~SEXTEMBER~
Down_and_Under

Changing attitudes about sex: International students going down and under

ADJUSTING to a new environment often means big changes in our personal lives. Lilia Villela explores the shifting sexual mores among students who are studying overseas.

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The SEXtember Wrap-Up: That’s all folks

AFTER a month (and a day), SEXtember has finally come to an end. We’d like to thank all of you for reading, contributing, and for those who couldn’t stand the sex talk – thanks for putting up with us. Read on for the top stories, poll results & more.

A HIV/AIDS awareness poster in Vietnam. Photo: vn 555333 via flickr

SEXtember Stories: Virginity in Vietnam (reader submission)

ONE of our readers from Vietnam, N, shares how societal pressures and the double-standards between males and females in her home country make the choice to stay celibate an easy one.

Photo: Juliana S via flickr

SEXtember Stories: Why I chose not to wait (reader submission)

A READER from Sydney, “The Naked Soul”, wrote in to share how her views on sex before marriage changed once she fell in love.

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SEXtember: Overseas Student Health Cover & sexual health

DID you know insurance providers won’t cover any pregnancy-related costs for first-year international students? Healthcare workers are up in arms but a student body representative thinks it’s a good idea. Diane Leow and Olivia Merlen report on this – and what you can get out of your policy.

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The SEXtember Report: STIs & unplanned pregnancies among international students

OLIVIA Merlen and Diane Leow speak to healthcare professionals and international student advocates about what’s behind the incidences of STIs and unplanned pregnancies among international students.

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SEXtember: Scarleteen – sex ed for the real world

SCARLETEEN.COM cuts through all the jargon and scary health warnings to deliver easy-to-read – and dare we say fun – tips and advice about sex and sexual health. Grace Yew speaks with Karyn Fulcher, a volunteer at the organisation, for more.

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SEXtember: Clinics, care and check-ups

WHERE can you go when you need advice on sexual health? Sarah Lim tells you about the low-cost clinics in Melbourne that are available to international students in Melbourne and respect your privacy.

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The Great SEXtember Debate: Waiting till you’re ready

THERE are two sides to every discussion, including the decision to have sex. Our lifestyle editor, Elisa Scarton, shares her thoughts on not waiting until marriage.

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The Great SEXtember Debate: Waiting for ‘The One’

WHY do some people wait until they’re married to have sex? Marcella Purnama tells us her reasons for abstaining.

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SEXtember: Budi Sudarto – Gay, Asian, Proud

FORMER international student Budi Sudarto knows what its like to feel “alienated, alone, and unsure of which direction to take in life”. He talks to Tiffany Leong about “coming out” in an Asian family and the great work he’s doing promoting sexual health.

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SEXtember: Sexuality in animation

A SUPERHERO battling HIV, the “Manga Sutra” and a computer game villain called the “Sperminator”. Hieu Chau looks at how anime, manga and comic books are tackling the tricky issue of sex.

About

Meld Magazine was incorporated as an independent not-for-profit media outlet in September 2008 to reach out to international students in Melbourne, and provide students the opportunity to gain real work experience.

Many international students live in or around the city because of the proximity to their colleges and universities, and that was where we decided to focus our efforts first. Many of us live, work and study locally too. Our editorial team is made of both local and international students, and it has worked to our advantage in providing local content in every sense of the word.

Meld Magazine – Melbourne's international student news website © 2013 All Rights Reserved