-owned Australian franchise shuts down 75 per cent of its locations.

The subsidiary of U.S. company Starbucks Coffee will axe about 685 jobs when, in five days, it closes 61 ``underperforming'' stores from 84 locations, leaving only 23stores in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

"After evaluating several options to strengthen the business in Australia, Starbucks made this decision to concentrate its attention and resources on profitable growth, operational efficiencies and an enhanced experience for customers and partners (employees) globally,'' a company spokesman said.

Employees at Starbucks' Rundle Mall, Glenelg and Noarlunga stores were told of the closures yesterday.

All closure sites will be made public tomorrow when posted on the chain's Australian website after all employees are told.

Starbucks Coffee Company (Australia) made an operating loss of $36 million in the year to September 30, 2007, adding to a $27 million loss the previous year.

The company started operating in Australia in 2000, opening its first SA store at Noarlunga in March, 2006. Starbucks last month announced it would close 600 company-operated stores in the U.S., costing up to 12,000 jobs, after it continued its rapid expansion while the U.S. economy slowed.

The company said 70 per cent of the cafes slated for closure had opened after the start of 2006.
Starbucks chairman and chief executive Howard Schultz said yesterday's announcement stemmed from a decision to develop strategies to transform the business.

"While this decision represents business challenges unique to the Australian market, it in no way reflects the strong state of Starbucks business in countries outside of the United States,'' he said in a statement.

One competitor was quick to offer Starbucks staff a lifeline.

Bean Bar head franchisor Ron Basset said his company, which will expand its SA cafes from seven to nine by early September, was looking for staff.

"We'll be talking to Starbucks about taking on some of their leases and we'd be looking for staff as well,'' he said.

math troubles

2008-12-10T05:28:00.000-08:00

So it seems that there are other people as well having their own troubles with math.
From australia.news.com.au, here's a report saying that Australian students are being clobbered in international tests by students from other jurisdictions incuding, gasp, Borat's Kazakhstan.

AUSTRALIAN school students are being overtaken in international tests by countries traditionally scorned for their poor educational standards, including England, the US, Russia and the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan.

The Trends in International Maths and Science Study released early today shows that Year 8 science students in Australia have slipped in ranking, falling about 12 points over the past four years.

The only improvement was among Year 4 maths students, whose scores rose 17 points over the past four years and 22 points since 1995, with Year 8 maths and Year 4 science scores relatively unchanged.

By contrast, Year 4 maths students in England jumped 57 points over the past decade, while their US peers rose 11 points in the past four years.

These improvements have occurred at a time when England has introduced a national curriculum and testing regime, and the US has embarked on national testing and demanded greater accountability of schools.

The English and US results serve to support the direction of the Rudd Government's education agenda, which also aims to introduce a national curriculum and combine national testing with greater transparency and accountability of schools. England has also introduced a successful campaign to improve the status of teaching in the community and attract a better calibre of graduate into the profession, a challenge Australia is yet to tackle.

TIMSS has been conducted every four years since 1995, testing maths and science knowledge among Years 4 and 8 students. The most recent was held last year among more than 425,000 students in about 60 countries.

The Australian TIMSS study, conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research, tested more than 8000 students in about 500 schools around the nation.

ACER chief executive Geoff Masters said the study underlined the challenge Australia faced in its maths and science curriculum and in keeping students engaged in the subjects.

"I think it's more to do with teaching and how do we continue to prepare and develop teachers, particularly in science," he said.

One school successfully enticing students into science is the Marist Regional College in Burnie, northwest Tasmania, which has five of the 16 finalists in the nation's most prestigious school science competition.

Under the direction of research co-ordinator Ann Bourke, students Savannah Holwill, Luke Fletcher, Hannah Younger, Storm Holwill, and Cat Gaggin earned berths in the finals of the BHP Billiton Science Awards in 2009.

The students, from Years 7 to 10, designed their own experiments into the capability of different soils to act as a carbon sink, the effect of different fertilisers in growing algae in waterways, if biosludge is an effective fertiliser and how aluminium, linked in urban myths to Alzheimer's, might be absorbed by the body.

The college science co-ordinator, David Buchanan, said the secret to the school's success was the integration of a traditional science course with a research program that allowed students to apply what they had learned.

"You can't get kids to do this sort of stuff when they're in a knowledge vacuum," he said.

The TIMSS test is drawn from the common curriculum studied in all countries and is a traditional assessment of factual knowledge.

The top achievers in TIMSS include Australia's Asian neighbours Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

While Australia performed at or above the international average, it had a much lower proportion of students scoring at an advanced level.

In Year 4 science, for example, 36 per cent of Singaporean students achieved an advanced benchmark compared to 10 per cent of Australians.

While comparisons between states are difficult because of the different years at which high school starts, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania recorded significant improvements in Year 4 maths.

Tasmania also had the highest proportion of high achieving students in Year 4 science with 14 per cent in the highest band.

The report says countries that had improved on their already high scores had undertaken systemic and curriculum reform. It calls for greater attention to be given to the Australian curriculum in maths and science in the beginning years of high school.

"The static nature of achievement in Year 4 science ... suggests that there is a case for finding ways to increase science expertise in schools ... and for implementing curricula that highlight the science of the phenomena that students encounter in their lives," it says.

Australians tended to score worse in physics and chemistry and in algebra and geometry.

While most high school maths teachers and three-quarters of science teachers felt well prepared to teach their subjects, the report suggests this confidence might be misplaced. In some areas, the performance of their students was not correspondingly high.

interesting times

2008-12-09T05:37:00.000-08:00

Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Glenn Stevens wishes everyone a much less interesting year in 2009 during his address to the Australian Business Economists Annual Dinner in Sydney on 9 December 2008. RBA has cut its interest rates by 300 basis points since September of this year.

It is a pleasure once again to address the Australian Business Economists.

It was to this group that I gave my first speech as Governor, in October 2006. Tonight is my 23rd speech since then. Between the two occasions, quite a lot has changed, globally and domestically (though I doubt the speeches have become any more exciting).

Many people have said to me recently that the times are ‘interesting’. My response has been that they are, perhaps, a little too interesting. I need not remind this audience of the international financial turmoil through which we have lived over the past almost year and a half, nor of the intensity of the events since mid September this year, in particular.

I do not know anyone who predicted this course of events. This should give us cause to reflect on how hard a job it is to make genuinely useful forecasts. What we have seen is truly a ‘tail’ outcome – the kind of outcome that the routine forecasting process never predicts. But it has occurred, it has implications, and so we must reflect on it.

In that spirit, I shall set out a few features of this episode that make it ‘interesting’.

