Mid-Semester Meandering

By Sam Kohler

In the middle of each semester, Hilda’s students scramble to entertain themselves and escape uni life during mid-semester break. For many who live nearby, this can mean a brief trip home to see friends and family. But, for many others, this means becoming a tourist in our new home, going on camping trips, visiting the home towns of new friends, and movie marathons in the common rooms. As an international student, I know this mid-sem scramble very well and have explored every possible option of how to spend my time. And I can genuinely say that they are all amazing in their own way. 

One of my favorite options during the mid-semester break is what I like to call ‘The Escape’. From road trips, to hiking in the bush, to hopping on a plane, the escape can take many forms. In my first semester at College, after knowing a mate for only a couple of weeks, he invited me to his home in Hobart, Tasmania, and I’m eternally grateful that he did. I met his family, explored a new part of the country, and went on a beautiful hike through the Tasmanian bush. The following mid-sem, two of my other friends invited me to their homes, one in Geelong and one to a vacation home in Rye. The generosity of people here at Hilda’s, who welcome you into their homes, lives, and families is what makes this place so great. And it is how we form our own chosen families.

It’s been a while since I’ve been home; I’ve still not got a plane ticket back. But my friends’ families have welcomed me into their homes like I’m a long lost child. Not only that but I know I’ve got a home to come back to right here, at Hilda’s.

– Abby Heazlewood

Many Hildarians, however, stay at College for the holidays, and take advantage of the activities going on at college. For example, to celebrate Easter, some of our lovely SRA’s at College set up an easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday for anyone who wanted to participate. All across the Hilda’s grounds students ran around, searching intently, for little chocolate eggs that had been hidden college wide. On top of fun little events like this, a group of students were hard at work this mid-sem break doing an intensive week of rehearsals and preparations for the ICAC musical. And yet another group of students, led by our recreation convenors, journeyed to The Grampians for a camping trip. 

“Hilda’s rec trip ‘26 was a blast! Around 30 students headed to the Grampians for 4 days of hiking, camping, and chatting around the fire. After climbing up to 3 different lookout points, including 17kms of Mt Rosea, we are officially exhausted, but rejuvenated and ready for uni!”

 – Claudia Cole

It is important to note that mid-semester break can be a time of intense homesickness, especially for international students and those of us who can’t go home for the week. Luckily, our student club has an International Representative on the General Committee who does their best to keep all of us who are far from home entertained. For example, this year our representative organised a trip to the Queen Victoria Night Market where people could get food and bond with their international friends. 

However, despite all of these wonderful planned outings and activities, I would argue that some of the most fun activities over the mid-sem are the unplanned interactions that happen at a much quieter college. The spontaneous movie marathons, the late night games of table tennis that last for four hours, or the random game of pool in order to stay sane while catching up on a mountain of uni work. 

So no need to stress, at Hilda’s we’ve got your mid-semester breaks covered. Whether your new lifelong friends invite you to childhood homes, you go and sleep under the stars in the bush, or you stay at college, enjoy the quiet, and explore the city you now call home – you’ll never be bored. Take it from me, an international student who’s always looking for more activities to stay busy and explore, the people and environment at Hilda’s could not make it any easier.