Freddo Frogs

Lately, living a life of a college student, come Uni student, come athlete, come employee I’ve found myself scrounging for any form of ‘alone’ time  to sit down and blog and even just think without constant noises and distractions at college. So as of late I’ve been putting on my Hermione Granger hat and heading off to the library, not necessarily to study but just get things done in a quiet place, void of disturbance – in fact I’m sitting here right now in my little wooden cubicle.

Now I thought that being at college the library would be a pretty busy place, being the only sound proof room on the grounds but for the last few weeks it’s just been me and the odd law student who will traipse in, face full of resigned stress at the prospect of our upcoming torts exam.  However each afternoon I am joined by a fellow regular, an exchange student the college is housing for six months – I don’t actually know his name but his home is Thailand and he is completing his PhD in Medicine, on visit to Australia to write his thesis. Usually we sit in the mandatory silence demanded by the unspoken code of libraries but occasionally he will chat to me in his fractured English about both of our studies, the university, the ridiculous overpricing of Thai food in Australia and lately has taken to warning me about never pursuing a career as a politician in Thailand – not that I ever had that one on the cards but I think he’s having a go at me.

It’s interesting to hear the differences between the education systems across the world and I’ve begun to realize how privileged I am to live in a country that so freely encourages the pursuit of education and tertiary studies (not saying that Thailand doesn’t, rather that is more of a reality here). It’s also intriguing to observe our cultural traditions from the perspective of a visitor. I’ve begun re-reading one of my favourite novels – Looking for Alibrandi and now that I’m a little older it’s really making me consider the importance of understanding other cultures and mingling with a variety of people with different ethnic backgrounds – you really do learn some interesting things!

The last time I saw my Thai friend in the library was two weeks ago now, we didn’t chat too much as mid-sems were approaching and we both bent over our computer screens attempting to absorb as much as possible, but as he offered my a freddo frog he had bought as a nutritious study snack, wishing me well for my exam. I haven’t seen him for  a while but I’m glad I made the effort to talk to him in the midst of studying, I really learnt a thing or two.