Thoughts of a former Hillsong College (Sydney) Student

Yes, I Sing (And Then I Didn't. But Now I Do. Again. Long Story.)

2012-01-04T12:34:00.001+11:00

In the year 2000, I came to Hillsong College to do the Worship & Creative Arts stream. I'd come from a small church where I'd been involved in the music team as a vocalist, but had never led worship, played any instrument, or even had singing lessons. Obviously, I was destined to be the next Darlene Zschech (doesn't every small church have one of those girls?) In truth, though, I knew I wasn't particularly talented & didn't honestly believe that I was the next Darlene (no point having a "next" when the original's still around & amazing!) but I did love God & love worshipping Him through music. I did dream of leading people past their feelings & past distractions so they could see, experience & know their God. I've personally had so much life-change come through intimate moments that were experienced in heartfelt, congregational worship.

You probably won't be surprised to learn that my sails were quickly de-winded after only a few months of being at college. There were so many talented singers, who had actual experience. I was surrounded by confident worship leaders who already held that title at their home church or were sure of their calling. I wasn't either of those. I had sung 2 solo items at church & had come to college on a whim (for more on that whim, see My Journey Into The Unknown). I was a readily-confessed novice. And, not the only one, I might add. But it seemed to me that I was particularly inexperienced. You know the old saying, "When in doubt...just give up!" So I did.

For my second year of college I switched to the Pastoral stream (a move I'm actually still glad I made). I was able to keep learning about God/the Word, & keep dealing with the internal junk that came up (& man, does it come up when you do Bible college - God takes that whole "Use me, Lord" speech very seriously. You've been warned.) I stopped singing in the choir. I buried the thought that I would ever be a singer. You don't have to be on stage to be a worshipper. I knew that before I came, but was happy to live in that knowledge for ever after.

Fast forward to mid-2009. I'd been happily singing in the crowd for over 9 years. I'd borne the questions, judgement & disapproval of everyone who was convinced I was either A) anointed to be a worship leader, B) too lazy to follow the "call", or C) silly to have tried in the first place since I obviously lacked what was needed. God & I were tight...I'd frequently re-submitted my involvement in music to Him since I never wanted to say "Never" to God. I didn't pursue it, but He knew where I stood - the dream was dead; He'd have to resurrect & call it forth Himself for me to ever pursue music again. I was completely content to be wife, mother, friend & worshipper within the boundaries of my normal day-to-day life.

We moved from the Hills district to the Northern Beaches - a brilliant move for many reasons. But the reason that will interest you the most (since you're still reading this post) came into being on our first Sunday morning in the beaches. We attended the Hillsong extension service in Mona Vale for the first time. It was small & the music was not the practically-perfect-in-every-way experience that you get at the Hills or City campuses. But God stirred my heart. I was drawn to the dream again. Out of sheer surprise, I whispered the rebirth to my husband that night. I wasn't going to do anything about it; it was just surprising. When the girl in charge of vocalists approached me a few weeks later with, "So, you sing, right?" it was even more surprising. Instead of answering, I asked who had told her that. She's asked a college friend of mine who she currently worked with, & the friend said yes (hilarious, since I still don't know if this friend has ever heard me sing!?)

And there you have it. God side swept me back into music. First I did the occasional backing vocal stint on Sunday mornings, which was terrifying. But slowly, I gained confidence (only because God obviously wanted me singing, whether or not anyone else did). Then I co-led worship on a Sunday morning for the first time. Again, terrifying. But it's been a while now, so the terror is slowly waning. I don't ever expect to put out a cd or lead at the Hillsong Conference, but I do expect God to keep fueling the original dream that He planted a long time ago: that I would help lead people into His presence where they can be comforted & changed. A resurrection-worthy dream, indeed.

11 Years In Sydney...Has It Really Been That Long???

2011-05-16T17:02:00.005+10:00

January 20th, 2011 marked my 11 year anniversary of arriving in Australia. 8 & 1/2 years of marriage, 3 kids & multiple church services later I am more in love with this city than ever...& even more importantly, more in love with the God who brought me here.

