It may be odd, but for me I find that when I’m traveling I’m often the most comfortable. Although I may say Bloomington or even my hometown is home, it’s really just a stop on the road where I can save up money for the next adventure. This year, studying abroad was my adventure and I wasn’t going to let a single day pass without living it to the fullest. I had two months prior to the start of my program and although most would stay at home in preparation of their journey abroad, I packed my backpack and went on my way. I’m lucky enough to have quite a few friends around the world and figured I’d use these connections to my advantage. Long story short; I stayed in England for a week, New Zealand for a month, Brisbane for about 10 days, and have now made my way to Adelaide. It’s strange to say that arriving in Adelaide is “settling down” but it does feel nice to unpack my bags and know where I’ll be staying each night.
Top to bottom, left to right: New Years Eve London; Te Henga Coast on the North Island of NZ; Petting Kangaroos on the Gold Coast.
I can definitely say that all of my previous travels will play a huge role in the way I perceive my study abroad experience. Traveling, especially solo, forces you to open up to absolute strangers and make friends in the most unlikely places. Hopefully, these experiences will allow me to make the absolute most of my semester!
While I’m in Adelaide, I’ll be staying at a residential college called St. Marks. I have two amazing flat mates, both of whom are from Australia, and everyone is incredibly friendly. From the short time I’ve been here, I can tell it’s very comparable to Greek life in America. They have loads of rituals, traditions, a crest, a motto, and an amazing sense of community. I’m in the middle of Orientation and with any luck, by the end of the week, I’ll be a “fresher they can’t refuse.”
