We know that it is a challenging experience to live and study abroad aloneļ¼therefore, in order to help new students to better integrate into Adelaide and quickly adapt to studying in Adelaide, a harmonious and loving city, this article provides you with a strategy for studying abroad in the city.
Communication
First of all, new students are strongly recommended to apply for an Australian phone number as soon as possible after arriving in Adelaide to keep in touch with their families.
In addition, most of the local life services need to use an Australian phone number, so you can make getting a local phone card a must-do priority when you come to Adelaide!
Applying for a phone number in Australia is not complicated, and basically you can buy and use it immediately, so don’t worry. There are two main ways to purchase.
Prepaid
Prepaid phone service is flexible and can be deactivated at any time. Charges are based on the usage of calls/text messages/data, and you need to recharge when you run out. SIM cards for prepaid phones are readily available in many shops, supermarkets, and communications provider outlets.
Contract
If you will be studying in Adelaide for an extended period of time, contract telephone services may be more favorable. There are many telephone contract packages in Australia, and students can choose the one that suits them best, and some packages also include mobile phones. You will need to pay for the plan (including SMS, calls and data) on a monthly basis.
Australia’s three major communication operators are Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, which have stores in Rundle Mall and China Town. At the same time, Australia also has many small and medium-sized communication service providers with their own characteristics. Students can choose the most suitable one according to their specific needs.
Bank card
Chinese students should notice: WeChat Pay and Alipay, which are widely used in China, are not mainstream payment methods in Australia. Therefore, it is recommended that you go to a nearby bank to apply for an Australian bank card as soon as you have a local phone number.
The bank card will usually be sent to your address within 1-2 weeks. After receiving the physical bank card, you can add the bank card to the digital wallet of your mobile phone. When you need to pay, you can scan your mobile phone. It is really convenient~
The four major banks in Australia are: CBA, ANZ, NAB and Westpac, with branches all over Adelaide, and most of them provide Chinese services. Students can go to the branch first to learn about the materials required for account opening. The usual materials include passport and CoE. There are also other banking service providers in Adelaide, and students can choose by themselves.
Diet
Adelaide is a multicultural capital where cuisines from all over the world meet. Don’t worry about not getting used to it at all!
If you want to cook for yourself, different kinds of ingredients and seasonings are available in Adelaide. Now let me introduce some good places for daily grocery shopping.
Central Market
The Central Market is the largest indoor farmers market in the southern hemisphere, allowing you to find the freshest and most complete variety of fruits and vegetables and agricultural and sideline products. Tips for saving money: Every Saturday afternoon when the store is about to close, the stall owners will sell melons, fruits and vegetables at a special price.
Supermarket chain
The four major supermarket chain brands in Australia are Coles, Woolworths, ALDI and IGA. They have a large number of stores, wide distribution, convenient procurement, and are usually a more economical choice – the supermarket has different discounts and promotions every week, students can pay attention to the discount brochures updated every week in the supermarket, and make a plan for purchasing and stocking in advance, which can greatly save living expenses!
Asian Groceries
There are many Asian supermarkets in Adelaide, which are a must for international students! The firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea needed to make a delicious Chinese meal can be found in Yachao, especially some Asian fruits and vegetables that are not available in local chain supermarkets can also be easily bought in Yachao.
Among the major capital cities in Australia, the price of Adelaide is relatively low, and it is a city with high cost performance. If you’re not good at cooking, or just want to be lazy once in a while, eating in a restaurant is an option. There are many good and cheap restaurants to be found in Adelaide.
Transportation
The main public transport in Adelaide is: Train, Bus, Tram.
All the above public transport can use the same bus card Metro Card. Students can purchase Metro Cards at the Adelaide Traffic Information Center and train stations. It is worth mentioning that international students in Adelaide, like local students, can purchase student discount tickets with their student ID cards. A monthly ticket of 52.5 Australian dollars can travel freely for 28 days!
The four major campuses of the University of South Australia – City East, City West, Magill and Mawson Lakes campuses are well connected. Students can use public transportation to and from each campus, which is very convenient. The tram can even go directly to the east and west campuses of the University of South Australia, which can’t be more amazing!
Moreover, there are free public transport lines to choose from in Adelaide City and North Adelaide area!
- Bus: 98A, 98C and 99C;
- Tram: All stations between South Terrace, the Entertainment Centre, Botanic Gardens and Festival Plaza in central Adelaide are free;
- All stations between Brighton Road at Glenelg Beach and Moseley Square are free.
As we can see, the life in Adelaide is very convenient and wonderful, so it is really a good choice to study abroad in this city. If you are interested in knowing more details about studying in Adelaide or Australia, just go to cateight.com to view the news and tips.