Luke 18:24-30 records an interesting conversation between Jesus & his disciples...

...Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God's kingdom? I'd say it's easier to thread a camel through a needle's eye than get a rich person into God's kingdom."
"Then who has any chance at all?" the others asked.
"No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."
Peter tried to regain some initiative: "We left everything we owned and followed you, didn't we?"
"Yes," said Jesus, "and you won't regret it. No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children—whatever—will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime. And then the bonus of eternal life!"

Those verses have special meaning to our family as both my husband & myself emigrated to Australia from other countries. Even while living in Sydney, we toyed with the idea of moving away, but there was always something internal holding us here...actually, Someone holding us here.

Looking back now, I can clearly see that it wasn't us trying to obey our way into His good graces or "be in the right place at the right time" so God would use us...we stayed because we felt we should. We trusted our God to look after us.

And at times, our decision to stay wasn't based on anything more than knowing that Hillsong Church is good soil. Regardless of what anyone says, we have grown here. So we stayed. We went through the sometimes-painful process of putting down roots without the aid of family or lifelong friends around to sweeten the deal. And yet now, just like the above verses state, we have gained family in the form of our 3 delicious children & many more 'adopted' family & friends. And that's only 11 years into the journey...imagine what the rest will look like...

Regardless of the ups & downs, regardless of what life throws your way, God is faithful. If you set your heart on knowing Him & following where He leads, joy & contentment will be your portion. Our God will be your treasure.

The Project

2011-05-16T16:02:00.002+10:00

Check this out...

http://theproject.hillsongcollege.com

The blurb: "This 3-part documentary will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the collaboration of some of our musicians, singers, production & TV teams as we crafted a large-scale college worship event.

We pray that the journey of both students & staff, as well the innovation & experience that is expressed, will both inspire you & your relationship with JESUS, as well stir you to better prepare & equip yourself for a life of influence & building the Kingdom of God - & perhaps that could be with us here at Hillsong Church & Hillsong International Leadership College."

Sounds like it could be right up some of your alleys :)

Will You Make Up Your Mind Already?!?!

2011-04-02T17:17:00.005+11:00

I can be indecisive. Like when I'm trying to figure out what to wear, what to blog about, what to cook for dinner, whether I am Team Edward/Team Jacob...you get the picture. And looking back, although I am 100% positive that God directed me to come to Hillsong International Leadership College, I had a bit of trouble finding my place in the Bible college world...imagine with me a wide-eyed 21 year old Floridian with a song in her heart & a spring in her step...(clear, blue skies, full of fluffy white clouds)

I arrived in Sydney having registered for the Worship & Creative Arts stream/course. I didn't play any instruments, but I had been involved with my church music team as a vocalist; everyone in my home church was sure that I was going to come back to them a bona fide worship leader. Were they in for a let-down. (blue skies with dark clouds looming on the horizon)

As well as attending my worship-stream-specific classes like Production, The Worship Leader, Ensemble, Musicianship & Composition, etc. I also had various non-musical classes in my student schedule, including Pastoral Leadership, Counselling, Old & New Testament Survey, World Religions, plus so many more. I had varying degrees of success with these classes, but one thing started to become glaringly obvious: my worst classes were the ones in the worship stream! I must note that the reason this became obvious was that everyone else around me was flourishing...Production: check! Ensemble: check! Future-World-Changing-Worship-Warriors-in-the-making: check! And then there was me. My heart was slowly being wrenched from the one thing I thought God wanted me to do. (heavy raindrops begin falling slowly & steadily)

After a lot of soul searching & hard thinking, I decided to switch to the Pastoral Stream for my second year of college. It was a better fit for me. And it was cheaper. (don't judge me...why pay more for the classes I liked least?) My second year was much more relaxing than my first - I discovered that I had an affinity for Counselling & although I didn't want to pursue it full time, that small victory buoyed me up. Yep, second year was definitely better...partially because I enjoyed the workload more, partially because I met my soon-to-be husband that July. ("I can see clearly now the rain is gone...")