The most obvious one is the prominence of financial events and particularly financial sector impairment in key countries. There have been other episodes where individual financial institutions or sectors, or even the whole banking systems of small countries, have needed recapitalisation. But the scale of capital needed, the number of countries where it is needed and the extent of counterparty risk aversion because of concerns over solvency have been outside the range of experience of the past half century.

In the near term, financial stress brings the obvious concern about the ability of the financial system to provide credit to the economies in question. As one measure of this concern, the number of loans approved for housing in the United Kingdom in October was 65 per cent lower than a year earlier, and about 50 per cent lower than during the downturn of the early 1990s. The immediate need is to keep ample liquidity, strengthen banks’ balance sheets by adding capital and to help confidence, including by lending the strength of the sovereign’s credit rating where necessary. All this has been occurring.

What may still be needed internationally is attention to the remaining problem assets, since if their prices continue to decline, the capital position of the banks will continue to deteriorate. So while the UK solution has emphasised new capital and the initial US approach emphasised excising the ‘troubled’ assets, the Swiss solution has been to do both: to recapitalise the banks, while getting the worst of the bad assets off their balance sheets. The United States has moved in this direction also more recently. Continued efforts to provide clarity on the state of balance sheets is also important. Surely the lingering counterparty risk aversion reflects uncertainty on this score.

Longer term, some of the implications of the past year’s events will be seen in the regulatory environment. In those countries where the public purse has had to be used to support bank solvency, it can be expected that there will be significant regulatory reform – and rightly so. The real trick, however, will be to make sure that the reforms are not just knee‑jerk reactions to the symptoms of financial excess – as clear as they are – but well‑considered, durable and tractable changes that appropriately contain, but do not crush, the financial system’s capacity and appetite to take risk. Certainly, over the past five or so years, too much risk was taken, of the wrong sort. The danger in the next several years, however, will not be too much risk‑taking, but too little. Regulators will want to avoid compounding that.

While the prominence of financial events has been clear, there has also been a set of ‘interesting’ events in the real economy unfolding at the same time. The fortunes of the Chinese economy are increasingly important, particularly for Australia and other countries in our time zone. The most striking real economic fact of the past several months is not continued US economic weakness, but that China’s economy has slowed much more quickly than anyone had forecast. Our own estimates suggest that Chinese industrial production probably declined over the four months to October. Some of this might be attributable to the effects of the Olympics but surely not much. Some of it reflects the weakening in Chinese exports to major countries. But more than that seems to have been occurring. I am not sure that many economic forecasters have fully appreciated this yet. There is every chance that the rate of growth of China’s GDP is currently noticeably below the 8 per cent pace that is embodied in various forecasts for 2009.

The Chinese authorities, having sought a slowing of their economy after it was clearly overheating, are now moving policies quickly in an expansionary direction. So there is a good chance that China’s economy will be looking stronger in a year’s time than it does today. It is important, though, that this is done in the right way – specifically by boosting domestic demand.

China’s slowing may be part of a third striking fact, namely, the simultaneity of the weakening in economic activity around the world during recent months.

When this occurs, one is naturally led to look for a common shock. The noticeable slowing in many economies in the June quarter seemed at the time to be attributable to the sharp run‑up in oil prices. That rise has now been more than reversed, but the slowing has, if anything, intensified during the past several months. The more recent weakening might be the result of more widespread and intense tightening of credit conditions that has occurred in some of the major countries. But the state of domestic financial sectors differs across countries. In Australia or Japan or much of east Asia or Canada, while credit conditions have become more difficult, the banks are in much stronger condition than in the United States or Europe or the United Kingdom.

One thing that stands out as closely related across countries, however, is the fall in share markets. These changes are to some extent themselves a reflection of a weaker set of expected economic outcomes. But with closely linked financial markets and rapid communication, changes in sentiment are transmitted very quickly across countries and it appears that those changes in sentiment are themselves affecting behaviour. People have, understandably, become very uncertain about the outlook and are correspondingly more cautious in their spending behaviour.

In essence, we are now in a period when the essential nature of events is not so much a crisis in the financial system. It is a crisis of confidence on the part of households and businesses, and it is global in nature. Hence the need for actions that are internationally consistent to deal with the situation.

On that score, a fourth ‘interesting’ feature is the speed with which official institutions seem to be reacting to the economic fallout now unfolding. To take one example, IMF forecasts, and associated policy advice, are being revised more often and faster than I can recall in the past. Perhaps this is simply because of the greater number of international meetings at which the Fund is asked for its view, but my sense is that international official bodies and their domestic counterparts are shifting their assessments unusually quickly as they attempt to grapple with the unfolding situation.

Monetary policy is being eased aggressively around the world. So is fiscal policy. One of the striking features of the recent G‑20 meetings was the way the need for fiscal stimulus, where debt levels permitted, was readily agreed between participants, and actively encouraged by the IMF. Of course, agreeing to things in general at a meeting is only the first, and the easiest, step. Actual policies have to be delivered and in a timely and effective – and hopefully consistent – way. I use the word ‘consistent’ because it is preferable, in my judgment, for action to be broadly consistent and timely, than for it to be precisely co‑ordinated but delayed. It also remains to calibrate the extent of the measures appropriately for the circumstances, which is no easy matter. Nonetheless, it seems to me that all this is happening faster than on previous occasions.

It would not be realistic to suggest that this response has been, or ever could be, so fast and so well targeted that significant near‑term weakness in the global economy can be avoided. The data coming in by the day confirm that there is an international downturn taking place, and that it shows every sign of being a deeper one than the rather shallow affair of 2001.

The question is whether we have reasonable grounds to expect that the combination of private and public efforts to address the financial problems, a subsidence of the sheer panic in financial markets and the use of macroeconomic policy to provide stimulus to weak economies will establish sound foundations for a renewed period of expansion beginning some time in 2009.

The inauguration of a new US Administration is a key opportunity. The economic downturn has been deepening during the transition period. But if the new team can announce credible plans to accommodate the required adjustments in the US economy, confidence in medium‑term prospects can be re‑built. This would assist both the US economic recovery and conditions elsewhere.

Thinking ahead, the next international expansion will no doubt have some different characteristics from the previous one. It cannot be based on a continual gearing up by consumers in developed countries and associated asset price escalation. For that reason, neither can it be characterised by the continued large build‑up of balance of payments surpluses by the emerging world. The secular increase in living standards in emerging countries ought to play a bigger role in driving global demand – and that will depend on appropriate policies in both those countries and the developed world. It looks like there will be a fairly prominent role in the near term, in many advanced countries, for the government sector through the recapitalisation and/or guarantees of banks, or fiscal expansion, or both. But for sustained growth, there will also need to be a role for innovation and prudent risk‑taking in the private sector – even though, at present, that is in retreat.

