When I created this blog, I quickly created a catchy slogan that I thought would be appropriate for the content, but the meaning behind ‘the thrills and downfalls of studying abroad’ reached a whole new level this week.
As you are sitting browsing all the places you can go to study abroad, the only things running through your mind are the amazing people you will meet and the great experiences you will have in a foreign place. While I have met a lot of Australians here, no one can begin to compare with my friends at home. And as welcome week commences and everyone moves back to the beautiful IU Bloomington campus, I can’t help but think of all the wonderful people I left behind.
Abroad, I have a surface relationship with everyone. No one truly knows who I am, or anything about my life other than my American classification. This has been the hardest thing for me to comprehend. I am lucky to have met two amazing girls that I have become extremely close to from the states. And after a deep tearful conversation with one of them, we came to the realization that studying abroad is not about the social aspect or excitement of traveling. Studying abroad is more about discovering yourself and growing to be the most independent person you could ever comprehend. This trip is about you and you alone, no one is here to always catch you, and you are the only one that determines your happiness. It’s far more intense than words can describe. When I skype with friends back home, they can’t understand why I am homesick. They toss it aside because I’m in the exotic location of Australia. But even in paradise, you can still get lonely and really begin to appreciate all the love you had.
When I go home, I will have so much more appreciation for everything around me. America rocks! The greatest joy to my day came today, I was comatose reading about Aboriginal Australians when I envisioned landing on the runway in Indianapolis. The flight attendant reads the chilly November forecast for the day and wishes everyone a safe trip and welcome home. HOME! Finally walking off the plane to be greeted by the people that love me the most, I started to cry already thinking about what an awesome feeling it will be to see them again, live in person. And be able to hug them! I can’t wait. My new countdown app says I leave in a little over 75 days, but who’s counting? J
As for the other half of my slogan, ‘the thrills’ have been numerous recently. I have been hectically intense in my bucket list completion…
Last weekend my entire dorm went to Sydney for a cruise around the harbor, it was great to see everyone dressed to impress. The Sydney sights illuminated at night are beautiful! The boat reminded me of a mini Titanic with all the wood paneling, it was awesome and oh so classy! We stayed in my first hostel that night which was rather interesting…and made me appreciate hotel living with my mom while she was here. On Sunday Beth and I took the bus to Bondi for a beach day. I love that beach! We strolled the shops, got a well deserved portion of fish and chips to satisfy our hunger for the day (maybe even week), and a little hole in the ozone kind of burn. Then took the dreadful 1.5 hour train back home.
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| First Australian Spring Sunrise |
On Thursday, I woke up with a few others to watch the first Spring sunrise. Leaving the comfort of my warm bed was a struggle, but I am happy to have seen the event and everyone out in their rare form. :)
This week it really hit me that I wasn’t going to see the outback in its glory, and it really made me mad. So I decided to do something about it. Uluru is the standard Australian icon, besides the Opera house. It is a sacred Aboriginal site and full of history. Upon talking with Beth about my discomfort, we had our flights booked two hours later to Ayers Rock leaving September 15th. Call us crazy, because the entire time we were looking up flights and dates…we thought the same thing. You only live once right? Australia is one big adventure, but after this trip my bucket list of exploring is almost complete.
As for our weekend in Wollongong, it was more than a walk on the beach! A few of us went to the Buddhist temple Friday morning and wondered around the beautiful and peaceful grounds. The temple and all the buildings were incredible with the most exquisite detail. My favorite part were the little statues covering the gardens that resembled traditional happenings of Buddhist. They were so cute! Later that day, I went to my first professional rugby game! We watched the Dragons beat the Panthers! Watching a Rugby game made our American football look a little silly in comparison. Why do we wear pads?
Today has been an ‘assignment day’ as the Australians would call it. I have literally sat in my room and worked on homework all day. My eyes hurt from the mass of reading I completed. Surprisingly, I am more productive here than at IU. Even with a beach and tons of activities I still get everything done and completed early, strange.
Tomorrow we are taking the train up to Sydney at 7am to meet up with one of our friends to sail in Sydney Harbor! I can’t wait!
Australian Slang Lesson:
Heaps good = really good
Keen = you are into the idea
Ending a sentence with but, Instead of placing but in the front of a phrase you place it at the end…grammar appropriate? Absolutely not.
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