Third year was interesting to say the least. Up to that point, I'd been involved with choir in the weekend services, although my commitment was "sub-par" to say the least. I'd also helped out with catering for the music team. Since you choose an internship to work in alongside your classes in Third Year, I chose to serve with the Worship & Creative Arts department...it was what I knew, but I should've recognised that it wasn't a great fit. Although I worked there for the majority of the year, I then shifted to the Events department for the remainder of my course. But even with the shift, I still hadn't found my place. I tried so many things but nothing I put my hand to flourished...I wanted to focus on choir...I couldn't. Maybe I'd be awesome at catering? I wasn't. Maybe I'd be good at administration...I'm not. Then I attempted to organise & inspire our staging team...I didn't. I'd become a newly married college girl who wholeheartedly wanted to serve God but just didn't know how to do it! (low pressure system building)

Over the next few years I volunteered in many different areas of church life: New People's lounge, New Christians, Venue Control, Powerhouse Cafe, Kids Ministry, Carpark Attendant, Choir (again), Bookshop assistant, Hosting, Count Room...basically, if it can be done, I have done it! And although none of those were the perfect fit, I learned an invaluable lesson - for some of us, there is no perfect fit. (partly cloudy, chance of afternoon showers)

While I completely believe that God calls & ordains our lives, I've also come to believe that He loves to operate in seasons. Is it such a surprise when we see that each & every year ushers in no less than four different ones? I think that some people are given vision & clarity in ONE area & it is their responsibility to stick to that one thing & do it to the best of their ability. But does that mean that those of us who don't receive specific direction aren't able to serve God? NO! Quite the opposite... (silver lining peeking through the clouds)

Let's break it down to the basics: We were created to love our Saviour & others. It's as simple as that. And the reality is that we CAN do both of those things WHEREVER we are serving, whether long-term or short-term. Helping out with the kids ministry? Love on those babies & make them laugh! Serving in the carpark? Smile at every person, you never know who might need it. Singing in the choir? Give heartfelt thanks to God, show others how to abandon themselves in His presence. Catering? Do it with love, be attentive as you serve. Bookshop register? Pray that God uses those resources to strengthen that person.

So, let's make up our minds...no matter where we find ourselves in the seasons of life, we can always love & serve this amazing God of ours! (sunny skies & cool breezes all the way)

FAQ's - Why?

2010-06-24T21:04:00.006+10:00

Though the purpose of this blog is to educate & (hopefully) amuse overseas students by filling in some of the gaps they may encounter while researching what-life-looks-like at Hillsong College in Sydney, I do find that certain questions regularly pop up.

In the process of answering (& re-answering & re-answering again) these queries regarding fees, housing, work, courses, etc., I get bored with the repetitive nature of my own replies. There's only so many ways to say the same thing!

Therefore, in an attempt to keep this blog interesting & informational for all of you (& of course, myself), I've decided to do a series of posts dealing with...drumroll please...Frequently Asked Questions (also known as FAQ's).

And if, after carefully reading these posts & thoroughly checking out the college's official website, you find yourself with a seemingly new, never-before-asked question, then please feel free to ask away!

FAQ's - Hillsong College Housing

2010-06-24T20:58:00.008+10:00

Ahhhhhh......HOME. No place like it. Where the heart is. On the range. Few words evoke such powerful, yet deeply personal associations. Some of us instantly think of shared meals around a huge, conversation-filled table. Others think of restful nights of sleep in cozy, Snuggle-scented beds. For others, all night playstation competitions, seated on beanbags, surrounded by empty pizza boxes & crushed cans of soda are the norm. But whatever your associations, no one wants to be THAT person, the one that former housemates think back on with disgust & pathetic pity...THAT guy who never cleaned the toilet...THAT girl who never paid her bills on time...you get the picture. For your own character development (&/or vanity, if that's more motivating) decide in advance to make life for your housemates a mostly pleasant experience. I say 'mostly' because, after all, you are only human.

