Nearly a month ago I was in Australian paradise, soaking up the powerful ‘o-zone free’ sun, and not having a care in the world. Yes it has taken me this long to face the fact that my time abroad is over. As I look back at my whirlwind of six months abroad I know it was a roller coaster of emotions, but the only memories I take are the spontaneous, thrilling adventures, or days with the girls that can never be replaced. The memories and experiences I gained from my trip are unbelievable and truly life-changing.
The dreaded first question everyone defaults to when seeing a 'study abroad' for the first time…How was (insert country)? That’s a great question for all who asked me that :/ Except here is the hard part to answering such an open question. We could sit down have a wonderful chat and inform you about the incredible people that surrounded my life even though they knew I was leaving, about the amazing Australian mentality on life, not to mention the beautiful landscape I was immersed in on a daily basis. But that wouldn’t come close to matching the amount of emotion that charges through my body when flipping through my thousands of pictures. Or envisioning my heartbreaking last night packing when a group of my Australian friends came into my room, only to all fall into a huddle on my bed crying.
Studying abroad isn’t just about the location, studying abroad is about much more than that. When people ask me how was Australia, I reply with life changing for a reason.
These past six months have changed my outlook on life completely. I have more confidence and independence than I ever thought possible, which is a powerful quality since I already thought I was strong. This experience has shown me that wherever my career takes me I will always be happy. I can find peace and a family anywhere I land. That is one aspect that Australia has taught me extremely well. The whole ‘other side of the world’ thing can really work on a person, but after a while it was liberating to know that regardless of anywhere that I ever live, I can do it. The first time I left home, I traveled to the other side of the world! Sick J I believe that studying abroad should be a requirement for all college students. The world could use more global diversity and understanding.
While the flight home was a long and rough end to my trip, I would do it all again in a heartbeat…if my bank account allowed it. Maybe I could swim? Jokes J Regardless, I always laughed about coming back to Australia when I graduate. But this may in fact be reality May 2013. If I have no strings attached in the states (minus family) why not? It is a fantastic economical move to live there a few years, and what other opportunity will I ever have on my own? My family is probably reading this having a fit, but as of now it’s just a far out dream so relax!
It's been real Australia, thank you for everything :)
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| Goodbyes are never easy |
Hi Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteMy name is KC Owens; I’m a college student who loves to travel! While cruising the Internet, I found your site and really enjoyed reading your posts. Personally, I think traveling is a necessary part of life as you’re exposed to all sorts of new cultures and experiences. While enjoying time abroad, I've found it's crucial to fully understand the dangers that you might encounter along the way. These mishaps are part of life and certainly part of travel but it’s always a great idea to take preventive measures to help ensure your safety while abroad.
I was hoping that you would allow me to write a post for your site to share my travel safety tips with your readers? I put a lot of time and passion into my traveling and I would love to help others by offering safety advice as a result of the mistakes and triumphs I've had. I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
KC Owens