Turning closer to home, the Australian economy has seen a significant change in circumstances over the past six months. The biggest terms of trade boom in half a century is over, and has partly unwound. I still think that China’s emergence is far from complete and that, as a result, the terms of trade will be higher on average than they were until a few years ago. But over the next year they will be well below their peak.

Our households, like those elsewhere, have observed financial turmoil and a decline in share prices and have become more cautious. Consumer spending, which slowed significantly in the period from about February to June as interest rates and petrol prices rose, has remained slow since, even as interest rates and petrol prices have fallen significantly. I think we can expect that households will be more cautious about debt over the next couple of years. Business investment and government spending have remained pretty strong – so that domestic demand was still 4 per cent higher in the latest data than a year earlier. But businesses are currently in the process of scaling back plans for investment and hiring. This is partly in response to slower consumer demand, but the dramatic change of view about international conditions and the general uncertainty reflected in financial market prices are surely playing a major role. So in the period ahead, private demand could look weaker than it has for some years.

What then do we need to be doing to ensure as far as we can that the period of weakness is brief, and that prospects for longer-term sustainable growth are maintained?

Of course, we cannot change the course of the world economy. But we can keep our own house in order to maximise our chances of good performance. On this score, as I have remarked before, Australia has scope to use macroeconomic policy to support the economy in the weak part of the cycle. That scope was earned by being prepared to run budget surpluses and run down public debt when revenues were strong, and by raising interest rates to contain inflation when the economy overheated.

The scope to ease policies is now being used. On the fiscal side, the ‘automatic stabilisers’ will reduce the budget surplus as the economy weakens, cushioning the economy in the process. That is what they are designed to do. There has also been a front‑loaded, discretionary easing that is starting to arrive in recipients’ bank accounts this week. Of course, a good deal of this may be saved, but even if it is, that presumably takes the place of private saving that would otherwise have been done over a longer period, so it brings forward the point at which households become confident enough to lift spending. Also on the fiscal front, there is no reason why worthwhile public investment decisions that are currently planned should not proceed, as long as they really are worthwhile.

On the monetary front, interest rates right across the spectrum have fallen. Some fairly elementary calculations suggest that, as a result of the decline in interest rates that has occurred already, the fall in the household sector’s gross debt-servicing burden will be almost 3 per cent of household income. This is roughly equal to that seen in the early 1990s, when the cash rate fell from 18 per cent to 4.75 per cent. But on that occasion it took two and a half years; this time it will take place over about four or five months. The decline in borrowing costs for businesses has generally been smaller and slower to appear, but there has been some faster pass‑through of the most recent reduction in the cash rate. These transmission channels of monetary policy are still operating in Australia, unlike in some other countries.

In addition, the exchange rate is playing its normal role of adjusting to changed circumstances in a way that stabilises the economy. It has declined by about 25 per cent in trade‑weighted terms since mid year, just about the largest movement we have seen in such a short period.

These are quite big changes. They will take time to have their full effect, but they will be making a significant difference to conditions over the next year. There is scope to do more with macroeconomic policy settings, if needed, given the strength of the public accounts at the federal level, and the outlook for declining inflation. In assessing whether more is needed, and if so, how much, we will naturally need both to maintain a close watch on the data and to remember the extent of stimulus that is still in the pipeline as a result of past actions.

Other supportive factors include the state of the financial system. This has been said many times but bears repeating. Of course credit conditions for some sectors, notably property, have tightened. And overall, credit to business is rising much more slowly now than a year ago. But even so, over the three months to October, credit provided by intermediaries rose at an annualised pace of about 12–13 per cent. On a broader definition, which includes capital market raisings, the pace was about 9 per cent. Both numbers are actually a bit higher than they were around mid year. In most developed countries, this would be considered a very satisfactory pace (if not a little fast). Credit growth to households has recently been very slow, by historical standards, at about 4 to 5 per cent. Margin loans in particular are contracting quickly as people reduce their leverage. Lending for housing is starting to pick up now, however, from the early impact of interest rate reductions. Australian banks, having raised very large quantities of deposits in the past couple of months, are now turning back to offshore markets, making use of the government guarantee. They do not appear to have had much trouble raising capital from private markets when they wanted it. Overall, while not without its difficulties, this situation remains a much better one than seen in a number of other countries.

These are the key elements of handling the cyclical episode. Longer term, performance will depend on the quality of investment, both public and private, on productivity‑increasing innovation and reform, and on getting the right balance on regulation. All that is hard, but at various times over the past couple of decades, Australia has made considerable progress in these areas, and has a pretty good record overall of responding to the need for change, especially in times of adversity. There is no reason we should not maintain that record.

As I said at the outset, we are indeed living through ‘interesting’ times. They are tough times, for businesses, financial markets, households and policy‑makers. Given the global situation, we have a very difficult period to negotiate. But we can negotiate it. The long‑run prospects for the Australian economy have not deteriorated to the extent that some people may presently be feeling. We do have reasonable grounds for some quiet confidence about the future, however bad the storm at present may be.

A period of reflection and recharging of batteries over the break will be helpful. At the conclusion of a hectic year, therefore, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas – and a much less interesting 2009.

australia, the movie

2008-12-08T05:32:00.000-08:00

I will still be one of the first to queue in movie theatres when this film gets shown in town, even if I weren't flying in to this continent in a couple of weeks time.

eureka!

2008-12-05T17:01:00.000-08:00

UniLodge @ Metro Adelaide
30 Victoria Street
Adelaide City South Australia 5000
Tel: 61 7 3100 0851
Fax: 61 7 3229 1822
metro.adelaide@unilodge.com.au

I guess this is it: walking distance to the uni, fully furnished and self-contained, with laundry/ironing facilities, near the markets/shopping mall/park/cafes,
with security arrangements, and an administrator quick to answer online queries regarding the property. Practically everything you will quickly need is within a 1 kilometer radius.

Weekly rent: AUD$305/week
Reservation: AUD$500 (to be credited to the bond)
Bond: AUD$1220
Utilities fee to cover electricity, gas, water and telephone line rental: AUD$75/month
Internet connection: AUD$29/month
Laundry facilities: AUD$3/wash; AUD$3/dry

What the 26sqm unit includes:
Room (remove flat control screen television, carpet, telephone with voicemail, security intercom, internet ready with LAN socket on wall, dining table, dining chair, study desk, study chair, bed and matress protector
Kitchen (electric cook top, microwave, range-hood, fridge, sink)
Bathroom (vanity cupboard, mirror, shower, towel rail, toilet)

maligned down under

2008-12-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

Having been a Nicole Kidman fan for the longest time, it has come a big surprise that the luminous goddess is not exactly worshipped in her homeland. But then hasn't it been said that prophets are practically stoned in the places where they come from?