Housing Costs

Rent varies depending on the size of the house & how many of you are squeezed into it. I'd say that, on average, you could be expected to pay between $100 - $150 a week in rent. Bills (water, electricity, internet, etc) would be paid on top of rent, & personal groceries/toiletries on top of that. If you have a car (or constantly bum rides off your longsuffering housemate) then add petrol/gasoline costs to that. And remember that paying for things will always eventually require money, so you may want to become very good at saving!

But first, fellow Americans, you need to know something - you have a reputation as being the messiest, least responsible, most selfish of the entire body of students!!! This is shocking & completely unacceptable! I realise that many of you are leaving home for the first time & don't yet recognise how much you take your poor mother for granted, but please do everyone a favour & take a crash course in leaving home BEFORE coming to Australia. To assist you in this, I've compiled a list of skills you must not only attempt but master before expecting anyone to live happily with you (& any spouse, future or current, will definitely appreciate these efforts).

Housemate Skills

- must know how to independently operate a clothes washing machine, clothes dryer &/or clothes peg; also familiarise yourself with tricky concept of removing clothes from said machine/clothes line.

- must be able to thoroughly dust & vacuum a room, & that includes complete removal of all black-sock-fuzz-bits from the carpeting.

- must have mastered the concept of "inside voice" & "outside voice"...& for all you budding worship leaders out there, it is NOT ok to do any sort of vocal warm ups before 10am or after 8pm. Contrary to musical belief, worship CAN sometimes be silent.

- must know how to wipe up the kitchen benchtop/counter after preparing food, & also must know how to identify & dispose of any refrigerated food items that have gone off. In the entire history of the world, no rotten food has ever sprouted legs & jumped into the rubbish/trash can of it's own accord...which reminds me, you'd better get good at taking the trash out too.

- must know how to either A) transfer money online into another bank account or B) take cash out of an ATM. Paying your bills late (or not at all) is NOT ok...if God can't trust you with something as insignificant as money why should He trust you with His precious people? Oooooh, stab to the heart!

- must know how to load a dishwasher & wash dishes/pots/pans by hand (& yes, BOTH dish cleaning styles are sometimes necessary.)

- must know how to clean the toilet, remove mold from the shower, wipe flossed-out food from mirrors, & always (& I do mean always) flush.

- must know how to apply deodorant & apologise when wrong...these may not appear to be related, but in the event that you accidentally omit one of the above-listed skills, a genuine "I'm sorry" from your pleasantly-scented self will go a long way. Of course, always remember that once you've apologised, you actually have to follow through the next time. Tricky.

Some of this may seem a bit harsh, but as someone who has had (& still has) housemates, I know how large a part these little things can play in your day-to-day life. You can endear people to yourself or repulse them...the choice truly is yours...& in case you're not sure which is better, choose endearment :)

FAQ's - Hillsong College Courses & Fees

2010-06-24T20:08:00.006+10:00

Below, you will find listed the available courses (& corresponding fees) at Hillsong College. Students can attend college here for one, two or three years...one year gets you a Certificate IV of Ministry, two years gets you a Diploma of Ministry, three years gets you an Advanced Diploma of Ministry. Or, as Pastor Brian Houston says, one year gets you half an anointing, two years gets you a full anointing, three years gets you the same anointing that Jesus had when he walked the earth (& yes, of course he is just joking!) I myself have an Advanced Diploma of Ministry...uh-huh, that's right...& it serves me well in my day to day job of changing nappies/diapers, making meals, doing the laundry, & other menial household tasks (& yes, I'm just joking too...I adored my time at college & would happily do it all again. Just fyi.)

All fees listed below are subject to change (like everything else on planet Earth), but as of July 2010, they are current. Also, please note that all prices are listed in Australian dollars...here is a currency converter.

