Hello everyone! I have more to share about my time here in Australia! Today I’ll cover my experiences with adapting to Australian culture and some of the problem-solving I’ve gone through. Without further ado, let’s hop right into the good stuff!

I’ll start by discussing some of the things I’ve found most difficult to adapt to in Australian culture. I think the thing I’ve found most difficult to get used to is how easy-going the people here are. Now that may seem like a “great problem to have,” but there are some real challenges I’ve faced relating to this. In the US, the people are more straight-forward and business oriented; stores stay open late and things get done relatively quickly and efficiently. Australian culture (as I’ve experienced it) is much more laid back and slow paced. Stores aren’t open as late and things take longer to get done. In a sense, it feels like Americans “work to live” while Australians “live to work.” Navigating that reversal has been challenging, especially since its hard for me to relax without having worked to earn time to relax.

While not specifically culture related, adapting to life away from my friends and family has been a challenge for me too. This is the first time I’ve been away from everyone and everything I know for more than two weeks. Even in my freshman year at Pitt, I at least had a roommate who I knew from my life prior to college. This is the first time I’ve ever felt truly alone, and it’s something I’m glad I’ve had the chance to tackle. This experience has given me the opportunity to grow as a person.

I’ve managed my feelings through continuing my positive habits; I hit the gym regularly and have been cooking great meals. I’ve also been exploring the natural environment around Sydney and going on spontaneous adventures. While these are all great things to do, I’d like to draw importance to the idea that keeping busy will only distract you from feelings of loneliness or homesickness. I think the things that have helped me best are calling my friends and family a few times a week and journaling. Sometimes it helps a great deal to simply put thoughts into words, either over the phone or on paper.

While all of that seems a bit somber, I don’t want to give the impression that I’m not having a good time. I think that groping with these issues is truly beneficial for me. I’m extremely fortunate to face these types of challenges in a semi-controlled environment like studying abroad. I think that’s one of the underrated elements of these programs; they offer an unparalleled ability to explore both the world and ourselves.

That wraps things up for today! Since this post took a more serious tone, I’ll leave you all with some silly pictures of the animals I’ve seen around Australia! Until next time!