Here's a grudging acceptance from news.co.au:

AUSTRALIA is the biggest, most expensive, most star-studded Aussie flick ever made. But what if it succeeds in doing what no other film before it has?
What if we all end up liking Nicole Kidman?

This is a woman so maligned by the Australian public - women in particular - that mere mention of her name can make eyes roll.

Your Say ... Australia, was it worth three hours of numb bum?

In the gossiping court of public opinion, her rumoured faults are legion, if not always true: she’s cold, she’s up herself, she’s way too smooth of brow. She rode her way to stardom on Tom’s coat-tails. She can’t act. She’s too cutesy in interviews. She bleaches her skin. The rumour mill might not have gone into overdrive the way it did when her ex’s bub Suri was cosseted from the public by wary parents, but hairdressers around the country who know someone who knows someone have it on good authority she didn’t carry Sunday Rose (apparently, she snapped back into shape too quickly).

Then, last year, Forbes magazine rated her the most overpaid actress on earth. Ooh, it was delicious. Everything everyone had ever thought was proven down to the last cold, hard US dollar. The shiver of told-you-so schadenfreude across the nation could have been measured on the Richter scale.

Poor Nicole: It seems women just don’t like her, and blokes just don’t want to sleep with her.

So actually bringing her into the public fold is a shocking thought. She’s been bagged for so long. In the decades-long war on Nic (occasionally “Ours”, but not with the same sincerity used when referring to Cate Blanchett) you have to go a long way back to find even the hint of a thaw. We rallied behind her after the nasty split from Tom (the horrible Scientologist who seemed to not give a toss that she’d miscarried). And we got a bit warm and fuzzy when she crooned Somethin’ Stupid with Robbie Williams. It was such a perfect up-yours to control freak Cruise, since the tattooed Pom was so cheeky-boy, have-a-beer naughty.

But since then? Nothing. Even marrying to Keith Urban couldn’t pull her into mass favour.

But here she is in Australia, playing stitched-up Lady Sarah Ashley. And she’s funny. She’s warm. She’s real. She’s what we all like to think we’d be - fair, determined, independent, fabulously dressed. Sure, she gets to pash Hugh - but more than that, she makes the kiss seem real. We know it isn’t - would you be game to get Deborra-Lee offside? - but the emotion is palpable.

So despite Fur and Bewitched and The Golden Compass et al, it seems she really can act. There’s real grief when Aboriginal boy Nullah is carted off to Mission island. There’s real joy when the whip-cracking Drover rides back in from stage left. At the screening I went to, people actually applauded her. Out loud. Despite the fact she was in America, and they were just watching a screen.

So here’s hoping, Nicole. Bugger the critics who say Baz made a mistake when he cast you. Bugger the grudging three-star ratings. Check out the word of mouth. Because at the moment, that’s what counts.

You might become Ours after all.

sexiest man

2008-11-20T05:13:00.001-08:00

and this year's sexiest man alive is. . . ta-daah, from Down Under.

Peoples.com explains why Hugh Jackman deserves the title.

student visa application

2008-11-20T04:11:00.000-08:00

Was finally able to submit today my visa application. Now all I have to do is wait.
Click here to download Form 157A.

tucked in a too safe a place

2008-11-18T03:50:00.000-08:00

Six weeks to go and am veering towards a highly frenzied state. I have been hunting for my passport the past three days only to find it tucked in a very safe place - safety deposit box at home. We've been given until tomorrow to file the visa application and I cannot imagine how I can come up with another passport within the next 24 hours. My other possible option was to use my regular passport but since I will be travelling in an official capacity, this was not a too good alternative.

I have to remind myself that my passport will expire by 11 November 2009 and I need to have it revalidated with a consulate office in Australia before then.

australian PM congratulates obama

2008-11-08T18:56:00.001-08:00

Report from hindu.com:

Australia's prime minister said Friday that he and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama have vowed to work together to deal with the global financial crisis.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters in Sydney that he spoke by telephone with Obama on Friday to congratulate him on his historic win and discuss the various challenges the lie ahead for the world. The two also talked about the issues of national security and climate change during the 10- to 15-minute conversation, Rudd said.

"It was a good conversation. It was a friendly conversation," Rudd said. "The challenges we face are great — they are global challenges, they are regional challenges. But I believe we have a strong partner in the U.S."

Rudd said he'd talked to Obama a few times during the presidential campaign, but Friday's conversation focused on the strength of the relationship between Australia and the U.S.

"I'm convinced that we're going to have a first-class working relationship with president-elect Obama," he said. "As I've said before publicly, I believe him to be a very good man. I've also said publicly that his message of hope for America is, I believe, equally a message of hope for the world."

Rudd was among nine world leaders to congratulate Obama on his victory during a round of phone calls Thursday in the U.S.

medical examination

2008-11-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

The medical examination, part of the requirements for a student visa, must be conducted by an Australian Embassy approved panel doctor.

What it involves:
1. Completing all sections of a medical form (available from the panel doctors)
2. Undergoing a physical examination (may include, among others, urinalysis, blood sampling, and chest x-rays)
3. Providing documents for identification purposes, i.e., 3 copies of passport-sized pictures and passport (we were additionally asked to bring 2 photocopies of passport and any government-issued identification such as driver's license)
4. Payment of fee (currently Php 2,800 in the Philippines without blood test)

living high

2008-11-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Are you willing to live on AUD$120/week if you camp in a place like this? Walking distance to the university, the mall, the parks, and the cafes. Below are the estimated one-time and weekly costs for students. Guess you'd have to cut some corners if you have to squeeze yourself at that weekly budget. But then, who has time to watch movies anyway? You also wouldn't need to stand under the sun waiting for the bus. Moreover, definitely no bigmacs - all that transfat. And try calculating how much coffee you can drink at AUS$2.50 per cup.

Methinks I will take this place. I could stand to lose 5 kilos.

Basic weekly expenses

Rent
$100 - $250*
Food
$50 - $80
Bills (gas, electricity)
$15 - $25
Transport
$15 - $20
Other (entertainment, clothes etc.)
$35 - $40
Telephone / postage
$20 - $30

TOTAL WEEKLY EXPENSES
$235 - $445

TOTAL YEARLY (52 WEEKS) EXPENSES
$12,220 - $23,140

* Shared flat / house $100 - $200, Shared student apartment $130 - $190 (fully furnished), Residential college $300 (incl. food, utilities and fully furnished)..
These figures are approximate per person costs and only intended as a guide to your weekly cost of living in Adelaide.

