Sydney here I come! [Please]

Once again getting accepted to Sydney is the only thing on my mind. Everyday I keep checking the UAC website, aka Universities Admissions Centre, to see whether or not I have gotten any offers. Drat that lady for not giving my a specific date! It's driving me insane.

Okay, so there have been other things on my mind. Sydney takes up most of it. I've been watching Parenthood lately and am loving it more and more. I love watching couples fall in love and making future plans like to get married or have children. That's what I want. I want to meet my future husband and start a family. I want to feel how right it is, how he's the one, and experience what it's like to be with your perfect match. I want to build a life with him, go travelling, and start making babies. I can't wait.

I have saved $1650 so far! I'm very proud of myself. I think from now on I'll keep saving my money even when I'm in Sydney [I had a good feeling about it today]. I want to be able to buy things and go on holidays and not have to start from scratch each time. I need to be more money responsible. I love watching the numbers get higher. I did a little shopping today. I got some supplies for my rice ball plushies and it costed a bit. I also went grocery shopping for a few things and feel like I've spent all my money. I did order some Mari Winsor Pilates DVDs too. I am a bit stressed that I'm wasting it but I'm not really. I'll just watch what I spend for the rest of the week and I'll be back up again when I get paid. I got $400 this week and will probably get a little more as I'm working a double on Friday. I don't like being stressed out about money.

I need more supplies for my rice balls. I forgot to get some kind of string/rope for their dangling arms and legs, which will need to be attached before I sew everything up. I got some really cute patterned fabrics. I'm going to make some bunnies [by adding floppy ears] and maybe some bears and just some regular rice balls. I'll use my covered button earring bases for eyes and put a little cross on them. For some I'll have to use black eyes with a white cross and for others the reverse depending on the fabric. It's all very exciting. I think they will be darn cute.

The weather has been rather nice lately. Warm and hopeful. It did rain most of today though, which is a little sad. The nicer weather has been a great spirit-lifter. I can't wait for Sydney and the beautiful weather. Next year will be so fabulous. I really want to get in. I'm constantly praying and as you can see I've come back to this topic! It is really the majority of what I spend my time thinking about. That's okay though because I'm sick of this year and want to go out on my own. I deserve it and it's about time I survive on my own. Bring it on.

Tattoo update

I think it's about time I start setting a date for getting my first tattoo. I have been banned from giving blood until April next year because apparently I have low iron levels so another 6 months on top of that won't make a huge difference as it'll be like that no matter when I do it. I'll always have to wait a year just in case there's an infection. I'm just looking at some new possibilities for the font.

They would definitely be smaller and I would have the stalk of the 'R' rounded but this is generally what I'm looking for. I've tried to look at curved fonts and having it lowercase but it doesn't work. I want it to be in a box shape so it's using up the whole space. I don't speak very well. I think I'm liking the first one better. Not so thin. It'll look great once it's done. Scary but great. It is the perfect spot for my after all what with my many wrist bands permanently attached. I think I finally have the answer!

Wednesday Wishes

I haven't posted for Wednesday Wishes in a while. All I can think about these days is Sydney and getting in. I wrote an email to the Faculty of Arts postgraduate section about when to expect an offer and they arrive either before December or in January. So my Wednesday Wish is that I will hear back about an offer before December. Everything for next year is tied up in receiving an offer. I just wish it to be sooner rather than later. I need some great news right now.

Uni related. Resume nerd.

I've been a bit worried over the last few days about my application to Sydney Uni but I am now half way through my inquiries, which will give me all the information I need to know. I called the website I applied on and they said they can access my UTAS academic transcript on my behalf. I was worried about that because there was no question asking me to attach it. I tried to call the Uni itself and ask when I should expect an offer but I couldn't grab the right person so I sent them an email. They are usually fairly quick to respond so hopefully I'll know that soon also. I read last night in the undergraduate section that offers can be given out on the 6th of January! That's a long time to wait for a reply. I am wondering if that will be the same for postgraduate or as mum said because there won't be as many people applying maybe it will be sooner.

In resume/cover letter news, I just checked out the website Holly told me about regarding these documents and have a few tips and tricks to look over in order to adjust my resume and cover letters in the future. They have all been written for specific purposes and I think it will be very helpful when I'm applying for jobs in Sydney to do with my degree [once I complete the diploma] and also when applying waitress jobs while I'm there. I am such a resume nerd.

