International Student Program 

Orientation Day 

On June 5, we invited our new international students, starting in Semester 2, to attend an Orientation Day. We wanted to provide a day to get acquainted with our campus layout, their timetable and how to access Compass while also being able to address any concerns or questions they may have. On arrival their nerves were palpable but by the end of the day they were chatting, smiling and making friends. 

Our student leaders, Sunia and Hongjoo, showcased a number of clubs and a myriad of opportunities the students will be able to access while studying at MGC. They answered lots of questions and provided a student-led tour of the college. 

The students engaged in icebreaker activities, shared anecdotes, and got to mingle with our current cohort while sharing a pizza lunch and many yummy snacks. During a panel session they asked questions ranging from how to make friends with local students, to what is the most significant difference between cultures and is maths hard in Australian classroom? One answer had us all laughing as Sunia described how awkward it feels when opening birthday presents at an Australian party because it is impolite to open the present in front of the giver in her culture. Everyone shared their own tips for making friends with local students but the one thing that stood out for me was that they all stressed how friendly and inclusive they find students at MGC. Wow, aren’t we lucky? 

On this day, bonds are formed that transcend the boundaries of classrooms as they make connections that will enrich their MGC experience and serve as support during their time at school and our current students certainly made sure of this!  

Dragon Boat Festival 

Students gathered on 12th June to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional festive event to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, who was a Chinese poet and aristocrat in the State of Chu during the Warring States period. The festival falls each year on a day in late-May to mid-June in the International calendar and it is celebrated in many Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, etc. We shared lunch and indulged in some Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) which are sticky rice with either pork, pork and chestnut, pork and yolk or for the sweet tooth red bean, all wrapped in bamboo leaves. Although the food was delicious, it was more about the opportunity to spend time together.  We ate, we talked, and a few of us got to try new things. 

Ms Jielei and Ms Clifford 

International Student Program