Certificate IV of Ministry/Diploma of Ministry course fees:

Pastoral Leadership $4,600

Worship Music $5,200

TV & Media* $5,900

Dance* $5,200

*these courses are only offered at the Hills campus

Advanced Diploma of Ministry course fees (third year of study only):

Pastoral Leadership $3,400

Worship Music $3,400

Payment Options for Your Course Fees:

Option A: Full years fees paid up front to accept/hold your place in the course of your choice.

Option B: First semester fees paid to accept/hold place in the course of your choice, & second semester fees paid before enrollment that semester. Please note that this option incurs an additional 10% non-refundable administration fee on the full year's cost (this will need to be paid with initial fee payment.)

Application Fees (these are non-refundable):

Recognition of Prior Learning Fee (plus assessment costs) $150

Late Enrollment Fee $250

Application fee for Aus/New Zealand students $100

Application fee for Overseas students $200

Health Cover Premiums for Overseas Students:

For Singles:

1 year = $375

2 years = $705

3 years = $1,055

For Families:

1 year = $750

2 years = $1,410

3 years = $2,110

Accommodation Fees:

Shuttle Bus (Hills Campus only) $65

Accommodation Administration Fee* $150

* Paying this fee does not guarantee that accommodation will be available, but the fee will be refunded if the College is unable to secure accommodation for you.

So, there you go...& just as another reminder, please always be sure to check out the official Hillsong College website for the latest, most up to date information. Although I do my best, I am a homemaker with 3 children & have limited time to patiently scour the internet (unless, of course, I'm looking for the latest baking accessories.....joking. Again.)

These Are a Few of My Favourite Things...

2009-08-22T21:31:00.016+10:00

Since I've lived in Sydney for almost a decade (wow, can't believe it myself!) I think I am qualified to list a few of the things that make this city one of my favourite places on the planet...

1) Australians! You cannot help but love genuine people. Like or dislike, you always know where you stand with Aussies...& I find that so refreshing.

2) The Northern Beaches. Having grown up in Florida, I am no stranger to the beach, but there is something wild about the sea here that draws you in. Maybe it is that knowledge of latent danger...sharks, jellyfish, rip tides, rough waves...that heightens the senses & makes you enjoy each good moment that little bit more.

3) Bills. I love food...possibly too much, but that's a topic for another blog. Bill Granger, the self-taught cook & self-confessed food lover has written multiple best-selling cookbooks, opened 3 continuingly successful restaurants, & also launched his own well-received television cooking series. He is a genius. You know that game where you choose 10 famous people to have dinner with? He'd definitely be on my list.

4 & 5) The Bell Shakespeare Company & The Sydney Opera House Playhouse. Those 2 separate entities are forever connected in my memories. They may no longer do this, but a few years ago they offered $27 tickets to patrons under 27 years of age...my husband & I took full advantage of that offer to see the excellent Bell Company perform "Twelfth Night", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "As You Like It", "Hamlet", & a non-Shakespearian play "The Servant of Two Masters". The moving/intimate/hilarious moments we shared as a couple with the audience & actors in that playhouse were so memorable...I'd highly recommend that anyone catch a show there.

6) Church. Of course, I will always be partial to Hillsong Church because it's been my home ever since my Hillsong College days, but I'm actually referring to the church as a whole in Sydney. There is such a strong sense of growing strength & unity & passion & vision...it's such an exciting time to be a Christian in Australia!

Penny-pinching in Sydney (except that they don't use pennies!)

2009-06-27T17:28:00.013+10:00

As any Hillsong College student knows, every penny counts, especially in Sydney! I am enlisting my brilliant husband's help with this post as most of what I know about saving money comes from him!