Tomorrow I'm going to order more museum/archaeology books off the Book Depository. I will get one or two of the following --

+ The Archaeology of Britain;

+ Archaeology: An Introduction;

+ An Introduction to Museum Archaeology; or

+ Museums and the Shaping of Knowledge.

They are all between $26 and $43 so I will have to be careful which combination I choose to get this week.

I'm going to the Maritime today then work at 6pm. I think I'll ask Rona whether I can start doing full days at the museum so I can get more experience. I may as well do full days. I don't do much else of consequence and it'll be good for my career. I also love adding what tasks I've done to my resume. I am definitely a resume nerd.

Application anxiety

I'm a bit worried that my application to Sydney Uni isn't right. I didn't understand why I didn't see a question about uploading my academic transcript or why I haven't been contacted about it and I am now worried they might disregard my application all together. I called the Sydney Uni Faculty of Arts Postgraduate section and left a message on their answering machine so hopefully they will get back to me soon and I'll have some answers. I might have to reapply.

Time to rest

I have had a work-filled weekend and am really glad it's a rest day today. There's the possibility of work tonight but I hope I'm not needed as James and George and Etta and Sarah are over for dinner tonight and it's been a while since my birthday hugs with Etta. I'm working Tuesday, all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday anyway so that will be enough. I need to restore my energy, especially since I've been working at Relish lately.

Last night I grabbed hold of my brainwave about looking on the website I applied to Sydney because waiting for an email isn't right. I haven't received any offers yet but it might be a good idea to call up and ask someone about when I would hear back. I'm really excited. I can't wait to finally find out if I'm in. I wish this with all my heart. The Melbourne course is just not good enough so I'm extra wishing for Sydney. Please, oh, please let me get in.

Sydney is seriously all I think about these days. It's great to have something so wonderful to look forward to. I can't wait for change next year, wherever I end up. I think I might plan for an end-of-year holiday for myself. Emma and I did mention going to Thailand and Vietnam and other nearby countries so we might have to make that a definite! A few months would be fantastic. One day I'll get to Tibet and Peru and Nepal and China and Japan and Korea and Singapore and Malaysia and Indonesia and Bali and Hawaii and the list goes on! I want to do a lot of travelling.

I can't wait to some of my museum/archaeology books arrive in the mail. I also can't wait until Wednesday when I get to order some more. I am also excited about getting to put money into my bank. I don't want to spend too much on things so I have enough money to support myself while trying to find a job in Sydney. Centrelink will help me.

I love living over in the shed. It's my own space and it's much bigger and it just feels refreshing and right. I love watching shows late at night with the volume at a normal level. I would always have it at a lower level when living in the main house. I like having all of my stuff around me too. It's a good living situation. I can't wait until next year and having my own house. It'll be fantastic! A little bare at first but that's alright. It'll be my own home and it'll be all my own doing. I can't wait!

Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies -- Melbourne

The Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies will provide you with the diverse skills and developed knowledge base appropriate to multiskilled work in all kinds of museums. This course gives you access to more subjects in museum studies than the related Graduate Certificate, and consequently is highly regarded as a professional qualification. The Museum Studies program will help you to become an independent, innovative and creative thinker; have a commitment to reflective practice in museums; have an understanding of best practice standards in museum work; competently undertake a range of museological techniques; demonstrate ethical leadership in your chosen field of museum activity; and have a commitment to continuous improvement. Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies will lead you to entry to the Master of Cultural Heritage.

Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies.

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising --

+ 3 credit points of core units; and

+ 5 credit points of electives.

Semester 1

1. AIM 721 Museums: Contexts and Issues

2. AIM 723 Heritage Interpretation

3. AIM 717 Heritage in the Field

4. AIM 714 Cultural Landscape

Semester 2

5. AIM 722 Collections and Movable Cultural Heritage

6. AIM 727 Exhibitions

7. AIM 710 Shared Heritage: Issues and Perspectives

8. AIM 705 Conservation Management Planning

I'm not super keen on the idea of Cultural Heritage, but then again if I went to ancient buildings of past civilisations and preserved them then that might be fun. It's not what I want to do though. I am interested in museums and ancient artifacts! The diploma at Deakin won't get me the education I want. I hope Sydney lets me in.

Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies -- Sydney

Museum Studies is a program of post-graduate courses and research degrees that encompasses the study of museums, museology and the development of skills necessary for museum practice. The Museum Studies programs investigate the theory and history of collecting material things, their display and interpretation, and the changing nature of the museum as a concept and as an organisation.

Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies.

6 units of study (totalling 36 credit points) comprising 1 core unit (MUSM 7033 The Museum Context), a compulsory 2 unit museum internship placement (MUSM 7004 Internship/Placement 1 and MUSM 7005 Internship/Placement 2), plus 3 electives.

1. MUSM 7033 The Museum Context

2. MUSM 7004 Internship/Placement 1

3. MUSM 7005 Internship/Placement 2

4. MUSM 7030 Exhibition Development

5. MUSM 7028 Artefact Studies

6.

Position 6 choices --

+ MUSM 7031 Information and Collection Management

+ MUSM 7032 Museum and Gallery Administration

+ ARHT 6914 Art and Curatorship

+ ARHT 6935 The Art Museum: Past, Present and Future

I might have to end up doing some of these in either the Graduate Certificate or the Master in Museum Studies because there are more units than I'm allowed to take. And I want to take 3, probably 4, of the position 6 choices. I had forgotten about the Art Curatorship side after choosing which Museum Studies units I wanted to do. The two Art Curatorship units I have chosen there are both cores for that degree. I think they will be fascinating and will give me a broader education. I'm sure they can be used in the Museum Studies degree too.

I need to write one up for Melbourne just in case I don't get into Sydney. It'll also help me figure out which units I'd want to do and if any of them are actually good. It's too focused on Cultural Heritage but I might be able to find some units I'd be happy doing if I don't get my dream.

Uni musings

I've been looking into museum books today and yesterday and have found quite a collection I would love to eventually have. They range in prices from the Book Depository but I think I can manage getting one each week without going broke. I have ordered two -- The Museum: Behind the Scenes at the British Museum and Making Museums Matter. Both added up to a little over $40 so I think that's a bargain. Most are around the $35 mark or higher but as I said, one a week or something like that won't make me broke.

I accepted the offer from Deakin this morning. I'll be able to get out of it if I get accepted to Sydney [always hoping and silently praying, despite being agnostic] so I thought I may as well get the information pack from Deakin and take a look at what it's all about studying there. I wonder when I'll find out about Sydney. Sara at work said to call them up and ask. I've been checking my Gmail a lot since it took my phone 5 days and some searching to find out I had received an offer from Deakin. I'm not going to let it slip by again. My phone will tell my I have 2 new emails, for example, but won't show them. I then have to go on my internet, as this was an application, and go to Gmail and sign in and then it appears. May as well use a normal computer.

At the Uni of Sydney I have made a list of the units I'd like to do if I get into the Diploma. You have to do 6 units, 3 of which are already allocated [one core and two internships], and I have chosen 4 possibilities for the other 3. 2 are definite but 2 I'm not sure which to choose from. I think it's generally the same at Deakin but there is a strong focus on Cultural Heritage. It's not just straight Museum Studies, which is why I don't really want to go to there but I will if I have no other choice. I just want to focus on museums, and that's what I'd get at Sydney, which is why I want to go so badly. Eeek! I love that the classes are in the evenings from 5-7. It's different.

The units I have chosen are --

+ The Museum Context [core]

+ Internship 1

+ Internship 2

+ Exhibition Development

+ Artifact Studies

and + Information and Collection Management

or + Museum and Gallery Administration

Info and Collections will be 5-7 on a week day, but the Admin course is 5 full days, which is similar to a Summer School course. That wouldn't bother me too much, especially since the subject itself is important, but would it fit in with work and with internships? I could only do that course in second semester and I should probably wait until then to do the internships so I have some knowledge in the field so it might not be possible. There wasn't a lot of choice on the website I visited with the units on offer but luckily I like the sound of most of them. I think I'll end up doing Info and Collections. If I go for my Masters I'll be able to do more units.

I am so excited about next year! I really hope it's Sydney as the course is superior and I'll get a better education. I'll be sad if it's Melbourne but will cope as I'll have friends and be closer to home, but as I've mentioned a few times in the past, it's not just about going to Uni in Sydney, it's about making my own home, a life for myself, it's about being independent and getting into good habits. Sydney will be wonderful but Melbourne will be fine too. It's a decent second choice. I hope my fate is for Sydney.