Hi all!

Since I’ve been in Sydney for over a month now, I think it’s safe to comment upon some of the challenges I’ve experienced and how I’ve overcome them during my time here. Although the transition has been mostly smooth, there have been obstacles as with any experience. 

One of the challenges I’ve experienced is integrating into Australian culture and meeting local friends. Since we take classes at CAPA and only with the students in our program, we do not have much daily interaction with Aussies and miss out on the experience of attending class in an Aussie school environment. This definitely has made it harder to make local friends and understand the university culture because we are in our own little bubble. Another obstacle I have personally experienced, has been going out of my comfort zone to meet new people. Coming here alone, without having any friends here was definitely a big choice to make, but it was important for me to leave my support group behind and use this opportunity to really be on my own and navigate this new experience. As you’d expect, there have definitely been many ups and downs but I’ve learned that what is uncomfortable (but safe of course), usually makes for the best experiences and best friendships. It has been hard being away from my closest friends and family, but the excitement of being abroad doesn’t really ever go away and you learn to cherish the moments so that when I come back I’ll have amazing stories to tell those loved ones. But with that being said, it has been a smooth transition into the lifestyle here and has been more than positive. It definitely helps that there is no language barrier or any crazy cultural differences that would potentially make the transition harder. I’ve noticed that Sydney is a very active city and most people here live a healthy, active lifestyle which I’ve loved as it has motivated me to do the same. 

All in all, it has been an incredible journey while being here and I’m so excited to explore more of Aus while I’m here. Yesterday we did a sleepover at the zoo and it was such a unique experience that I will hold onto for the rest of my life, as not many people can say they’ve slept thatttt close to lions. As this week comes to an end soon, I’m looking forward to going to shredding some waves at surf camp and just relaxing in Bali for spring break! 🙂

Hope you enjoyed and will check back in later!