Don't snub the store brands! Every supermarket has their own, cheaper food label...& lots of these items are made in the same factory with the same ingredients as a similar "branded" item....only the label is changed! We've gone through the process of trying out most of the store brand items at our supermarket...some are as good, some aren't....but it doesn't cost much to try a store brand...& worst case scenario, you never buy that particular item again. Always use your brain when choosing since occasionally, cheaper food means low quality ingredients, but that's not always the case. Aldi is a great place to save on groceries; they have their own brand so most items are much cheaper. I also have friends who go to the local markets & get boxes of cheap fruit & veg there. Saving money on groceries is very achievable, you just need to be willing to experiment!
Before buying absolutely anything, assess whether you really need it or whether you just want it - it's a very fine line between those two. All of us can easily identify some purchase (CD/DVD, shirt, Smurf figurine, etc.) that we felt we "needed" at the time, but now that same item sits mostly unused somewhere, taking up space. Remember, the Bible says that God shall supply all your 'need', so try not to waste His need-provision on the unnecessary.
Live green. When it comes to your home life, pay attention to the small things, like not wasting water or electricity; those small things can make a big difference. Turn off lights & devices when not in use, have short showers, go as light as you can on the air-con/heating etc. (Lots more tips here: http://www.which.co.uk/advice/how-to-use-less-electricity/index.jsp & http://www.savewater.com.au/how-to-save-water/in-the-home)
Brown-bag it. Eat a home prepared lunch rather than buying at the food court every day...you can still eat with your friends there after all!
Location, location, location. Try to live as close to the college / church as possible, & definitely live within easy access to public transportation. Then you can walk to college, bus everywhere else & not need a car.
Imitation, baby! Don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself to always buy the brand name items, particularly clothing. It might mean you need to shop around more for the perfect shirt at a decent price & hey, maybe that cheaper shirt won't last for the next 10 years, but it'll be out of style by then anyway, so who really cares? This all links back to the previous want/need point...you will always be so much more than what you wear.

I'm sure there are lots of other helpful, money-saving tips out there so do your research, but hopefully this has gotten you off to a good start!

My Journey Into The Unknown...

2009-04-06T11:54:00.011+10:00

I’ve decided to share my personal coming-to-Hillsong-College story since a few of you have expressed interest in that journey...I know how curious I was about other students before my arrival!

I was 20 yrs old, living in Orlando, Florida, working full-time, living with my family, & serving at my local church; life was good, but I was discontent...I had a feeling that I was missing out on something important in my life. I talked to God about the feelings, but they didn’t go away so I figured I should probably do something about them!

One evening, I was sitting at the dinner table, chatting with my Dad & he asked, “If you could do anything in the world right now, regardless of money constraints or anything else, what would it be?” I thought about it & for reasons I still don’t know, answered, “Go study music at college in Australia.”

Now, I only knew three of their songs...“Shout to the Lord” being one of them. I had no idea if they had a college or if I could ever afford to go, so I still don’t know why that was my answer, but God had obviously planted the desire in my heart. I didn’t know anyone who’d ever gone anywhere near the Southern Hemisphere, but I had always wanted to go to Oz...in fact, a friend recently told me that when we were nine years old I was already talking about going to Australia one day!

But back to the dinner table chat with Dad...he instantly went online, discovered the Hillsong College (Sydney) website, printed out the application & handed it to me. I filled it out, prayed lots that God wouldn’t have them accept me if He didn’t want me to go, & then sent it in. And I was accepted!

Truth be told, I didn’t really have the money, but I figured that God knew that & if He wanted me to be there, He would provide as long as I was doing my part by saving & being wise with the money I did have. And provide He did...there were quite a few financial miracles involved in the provision. One miracle came when my church took up a spur of the moment collection for me...I was so surprised & grateful! Another miracle came in the form of an old, part-time job I’d had impersonating Sandy from “Grease”...I would dress up, put on a terribly fake Aussie accent, chat with customers, pose for pictures, lip sync & attempt to dance around a fifties-themed diner for two hrs every Saturday night for about four months. Not the hardest job, but also not the least embarrassing! I hadn’t worked at the diner for over a year when I got a call to do a conference gig in Georgia...$2,000 for twenty minutes on stage! Miracle!

