About three months ago, I landed in Cairns, Queensland for my study abroad program orientation before heading to Sydney. I was nervous about the months to come and had no idea what to expect. Many things felt unfamiliar and I didn’t know anybody. Fast forwarding to now, I have seen some of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen, I’ve made many new friends, and I’ve gotten to share my experiences with you.
The past few months have been truly incredible. I did things that even a year ago felt impossible, like snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the rainforest, road tripping across Tasmania and bodysurfing on the Gold Coast. In addition to all of the fun things I did while I was here, I got to experience what it’s like to live in a different city and go to school halfway across the world. I enjoyed learning about different cultures and ways of life from the people I’ve met, and taking a class about Indigenous history here in Australia. Studying abroad has helped me realize how many stories there are to be told and how similar people are to each other despite being on opposite sides of the globe.
When I started college, I had no intention to study abroad at all. It felt like too much of a commitment and too out of reach.
