Diving into Australia: Adventures in Studying Abroad (Part 1)
Absolutely incredible… How do I even begin to share about my experiences in Australia so far?!
I could compare/contrast differences between the West Coast of Canada and the Gold Coast of Australia, such as differences in costs, foods, activities, lifestyle and overall culture. Perhaps I could speak about differences in climate regarding weather, wildlife and plants, and overall environment.
I could also talk about how incredible it is to realize that in this exchange cohort so many of us come from many different places around the world with various backgrounds and how quickly strong connections are formed.
There’s so much I could expand on. Beginning a blog post can sometimes be the most difficult part, but once I start it can be even harder to tie everything together.
Developing a routine has been the hardest part. Starting to write this blog post was postponed for quite some time, especially considering that WiFi is very limited in areas of Australia and access is not always readily available. 😉
Nevertheless, this is my story in Australia so far. Enjoy! 🙂
First experiences
Jumping into a new country is incredibly exciting! I’m now on the other side of the Pacific Ocean and there are many similarities but also so many differences. I began to meet some Australians, experienced a different environment, and learned about how people drive on the other side of the road and walk on the other side of the sidewalk!
From staying my first night in Brisbane, to staying at the hostel in Southport for the first week, I had my fair share of new experiences and met many new people!
A beautiful run in the Broadwater Parklands.
Byron Bay Trip
After meeting many other international travellers at the hostel, it was time to get ready for the Byron Bay Orientation Trip!!
It was absolutely phenomenal. I experienced wildlife, kayaking, surfing, hiking, beaches, dancing, and many new experiences with amazing people, connections, and great memories.
Almost time to start school
The start of school was only a few days away and I still hadn’t chosen a place to live!! I’d teamed up with others to search for a suitable place, and had a few options. I eventually decided to live in the Genesis building.
With the stress of finding a place to live alleviated, the anticipation for the beginning of classes was building!
It has now been two weeks in Australia and my time here has been filled with the excitement of new experiences, meeting new people, learning new languages and forming new connections.
In awe and wonder, I am so pleased about deciding to embark upon this journey. I’m embracing new challenges and gaining valuable insight into new perspectives, learning more about the world around me, and myself.
Celebrating the amazing time in Australia so far, a group of exchange students gathered over the weekend for a house party in Miami Beach and a BBQ at my home building (Genesis).
Thoughts on being far from home
Being thrust into an entirely new setting far from home is incredibly exciting, but there are also moments of homesickness as well. It’s absolutely amazing that I’m on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, so far from my home in Canada, and then it suddenly hit me… I’m halfway across the world!
I can’t share all these new experiences with my Victoria friends in the moment, and I don’t have the same communities of support and embrace. However, with technology the opportunity to connect virtually exists – no matter how far away friends and family might be!
Additionally I have begun to notice major differences between my past travelling experiences backpacking in Costa Rica comparative to being on an exchange semester here in Australia. As a backpacker you are free, every day is a new adventure with new experiences, no attachments, and you can go wherever your heart may take you.
While being on an exchange semester is inclusive of these things, it is uniquely distinctive. The feeling of being free as the wind exists initially. Many changes take place before settling into a new home and environment, but it also involves the building of new roots and foundations. As classes begin and new responsibilities are taking place, it becomes increasingly important to build routine and prioritize what is important each week.
As I will spend a greater extent of time in one location I will have the opportunity to foster these foundations, connections, and things that are most important to me. Grounding myself to this new community, and taking the time to immerse myself in all this experience has to offer. There is already ample opportunity each day and it is difficult to do all the things that I would like to accomplish while I’m here, but I’m becoming more and more conscious of the things that I want to pursue and will continue to stretch my capabilities in relishing the experiences that each day presents.
Read Part 2 of Diving into Australia: Adventures in Studying Abroad