Saying goodbye to my family was always going to be the most difficult part of the journey to Australia. As my departure date approached, I had a feeling that I would be gone for more than the one year of college I had applied for...this was fine with me, but I didn’t know how to tell my family. But one day I was chatting with my Mom & she wound up telling me that she & my Dad already knew that this trip would be me leaving home for good. We cried in that moment, but both knew in our hearts that God had His plans underway for my life.

So, on January 20^th, 2000 (ten days before my 21^st birthday), I arrived in Sydney, Australia, ready to begin the Hillsong College adventure! I studied in the Worship & Creative Arts stream, focusing on singing for my first year. In my second year, I switched to the Pastoral stream as the W&CA one was a bit too much for my amateur music skills! In my third year, I served with the Events Department, which focuses on making weekend services & church conferences excellent in every area.

At the time this blog was written, it’s been nine years since my arrival at Hillsong College in Sydney. I have learned so much - many things I expected to learn, many things I hadn’t expected - but each lesson has been so vital & important in increasing my relationship with my God & my love for His people. I cannot even imagine what my life would look like now had I not taken the big risk of coming here...I am forever grateful to Jesus for leading me into this place of growth.

Future Hillsong College Student Random Facts Sheet

2008-03-11T15:00:00.016+11:00

Before embarking on your exciting overseas adventure to Hillsong College in Sydney, it would be wise to learn some general information about Australia. Following are some random facts you might want to commit to memory...

- Australian's like to shorten the names of most everything (hence the term 'Aussie'.) Breakfast becomes brekky, Darren becomes Dazza, afternoon becomes arvo (still don't get that one).

- Apricot is pronounced 'ape-ri-cot'. Aluminum is called 'alu-mini-um'. Car is pronounced 'caaaa'...in fact, 'R' is pretty much an underused letter here.

- Rock music is big; rap not so big, although growing in popularity; Aussie hip-hop's got it's own unique flavour; country is popular in some areas of the nation, but since it's not as redneck as it is in America, I find its presence acceptable...although not enjoyable...sorry Keith Urban fans.

- Kevin Rudd is the current Prime Minister. [Edit: - it's now Julia Gillard of the Labour party, Australia's first female PM]

- QANTAS stands for "Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services"...trust me, you will thank me for this info if you are involved in 'The Weakest Wombat'.

- Russell Crowe isn't actually Australian...he was born in New Zealand. Same goes for the members of Crowded House. Handy info to have as the Oz/NZ rivalry is thick & it's helpful to have some sort of diversion ready in case you're being particularly harrassed for being a non-Australian.

- In general, people use the term "Aboriginal" when speaking of native Australians, not "Aboriginee" as seen in various movies.

- If you can find the movie "The Castle" then check it out...it's hilarious & very indicative of Australian humour. I haven't actually seen it for a few years, though, so please forgive me if you find anything in it offensive!

- What Americans call football is called 'Grid Iron' since there are 4 other forms of "footy" here: Rugby League, Rugby Union, Australian Rules, & Soccer (which nearly the entire world calls 'football', therefore making 'soccer' a very silly word to hold onto. My gorgeous English husband is passionate about that fact!)

- Kangaroos are edible. Really. And they taste pretty good, too.

Annoying Americans Need Not Apply

2008-03-10T14:47:00.013+11:00

Ha! I knew that title would get your attention! Truth be told, I was probably an annoying American when I came to Hillsong College in Sydney which is why I would like to pass on some practical tips for fitting into the Aussie way of life. And, by the way, this post isn't aimed only at USA-tians...these tips can benefit any non-Australians who choose to take them on board.

1) The word 'Aussie' is pronounced 'Ozzy' (as in Osbourne) not 'Ossy' (as in nothing)....get this right or you will be laughed at.

2) Lighten up. A speaker at a recent Colour Your World Conference highlighted this point for Christians in general, but I think it applies specifically to overseas students. In coming to college you will have to (in no particular order) save money, secure visas, purchase tickets, purge belongings, leave family, sacrifice time & prioritise God. And although it's completely worth it, you will most likely feel the strain at some point (if you don't already!). So, try to relax. As both Jesus & Bobby McFerrin said, don't worry, be happy. Choose to enjoy the journey. Allow people to meet YOU, not everything that is troubling you.