Item Costs

Bowl of noodles / fried rice
$4.50 - $5.50
Loaf of bread
$1.80 - $3.50
1 litre carton of milk
$1.65
Bottle of water (600ml)
$2.00
Cup of coffee
$2.00 - $2.50
Big Mac
$3.45
Cinema ticket (student rate)
$10.50
Phone call (local)
$0.40
Bus ticket (student rate)
$1.20 - $2.00

being rational, natural, or something else

2008-11-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

Defining a rational number, an integer,and a natural number.
Check this site for examples and practice exercises.

hakuna math-ata!

2008-11-06T04:45:00.000-08:00

The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple. ~S. Gudder

what the US election result means to australia

2008-11-05T04:12:00.000-08:00

From adelaidenow.com.au:

THE Federal Government has built a foreign policy around three pillars, but it is clear the alliance with the United States towers above the others.

While Australia's engagement with the UN and Asia remain on the agenda, no country has influenced Canberra's interaction with the rest of the world as much as the US since Australia cut its apron strings with Britain early last century.

Over the eight years of the Bush administration, Australia has edged even closer to the US, following it into wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the name of a battle against terrorism.

The question now for Australia is what will Barack Obama's accession to the White House mean for relations between the two allies.

The historic presidential race between Senator Obama and Republican rival John McCain was never expected to dramatically alter the decades-old alliance.

But the new face in the White House will bring a change in temperament and emphasis.

The biggest challenge the relationship is likely face in the near term is the question of Afghanistan.

The US President-elect has signalled his intention to focus America's efforts in the so-called war on terror on Afghanistan, boosting troop numbers and pledging to strike militant bases in Pakistan.

But he won't want America to carry the burden on its own and allies are anticipating a request for additional military support.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, however, says Australia has no intention of increasing troop numbers.

Australia, too, will be looking to an Obama administration for support as the globe struggles to reach consensus on how to deal with the problem of climate change.

Senator Obama has foreshadowed ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - bringing the US back into the fold on climate change after the Bush administration's refusal to support the Kyoto Protocol.

Closer to home, Australia will want to be reassured the new administration plans to continue America's long-term engagement in the Asia-Pacific.

Michael Fullilove, director of global issues programs at the Lowy Institute for International Policy, argues Senator Obama's pragmatic approach may enhance the appeal of Mr Rudd's proposal for a new, wide-ranging Asia-Pacific community.

"He himself has argued for a more effective framework in Asia that goes beyond bilateral agreements, occasional summits, and ad hoc arrangements," Dr Fullilove says.

But political pundits warn Australia will face a competitive field trying to get the new US president to listen to its foreign policy priorities.

Senator Obama has created a renewed world interest in US politics and leaders around the world will be wanting a piece of him.

And despite the historic election of a black American president, some in Australia are worried the Democrat could spell trouble for US trade policy.

Maverick Queenslander Barnaby Joyce, the Nationals Senate leader, warned the US President-elect's protectionist leanings could be bad news for Australian farmers.

Australia will also be looking to the new president for help to rouse the Doha round of world trade talks out of their comatose state.

US resolve is needed if that is to happen but Democrats in the White House and Congress make it increasingly unlikely.

Across the globe expectations are high about what a President Obama might mean for the world.

But high expectations bring their own problems.

And there will be deep disappointment if he doesn't provide all the answers many are expecting.

paper versus digital

2008-11-04T04:10:00.000-08:00

I have been a PDA user for more than 10 years now. But this thing, a freebie thrown in with a purchase of a bottle of kahlua, seems to have gotten me organized better the past few days.

Cost of my PDA with camera/phone 2 yrs ago: US$500
Paper Planner: priceless (with the reminders/to dos all over the place, flight confirmation details, and lists of requirements)

where is adelaide?

2008-11-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

This is a rough map which shows where Adelaide is in terms of the Australian continent.

cost of living

2008-10-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

Here's CMU's estimate of the cost of living for a student (In Australian dollars)

Representative Weekly Student Budget
Accommodations $120-$250
Food $80-$100
Utilities $29-$65
Transportation $0-$20
Medical Insurance (single) $8
Laundry $5-$10
Miscellanies $35-$50
TOTAL $277-$503

Establishment Costs
Bond (usually 1 month’s rent) 4.333 x weekly rent
Telephone / utilities connection $150 - $160
Internet (home) – ADSL $90 - $130
ADSL Modem $70 - $130
Mobile Broadband USB Modem $120 (with 12-month plan)
Books and Supplies approximately $650 per semester
Other ongoing costs
The following cost estimates should be added to weekly expenses if necessary:

Mobile (cellular) phone $5 - $15
Telephone (not mobile) $10 - $15
Internet access (home)
ADSL 1, 256K/64K, 5000MB $9
ADSL 2, 2400K/1000K, 20000MB $15
Mobile Broadband (1GB per month) $10

the test of english as a foreign language (TOEFL)

2008-10-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

Here's from wikipedia:

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (or TOEFLs, pronounced "toe-full" or sometimes "toy-ful") evaluates the potential success of an individual to use and understand Standard American English at a college level. It is required for non-native applicants at many English-speaking colleges and universities. Additionally, institutions such as government agencies, businesses, or scholarship programs may require this test. A TOEFL score is valid for two years and then is deleted from the official database. Colleges and universities usually consider only the most recent TOEFL score.

The TOEFL test is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is administered worldwide. The test was first administered in 1964 and has since been taken by nearly 20 million students.

Internet-Based Test
Since its introduction in late 2005, the Internet-Based test (iBT) has progressively replaced both the computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT) tests. The iBT has been introduced in phases, with the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy in 2005 and the rest of the world in 2006, with test centers added regularly.

Although the demand for test seats was very high, and candidates had to wait for months, it is now possible to take the test within one to four weeks in most countries.The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring mainly one of the basic language skills (although some tasks may require multiple skills) focusing on language used in an academic, higher-education environment. Note-taking is allowed during the iBT. The test cannot be taken more than once a week.

Reading
The reading section consists of 3–5 long passages and questions about the passages. The passages are on academic topics; they are the kind of material that might be found in an undergraduate university textbook. Students answer questions about main ideas, details, inferences, sentence restatements, sentence insertion, vocabulary, function and overall ideas. New types of questions in the iBT require paraphrasing, filling out tables, or completing summaries. Generally prior knowledge of the subject under discussion is not necessary to come to the correct answer, though a priori knowledge may help.

Listening
It consists of six long passages and questions about the passages. The passages consist of two student conversations and four academic lectures or discussions. The questions ask the students to determine main ideas, details, function, stance, inferences, and overall organization.

Speaking
It consists of six tasks, two independent tasks and four integrated tasks. In the two independent tasks, students must answer opinion questions about some aspect of academic life. In two integrated reading, listening, and speaking tasks, students must read a passage, listen to a passage, and speak about how the ideas in the two passages are related. In two integrated listening and speaking tasks, students must listen to long passages and then summarize and offer opinions on the information in the passages. Test takers are expected to convey information, explain ideas, and defend opinions clearly, coherently, and accurately.

Writing
The Writing Section consists of two tasks, one integrated task and one independent task. In the integrated task, students must read an academic passage, listen to an academic passage, and write about how the ideas in the two passages are related. In the independent task, students must write a personal essay.

Task iBT Approx. time

READING 3 passages and 39 questions 60 minutes
LISTENING 6 passages and 34 questions 50 minutes
SPEAKING 6 tasks and 6 questions 20 minutes
WRITING 2 tasks and 2 questions 55 minutes

It should be noted that at least one of the sections of the test will include extra, uncounted material. Educational Testing Service includes extra material to try out material for future tests. If the test taker is given a longer section, he must work hard on all of the materials because he does not know which material counts and which material is extra. For example, if there are four reading passages instead of three, three of the passages will count and one of the passages will not be counted. It is possible that the uncounted passage could be any of the four passages.

Paper-Based Test
In areas where the iBT and CBT are not available, a paper-based test (PBT) is given. Because test takers cannot register at the testing center on the test date, they must register in advance using the registration form provided in the Suplemental Paper TOEFL Bulletin. They should register in advance of the given deadlines to ensure a place because the test centers have limited seating and may fill up early. Tests are administered only several times each year.

The PBT tests essentially the same skills as the CBT, albeit with some differences, noticeably the number of questions (which is higher in the PBT) and the score scales. The test lasts 4 hours more or less. Students can take the test as many times as they wish. However, colleges and universities usually consider only the most recent score.

Listening (30-40 minutes)
It consists of three parts. The first one contains 30 questions about short conversations. The second part has 8 questions about longer conversations. The last part asks 12 questions about lectures or talks.
Structure and Written Expression (25 minutes)
This part has 15 exercises of completing sentences correctly and 25 exercises of identifying errors.
Reading Comprehension (55 minutes)
It has 50 questions about reading passages.
Writing (30 minutes)
One essay with 250-300 words in average.

Test Scores

Internet-Based Test
The iBT version of the TOEFL test is scored on a scale of 0 to 120 points.
Each of the four sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing) receives a scaled score from 0 to 30. The scaled scores from the four sections are added together to determine the overall score.
Speaking is initially given a score of 0 to 4, and writing is initially given a score of 0 to 5. These scores are converted to scaled scores of 0 to 30.

Computer-Based Test
Three subscores are obtained, each of which is given on a 0–30 scale: Listening, Structure/Writing (combined), and Reading. These subscores are averaged to obtain the final score, which is on a 0–300 scale.
The score for Writing is a component of the score for the Structure Section. Even though the college or university where the test taker applied did not require a score for Writing, the test taker had to write the essay to complete the test.
The Writing test is scored on a scale from 0 to 6. A score of 6 showed strong writing abilities, 5 average writing abilities, and 4 minimal writing abilities. A score of 3, 2 or 1 showed a lack of writing technique. The essay was read by two testing evaluators. Each one gave the essay a score. The two scores are averaged to produce the final Writing scores. If the evaluators were more than 1 point different in their assessment, a third evaluator scored the essay.

Paper-Based Test
The final PBT score ranges between 310 and 677 and is based on three subscores: Listening (31–68), Structure (31–68), and Reading (31–67). Unlike the CBT, the score of the Writing section (referred to as the Test of Written English, TWE) is not part of the final score; instead, it is reported separately on a scale of 0–6.
The score test takers receive on the Listening, Structure and Reading parts of the TOEFL test is not the percentage of correct answers. The score is converted to take into account the fact that some tests are more difficult than others. The converted scores correct these differences. Therefore, the converted score is a more accurate reflection of the ability than the correct answer score is.

To take the test, click on this site.

equivalency table for IELTS and TOEFL scores

2008-10-29T06:38:00.000-07:00

If you're interested to see your IELTS score against the TOEFL (and vice versa),
you can find it at www.eurogates

IELTS versus TOEFL

2008-10-29T06:30:00.001-07:00

Here's a good site which explains why we need not agonize as to which test to take:

The two main tests that check foreign language speakers’ English competency are IELTS and TOEFL. Although both tests are aimed at examining students’ knowledge and understanding of the English language usage, the two are by no means identical and differs both in the delivery, scoring and difficulty.

The main similarity between the IELTS and TOEFL tests lies in the fact that they test students in three areas plus one additional skill. The three similar skill areas are writing, reading and listening; the area of difference is speaking in IELTS and ‘structure’ (sentence completion and error recognition) in TOEFL.

The scores calculation differs as well. IELTS tests are rated by the so-called ‘band’ scores (from 0 to 9 and the half-bands between) , which are given every section of the test and then are averaged for the IELTS band score. The latter is used by the universities and institutes as an admission prerequisite. In TOEFL numeral scores are assigned to different test parts and then totaled for the final TOEFL score.

One more significant difference between the IELTS and TOEFL tests is that the latter has its paper-based and computer-based version, which makes it easier for students to choose the kind of test and the time and the place of its completion which suits them the most. Although IELTS is developing a computer version of its test, doesn’t have it in use yet. Besides, speaking module must be completed in face to face manner or requires a high degree of technological development.

The final pressing question, which bothers the majority of the prospective test-takers, is which of the two is more difficult. There is no definite satisfying answer, for it depends on the knowledge and preparation of a test-taker, and tests itself (both tests change every time they are taken). However, it is generally believed that IELTS is more difficult because of its speaking section, where students are obliged to participate in something like an interview with a professional face to face. Besides, unlike the TOEFL test, IELTS doesn’t define strictly and exactly the criteria by which self-expression tasks of writing and speaking are judged, and listening and reading tasks tend to contain plenty of ‘tricky’ questions, as said by both teachers and students.