3) Embrace vegetables. We all know that the US has an excessive amount of overweight people & an obscene dependance on fast food (& if you don't realise that, you will once you're in Australia.) The point is that people here are actually pretty healthy. They enjoy sport (yes, I did mean to say 'sport' instead of 'sports'...it's what they call it) & most people eat pretty well, so instead of whinging (they don't say whining here) about the lack of Taco Bell's, just get acquainted with the fruit & veg aisles in your local grocery store.

4) Don't take it personally. Australians are pretty sarcastic & love to tease. Americans, Englishmen, New Zealanders/Kiwis...all are fair game. So, if you do happen to have a joke directed at you, just smile & nod your head as if to say, "Whatever, man." Oh, & 'drop bears' don't exist.

5) Don't be ignorant. Whether or not you realise it, Americans are stereotypically oblivious to what life is like in & for the rest of the world. And although it is a stereotype, we do have a reputation for being insular, which is why I'm quite happy to be mistaken for being Canadian! I came across a clear example of this ignorance after the September 11th terrorist attacks. The events were being discussed in one of the lectures (classes) & some of the American students were understandably distraught. But their mistake was in telling the rest of the international body of students that they couldn't know what it felt like because it hadn't happened to their country...which did not go over well with the African, Irish & other students whose nations have been riddled with terror bombings for decades. This is an extreme example, but you get the point. So, do yourself a huge favour & learn a little bit about Australia (& the rest of the planet) before coming over. Some of my proudest moments have occurred when Aussies have told me that I am not a "typical American"!

6) "G'day Mate!" is NOT an acceptable greeting. Since the stereotype subject has been broached, please remember not to box Australians. No one says, "Throw another shrimp on the barbie." No one. In fact, they're called 'prawns' here, not 'shrimp'. Crocodile Dundee & Steve Irwin are NOT representative of the average Aussie male. I don't know anyone who owns a boomerang.

7) Don't be clingy. I'm not actually talking about clinging to people here (although that is off-putting). I'm referring to people who do all of the things I mentioned in point #2 to get to Australia & then spend the next 6 months complaining about how much they miss everything in their home country & how everything in their home country is much better than its Australian counterpart. DO NOT DO THIS. If anything will cause people to avoid your company, it's this. In fact, the only people it will attract are your fellow countrymen who also cling desperately to home. Now, I'm not saying that you should avoid your countrymen - finding kindred spirits is always a gift - but are you really coming all this way only to hang out with people just like yourself? Take the opportunity to learn & experience what different cultures have to offer...you might actually enjoy something new!

Why, you ask?

2008-02-22T15:26:00.011+11:00

This blog has been created as a resource for future students of Hillsong College in Sydney. I studied full-time for 3 years (2000-2002) at Hillsong College, attaining an Advanced Diploma in Ministry; I also studied Counselling part-time for 2 more years at their evening college. Although I am originally from the United States, I have made my home here in Sydney with my English husband & our 4 beautiful Aussie-born babies.

I've attended Hillsong Church since arriving in January 2000 & have experienced so much personal growth in my time here...far more than at any other church I've attended. It really has become my home. If you've already decided to come to Hillsong College in Sydney, then congratulations - you will love your time here. And if you're still deciding, then hopefully I can help you with some practical information.

This blog will feature a range of articles on relevant subjects, from personal recollections of my time at college to some good, old-fashioned advice; also, if you have any specific &/or strange questions that you don't want to bother the hard-working college staff with, then please feel free to ask away! I will do my best to answer in a timely & helpful fashion. Ultimately, though, if you're interested in Hillsong College in Sydney, then the college's website is the best place to find out the need-to-know basics (fees, calendar, courses, etc.) so make sure you check that out as well.

Here's to learning something new every day! Hopefully, this blog will help you to that end :)