Nevertheless, such a question (which test is more complicated) is largely irrelevant, since most educational institutions clearly state what test the students must take in order to enroll in this very university, which means students usually know what they have to prepare for and should not lose time by developing fear for the speaking or any other test section. Practice and confidence always bring the most fruitful results.

what your IELTS score means

2008-10-29T06:24:00.000-07:00

9 Expert User
Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

8 Very Good User
Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

7 Good User
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

6 Competent User
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.

5 Modest User
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.

4 Limited User
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.

3 Extremely Limited User
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.

2 Intermittent User
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.

1 Non User
Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.

0 Did not attempt the test
No assessable information provided.

the international english language testing system (IELTS)

2008-10-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

ielts-exam.net tells us what the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is all about:

To help universities and colleges select students with sufficient English skills to succeed in their courses, The IELTS test was introduced in 1989 to assess “whether candidates are ready to train in the medium of English”. It is now used for this purpose around the globe.

Depending in the course of study that students plan to take, students must elect to sit either the Academic IELTS test or the General Training IELTS test. This choice must be made when applying to sit the test. The Academic IELTS test is necessary for students who plan to study at university (undergraduate or postgraduate courses), and will test the student’s ability both to understand and to use complex academic language. The General Training IELTS test is required by other institutions, such as colleges and high schools, for courses that require less complex language skills, and is also as a general test of English proficiency e.g. for immigration purposes in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

The Test Format
There are four sub-tests, or modules, to the IELTS test: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Students must sit all four sub-tests. While all students take the same Listening and Speaking tests, they sit different Reading and Writing tests, depending on whether they have selected the Academic IELTS test or the General Training IELTS test.

On the day of the test, the four subsections will be taken in the following order:

Total Test Time
2 hours 45 minutes

The Speaking test may even take place a day or two later at some centres.

IELTS listening test lasts for about 30 minutes. It consists of four sections, played on cassette tape, in order of increasing difficulty. Each section might be a dialogue or a monologue. The test is played once only, and the questions for each section must be answered while listening, although time is given for students to check their answers.

IELTS Reading test lasts for 60 minutes. Students are given an Academic Reading test, or a General Training Reading test. Both tests consist of three sections, and in both tests the sections are in order of increasing difficulty.

IELTS Writing test also lasts for 60 minutes. Again, students take either an Academic test, or a General Training test. Students must perform two writing tasks, which require different styles of writing. There is no choice of question topics.

IELTS Speaking test consists of a one-to-one interview with a specially trained examiner. The examiner will lead the candidate through the three parts of the test:
An introduction and interview, an individual long turn where the candidate speaks for one or two minutes on a particular topic, and a two-way discussion thematically linked to the individual long turn. This interview will last for approximately 11-14 minutes.

check this site for testing centers and test dates: http://www.ielts.org/

its official!

2008-10-29T05:40:00.000-07:00

I finally got my official confirmation. I'm in.

GMAT versus the GRE

2008-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

800score.com states that, "GRE vs. GMAT score comparison is difficult, but in general the GMAT is the harder exam. Put side-by-side, the GMAT math and reading comprehension questions are more difficult for the comparable skill level. International students may find the GRE harder because of the vocabulary required. The question of GMAT or GRE will probably be determined by the requirements of the graduate programs. Virtually all major business schools require the GMAT as well as some graduate economics programs. The GRE is used for non-business related graduate programs."

There are programs, however, which gives the candidate a choice as to which exam to take.

Here are certain basic considerations from Powerscore.com:
1. If you have an excellent vocabulary, consider taking the GRE.
2. If you have very strong math skills, consider taking the GMAT.
3. If your verbal and math skills are about equal, consider taking the GRE.
4. If you are applying to a program focusing specifically on your Quantitative or Verbal scores (such as Engineering or English), consider taking the GRE.
5. If English is your second language, consider taking the GMAT.

the graduate record examination (GRE)

2008-09-30T23:49:00.000-07:00

ets.org tells us what the GRE is all about:

The GRE® General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that are not related to any specific field of study.

Verbal Reasoning — The skills measured include the test taker's ability to
analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it
analyze relationships among component parts of sentences
recognize relationships between words and concepts

Quantitative Reasoning — The skills measured include the test taker's ability to
understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis
reason quantitatively
solve problems in a quantitative setting

Analytical Writing — The skills measured include the test taker's ability to
articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively
examine claims and accompanying evidence
support ideas with relevant reasons and examples
sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion
control the elements of standard written English

Who Takes It and Why?
Prospective graduate applicants take the General Test. GRE® test scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records and other qualifications for graduate study. The scores provide common measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants and aid in evaluating grades and recommendations.

Where Do People Take It?
The General Test is offered year-round at computer-based test centers in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. It is offered at paper-based test centers in areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available. See which format is available in your area.

Who Accepts It?
Any accredited graduate, business or professional school, or any department or division within a school, may require or recommend that its applicants take the General Test, a Subject Test, or both. If approved by the GRE® Board, an institution seeking accreditation can also receive test takers' scores.

For more information click on this link.

To register, click here

To view sample exercises, click on the hereunder sites:
kaptest.com
princeton.localplacement.com
gre.prepedge.com

the general management admission test (GMAT)

2008-09-30T22:04:00.001-07:00

I have expended unnecessary energy inquiring whether the University's online quanitative test will take the place of the General Admission Management Test (GMAT). On hindsight, I should have known that the answer is verily well a NO.

The GMAT is standardized test which is required for almost all business graduate programs around the globe. Other graduate programs such as finance and economics may likewise ask the candidate to take the GMAT. The GMAT score, together with the grade point average (GPA), recommendations, letter of motivation/essay, and the candidate's curriculum vitae, enables the University to evaluate the strength of each candidate.

The scores will range between 200 and 800 and 2/3 of test-takers will get scores between 400 to 600. If the candidate is aiming for a top business school, target a score of at least 700. A score below 650, although not fatal to the aplication, will require other fantastic characteristics of the candidate to get into a top tier program. It is possible to overcome a low GMAT score with impressive real world accomplishments, good undergraduate performance, outstanding references and/or connections, or particularly strong application essays. The average score for 2005/2006 was 533.

The GMAT exam, which is a computer adaptive test done in 3.5 hours, measures basic verbal, mathematical, and anlaytical writing skills that the test-taker has developed over a long period of time in his/her education and work. The verbal section measures ability to understand and evaluate what the test-taker has read, as well as the ability to recognize basic conventions of standard written English. The quantitative section tests basic math skills, elementary concepts, and quantitative reasoning ability. The analytical writing assessment section measures ability to critically think and communicate complex ideas in writing.

What the GMAT score does not measure is the test taker's knowledge of business, job skills, or subjective qualities such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills.

For a more comprehensive description of the test, click here

Do you need to prepare for the test? The answer is a YES. Since test-takers are getting even higher scores now, there is a need to get the highest score possible if the candidate desires to get into the top schools. Here are sites with sample exercises which may be helpful:

mba.com

800score.com

testpreview.com

gmattestquestions.com

4-exams.com

manhattangmat.com

syvum.com

To take the test, click on this link: The current testing fee is US$250.

Important on testing day: Bring two identifications preferably passport and driver's license.

accommodation options

2008-09-28T08:15:00.001-07:00

1. On-campus Accommodation
University residences may be situated on-campus or within a short distance. Housing generally includes a single furnished bedroom, access to computers and the internet, a shared laundry and kitchen facilities. Most of these are supervised and provide meals on weekdays.

2. International Residences
International residences also provide assistance with transition from living at home to independent living. The environment is nice and quiet and suits students who may prefer hostel living to the dynamics of shared households.

3. Homestay
This is a great way to immerse yourself in the Australian way of life and make lasting friendships with an Australian family. Homestay is the most common form of accommodation for high school students.

4. Renting a house or flat
Many students prefer independent living so there are plenty of rental flats and share houses available. A share house can often be more affordable and gives you a great chance to make new friends and meet locals. It's very important that you know your rights and responsibilities when you rent a house or flat.

5. Temporary Accommodation
Backpacker accommodation is often used initially by students and is relatively cheap and also a great way to meet like-minded people.

(From http://www.studyadelaide.com/)

the learning city

2008-09-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

Education forms an increasingly important part of the city's economy, with the South Australian Government and educational institutions attempting to position Adelaide as "Australia's education hub" and marketing it as a 'Learning City'. The number of international students studying in Adelaide has increased rapidly in recent years to 23,300, of which 2,380 are secondary school students. In addition to the city's existing institutions, foreign institutions have been attracted to set up campuses in order to increase its attractiveness as an education hub.
Carnegie Mellon became the first foreign university to open in Australia when it established two postgraduate campuses in the city-centre in 2006: the Heinz School Australia in Victoria Square and the Entertainment Technology Centre in Light Square. Cranfield University followed suit in 2007 and established a postgraduate campus in Victoria Square alongside the Heinz School. Another leading institution, the University College London, will establish its first international campus alongside Carnegie Mellon and Cranfield University in 2009, with postgraduate courses commencing in 2010.
The two hundred year-old Royal Institution of Great Britain is also establishing an Australian counterpart in Adelaide which will formally open in 2009. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide)

23,000 international students annually; 260,000 students in all

2008-09-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

Here are 7 good reasons why you should consider studying in Adelaide (http://www.studyadelaide.com/) :

1. A Tradition of Education Excellence
Adelaide’s list of graduates reads like a roll call of excellence. Three Nobel Laureates studied here and more than 100 graduates became Rhodes Scholars. And the establishment of new, world-renowned institutions cements Adelaide's place as Australia's Learning City.

2. Affordable living
Although Adelaide is smaller than Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane the quality of lifestyle and education is still great, and it's cheaper! Statistics show it costs 24% more to live in Sydney, 21% more in Melbourne, 12% more in Perth and 8% more in Brisbane.

3. Stay central
Accommodation is more affordable in Adelaide, and much of it is in the city centre. Many students walk to their education institution and to work. And so you can get around cheaply and easily. Adelaide has exactly the same public transport discounts for international students as locals.

Precision planning
New Yorker magazine once called Adelaide “the last well planned metropolis on earth”. The city was meticulously planned in 1836 and in every sense this layout sets the scene for contemporary Adelaide: traffic is rarely congested, people are relaxed and the skies are almost always clear.

4. Kick-start your career
Adelaide has part-time jobs to fit in with a busy schedule. If you get a degree, diploma or trade qualification you receive five extra points towards your application for migration . And with growth in defence and mining, skilled workers like teachers, health professionals, engineers and IT specialists are needed.

5. A warm welcome
One in five South Australians were born overseas so we’re good at welcoming newcomers into our multicultural mix. Because South Australians originally hail from more than 120 countries, the state has a wonderful mix of influences. On arrival all students receive a Study Adelaide backpack and Survival Guide.

6. A real ‘Aussie’ experience
Adelaide attracts about 23,000 international students annually – a small amount compared to other cities. That’s great news if you want a genuine Australian study experience. There are more than 260,000 students in all, so you can meet the locals and immerse yourself in the culture.

7. The good life
Adelaide is widely known as the 20-minute city: you can leave a lecture in the centre of the city and still be at the beach or in the Adelaide Hills within half an hour. And there are plenty of festivals and events to keep you busy on weekends. The most famous are the Adelaide Festival of Arts, the Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaide.

634 per square kilometer

2008-09-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

Consider these. Adelaide, with its area of 1,826.9 sq km and a population of 1,158,259, has a population density of 634/sq km, making it the fifth most populous city in Australia.

The metropolis of which I have been a denizen the past 20 years or so, on the other hand, with an area of 2,521 sq km and a population of 16,300,000 has a population density of 6,466/sq km. This metropolis has been ranked 11th among the world’s biggest which include Tokyo (4,049/sq km), Seoul (4,048 sq km), Mexico City (2,784/sq km), New York City (1,104/sq km), Mumbai (8,170 sq km),
Jakarta (3,706/sq km), Sao Paulo (2,223 sq km), Delhi (5,845/sq km), and Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto (2,507/sq km).

Is “jostle” an alien verb in Adelaide?

the 29th best place to live

2008-09-21T22:18:00.000-07:00

Adelaide has been ranked no. 29 among the best places to live in the world for year 2008, together with Helsinki, Finland and San Francisco, USA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World

the last well planned metropolis on earth

2008-09-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

From the website of the Carnegie Mellon University-Heinz School:

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia is a vibrant, original and stylish city known as a leader in social and cultural change. It provides an affordable, dynamic and safe environment in which to live and study. The city has a diverse population of 1.2 million people.
New Yorker magazine once called Adelaide “the last well planned metropolis on earth”. The city centre was precisely planned on a square mile grid in 1836, with wide streets and central squares ringed by more than 900 hectares of lush parklands, constituting over 45% of the total city area. There are many restored Victorian and Edwardian buildings scattered throughout the city including the Torrens Building in Victoria Square, home of The Heinz School in Australia.
The city also offers an extensive public transportation system. Buses, trams and taxis offer access to all parts of the city, quickly and inexpensively.
Opposite the University is the famed Central Markets complex selling a diverse range of international foods. The city is home to three other large universities, numerous cultural venues, affordable restaurants, and a warm and mild climate. Traffic is rarely congested resulting in clean and clear air. Sandy beaches or the Adelaide Hills can both be reached by public transport within 30 minutes. http://www.heinz.cmu.edu.au/about-us/meet-visit-us/maps-and-directions.asp